17 Best Pop Culture Cookbooks
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Do you love thumbing through classic cookbooks? Do you get inspired to make something new? If so, you are not alone. More and more people are turning to cookbooks to get creative in the kitchen. Popular cooking shows like Top Chef, Chopped, and The Great British Bake Off are fueling a newly found passion for cooking, and cookbooks are in demand. Cookbook sales are up, and home chefs are eager to immerse themselves in culinary pursuits.
America's recent love of cooking and passion for popular culture has created a new form of the cookbook; the pop culture cookbook. These cookbooks combine a beloved fictional world with a real-life desire to cook foods from favorite television series, movies, and even video games. According to the New York Times, pop culture cookbooks are extremely popular because fans want to live inside the world of their favorite show. And while it is impossible to win the Iron Throne in real life or slide into a booth and eat a juicy burger at Bob's, it is possible to recreate foods that belong there.
Pop culture cookbooks are everywhere; while some are officially endorsed, others are unofficial passion projects created by dedicated fans. Fans love connecting with characters and places from their favorite shows, so expect to see more and more cookbooks dedicated to pop culture phenomena in your local bookstore. Prices listed may vary.
Marvel's Black Panther: The Official Wakanda Cookbook
While you cannot visit Wakanda physically, you can taste the world of Wakanda through the official cookbook that weaves traditional African foods filled with history into otherworldly delights.
This unique cookbook is more than a list of recipes. Instead, it connects the reader to the recipes through an original tale of a vendor in the market whose life takes an extraordinary turn, and, through luck or fate, finds himself the chef to the prestigious King of Wakanda (via The Root).
The author shared with the Washington Post how she researched the most minute details in the series to create something that the fans would find authentic to the narrative. And fans will not be disappointed with the results. The book contains over 70 original recipes that celebrate culture and connection. Fans can recreate recipes like samosas, braised lamb stew, and savory plantain custard, to name a few. Get ready to be transported to the world of Wakanda and eat your way through the experience.
Purchase "Marvel's Black Panther: The Official Wakanda Cookbook" from Amazon for $15.70.
Outlander Kitchen: The Official Outlander Companion Cookbook
The official Outlander cookbook based on the popular series is a culinary experience like no other. Avid fans can travel back in time with Jamie and Claire to Scotland and experience the incredible journey that is Outlander. The cookbook features over 100 tantalizing recipes, from Claire's Roast Chicken to Fraser Strawberry Jam to villainous Black Jack Randall's Dark Chocolate Lavender Fudge. Readers can relive iconic scenes and follow along, tasting the same dishes as their favorite characters. This book is the first of two cookbooks and follows Jamie and Claire's extraordinary adventures through the Scottish highlands to the French Revolution and beyond.
If you are new to Scottish cuisine, you will love this wonderful introduction to the taste and smells of the rugged terrain of Scotland. You don't need to be an experienced chef or even know what haggis is to recreate these classic dishes. The cookbook includes recipes for everything from breakfasts like wild mushroom omelets to main dishes like peppery oyster stew and bread like pumpkin seed and herb oatcakes. The recipe for Mamacita's Sangria is a nod to the duo's time in the Caribbean, and Jocasta's Auld Country Bannocks takes them to the New World. The book is a must-have for true Outlander fans.
Purchase "Outlander Kitchen: The Official Outlander Companion Cookbook" from Amazon for $23.49.
A Feast of Ice & Fire: The Official Game of Thrones Companion Cookbook
The official cookbook inspired by the works of George R. R. Martin is endorsed by the prolific writer himself. The cookbook features over 100 recipes inspired by the HBO hit. In the foreword, George R. R. Martin admits a dark secret: He can't cook. Luckily, that didn't stop him from imagining the vast array of foods his characters would indulge in throughout the series.
While he may not be able to cook, two superfans, Chelsea Monroe-Cassel and Sariann Lehrer can, and they created the recipes inspired by their love of food and the popular show.
This unique cookbook features recipes from the different regions of Westeros. You can make honeyed chicken from the North, mulled wine and pease porridge from the Wall, stewed rabbit from the South, lemon cakes from King's Landing, chickpea paste from Dorne, and honey-spiced locusts from across the Narrow Sea. Of course, the book boasts unusual ingredients, but the authors also give alternative ingredients in case home chefs have trouble finding other world delicacies like dragon eggs or now extinct aurochs. It's a fun cookbook that Game of Thrones fans will adore.
Purchase "A Feast of Ice & Fire: The Official Game of Thrones Companion Cookbook" from Amazon for $16.99.
