To kick off the release of Ina’s memoir this week, I’m re-sharing my ranking of Ina’s 13 cookbooks – as many of you have requested over the years!!
Initially, the plan was to simply rank them by averaging all my recipe ratings from each book. However, I realized that raw numbers were just one way to judge a book – there are specific memories, nostalgia, preferred structure and theme, and those-little-things- you-can’t-quite-put-your-finger-on that may factor into why you lean toward one book over another.
I’ve often found that people’s favorites tend to be one of the first Ina books they purchased which makes sense as these are often the Ina recipes that first hooked you and the ones that have become part of your regular repertoire or holiday meals you’ve shared with family and friends for years.
Ranking the books proved challenging – with such high-quality recipes in each, we’re really splitting hairs. My average recipe ratings range from 4.3 to 4.7, with 55 percent of all recipes earning a 5-star rating. But who’s surprised? We’re talking about Ina Garten, after all.
I’m sure some (or many) of you will disagree with some of the rankings – especially if your favorite appears toward the bottom of the list. Remember, though, neither of us is “right”! It’s all subjective, and you can’t go wrong with any of Ina’s books! Rankings begin with my favorite at the top!
And don’t forget, for a small donation to one of my favorite food-related nonprofits, you can access my full spreadsheet reviewing ever single Barefoot Contessa recipe. Details here.
1. BAREFOOT AT HOME
Release Date: October 1, 2006
Date Completed: April 18, 2021
Total Recipes: 98
My Average Rating of Recipes: 4.48/5
Other ratings: Goodreads – 4.08; Amazon – 4.7
Best for: The New Cook, First Ina Cookbook
The caption says it all – I return the simple yet delicious recipes in this book over and over again. It’s the one I recommend to everyone whether new to Ina, new to the kitchen, or an old pro!
Recipe Highlights
- Coconut Cake
- Jon Snow Fish Salad
- Beatty’s Chocolate Cake
- Summer Garden Pasta
2. COOK LIKE A PRO
Release Date: October 23, 2018
Date Completed: February 7, 2022
Total Recipes: 100
My Average Rating of Recipes: 4.61/5
Other ratings: Goodreads – 4.1; Amazon – 4.7
Best for: Up Your Kitchen Game Cook
So many of my absolute favorite recipes come from this one. Sure, there are some complicated ones, but with Ina’s guidance, you’re sure to be able to tackle any one no matter your skill level in the kitchen.
Recipe Highlights
- Fried Chicken Sandwich
- Chicken Thighs with Creamy Mustard Sauce
- Cauliflower Toasts
- Charlie Bird’s Farro Salad
Top 10 Recipes from Cook Like A Pro
3. MODERN COMFORT FOOD
Release Date: October 6, 2020
Date Completed: March 13, 2022
Total Recipes: 96
My Average Rating of Recipes: 4.66/5
Other ratings: Goodreads – 3.81; Amazon – 4.8
Best for: The Nostalgic Cook Who’s Grown Up
I absolutely loved the concept of this book – classic comfort foods with modern twists. It arrived just when we needed it and recipe after recipe is a hit! This one earned my highest average ranking of all the books!
Recipe Highlights
- Banana Rum Trifle
- Fresh Crab Nachos
- Shrimp & Linguine Fra Diavolo
- Milk Chocolate Oreo Ice Cream
Top 10 Recipes from Modern Comfort Food
4. HOW EASY IS THAT
Release Date: October 26, 2010
Date Completed: July 18, 2021
Total Recipes: 97
My Average Rating of Recipes:4.46
Other ratings: Goodreads – 4.26; Amazon – 4.8
Best for: The Ain’t Nobody Got Time For That Cook
One of the earlier books I purchased – so many of the recipes have become staples in my kitchen and bring back great memories from the beginning of this project!
Recipe Highlights
- Soppressata & Cheese Puff Pastry
- Mocha Chocolate Icebox Cake
- Jeffrey’s Roast Chicken
- Herbed Ricotta Bruschetta
Top 10 Recipes from How Easy Is That
5. BACK TO BASICS
Release Date: October 28, 2008
Date Completed: May 23. 2021
Total Recipes: 98
My Average Rating of Recipes: 4.38
Other ratings: Goodreads – 4.06; Amazon – 4.8
Best for: The New Cook
The book that turned me on to Ina. The first recipes I ever made of hers were from this book and they opened me up to the world of cook. Simple recipes that tasted phenomenal and convinced me I could cook!
Recipe Highlights
- Niman Ranch Burgers
- Baked Shrimp Scampi
- Roasted Potato Leek Soup
- Turkey Roulade
Top 10 Recipes from Back to Basics
6. FAMILY STYLE
Release Date: October 29, 2002
Date Completed: January 14, 2021
Total Recipes: 92
My Average Rating of Recipes: 4.4
Other ratings: Goodreads – 4.04; Amazon – 4.8
Best for: The Classic Cook
I think this tops a lot of people’s favorites list and I can understand why. It’s packed with Ina’s takes on tons of classics – every one a dish you’ll make over and over!
