10 Best Vegetable Cookbooks 2025 in the United States

Six Seasons: A New Way with Vegetables is a comprehensive cookbook that offers a wide variety of vegetable-centric recipes. The author, Joshua McFadden, brings his expertise as a chef to the table, sharing creative ways to prepare vegetables across different seasons. The book is structured to guide you through the best ways to use vegetables at their peak, making it easier to eat seasonally and healthily.

It includes a good mix of simple and more advanced cooking techniques, ensuring there is something for both novice and experienced cooks. The recipes are well-explained and accompanied by beautiful photographs that enhance the visual appeal of the book. However, some ingredients may be difficult to source depending on your location, which could be a drawback for those without access to specialty stores.

Additionally, while the focus is on vegetables, it is not strictly a vegetarian or vegan cookbook, which might not align perfectly with all dietary preferences. The hardcover format and high-quality pages make it a durable addition to your kitchen library, but its weight and size might make it a bit cumbersome for everyday use. It's a solid choice for anyone looking to expand their vegetable cooking repertoire with creative and seasonal recipes.

The Complete Plant-Based Cookbook by America's Test Kitchen offers a substantial collection of 500 recipes, making it a versatile choice for those looking to diversify their plant-based meals. The variety of recipes ensures that there's something for everyone, from beginners to more experienced cooks. The book’s strong emphasis on plant-based diets caters well to vegetarians, vegans, and anyone looking to reduce their meat consumption without sacrificing flavor or nutrition.

The focus on accessible ingredients is a significant plus, as it allows home cooks to create delicious meals without needing hard-to-find items. The cookbook also showcases a range of cooking techniques, helping readers to expand their culinary skills in a practical and manageable way. Additionally, the visual appeal of the cookbook is noteworthy; it features clear, colorful photographs that make the recipes even more enticing and easier to follow. America's Test Kitchen brings a reputable level of expertise and trustworthiness to the book, ensuring the recipes have been rigorously tested for success.

The book's size and weight might make it less convenient for everyday use in smaller kitchens. While the depth of recipes is impressive, some users may find the sheer number of options overwhelming. For those dedicated to plant-based eating, this cookbook provides a comprehensive and visually appealing resource that can inspire and guide meal preparation effectively.

'Vegetables Unleashed' is a hardcover cookbook by a well-known chef that offers a creative approach to cooking vegetables. With 368 pages, it promises a wide variety of vegetable recipes, which is great if you want to explore different ways to enjoy veggies beyond the usual salads and sides. The author’s expertise shines through, giving the recipes a professional touch, which can inspire home cooks to try new flavors and combinations.

Some recipes might lean towards more adventurous ingredients or techniques, which could be a bit challenging if you’re looking for simple, everyday meals or ingredients that are easy to find in any grocery store. The book’s size and weight suggest it’s a substantial read with plenty of content, but it doesn’t highlight visual appeal as a key feature—so if you’re someone who relies heavily on pictures to guide your cooking, this might be less helpful. It doesn’t specifically focus on particular diets like vegan or gluten-free but generally emphasizes vegetables in creative ways.

If you enjoy cooking and want to expand your vegetable dishes with interesting recipes from a trusted chef, this book can be a good fit, especially if you don’t mind spending a bit more time on preparation or sourcing ingredients.