Friends: The Official Cookbook
You can revisit your favorite food-filled moments from the show that is always there for you. Yes, Friends has an official cookbook. Good friends and great food go together, and the popular sitcom shared many food-filled moments in each episode. The Central Perk gang shared holidays and heartbreak through their 10 seasons, and now, thanks to author Amanda Yee, fans of the show can cook up their favorite dishes from the popular sitcom. The cookbook covers dishes from favorite episodes like Rachels's accidentally sweet and savory trifle, Ross's special Moist Maker sandwich with Thanksgiving leftovers, and Joey's meatball sub. Joey may not share his food, but you can with recipes from the iconic show.
According to Vulture, the iconic show featured 152 meals during its long 10-season run. Not every meal is featured in the cookbook, but the most memorable dishes are laid out for fans to recreate the good times that filled that colorful New York apartment.
The cookbook includes 70 recipes, including vegetarian ones that would make Phoebe Buffay proud. The cookbook shares the famous food from the six friends and includes recipes from guest stars like Janice's pancakes, Gunther's cold brew, and Ugly Naked Guy's sausage party. The book is perfect for fans of the show that know how much food played a central character at Central Perk.
Purchase "Friends: The Official Cookbook" from Amazon for $22.19.
Stars Wars: Galaxy's Edge: The Official Black Spire Outpost Cookbook
There are several official and unofficial Star Wars-related cookbooks to choose from, but this is one of the best. The Black Spire Outpost at Disney World and Disneyland serves as the creative force behind the culinary creations in the book. The recipes include Spicy Mandalorian Stew, Mashed Chokeroot, Mustafarian Lava Buns, Huttese Slime Pods, and Fried Endorian TipYip, so you know you won't find these one-of-a-kind dishes anywhere else.
Eager fans won't find generic recipes for Yoda-shaped cookies or Millennial Falcon-themed doughnuts: Instead, this Star Wars-themed cookbook brings you into the world of Star Wars and shows you recipes for meals that the characters might enjoy. The cookbook features 70 over-the-top recipes that match the fantastical world of Black Spire Outpost and all of the edible things that it contains.
The author makes it easy for newbies in the kitchen to follow the recipes; each one is labeled from easy to difficult, making cooking a breeze.
Purchase "Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge The Official Black Spire Outpost Cookbook" from Amazon for $16.34.
Baking Bad: A Parody in a Cookbook
Yes, Breaking Bad has a cookbook, and no, it doesn't teach you how to make meth. However, it does have an addictive recipe for Blue Meth Crunch, a version of rock candy that will make you the hit of your Breaking Bad viewing party. The parody cookbook is full of binge-able dishes to eat while watching the most binge-watched series of recent times (via Time). The show has been off the air for close to a decade, but thanks to streaming it continues to bring in new fans that want to experience the lightning in a bottle that is Walter and Jesse.
The cookbook is focused on all the treats and references to the well-loved show. Recreate Walter's birthday breakfast or make tasty Walter gingerbread men complete with tighty whitey frosting. You will love reliving the best moments from this show. If you loved Breaking Bad, and miss watching America's favorite high school science teacher turned drug dealer, you will love cooking with the cookbook author, Walter Wheat.
Purchase "Baking Bad: A Parody in a Cookbook" from Amazon for $14.06.
Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook: Inside the Kitchens, Bars, and Restaurants of Mad Men
This nostalgic cookbook will transport you to 1960s-era New York and straight into the Mad Men vibe. The snappy writing and memorable characters made the show special, but the attention to historical detail made the show a cultural phenomenon that continues to delight fans years after its debut, notes L.A. Weekly. The cookbook is filled with nostalgia-inducing favorites like Betty's stuffed celery, Jackie Kennedy's Avocado and Crabmeat Mimosas, and Sterling Cooper's Blini and Caviar.
It is the perfect guide to hosting a retro-inspired cocktail party or Mad Men viewing extravaganza. Recreate the sophisticated energy of the advertising world with Don's Old Fashioned and Roger's martini. Celebrate the strong independent women in your life with Peggy's Brandy Alexander or Joan's Blue Hawaiian.
Consider yourself cordially invited to partake in the seductive world of Mad Men. The book even features a guide to some of the New York establishments where the characters sipped and smoked throughout the iconic show.
Purchase "Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook: Inside the Kitchens, Bars, and Restaurants of Mad Men" from Amazon for $16.43.
The Walking Dead: The Official Cookbook and Survival Guide
It's never too early to prepare yourself for the zombie apocalypse, and this Walking Dead-themed cookbook can help you get ready. This comprehensive cookbook is jam-packed with helpful tidbits to navigate the murky waters of the unknown with the undead.
You won't find camping classics like hot dogs and s'mores in this book. Instead, this collection of recipes recreates familiar foods eaten on the show like Dwight's egg sandwich, Hershel's spaghetti, and Carl's pudding. The rest of the book covers necessary survival skills like foraging and scavenging.
