The Best Cooking Shows On Netflix For The Foodie In You
Running low on shows to watch and looking for something new to keep you entertained? We've all been there. You get to the last episode of the current show you're binging and don't know where to go next. Fortunately, Netflix has you covered with an extensive list of cooking shows that are perfect for the foodie in you. When it comes to relaxing TV, it's hard to beat a great cooking show. There's just something so satisfying about watching mouthwatering dishes come together.
On Netflix, there's something for everyone. Whether you're interested in grueling competition shows, fun reality TV, informative documentaries, or learning how to cook for yourself, you're likely to find what you're looking for on the streaming platform. With so many series to choose from, you'll have plenty of content to keep you entertained for months to come, and you may even be inspired to improve your kitchen skills after watching these delightful cooking shows.
Chef's Table
If you appreciate fine dining, you need to see the innovations of the world-renowned chefs in the Netflix series, "Chef's Table." This was Netflix's first documentary series and it has been nominated for eight Emmys throughout its six seasons, including Outstanding Documentary and Outstanding Cinematography. Each season of the show closely follows a handful of chefs from around the world who are at the top of their game, with each episode focusing on one of those chefs and how they've built their reputation. "Chef's Table" gives the audience a chance to see what goes on behind the scenes at award-winning restaurants and the vision behind them.
You can now binge six seasons of the original series, as well as spin-offs, such as "Chefs Table BBQ," "Chef's Table Pizza," "Chef's Table Pastry," and "Chef's Table France" for a closer look at the top creators in specific cuisine. So, there's plenty of content to keep you entertained. Watch this show if you want to be inspired by delicious food and the hardworking creatives changing the food world today.
Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend
"Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend" brings fierce competition and cooking excellence to the center stage as eager challengers battle for the top spot, facing off against acclaimed Iron Chefs. In each episode of the show, contestants are tasked with creating several dishes within an hour that incorporate the selected secret ingredient. These secret ingredients put the challenging chefs' skills to the test in a major way as they work with uncommon ingredients like medieval game birds and sturgeon.
On top of the pressure of creating in Kitchen Stadium, the challengers are then judged against established culinary names like Gabriela Cámara, Dominique Crenn, Marcus Samuelsson, Curtis Stone, and Ming Tsai. Only the top chef among the competitors has the chance to be named the "Iron Legend."
This Netflix reboot of "Iron Chef" offers everything you loved about the original "Iron Chef" and "Iron Chef America" with even higher steaks. Alton Brown, one of the cohosts of the Netflix series, explained one of the biggest obstacles for competitors to overcome in an interview with Mashed, saying, "When you get Iron Chefs at this level ... they're competing against each other, but above all, they're competing against themselves ... it takes the competition to a different level because they're not just trying to beat each other."
Street Food
Netflix's "Street Food" gives you a glimpse into the diverse world of street food and the inventive, hardworking people creating the food. "Street Food" was originally launched on the streaming platform in 2019 with "Street Food: Asia." The first season explored the culinary world of street food in nine busy cities, including Osaka, Japan; Dehli, India; Seoul, South Korea; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; and more. Season 2 is the same concept, but takes viewers to Latin America with the beloved street food of Lima, Peru; Salvador, Brazil; and more. In the most recent 2022 season, "Street Food: USA," the series explores some of the vast differences in culture, cuisine, and history through street food in major US cities.
Brian McGinn, co-creator of the series, explained that "Street Food" was initially inspired by their traveling to film "Chef's Table."
"One of the things that we noticed was everywhere that we went, we ended up loving getting introduced to the local street food," McGinn told Mashed. "We thought it'd be really cool to be able to tell some of these stories of people who are working with the same dedication and passion and talent as a lot of the people that we profile on 'Chef's Table,' but don't traditionally get the same spotlight ..."
Somebody Feed Phil
"Somebody Feed Phil" is a fun travel and food series hosted by Phil Rosenthal. Rosenthal is a comedy television writer best known as the creator of the hit family sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond." But, in this Netflix series, Rosenthal moves from behind the scenes to in front of the camera. In the lighthearted docuseries, you can watch Rosenthal tour the world, discovering new places and digging into the favorite cuisine of the area.
In "Somebody Feed Phil," Rosenthal brings his excitement, curiosity, humor, and joy for food and travel to the screen and spotlights authentic dishes from all around the world. It may just inspire your next vacation. Speaking to Tasting Table, Rosenthal explained that this kind of show was a dream of his. "I've always wanted to do a food and travel show. The way I sold the show was, 'I'm exactly like Anthony Bourdain if he was afraid of everything,' which tells you where I'm coming from," he said.
