10 Tasty YouTube Channels for Cooks

After a long day at the office, you may think the last thing you want to do is chop, steam, and stir, when that microwave dinner is two minutes in the making. But cooking can be therapeutic.  And whether you're a certified foodie or a comfort food connoisseur, the web is a bountiful resource of recipes and cooking how-tos.

One spot that shouldn't be overlooked in this department is YouTube.  Printed recipes are fine, but there's just something about watching food being prepared that can be uniquely instructional and inspiring.  You don't need a four-man camera crew and a dream kitchen to host a cooking show on YouTube.  The network has been built by real people making real food, and many have garnered a large online following.  We've highlighted some of the best below.

1. Nicko's Kitchen 
Australian home-cooker Nicko brings vlog-style episodes to you regularly with a focus on quick, easy, and tasty recipes. He gets down to business fast -- most of his videos are four to five minutes long -- and gives you a close-up, hands-on view of the ingredients and processes. Dishes are diverse, ranging from savory sandwiches to baked desserts. Nicko has over 11,000 subscribers and a devoted fan base who eagerly await his next tasty treat each week. 

 


2. Cooking With Jack 
Jack Scalfani is like your fun, friendly neighbor, only with a popular YouTube cooking show.  Jack's got an all-American palette with a focus on barbecue, hamburgers, chili, and other party favorites. In addition to his great how-tos in the kitchen, Jack has a strong social media presence, and interacts with his subscribers regularly through his videos, YouTube comments, and Twitter. With over 65 YouTube videos (some of which also discuss kitchen equipment and gadgets), and nearly 6,000 subscribers, "Cooking With Jack" is certainly a great place to check in before your next "Big Game Get-Together."



3. Everyday Dish 
For those with a somewhat healthier mindset, head on over to the Everyday Dish, where Julie Hasson and a slew of guest chefs cook up plant-based vegetarian and vegan dishes. Most of the recipes are pretty painless, and the more traditional "cooking show" style production values make it easy to follow along. If you're really into any of the recipes highlighted on YouTube, you can always check out the Every Day Dish website to find printable, step-by-step copies.
   


4. Depression Era Cooking 
For many, cooking is about family.  Recipes, flavors, and even the smells coming from a busy kitchen are closely tied to parents, grandparents, and other relatives. These feelings are often evoked with Depression Era Cooking, a YouTube channel featuring Clara, a 94 year-old great grandmother who will charm you while preparing the foods she grew up eating in the 1930s.  Clara's a natural host, and mixes her how-tos with wonderful anecdotes from her experience. You don't find many nonagenarians with their own YouTube channels, and with over 19,000 subscribers, it doesn't look like Clara will be retiring any time soon.
   
5. Show Me the Curry 
If you're looking to take your flavors global, be sure to check out Show Me the Curry, where Hetal and Anuja will give you the scoop on all things related to Indian and South Asian cuisine. These co-hosts provide highly instructive demos that include on-screen measurements, making it easy to follow along when you have the laptop in the kitchen. They've produced lots of great content over the years, and even dabble in Mexican and Italian dishes. Their corresponding website is a great way to keep up with the videos and hunt for recipes by category.
   


6. Food Wishes 
For those who think their culinary skills end with a boiling pot of water, the no-nonsense style of Chef John's how-to cooking channel Food Wishes is a great way to start your kitchen education. With a countless collection of close-up food prep videos and over 44,000 subscribers, this channel is a go-to source for recipes and techniques in nearly every category, from pie crust, to chicken wings, to creamy mushroom soup, and everything in between. Most of the videos are short -- between three and four minutes -- and the really tight production values give you the key info you need to get each dish coming out right. That's not to say there's no personality here -- Chef John's subtle off-camera humor keeps the videos light and engaging.
  
7. Keith Snow's Harvest Eating 
The Harvest Eating YouTube channel doesn't post quite as regularly as some of the other examples on this list, but the production values are a bit higher, bringing that traditional broadcast-style feel to the smaller screen. Go "green" with this series that focuses on being a "locavore" -- that is, eating foods that are grown and produced close to where they are consumed. The movement aims to reduce the carbon footprint made by agribusiness and food transport, and encourages customers to choose their local growers and businesses over imports. If you're looking to serve up some great dishes for a more formal dining occasion, from seafood to crème brûlée, check out Keith's channel.
  


8. Maangchi's Korean Cooking Show 
Unless you or your family is from the region, a foray into Korean cuisine might earn you a check in the "food adventures" column. Those looking to earn that badge should check out Maangchi's Korean Cooking Show, where the delightful chef will show you the ropes from her home kitchen in New York. The series takes the traditional cooking show approach and adds a pinch of fun textual commentary with each step (you'll see what I mean in the video below).  You'll also get a lesson in Korean pronunciation as you prepare steak, squid, bean jelly, and other delicacies. 23,000 subscribers can't be wrong!
  9. Cooking Sessions with Jason Hill 
In addition to specific recipes, Chef Jason Hill sends good foodie and cooking advice your way via YouTube. Production-wise, it has a traditional style, but runs the gamut on subject matter. Whether you're looking for a great new "Southwest Sauce" recipe, or the low-down on the best bamboo cutting boards, there's always something worthwhile in store on this channel. 12,000 subscribers follow Jason as he travels the country, enjoys the local cuisines, and brings it all back to his home kitchen.
  
10. Hungry Nation 
Last, but certainly not least, Hungry Nation is a great YouTube channel with a lot of content diversity. Their website is essentially a hub for four distinct food shows: Working Class Foodies, featuring a brother and sister team who strive to make great meals that are under $8.00; VendrTV, whose host travels the country in search of the best "curbside cuisine," 12 Second Cocktails, which offers a quick video shot of mixed drink recipes; and a more traditional but homegrown cooking show from television and film director Tamra Davis. The website touts that none of the on-screen personalities are professional chefs or restaurant critics. They're "just real people with a real love for food." A channel subscription will bring all of the weekly episodes to your YouTube homepage, but the website can also be a great resource for finding the content you're looking for, or simply browsing through some fun, foodie adventures.
 

What's your favorite online go-to source for cooking advice? Tell us below!

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