Your Pasta Sucks
A "Cookbook"
by Matteo Lane; J. J. Goode
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Pub Date Apr 01 2025 | Archive Date Mar 31 2025
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Description
Your pasta sucks, but it doesn't have to. Let celebrated comedian and totally legit author Matteo Lane show you how through 30 delicious recipes and laugh-out-loud stories.
Organized by the most important places and people in his life—from Chicago and New York to Rome and Sicily—comedian, actor, and YouTube sensation Matteo Lane’s first cookbook features recipes rooted in serious pasta knowledge but presented with his signature snarky and sassy wit. Turn these pages to find:
- A conversational recipe (definitely not an argument) with his bestie Nick Smith on their versions of Mac and Cheese.
- A short rant over the validity of “alfredo” that turns into a delicious recipe for Penna alla Vodka.
- Matteo’s foolproof Homemade Pasta recipe.
- Lots of hardworking, handy tips—like a treatise on how to not f*ck up your pasta—so you can learn while you laugh.
For fans of Matteo Lane, readers looking for a humorous take on Italian culture, or anyone who simply wants to learn “how to cook pasta like an Italian, Irish, Mexican homosexual,” Your Pasta Sucks will satisfy all.
HILARIOUS CELEBRITY COOKBOOK: Matteo Lane is a force: Named one of Variety’s Top Ten Comics to Watch, he performs for sold-out crowds all over the world. On his popular YouTube channel, Matteo guides viewers through his favorite simple dishes and regales them with hilarious asides. Fans always ask for written recipes, and this deliciously funny Italian cookbook is answering their call.
AN ENTERTAINING MESS: Matteo does not claim to be a professional when it comes to cooking. He’s real, he’s messy, and he has a major dose of hubris and charm. Delving into these pages is like inviting your bestie to dinner and having them whip up something chaotic and sublime while telling you the most entertaining bit of gossip you’ve ever heard.
A SNARKY LOVE LETTER TO ITALIAN CULTURE: From a guide to how to order coffee in Rome (it can be more complicated than you think) to an ode to Matteo's favorite pasta personalities, a silly list of things you'll find in a nonna's house, and much more—this cookbook is more than just a collection of delicious Italian recipes. It's a tongue-in-cheek love letter to the wild and wonderful life that Matteo inhabits.
Perfect for:
- Fans of Matteo Lane and his standup comedy
- People looking for books that celebrate Italian and Italian American culture
- Supporters of LGBTQIA+ content creators
- Fans of Italian cooking and food-centric entertainers like The Pasta Queen
- Foodies looking for a unique present for a housewarming, birthday, holiday, or host/hostess gift
Available Editions
EDITION | Other Format |
ISBN | 9781797229560 |
PRICE | $29.95 (USD) |
PAGES | 176 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
I really enjoyed the recipes of this book and how it worked in this genre. It had that concept that I was looking for and had that humorous element that I wanted from Matteo Lane and J. J. Goode.
I have been following Matteo on socials for a while now so when I saw he was coming out with this book I knew I had to read it. And it was not only funny but heartfelt and very well thought out. The pictures were vibrant and had a homey feeling. I liked that he included like an anecdote or origin before every recipe, his family has big part in a lot of them and you can feel that food brings them together. One of my favorite parts was the found family chapter, it was funny and it showed that sometimes we can choose our own family and the play an integral part in the things we enjoy. The recipes look delicious and I can't wait to make some and try them myself.
Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this ARC, all opinions are my own.
Loved this!! I have heard of some of the dishes in this book, but was surprised to discover new pasta recipes. I am someone who can eat pasta everyday so finding out new dishes is such a win for me. I do tend to lean towards eating vegetarian and luckily most of these dishes can be turned veggie friendly. Definitely looking forward to trying out more dishes!
I received an ARC of this cookbook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a great cookbook. It's full of delicious recipes that are interspersed with funny stories about the author's family!
Your Pasta Sucks A “Cookbook” is a fun and funny take on making pasta. The author uses his unique experiences and his own recipe to show readers how pasta should be made. The book is a journey of both learning to make pasta and learning about the author. I love this approach because it makes the recipes seem more personal and authentic and also helps connect the reader to the author. The authors sense of humor and quirky style made this a really enjoyable read. The recipes were great. Some were more unique then others. All of them were well explained with amazing photos to accompany them. This would be a great book for anyone to add to their collection. It would also make a wonderful gift as well. I definitely recommend this book.