The Great British Baking Show
There's nothing quite as cozy as sitting down to watch "The Great British Baking Show." Despite being a competition, the show has a feel-good charm that's not at all cutthroat. None of the contestants are actual chefs. Instead, the show brings on 12 passionate at-home bakers per season. Each of the amateur bakers tests their skills with three challenges per week, which are then judged by professional chefs Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. At the end of the series, one of the bakers is crowned the UK's best amateur baker.
This is a great show if you enjoy baking and friendly competition. However, you shouldn't go into this show expecting any high-stakes reality TV drama. Although these aspiring bakers are all competing for the top spot, there's rarely any ill-will between them. In fact, you're more likely to see the contestants helping each other than you are to see them sabotaging each other. So, make yourself a cup of tea, get comfy, and indulge in this delightful slice of British culture.
Taco Chronicles
"Taco Chronicles" is a celebration and exploration of this beloved Mexican food and the many forms it takes. In seasons 1-2, each episode of the docuseries focuses on a different type of taco and how they were created. You can watch episodes specifically focused on your favorite dishes like carnitas, pastor, asada, and many more delicious taco recipes while getting a look at the history and tradition of each mouthwatering meal.
Season 3 takes viewers around the US on a tour of tacos in cities like Chicago, Phoenix, Dallas, and Los Angeles. The third season shows how chefs have transformed tacos around the US while still staying true to their roots. It's a testament to how this cuisine has brought people together and preserved culinary traditions even across the border.
This docuseries is like a love letter to tacos and is perfect for any taco lover. Watch "Taco Chronicles" to get inspired by the mouthwatering dishes and find the next taco recipe you want to make yourself or try in an authentic Mexican restaurant near you.
Pressure Cooker
Netflix's "Pressure Cooker" turns up the heat as 11 cooks compete for a $100,000 prize. Unlike other competition shows that rely on a panel of judges, the cooks vote among themselves to eliminate and ultimately decide on the winner. While many cooking shows keep the competition contained to the kitchen, the competitors in this series also take it home as they are expected to live and sleep in the same house as their opponents.
Because the contestants are voting for the winner, the series is about cooking as well as strategy. Each of the ambitious chefs feels the pressure of living under the same roof and voting for and against each other. If you are a fan of competition reality shows like "Big Brother," you'll likely enjoy the added drama created by these chefs living together. In Season 1, the 11 chefs have only eight episodes to prove their kitchen skills and show the competition why they're most deserving of the life-changing cash prize.
Salt Fat Acid Heat
If you're interested in the science behind your favorite dishes, then "Salt Fat Acid Heat" is the series for you. In the educational show, Chef Samin Nosrat breaks down the central elements of delicious food. This show is unique compared to other TV shows because it's as much about learning as it is entertainment.
Nosrat is an Iranian-American chef, food writer, and teacher known for her award-winning cookbook by the same name as the series. In both the book and the series, Nosrat aims not just to give cooking tutorials but to explain the key elements behind what makes food delicious.
In the Netflix series, Nosrat explains her theory behind great flavor. "No matter where I go, the same elements make food delicious: salt, fat, acid, and heat. Just four basic elements can make or break a dish," she says. In her series, you can watch the chef teach about these elements and use them in her cooking. "Salt Fat Acid Heat" is an informative series following her world travels to explore the secrets behind the flavors we love and offers her expert tips for creating incredible food.
The Final Table
"The Final Table" is an intense cooking competition where teams of chefs from around the world are judged on their abilities to cook iconic dishes from different nationalities. The show brings in elements of teamwork as pairs have to come together to create their dishes. Some of the chef pairs know each other and have worked together in the past, while others have the additional challenge of working with someone they've never even met. But they all have to learn to work as a unit while competing in the kitchen.
The second unique challenge presented by the series is that these international chefs are expected to cook the assigned cuisine, which is often a cooking style they are unfamiliar with. On top of mastering the foreign cuisine, "The Final Table" chefs are expected to leave their unique mark on the dish. To impress the judges, they have to make the recipe their own while still staying true to the dish's origin. The stiff competition is a uniquely challenging and fascinating watch.
School of Chocolate
Netflix's "School of Chocolate" is like a chocolate lover's dream come true. World-renowned chocolatier Amaury Guichon mentors up-and-coming chocolatiers as they work through the competition for the ultimate prize and the title of best in class. The show highlights the creativity of the teacher as well as the contestants as they put together showstopping dessert pieces.
