BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details.
Which date night cookbooks for couples are best?
By Erica Redding
Going out on a date can be a great time, but it can also be expensive, and the world’s interruptions can be distracting. If you want a beautiful one-on-one experience with that special person, cooking together is a wonderful option. It’s also a healthy skill-building activity that can bond you on a whole other level. And when we make things together, we learn more about each other and our compatibility.
Best set-it and forget-it cookbooks
If you are a busy couple trying to do a date night cooking at home, you might only have the time for an all-in-one meal. From one pan to one pot, you can find savory and sweet recipes that go with the theme you have in mind. There are plenty of quick throw-together meals you can make with your partner to have ready for date night.
Top Instant Pot cookbook
“Instant Pot for Two Cookbook: 600 Quick & Easy Instant Pot Recipes,” by Susan Green
This book has recipes for appetizers, snacks and meals for all times of day, plus desserts. All diet types are considered, from omnivores to vegans.
Sold by Amazon
Top one-pan cookbook
“One Pan, Two Plates: More Than 70 Complete Weeknight Meals for Two,”
by Carla Snyder
Couples who want a collection of easy-to-prepare meals for any night can try this cookbook. It includes recipes that can be made in 60 minutes or less in a single pan.
Sold by Amazon
Top slow cooker cookbook
“Fix-It and Forget-It Cooking for Two: 150 Small-Batch Slow Cooker Recipes,” by Hope Comerford
This cookbook has several easy-to-put-together recipes for your slow cooker. It also includes tips to quickly get dinner prepared and clean up afterward.
Sold by Amazon
Best conscious cookbooks
Therapy, mindfulness and conscious awareness as a part of everyday conversation have brought a lot of knowledge about what we eat and how we feel to the forefront of our minds. According to the National Institutes of Health, mindful eating is one of the most discussed forms of mindful practice.
Top healthy cookbook
This cookbook is for couples who want a variety of healthy recipes to cook together. It includes tips for meal planning and budgeting.
Sold by Amazon
Top low-calorie cookbook
“The Skinnytaste Cookbook: Light on Calories, Big on Flavor,” by Gina Homolka
The recipes in this cookbook are designed to taste great and fill you up without the calories. There are meals for all diet types in portions made from all-natural and easy-to-find ingredients.
Sold by Amazon
Top vegan cookbook
“Vegan Slow Cooking for Two: 85 Healthy Recipes to Enjoy Together,” by Rhyan Geiger RD
This cookbook for vegan couples includes vegan essential recipes, such as veggie broth and meatless grounds. It also provides guidance on recipes and tips for how to use excess ingredients.
Sold by Amazon
Top cookbook for every day
“The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook,” by America’s Test Kitchen
This collection of 650 recipes covers nearly anything you and your partner can think of. It includes everything from stews to desserts with a cooking-for-two basics manual.
Sold by Amazon
Best cookbooks for new couples
There is so much to explore in the kitchen when you’re starting out together. These cookbooks illustrate recipes meant for the fresh feel that exists in the newer stages of a relationship. From newlyweds to first dates, set one of these up on your cookbook stand and cook with confidence.
Top cookbook for newlyweds
This cookbook is designed for just-marrieds to learn to cook meals together. It has 130 recipes for meals for all occasions.
Sold by Amazon
Top cookbook for date night
“The Date Night Cookbook,” by Ned Fulmer and Ariel Fulmer
This cookbook is perfect for newlyweds or the newly dating and is made for two. It includes dating stories, relationship tips and recipes for all couple levels.
Sold by Amazon
Top cookbook for all couples
“Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking,” by Samin Nosrat
This cookbook has over 100 recipes for couples that each include the four main elements of creating a delicious meal. It aims to teach budding cooks how to recognize ingredients and make better use of them in the kitchen.
Sold by Amazon
Best cookbooks for everything else
If you’re looking beyond the main dish, fish through these top pics for recipes that will delight you. Cookbooks can offer more than just a meal — they are an experience in themselves.
Top busy couples cookbook
“30-Minute Cooking for Two: Healthy Dishes Without All the Fuss,” by Taylor Ellingson
This is the cookbook for quickie meals for couples with a lot to do. All meals are ready to set at the table within a half hour of starting.
Sold by Amazon
Top dessert cookbook
“Dessert for Two: Small Batch Cooking Cookies, Brownies, Pies, and Cakes,” by Christina Lane
This cookbook is a date night essential with 100 photos of the delicious conclusion to each recipe. Each dessert has been designed for two people to eat so there are no excessive leftovers.
Sold by Amazon
Top interactive cookbook
“Date Night Cookbook and Activities for Couples,” by Crystal Schwanke
More than just a cookbook, this also includes activities for an eventful date night. There are recipes for any night of the week and ideas to go along with each one.
Sold by Amazon
Top aphrodisiac cookbook
“The New InterCourses: An Aphrodisiac Cookbook,” by Martha Hopkins and Randall Lockridge
This cookbook is tried and tested by couples to ensure quality recipes. You and your partner will enjoy this collection of 19 foods to ensure an intimate evening.
Sold by Amazon
Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Erica Redding writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.