Recipe Highlights
- Lasagna with Turkey Sausage
- Flag Cake
- Chicken Stew with Biscuits
- Mac & Cheese
Top 10 Recipes from Family Style
7. BAREFOOT IN PARIS
Release Date: October 26, 2004
Date Completed: February 21, 2021
Total Recipes: 93
My Average Rating of Recipes: 4.45
Other ratings: Goodreads – 4.13; Amazon – 4.8
Best for: Francophile, Looking to Impress Cook
For many years this was my favorite cookbook – I love Paris and loved the challenging recipes in this book. Over the years I didn’t find myself returning to a lot of the recipes from here hence the drop in rank!
Recipe Highlights
- Herbed-Baked Eggs
- Chicken with Morels
- Coeur a la Creme with Raspberries
- Boeuf Bourguignon
Top 10 Recipes from Barefoot in Paris
8. FOOLPROOF
Release Date: October 30, 2012
Date Completed: September 26, 2021
Total Recipes: 99
My Average Rating of Recipes: 4.48
Other ratings: Goodreads – 4.28; Amazon – 4.8
Best for: The Up Your Thanksgiving Game Cook
Get this for the Thanksgiving section alone – her foolproof guide to the biggest cooking day of the year has saved me!
Recipe Highlights
- Osso Buco
- Truffled Mashed Potatoes
- Roasted Sausages & Grapes
- Sticky Toffee Date Cake
9. BAREFOOT CONTESSA COOKBOOK
Release Date: April 6, 1999
Date Completed: April 7, 2019
Total Recipes: 95
My Average Rating of Recipes: 4.28
Other ratings: Goodreads – 4.06; Amazon – 4.7
Best for: The Caterer
Ina’s first cookbook is a classic but fell down the list for two reasons: 1.) the recipe sizes harken back to her catering days often requiring them to be cut in half (or more) and 2.) while there are a lot of amazing recipes there were a number that just weren’t my jam which dragged the average rating down.
Recipe Highlights
- Gazpacho
- Potato-Fennel Gratin
- Coconut Cupcakes
- Pecan Squares
Top 10 Recipes from Barefoot Contessa Cookbook
10. COOKING FOR JEFFREY
Release Date: October 25, 2016
Date Completed: January 10, 2022
Total Recipes: 90
My Average Rating of Recipes: 4.5
Other ratings: Goodreads – 4.21; Amazon – 4.7
Best for: Jeffrey Garten
This one contains my all-time favorite Ina recipe – Rigatoni with Sausage and Fennel! While there are plenty of great recipes, I don’t find myself returning to this one as often.
Recipe Highlights
- Rigatoni with Sausage and Fennel
- Anna’s Tomato Tart
- Raspberry Rhubarb Crostata
- Butternut Squash & Ricotta Bruschetta
Top 10 Recipes from Cooking for Jeffrey
11. MAKE IT AHEAD
Release Date: October 28, 2014
Date Completed: November 8, 2021
Total Recipes: 101
Average Rating: 4.46
My Average Rating of Recipes: Goodreads – 4.21; Amazon – 4.6
Best for: The Planner
Love the concept. Love the recipes. I just can’t figure out why this one doesn’t inspire me as much as the others. Sometimes it’s just a feeling!
Recipe Highlights
- Jalapeno Margaritas
- Ham & Leek Empanadas
- Grilled New York Strip Steaks
- Vanilla Semifreddo with Raspberry Sauce
Top 10 Recipes from Make It Ahead
12. PARTIES
Release Date: March 27, 2001
Date Completed: November 8, 2020
Total Recipes: 87
My Average Rating of Recipes: 4.41
Other ratings: Goodreads – 4.21; Amazon – 4.8
Best for: The Dinner Party Lover
I have a feeling I’m going to get A LOT of flak for where this one landed on the list, but hear me out. There is not an Ina book that has an average recipe rating that dips below 4.28 so I have to split hairs – and I’m just not a huge fan of menu-themed cookbooks. The recipes in here are stellar – I just didn’t love the setup as I found it hard to just open up and get inspired based on the type of dish I was looking to make (dinner, soup, dessert, breakfast, etc). It’s just not how I cook!
Recipe Highlights
- Lemon Bars
- Pasta, Pesto and Peas
- Spinach Gratin
- Caramel Chocolate Nut Ice Cream
13. GO-TO DINNERS
Release Date: October 5, 2022
Date Completed: October 2, 2023
Total Recipes: 84
My Average Rating of Recipes: 4.3
Other ratings: Goodreads – 4.3; Amazon – 4.7
Best for: The New to Ina or Cooking
Having made every single one of Ina’s recipes may have biased my view of this book from the start. When I first browsed through it, I realized I had already made about a third of the recipes (she released several during the pandemic and included others in an updated Costco edition of her first book) or recognized them as updates of dishes from her existing repertoire. That said, the book still contains plenty of phenomenal recipes – this one just might not appeal as much to die-hard Ina fans.
Recipe Highlights
- Oven-Roasted Southern “Shrimp Boil”
- Fresh Berry & Mascarpone Tart
- Smoked Salmon Quesadillas
- Blueberry Ricotta Breakfast Cake
Top 10 Recipes from Go-To Dinners
More BEST OF INA here.
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