The first chapter starts with the basics of survival in the apocalypse like food preservation, cooking with fire, hunting, and fishing. Walking Dead fans and preppers alike will enjoy the book. Some of the recipes are fairly simple, like Rick's Cucumber and Onion Salad and Georgia Peach crumble, while others like squirrel piquant and curried goat stew require a special skillset and a strong stomach. If you love the Walking Dead and want to prepare for the end of the world, this is the perfect cookbook for you.
Purchase "The Walking Dead: The Official Cookbook and Survival Guide" from Amazon for $15.89.
The Official Downton Abbey Cocktail Book
Downton Abbey, the beloved fictional period piece, is a fan favorite. The show, which only lasted for six seasons, made its mark on viewers, and four cookbooks later, it's still popular. The official cocktail book is only one of several in the Downton Abbey culinary books. The other three books in the series cover everyday meals, afternoon tea, and Christmas recipes.
The cocktail book serves more than just classic cocktails; it boasts a wide assortment of libations, including character-specific ones that will delight audiences. The book is divided into five sections: The Library, The Grounds, The Great Hall, The Drawing Room, and The Village. Each section contains recipes for typical drinks served, from everyday drinks to post-dinner nightcaps to hangover cures.
The book is filled with colorful photos that will transport you from your kitchen to the halls of Downton Abbey. Fans of the show will love being a part of the elegant lifestyle that the show celebrates.
Purchase "The Official Downton Abbey Cocktail Book: Appropriate Libations for All Occasions" from Amazon for $17.89.
From Crook to Cook: Platinum Recipes From Tha Boss Dogg's Kitchen
Snoop Dogg's first cookbook is more than just gin and juice. The rapper might not be on your radar when you think of cookbooks, but his time working with Martha Stewart on their cooking show has seemingly rubbed off on him. While this is a solo effort by Snoop, Martha does write an introduction for her old friend and has nothing but kind words to say about Snoop's "unique cooking techniques" and incredible love for food.
Snoop's collection of recipes features classics like mac and cheese and chili cheese fries, along with crowd-pleasers like chicken and waffles and specialties like a catfish sandwich and Hustle Hard Chocolate Cheesecake. The book really does have something for everyone.
Anyone that knows anything about Snoop knows that he likes to partake in herbal refreshments and loves his salty snacks. Snoop makes sure his cookbook has plenty of munchies and finger foods like loaded nachos and Doggs in a Blanket to keep his crew happy. The book is a fun look into the life of the great O.G. himself, Snoop Dogg.
Purchase "From Crook to Cook: Platinum Recipes from Tha Boss Dogg's Kitchen" from Amazon for $15.62.
The Bob's Burgers Burger Book: Real Recipes for Joke Burgers
The burger-centric cookbook is based on Bob's Burgers, the animated series about a family-owned fast food joint. The show is a funny, creative look into family dynamics and the absurdities of life. This cult favorite features a stream of eccentric characters that shuffle through the fast food establishment. One of the weekly highlights of the show is the daily burger specials with pun-filled names like "A Good Manchego Is Hard To Find," "Free To Brie You And Me Burger," and "Bruschetta-bout-it Burger." These burger puns on the daily special are more than just a silly side gag. They are now actual burgers that you can make and enjoy at home.
The cookbook idea came from the engineer turned blogger Cole Bowden who was a fan of the show and created the blog The Bob's Burger Experiment to try to create the pun-based weekly burger specials (via NPR). He later teamed up with the show's creator Loren Bouchard to make a cookbook based on whimsical burgers. So if you like your burgers with a side of extra puns, this book is for you.
Purchase "The Bob's Burgers Burger Book: Real Recipes for Joke Burgers" from Amazon for $13.99.
Gilmore Girls: The Official Cookbook
Gilmore Girls has been off the air since 2007, but fans remain loyal to this comforting show. The quirky characters captured the hearts of fans who wanted Lorelai to be their mother and Rory to be their best friend. It explored the unconditional love between a mother and daughter while navigating life's unexpected ups and downs. You can relive the fun times from Star's Hollow with the official Gilmore Girls cookbook. It features over 50 recipes from the popular show that guided viewers through the growing pains of adolescence. From Luke's Diner to the Dragonfly Inn to the comfort of Rory and Lorelai's home, the recipes will take you back to when you first fell in love with the mother and daughter duo.
If you are new to cooking, Chef Sookie shares lots of cooking tips to help you navigate the recipes and recreate the small-town feeling of sharing a meal with friends and family.
Purchase "Gilmore Girls: The Official Cookbook" from Amazon for $22.99.
Street Fighter: The Official Street Food Cookbook
If you want to level up your cooking, this one-of-a-kind cookbook devoted to street food is for you. It is based on the characters of the video game franchise Street Fighter. The cookbook has over 80 recipes based on the street food of each character and the recipes take you on an international culinary trip to discover the best street foods.
