The Cravings cookbook series by Chrissy Teigen has earned a loyal following because the recipes actually taste like something worth craving. Bold seasoning, honest comfort food, and an approachable voice make these books a regular pull off the shelf. Below are the five best resources to get the most out of cooking from this series, from the books themselves to the key kitchen tools that make the recipes land right.
| Product | Price | Best For | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cravings: Recipes for All the Food You Want to Eat | ~$22 | The essential starter cookbook | 4.8/5 |
| Cravings: Hungry for More | ~$20 | Expanding your Teigen recipe library | 4.7/5 |
| Lodge 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet | ~$45 | Searing and skillet recipes | 4.8/5 |
| KitchenAid 5-Quart Stand Mixer | ~$330 | Baking and dessert recipes | 4.8/5 |
| Le Creuset 5.5-Qt Dutch Oven | ~$380 | Soups, braises, and slow cooks | 4.9/5 |
Cravings: Recipes for All the Food You Want to Eat - Best Starting Point
The original Cravings cookbook is the place to start. It covers Teigen’s most signature recipes including her Thai chicken soup, jalapeño creamed corn, and John’s fried chicken. The writing is personal and funny without sacrificing clarity on technique. Recipes are organized loosely by type rather than rigid meal categories, which reflects how most people actually cook. The photography is generous and genuinely representative of what finished dishes look like. This is the cookbook that made the series famous, and it earns that reputation on the strength of recipes that work reliably.
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Cravings: Hungry for More - Best Second Volume
Hungry for More picks up where the first book left off with more globally influenced recipes, additional baking content, and expanded breakfast and brunch sections. The Buffalo chicken salad and banana bread recipes from this volume have become standards in many households. Instructions are slightly more detailed in this edition, making it a good choice for cooks who found themselves wanting more context in the first book. The cocktail section is also a practical addition for anyone who entertains.
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Lodge 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet - Best Pan for Cravings Recipes
A significant share of the stovetop recipes in both Cravings books call for a heavy skillet, and cast iron is the right tool for the searing temperatures these dishes require. The Lodge 12-inch is pre-seasoned, affordable, and essentially indestructible with basic care. It goes from stovetop to oven seamlessly, which matters for recipes that start with a sear and finish with a bake. It retains heat better than stainless or non-stick, which produces the crusts and browning that make Teigen’s chicken and pork dishes taste restaurant-quality at home.
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KitchenAid 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer - Best for Baking Recipes
The baking chapters in both Cravings volumes are where a stand mixer earns its counter space. The KitchenAid 5-quart is the benchmark for home stand mixers. It handles cookie doughs, cake batters, and whipped toppings without strain. Teigen’s banana bread, pound cake, and frosted dessert recipes benefit from the consistent mixing that a stand mixer provides compared to hand mixing. The broad attachment ecosystem also extends it to pasta dough and other recipes across both books.
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Le Creuset 5.5-Qt Dutch Oven - Best for Soups and Braises
The Thai-inspired soups, braised meats, and slow-cooked dishes throughout the Cravings series are best made in a proper Dutch oven. The Le Creuset 5.5-quart is the standard against which all others are measured. Enameled cast iron distributes heat evenly and retains it long enough for low, slow cooking without hot spots. It moves from stovetop to oven to table without issue. The investment is significant, but it is a piece of cookware that outlasts everything else in the kitchen and directly improves the results of several of the most impressive recipes in Teigen’s catalog.
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What to Look For
When building a kitchen around the Cravings cookbooks, prioritize cookware that handles high heat and transitions between stovetop and oven. A cast iron skillet and a Dutch oven cover the majority of the savory recipes. For baking, a stand mixer and a reliable set of baking sheets are enough to tackle the dessert chapters. If budget is limited, start with the original Cravings cookbook and the Lodge skillet. that combination unlocks more than half the recipes in the series for a combined cost under $70.
Final Thoughts
The Cravings series earns its place on a working kitchen shelf because the recipes are genuinely good, not just visually appealing. Whether you start with the original volume or jump to Hungry for More, the food is honest, well-seasoned, and designed to be cooked rather than admired. Pair the books with quality cookware and the results will match or exceed what the photography promises.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Cravings cookbook series by Chrissy Teigen?+
The Cravings series is a collection of cookbooks by model and food personality Chrissy Teigen. The books focus on bold, comfort-driven American and Asian-influenced recipes. They are written in a casual, approachable tone designed for home cooks of all skill levels. Two main volumes plus a dedicated Hungry for More edition cover everything from weeknight dinners to celebratory meals.
Are the recipes in Cravings beginner-friendly?+
Most recipes in the Cravings books are accessible to beginner cooks. Teigen writes with clear instructions and minimal jargon, and the ingredient lists tend to use widely available supermarket items. A few recipes like Thai dishes or multi-component dinners require more prep time, but the majority can be completed by anyone comfortable with basic stovetop and oven cooking.
What kitchen tools do you need to cook Cravings recipes?+
A standard kitchen setup covers the majority of Cravings recipes. You will want a heavy-bottomed skillet, a large pot for soups and pasta, a baking sheet, and a good chef's knife. Some recipes call for a stand mixer or a Dutch oven. A well-seasoned cast iron pan is useful for searing and is referenced frequently throughout both volumes.