My husband introduced our teens and me to Binging with Babish on youtube a few years ago and this cookbook definitely encompasses the author’s charm and humor.

I'm going to go so far as to write that these are basics, elevated. This isn't a negative, by any means. It's the difference between something that tastes good to something that tastes great. This is a great how-to / cookbook for anyone who wants to learn how to cook - my teens have been cooking and baking for a few years and they found this book very informative.

There’s a lot in here. The chapters are below, but this list doesn’t encompass the spices, pantry ingredients, cookware and accessories, etc. that the author has added.
Chapter 1 - Bread
Chapter 2 - Pizza
Chapter 3 - Pasta
Chapter 4 - Eggs
Chapter 5 - Vegetables / Side Dishes
Chapter 6 - Seafood
Chapter 7 - Poultry
Chapter 8 - Pork
Chapter 9 - Beef
Chapter 10 - Desserts

**Note - There's a lot of dairy and meat - from raw prep on. If you’ve watched the youtube channel, you know, but if not this one isn't going to work for most vegetarians, nevermind vegans.


Thank you to S&S/Simon Element and NetGalley for the DRC!

Awesome cookbook filled with great recipes! I enjoy how the author discusses his own mistakes, and gives tips to improve your own cooking! Beautiful photos and great explanations accompany the witty Babish anecdotes.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon Element, S&S/Simon Element for the ARC!

This is a fantastic cookbook filled with some great recipes. What I really like is the fact that he talks about mistakes he has made while cooking each recipe and hints to make sure your dish comes out great. I think he really brings out the joy that can be had in cooking and baking.

As a family we have enjoyed Binging woth Babish, and this cookbook does not disappoint. Beautiful photographs, great explanations and recipes we would both make and eat!
Thanks to the publisher, author and NetGalley for the ARC.

Babish is witty and clever. I suspect maybe he thought people wouldn’t read every word of his book because some of the things he wrote caught me off guard and made me chuckle.

The recipes this time were a little more out of my wheelhouse. I may try a few, but there were not many that screamed to be made. Shame, because I really enjoyed the other book I tried. With that said, my daughter thought this one was better. To each their own!

I've been watching Babish's videos for years. I love his cookware products. When I saw he was publishing a cookbook, I knew it was a go-to reference book because he does such an amazing job at relaying cooking techniques for the amateur cook. Even experienced cooks can learn something new from Basics with Babish. The photography and recipes were absolute perfection. I've bookmarked several recipes that will become household staples, especially the baking recipes.
Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to give an honest review of this cookbook.

I’ve followed Andrew for years. He’s always reminded me of a younger Alton Brown. His videos have always been easy to understand as well as his cookbooks. This one is no different. It explains things in such a simple way that anyone would be able to follow. The pictures are gorgeous. Plus, it gives an insight into Andrew’s life. This cookbook is amazing. I think anyone that enjoys cooking, even if it’s just a little bit, should own this book and have it on their shelf. It really is a fantastic read and cookbook.

As a long time fan of all things Babish, it's no surprise that this cookbook is a delight. Equal parts approachable, entertaining, and easy-to-follow, Basics with Babish is perfect for beginners, experts, and everyone in between.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the ARC of this title!

There is nothing basic about Basics with Babish. This is the most detailed, well thought through, wonderfully put together, and beautifully illustrated cookbook with insights into how to cook and what to do if and when things don't go as planned in the kitchen. Learning from his many attempts and mistakes will help beginners and seasoned cooks alike learn a thing or two in the kitchen. It has me ready to take on some items that I've failed at previously because I have valuable information on how to avoid another failure. I think everyone should have this book in their kitchen and I plan to use it as a gift for those just moving out, for newlyweds, and for those who need a bit of confidence in the kitchen!

Reviewed for NetGalley:

My husband and I love watching recipes with Babish, so was glad to be able to pick up his cookbook early.

Some great recipes that we will definitely be trying. Simple ingredients for the most part, and easy to follow instructions.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishers for this Advanced Readers Copy of Basics with Babish by Andrew Rea!

I love Babish, I've been watching his channel since the beginning. This cookbook is awesome, and so helpful, even for someone who is not unexperienced in the kitchen. It's beautiful and fun, and his personality really shows in it. My favorite part is the 'How I've Screwed This Up' section, it's so nice to know that even experienced people have issues sometimes, and to hear from their advice to help people learn how to not make the same mistakes. Can't wait to purchase the hardcover version!

I’m a big fan of the binging with Babish YouTube channel and was so happy for a chance to read his new cookbook. I really really loved it. The write ups before each recipe were informative and funny and o tried some of them and they were very good,

This book, contrary to the title, is not really a book of basics. New cooks who are fans of the author may find it a useful addition to their cookbook shelf, but the recipes, while detailed, are not put together in a way to make it useful. It feels as if Rea took lots of time with the bread chapter, with many pictures showing the steps in making each bread, but then he lost interest. No other chapter has any pictures of the process, something else not good for beginning cooks.

Unless you are a big fan of the Babish videos, skip this book.

I was really excited to see this book! Previously, I had watched some of Babish's youtube videos and was very interested in reading his cookbook. I really enjoyed everything about this cookbook! The images are stunning and the layout is great! I like that he is not a trained chef but just like everyone else, teaching these great techniques. It is a great addition to add information like troubleshooting and mistakes he has made making the recipes. The variety of recipes was also great from Bolognese to apple pie! This would be a great addition to a new home owner or an amateur chef! I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I've followed Babish on and off for awhile now and I love his cooking style! I was excited to see this new cookbook. One thing I love that he does is breaks down common kitchen tools, spices, herbs, etc in a way that is so friendly to a beginner or even expert cook. I found this book a great intro to staple dishes and some harder to make items. I can't wait to bake and cook my way through it!

I have followed Andrew Rea for years and years on YouTube so I was very excited to be able to review his cookbook. It was great. I love how he started each recipe with mistakes that he made. It was very well written and easy to follow. I cannot wait to try some of the recipes!

As a follower of this man’s YouTube since forever I love his cookbooks. I had to get my hands on it and it’s amazing. I love the recipes and I can’t wait to get started from cover to cover.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I think Babish and I have different definitions of basic because this is a thorough book that spans a lot of recipes! There's a variety of recipes for pastas, meat, veggies, and breads with pictures and helpful instructions. Babish talks about mistakes that are common with the recipes and how to fix them (including mistakes he's made). A not insignificant part of this book is focused on meat (including sea food) and if you have any dietary restrictions there's not really alternatives suggested so less of the book may be useful. This book is helpful in showing what to expect from various recipes and how to ensure success when cooking.

Basics with Babish is a great cookbook for the author's YouTube fans and aspiring cooks alike. Basics with Babish is just that -- a tour through some of the basics of cooking and baking. Chapters are devoted to bread, pasta, vegetables, pizza, several meats, and everyone's favorite -- dessert!

I love that every recipe starts with a section of FAQ-like entries of ways the recipe can go sideways with solutions to those problems. It prepares you with the information you need to succeed before you even look at the ingredients. This makes it feel like you're actually learning something as opposed to blindly following steps and hoping for the best.

As for the book itself, the photography is great and I love that they didn't follow a common influencer trend of putting QR codes on every recipe. If people are reading your book, you don't need to push your channel so hard! Stay classy, Babish.