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Susie (she/her) is a queer writer originally from Little Rock, now living in Washington, DC. She is the author of three rom-coms: QUEERLY BELOVED, LOOKING FOR A SIGN, and BED AND BREAKUP, all from Dial Press/Random House. Susie is also a bookseller at her favorite local indie bookstore and a cupcake enthusiast. You can find her on Instagram @susiedoom.

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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.

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Susie (she/her) is a queer writer originally from Little Rock, now living in Washington, DC. She is the author of three rom-coms: QUEERLY BELOVED, LOOKING FOR A SIGN, and BED AND BREAKUP, all from Dial Press/Random House. Susie is also a bookseller at her favorite local indie bookstore and a cupcake enthusiast. You can find her on Instagram @susiedoom.

View All posts by Susie Dumond

Cook Like Your Ancestors: An Illustrated Guide to Intuitive Cooking with Recipes from Around the World by Mariah-Rose Marie

Have you ever gotten annoyed at relatives trying to teach you to cook a dish by saying things like “a pinch of this, a dollop of that”? In this gorgeous cookbook combining comics and illustrations, you’ll find a thoughtfully curated guide to “intuitive cooking,” meaning less measuring and precision and more following your senses. Artist Mariah-Rose Marie shares guidance for finding the right kitchen tools, using the ingredients you have on hand, caring for cast iron, and so much more. Even better, the book includes twenty vegetarian recipes for classic dishes from around the globe. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or new in the kitchen, this cookbook will give you new skills and flavors to explore.

Tomorrow’s Kitchen: A Graphic Novel Cookbook illustrated by Shuangshuang Hao

This Gourmand Award-winning graphic cookbook beautifully illustrates recipes from a variety of immigrant creators, coordinated by Küche, a food-led organization in Glasgow that helps cooks who are navigating the UK immigration system. Even better, the recipes come with personal stories and reflections on heritage and culture from their creators, who are professional chefs, food writers, activists, and more. Illustrated by BAFTA nominee Shuangshuang Hao, it’s a powerful cookbook that will make you want to try something new.

Let’s Make Dumplings!: A Comic Book Cookbook by Hugh Amano and Sarah Becan

Dumplings are one of those dishes that are especially difficult to learn to make from written text in a cookbook alone. If you don’t have a parent or grandparent to teach you to make dumplings, comics are the next best thing. This comic cookbook combines the powers of chef Hugh Amano and artist Sarah Becan to show that making dumplings isn’t as scary as it seems. You’ll find a guide to the most popular folding styles, instructions for different cooking styles, and recipes for fillings like pork gyoza, crab rangoon, and sweet Cambodian rice dumplings. Once you fall in love with it, check out Let’s Make Ramen! by the same authors and Let’s Make Bread! by the same illustrator in partnership with chef Ken Forkish.

The Poorcraft Cookbook by Nero Villagallos O’Reilly

Cooking on a budget? Then this is the graphic cookbook for you. Artist Nero Villagallos O’Reilly shows that you don’t have to be rich to shop ethically and eat delicious, veggie-forward meals. The Poorcraft Cookbook includes comics about meal planning, grocery shopping for less, setting up your kitchen, and saving money by making your own spice blends. It also features dozens of vegetarian and vegan recipes for a variety of skill levels. This book makes a great gift for new grads and anyone moving into their own home for the first time.

Pickles, Illustrated by Karen Solomon, illustrated by Alice Oehr (coming Sept. 16 from Chronicle Books)

Alright, I’ll admit that this isn’t exactly a graphic cookbook in the sense of having comic panels and characters, but it’s such an adorable little book with colorful illustrations that I couldn’t help but include it. In this pocket-sized cookbook, you’ll find recipes for pickles, savory, sweet, sour, and spicy—from classic dill to vibrant red onions to Korean kimchi and beyond. Each pickle is paired with a vivid illustration, and you’ll also find plenty of fun pickling facts along the way. Pickles, Illustrated makes a perfect gift for your favorite fermented food lover, and the delightful artwork might just convince me to get a pickle tattoo.

The Comic Book History of the Cocktail: Five Centuries of Mixing Drinks and Carrying On by David Wondrich, illustrated by Dean Kotz (coming Sept. 23 from Ten Speed Graphic)

Have you ever paused while drinking an old fashioned to wonder just how old your cocktail is? This comic history book dives into the world of cocktails, from ancient wassail to Renaissance trends to Prohibition-era creations, all of which have shaped what we order when we walk into a bar today. Along with all that fascinating history, you’ll find twenty recipes for classic cocktails with illustrations to help you mix them just right.

Queers at the Table: An Illustrated Guide to Queer Food (with Recipes) edited by Alex D. Ketchum and Megan J. Elias (coming Oct. 7 from Arsenal Pulp Press)

Queer foodies: this book is made for you! This anthology of comics, essays, and illustrated recipes celebrates the role food plays in queer history and culture. From queer farming and foraging to beloved LGBTQ+ restaurants and cafés, it’s full of fascinating stories. But even more, it’s got comic-supported recipes to bring the flavors of queer history to your own dining room. The breadth of backgrounds of the book’s contributors, combined with the bright illustrations and comics, makes this collection really special.

Where There’s Smoke, There’s Dinner: Confessions of a Cartoonist Cook by Jennifer Hayden (coming Nov. 11 from IDW Publishing)

So you might not actually want to follow the recipes in this book, as they’re known for going off the rails. But if you’re someone who struggles to get food to behave in the kitchen, you’ll find Where There’s Smoke, There’s Dinner very relatable. Jennifer Hayden is known for her comics and illustrations. Her cooking? Not so much. In this “anti-cookbook,” Hayden pokes fun at her own ability to burn every ingredient she touches, including water. It’s a hilarious graphic memoir full of satirical recipes that teach you to roll with the punches when things don’t go to plan.

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Still hungry? Check out more in Delicious Comic Cookbooks for the Consummate Food Nerd.

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