The cookbook is narrated by Street Fighter veteran Sakura Kasugano and follows her adventures traveling around the world, training, fighting, and, of course, eating. Having a character from the series navigate and narrate gets the reader closer to the game and lets you feel like you are a part of the experience, reports SYFY.
The cookbook is easy to understand, and the recipes translate well for chefs of all skill levels. The 250-page cookbook is organized much like the video game itself and is divided into countries. There is an extensive list of ingredients that covers unique international items that may be difficult to find and shares possible substitutions. The cookbook takes you from Spanish chorizo to Japanese milk bread and everywhere in between. The collection of recipes gives a voice to each fighter and lets readers enter into the world of Street Fighter.
Purchase "Street Fighter: The Official Street Food Cookbook" from Amazon for $22.25.
The Official Harry Potter Baking Book
Did you wait patiently for your letter to Hogwarts? Did you dream of sharing a Butter Beer with Harry and his pals? Well, The Official Harry Potter Baking Book won't be able to get you into Hogwarts, but it will let you make the foods that Harry, Hermione, and Ron enjoyed while studying magic and fighting evil. The cookbook has over 40 recipes for Harry Potter fans to dive into. The collection of recipes is divided into two sections for sweet and savory with varying skill levels.
Learning recipes from the Harry Potter world of magic lets young chefs play in the world of wizardry while learning basic cooking skills. Parents will love watching their kids get excited about cooking and will be pleased to know that, according to CNN, young people who show interest in food preparation and kitchen skills tend to follow a healthy diet as they grow older. Not only has the Harry Potter series shown kids that reading is fun, but it's also now showing them that cooking is fun too. This book is the perfect gift for the little wizards in your life.
Purchase "The Official Harry Potter Baking Book" from Amazon for $13.98.
The Unofficial Studio Ghibli Cookbook
Studio Ghibli, the Japanese animation studio that has delighted audiences with films like Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, and Ponyo, has captured the hearts of fans with its beloved characters and stories. The fantasy worlds that director Hayao Miyazaki has created are full of playful energy and, you guessed it, food. Each film pays special attention to meals; from the sizzle of bacon to the crunch of toast to the soft swoosh of a knife slicing cheese, the foods take center stage. And now fans can recreate those dishes with a cookbook devoted to the cinematic world of Studio Ghibli.
If you love anime and manga but are new to Japanese food, you may be surprised to learn there is more to Japanese food than just sushi and sake. Fans of Studio Ghibli's films can experience the connection between pop culture and food with this new cookbook. The unofficial cookbook celebrates Japanese comfort food while paying homage to Japanese animation. The over 50 recipes included range from simple like the on-the-go ham sandwich to the more complex mackerel braised in miso to the whimsical Black Cat Icebox Shortbread cookies. Cooking has never been so fun.
Purchase "The Unofficial Studio Ghibli Cookbook" from Amazon for $17.96.
As Cooked on TikTok
TikTok has taken over social media and has been setting trends in music, fashion, and culture. This growing platform hosts creators showing the world their unique take on everything that matters. TikTok continues to grow and currently boasts 1 billion active users in over 150 countries (via Wallaroo Media). Whether you use TikTok to learn new dance moves or try out popular food hacks, you know the platform is the place to see and be seen.
Recently, food influencers have taken over the social media platform with their relatable and fun recipes. A new cookbook celebrates these TikTok finds and has assembled all of the most popular recipes from the most prolific creators in one place (and it credits the people who made the recipes or popularized them on the app, which is good). So you can try the Baked Feta Pasta Soup, Ramen Carbonara, Colorful Cloud Bread, and many more crowd-pleasing favorites.
Purchase "As Cooked on TikTok" from Amazon for $13.45.
Marvel Eat the Universe: The Official Cookbook
Marvel fans can get even closer to their favorite superheroes through the official Marvel cookbook. The cookbook is a companion piece to the popular digital series Eat the Universe created by celebrity chef Justin Warner. Each episode explores a recipe connected to each character of Marvel's multiverse. The cookbook features the best recipes created by the show, and fans can make Black Bolt's Sore Throat Tea, Deadpool's Chimichangitas, Ghost Rider's Formerly Fiery Fondue, and Rocket Racoon's Trash Omelet, just to name a few.
The eclectic cookbook is divided into sections: Chicken, beef, seafood, pork, vegetarian, beyond the universe, and dessert. The recipes are straightforward with easy-to-follow instructions, so you don't need extraordinary cooking skills to make The Fantastic Four Grilled Cheese or Ant-Man's Tiny Ice-Cream Cones. Almost all of the recipes have a video from the series, so if you need some guidance as you recreate the recipes, Marvel has you covered while you cook your way through the multiverse.
Purchase "Marvel Eat the Universe: The Official Cookbook" from Amazon for $18.79.