Comic Cookbooks That Show You How It’s Made

Comic cookbooks are changing the kitchen game one panel at a time. Anyone who’s struggled through a text-only recipe and watched things go horribly off the rails knows the value of a helpful picture or illustration. Comic formats go even further, providing step-by-step visual instructions and creative ways of showcasing different flavors and techniques. It only took one graphic cookbook for me to become a believer. Their power is especially strong if you’re looking to make a dish you’ve never tried anything close to before, something using tools, methods, and ingredients way out of your comfort zone. As a foodie and passionate home chef, I’m simply obsessed with comic cookbooks. Try one and you will be, too.

Below, you’ll find some inventive graphic cookbooks to get you started, as well as some books coming out in the next few months that I’ve got my eye on. Some are recipe-focused, while others delve into food history, unique ingredients, guides to kitchen tools, and regional cuisines. Some even include their authors or historical culinary figures as illustrated characters guiding you through the cookbooks. In all cases, you’ll find vivid art and mouthwatering dishes to inspire you to get more creative in the kitchen.

Noodles, Rice, and Everything Spice: A Thai Comic Cookbook by Christina De Witte and Mallika Kauppinen This is the comic cookbook that introduced me to the broad possibilities of the format. After traveling to Thailand, I wanted to try cooking Thai food myself, but a lot of the ingredients and methods were unfamiliar to me. Enter this clever book by food lover Mallika Kauppinen and artist Christina De Witte. Not only is it a perfect illustrated guide to the basics of Thai cooking, it also includes an intro to Thai food history, geography, and ingredients (including Thai chili peppers!) in cheerfully drawn comics. I adore how the authors appear as characters throughout the book, and the recipes (and illustrations) are mouthwateringly delicious.

All Access subscribers continue on for more comic cookbooks.