I got an ARC for this and was super excited about it because I love Mateo and have been watching his YouTube for a few years now. I expected this to be a cookbook, and as a non-cooker, I wasn’t sure how I would feel. But I was nicely surprised!
The personal anecdotes and stories from Mateo about growing up and his culture influencing his love of pasta really gave me a better understanding as to why it’s so important to him. And of course he’s hilarious so the little quips kept me laughing. But on the same hand, it is still a cookbook and quite frankly, it’s way more advanced than I am in the kitchen and most of the recipes require a real true passion for the food and art of cooking. So will I ever read this again? Probably not. Will I make any recipes from the book? God, no. (Nick and I will enjoy our simple meals just fine!) But did I enjoy it for what it was? Sure.
I like this guy and follow him on Instagram. I figured his cookbook would be both amusing and filled with Italian recipes and I was right.
It’s funny, every recipe has a beautiful picture and lots of decisions are ones I’ll want to try. The ingredients are easy to find and the recipes aren’t overly complicated.
I saved these:
Pasta Della Momma
Eggplant parmigiana
Pasta carbonara
Pasta alla gricia
Aglio e olio
I got to read an early ebook edition on NetGalley. Thank you!
Ok, so I have been following Matteo for a long time across various platforms. So when I saw his cookbook I knew I immediately had to have it. Let me tell you this did not disappoint! I loved getting a taste of history for what inspired each recipe and that his humor and comedy still shined throughout.
My most favorite thing is that there was ZERO FISH OR SEAFOOD. I, like Matteo also swell up when graced with its presence. I don't think I have ever read a single pasta/Italian cookbook that doesn't have some form of seafood. So for me personally this was an absolute highlight because I don't have to go through and figure out what I need to leave out or wonder if I leave it out will it still turn out well, "Do I need to add more to make up for it?"...etc, etc, etc.
I am a basic bitch so I made the Cacio E Pepe and OMG it was the best recipe I have tried by far. Every step was incredibly easy to follow. Some other standout recipes I will be trying are Gram Grams Eggplant Parmesan, Pasta Della Mamma, Pistachio Pesto pasta and Pasta al Limone.
This cookbook was a delicious love letter to Matteos family, found family and of course PASTA. I can't wait to try more recipes and see what else Matteo has up his sleeves.
"Your Pasta Sucks" is a playful and campy take on a cookbook, perfectly suited for those who are just starting their culinary journey or looking for a lighthearted addition to their kitchen shelf. Comedian Matteo Lane, known for his wit, brings a humorous twist to pasta-making, while co-author J.J. Goode lends some solid structure to the recipes.
The book doesn't take itself too seriously, making it a fun read as much as it is a cooking guide. Lane’s comedic flair shines through in the casual tone and irreverent commentary, which keeps things entertaining even if you're not planning to make a meal. There are a few genuinely solid pasta recipes sprinkled throughout that are accessible and tasty, making it a nice option for beginners who want to learn the basics without getting overwhelmed.
However, for more advanced home cooks or serious pasta aficionados, "Your Pasta Sucks" might feel a bit too simplistic. The book focuses more on fun and personality than deep dives into complex techniques, which could leave experienced cooks craving something more substantial.
Overall, it’s a quirky, enjoyable read and a perfect fit for a starter cookbook collection, but if you’re already a pasta pro, you may want to look elsewhere for more depth.
Did I specifically request this arc because I have a deep rooted love for Matteo Lane? Yes. Did I think I’d fully love this? Iffy. I’m not a huge cooker. However, I loved every single second of this. There is humor, love, photos, and pasta! Plus, we had mentions of some of my favorite humans: bob, Monet, Patti, and Jacob! Plus, I actually got some recipes that I’m actually excited to try. Matteo can do no wrong on my eyes. His talent is truly unmatched.
Your Pasta Sucks was such an enjoyable reading experience. It is filled with Matteo's family and personal history, facts about Italy and Italian food, easy to follow recipes, and so so many laughs. I don't generally expect to laugh when reading a cookbook, but this achieved laughs in spades. I would definitely recommend this book for the cooks in your life!
Thanks to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for an eARC of this cookbook for an honest review!
So many great recipes!! While I have a great sauce recipe from my parents for spaghetti, I am excited to try Matteo’s family recipe!! And the Mac and cheese recipe. And mostaccioli. And tiramisu. And just basically all of them! And having just watched some of this season of Love is Blind, I think Matteo should send a copy to Ramses and Nick from the show cause they don’t know how to make pasta!!