Despite there being an ultimate winner, the show is more about helping each contestant learn than it is about weeding out competition. There are no eliminations; instead, all the contestants stay to the end to grow their skills and learn as much as they can from the master chocolatier. Speaking to Mashed, Guichon said he was proud of how the students/competitors learned from him as well as each other. Despite wanting to win, they also wanted to help each other shine. "Everybody improved on their comfort level, and their skills really show. The more we [progressed], the more I was happy to be able to see them fully express themselves and be happy [with] what they've created," the chocolatier said.
Snack Vs. Chef
Looking for a show to kick back and relax while watching? Grab some of your favorite snack foods and watch as top chefs work to recreate snack food classics on "Snack Vs. Chef." In the eight-episode series, 12 chefs test their knowledge of food science to remake popular snacks like Flamin' Hot Cheetos, Pringles, Ho Hos, and Oreos. Not only do the competitors on this show have to replicate iconic snacks and treats, but they also have to take inspiration from those beloved products to invent their own recipes. At the end of the series, only one chef can come out on top to win the $50,000 prize.
Just like the snacks they're recreating, this show is easy and fun to watch. It's hosted by comedians Megan Stalter and Hari Kondabolu, who will keep you entertained throughout the series. Just make sure not to watch it on an empty stomach since it's sure to get you craving your go-to snack food.
Nailed It!
Although watching elite chefs create culinary masterpieces is wonderful at times, sometimes, you want to enjoy something more relatable than aspirational. For those moments, Netflix's "Nailed It!" is the perfect show. Rather than professional chefs battling it out, home bakers try (and often fail) to recreate delicious and beautiful baked goods in this light-hearted and comical baking competition. Unlike "The Great British Baking Show," which brings on some of the country's best amateur bakers, the cast of this series is a little less skilled. In fact, they all have terrible track records when it comes to their kitchen creations, which only makes the show more entertaining.
If you've ever thought a Pinterest recipe looked easy enough only to be disappointed when your own version fell short, then "Nailed It!" will feel like it's made for you. In each episode, the kitchen novices are assigned a new project to recreate, and the hilarious hosts Nicole Byer and Jacques Torres react to the interesting results.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
If you're a food and travel junkie, then "Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner" is another show to add to your watch list. In this series, Chef David Chang travels to different cities with celebrity guests to explore the unique cuisine of each location. David Chang is a top-tier chef, restauranter, and founder of the Momofuku restaurant group. You may also know him from the Hulu series, "Secret Chef," which he executive produces.
"Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner" is livened up by Chef Chang's curiosity and love for food as well as his famous and entertaining guests who act as his tour guides. Through the series, he's joined by Seth Rogan as he tours the multi-cultural cuisine of Vancouver. He then visits Marrakesh with Chrissy Teigen, Los Angeles with Lena Waithe, and Phnom Penh with Kate McKinnon. It's basically the best food and dinner guests you can imagine, and it's so fun to see both Chang and his celebrity guests explore and experience each amazing new taste.
Nadiya Bakes
"Nadiya Bakes" stars Nadiya Hussain, a British chef, television personality, and author. Hussain became well-known for her baking skills after winning season six of "The Great British Baking Show." You may also know her from TV series such as "Nadiya's British Food Adventure" and "Time to Eat with Nadiya." Now, she's back in the kitchen and in front of the camera as she walks the audience through some of her favorite recipes, from simple treats to decadent desserts. You'll get expert tips as well as a fun and comforting watch from this series.
As someone who rose to fame on a baking competition series, it should be no surprise that Hussain sees baking as her happy place. Along with sharing her own advice, she's also using the series to spotlight some of her favorite bakers. This is a great show to turn to when you need something light and happy that puts you in a good mood. And it's sure to inspire your next baking experiment.
High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America
If you're a foodie who's fascinated by the history of the cuisine that we know and love today, the Netflix documentary, "High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America," is sure to catch your interest. In the four-episode show, Chef Stephen Satterfield explores the history of black food and how it came from Africa to the US to create what we call soul food.
It's an informative and entertaining watch that explores how much of American cuisine comes from African-American cooking. Dishes that you likely eat on a regular basis have a rich history that you may never have thought of, and this docuseries gives you the context of how those dishes were created and kept alive. Through the series, Satterfield highlights not just the heritage of this food, but also the people who are carrying the traditions on to this day.