This book was quite fun for this being a cookbook. I already follow Matteos comedy and I felt like his voice was really there in this book. It was really silly and raunchy at times. I don't think every recipe needs 1-2 full pages of description of what it means to him or his family but I see why some people would like that. It's just a good standard Italian family recipes to make good sauce essentially. I would recommend if someone was looking for this sort of thing but I probably wouldn't recommend as a cookbook I loved if that makes sense.
I love Matt’s comedy and loved watching reels where he’d talk about cooking and actually showing his pretty impressive knowledge of Italian cuisine. This is a fun book where he talks about his origins, his trips and the recipes are pretty good, too. I can’t wait to make the penne alla vodka!
I'm a terrible cook, so why do I read cookbooks? Because I hope to come across a book like this that not only has great recipes, but explains the process well enough that even I can do it.
But as you can see from the cover, this is so much more than a cookbook. The author had so much personality I wanted to meet him more than I wanted to try the tasty dishes, and I loved his stories about his family.
I feel like I'm going to be better at cooking because of the advice he gives throughout the book. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this gorgeously illustrated cookbook
Your Pasta Sucks: A “Cookbook”
Matteo Lane
My apologies to the author: I’ve never heard of you. I am so glad I am not familiar with your name because it means I am looking at this book with fresh eyes. I have no connection to you in judging the contents of “Your Pasta Sucks.”
After reading this book, I wish I knew you. Your personality shines through in each personal anecdote and story. “Your Pasta Sucks” is so much more than a cookbook; it is humor, hilarious tales. I love the recipes although many are out of my skill level. However, there are a couple I may try.
Kudos to author, comedienne and chef Matteo Lane. I’m glad I’ve met you.
I received an ARC from NetGalley. My reviews are my personal opinions.
I wish I could give you 10 stars!
Matteo Lane’s Your Pasta Sucks is a side-splitting, delicious dive into Italian cuisine, served with a heaping side of wit and heart. Known for his stand-up comedy, Lane brings the same humor to this cookbook, mixing mouthwatering pasta recipes with wildly entertaining stories from his Italian-Irish-Mexican American upbringing. Each recipe is not just a guide to perfect pasta but also a slice of Lane’s life—hilarious tales of family quirks, cultural mix-ups, and his own coming-of-age journey, all seasoned with an unmistakable Italian zest.
I absolutely loved this book! I laughed from cover to cover and felt like I was sitting at the dinner table with Matteo and his family, soaking in every ridiculous, heartwarming story. I can’t wait to cook my way through these recipes, but honestly, even if I never pick up a pot, this book has already nourished me plenty. It’s not just a cookbook; it’s an experience—equal parts memoir, comedy, and culinary magic.
Another reason why I am obsessed with this book is its gorgeous visual design and sometime a sole reason why I buy cookbooks- to revel in the beautiful and well staged photos. The photos in Lane's book greately add to the feel and vibe of the story and its accompanying recipes.
Just delicious...
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishers for the pleasure of reading and cooking this book!
This was an enjoyable book and I loved the stories interwoven. I have followed the author since he started making videos and I was even inspired to make carbonara for the first time. I love how simple a lot of the recipes are with a focus on the ingredients. It was a bit hard to read a cookbook digitally so I look forward to the hardcover so I can see the layout with the photos better
Matteo Lane’s Your Pasta Sucks is a lovely cookbook that seamlessly combines humor, heart, and delicious food. I was charmed by Matteo’s witty storytelling and his warm, relatable anecdotes, his tone really comes through in his cookbook!
As cute as the stories are, the recipes are the real star here. Each one is simple, straightforward, and designed to make you crave pasta in the best way possible. I love how the ingredients are accessible, and easy to adjust based on what you need. Nothing feels overly complicated—just good, honest food that’s both satisfying and achievable for home cooks of any skill level.
Overall, Your Pasta Sucks is a delightful read and a fantastic resource for anyone who loves pasta, family stories, or just cooking with a lot of heart. I can’t wait to try more recipes out of this book!
I was worried this would be heavily ghost written but I was wrong. I could hear Matteo in every word I read. I learned, I laughed, I linguinied, I LOVED!!
Very much enjoyed it. Loved the family stories that accompanied the recipes. And the recipes that I was able to get into the kitchen to try were easy to follow and very delicious. Can't wait to continue trying the rest of these recipes!
Wow, what a breath of fresh air. I loved the storytelling in this cookbook. I also enjoyed the recipes I tried. I am not Italian but I felt this might be what an Italian grandmother would cook. Matteo is fantastic.
Thank you to Chronicle Books and #NetGalley for the advanced copy.
I absolutely love Matteo. He is hilarious. He says in the book he probably shouldn’t write a cook book but I think that he’s the best person to write one. I can’t wait to make these recipes, they all look so good, and I might even get my own pasta maker to make my own homemade pasta. His stories are great as well. I wish I could meet his whole family and spend a weeekend cooking with them. If you love pasta definitely pick up this book I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
Great little cookbook! Simple but delicious recipes, I tried a few and can’t wait to make the rest! I loved the layout of the book and the food photography was excellent. Thank you for making Italian cooking accessible!
I LOVE seeing Matteo on my socials and did not realize he had a cookbook coming out and I am 100% here for it!!!!!!
This is filled with his voice, and I read it with his inflections and mannerisms in my head. I’m stoked to try out the Italian recipes and how to cook like an Italian….as told by an Italian Irish Mexican Homosexual
LOL
This book was super cute and made me unbelievably hungry.
The stories of Matteo's family were so adorable and heartwarming, but then the receipes followed those stories and I went from "Awwww" to "Feed me" in about two seconds.
The recipes are very straightforward and easy to follow. Most don't even require a lot of ingredients, though some to require larger quantities of the ingredients which all can be easily halved or quartered.
I really enjoyed this cookbook and the personal stories inside. I will be making the lasagna recipe to see if it rivals my own.
I never thought I’d be calling a cookbook hilarious, but here we are. This cookbook feels like cooking at your grandmother’s house with your siblings/cousins in the best way! The recipes are great, the anecdotes are even better, + I think this is just an overall winner of a book, not just a cookbook.
I genuinely can’t recommend this one enough!
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for my advance copy!
This book is amazing! An Italian cookbook written by a comedian who jokes that he has no business writing a book. I would have to disagree, sir! Laugh-out-loud funny with recipes I am dying to try. Every recipe has a mouthwatering picture. I wish I had been able to read this book 15 years ago before I studied abroad in Rome! A must read for those with an Italian vacation coming up. I want a copy of this for my shelves! A perfect book to gift!
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC via NetGalley!
This was fun and funny, and I really enjoyed it. While I personally won't be making a lot of the recipes, I think this would make a perfect gift for a pasta lover in your life. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for honest review.
I've been a fan of Matteo Lane for a while now, so of course I was interested when I discovered he was coming out with a cookbook.
This cookbook won't give you all the ins and outs and techniques of how to cook, as Matteo isn't a trained professional. What it will offer you is delightful commentary amongst some wonderful Italian based recipes. Growing up in an Italian-American family myself, I relate to much of what Matteo says Italian culture and all the particulars involved in the cuisine.
The recipes are easy to follow along and more importantly delicious. I cook an abundance of elaborate meals myself, but I made my parents the Pasta della Mama and my father asked for seconds. Can't wait until this cookbook hits the shelves!
Matteo Lane’s Your Pasta Sucks is a rare cookbook that entertains as much as it educates, blending sharp humor, heartfelt anecdotes, and genuinely stellar recipes. This isn’t your typical culinary guide—it’s a chaotic, hilarious celebration of Italian food, culture, and unapologetic sass. Lane’s voice leaps off the page with the same charisma that’s made him a standout comedian, but don’t let his jokes fool you: this book is packed with serious culinary chops.
This book is so Matteo! It’s essentially a recipe (pun intended!) for what brings him joy and highlights what matters most in his life.
The no-fuss recipes are sprinkled with delightful stories about his Italian-American family and his travels to Italy, all delivered in the comedic style his fans know and love. Metric measurements are included which benefits the European readers.
I would’ve loved to see more vegetarian recipes, though I wasn’t really expecting them. :)
Thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the digital review copy!
This genre-defying cookbook: part memoir, part cultural heritage commentary is a fun way to think about preparing pasta. And, okay, I'll stop breaking up my spaghetti when adding it to the pot.
I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. Interesting title, might turn some people off. However, I found some good recipes that I would like his family meat sauce. There's also lots of family and personal stories about his journey.
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