Cooking isn't only something players do for fun in Stardew Valley, it's a mechanic that has various uses. Although cooking doesn't have any levels like actual skills in the game, gamers will unlock more recipes as they play and increase their progress in other skills or friendships.
If the player's health goes down when facing the dangers of the mines or if their energy drops when mining or doing farm work, eating a meal or a snack can increase these levels in an instant. Certain foods also provide boosts that can be extremely helpful in terms of efficiency and monster fighting. So, out of all eighty recipes available in Stardew Valley, which ones are the best?
Updated May 25, 2023 by Evangeline Bryce: Stardew Valley continues to be one of the most influential farming sim games out there, and can be considered as a gold standard game of its genre. So, it's no wonder that players are still keen to log in each day and check up on their beloved communities. The game has plenty of content to offer both new and seasoned players, as well as a steady stream of updates that continue to roll out even now.
Though players can spend hours tending their crops, exploring the depths of the mines, and building relationships with their townsfolk, they can also cook up a wide range of interesting and useful dishes. The cooking mechanic is a great way to get extra character buffs and a few exclusive achievements as well. To help players figure out which are the best foods in Stardew Valley, this list has been updated to include even more entries.
12 Farmer's Lunch
Ingredients:
- 1 Omelet (made with 1 Egg & 1 Milk)
- 1 Parsnip
Unlocked when players reach Farming Level 3, Farmer's Lunch provides a +3 Farming boost for 5 minutes and 35 seconds. In addition, it also gives 200 Energy and 90 Health points. As early recipes go, Farmer's Lunch is one of the easiest for players to create as Parsnips are one of the fastest-growing crops in the whole game.
The Farmer's Lunch dish occasionally appears in Krobus' shop on Saturdays, and might also be found in a treasure room in the Skull Cavern. Its excellent stamina and health regeneration capabilities make it a great recipe for players to have on hand.
11 Seafoam Pudding
Ingredients:
- 1 Flounder
- 1 Midnight Carp
- 1 Squid Ink
For players looking to seriously up their fishing game, this recipe unlocked at Fishing Level 9 is one of the best to master. Seafoam Pudding provides a +3 Fishing boost for 3 minutes and 30 seconds, which is incredibly useful for high-level players hunting down hard-to-catch fish. This dish also restores 175 Energy and 78 Health points.
Seafoam Pudding can be bought for 5000g once a year from the shop at the Dance of the Moonlight Jellies. It will occasionally also appear at the Traveling Cart for anywhere between 900g and 1500g.
10 Survival Burger
Ingredients:
- 1 Bread (made with 1 Wheat Flour)
- 1 Cave Carrot
- 1 Eggplant
The Survival Burger provides a +3 Foraging boost for 5 minutes and 35 seconds, making it a great food to have on hand when gathering necessities for players' farms. In addition to granting players 125 Energy and 56 Health points, it also increases their axe proficiency as well.
The Survival Burger can be found in a few different places in the game and will unlock for players after reaching Foraging Level 2. Emily also adores this dish, so it's a great one to know for those looking to woo her.
9 Lucky Lunch
Ingredients:
- 1 Sea Cucumber
- 1 Tortilla (made with 1 Corn)
- 1 Blue Jazz
This fortunate food provides a +3 Luck boost for 11 minutes and 11 seconds, making it a great recipe for better odds at finding some of Stardew Valley's rarer items. It also restores 100 Energy and 45 Health points and can be stacked with other lucky recipes for additional effects.
Lucky Lunch is another dish that is profitable when sold, going for 250g. It will occasionally appear in some of the shops and is liked by most of the town's villagers. However, it is one of those dishes that players will likely want to keep for themselves.
8 Roots Platter
Ingredients:
- 1 Cave Carrot
- 1 Winter Root
The Roots Platter provides a +3 Attack boost for 5 minutes and 35 seconds, making it the strongest Attack buff of any recipe in the game. It gives the player 125 Energy and 56 Health points as well, so it's a handy dish for players struggling against the game's difficult enemies.
The Roots Platter recipe can be unlocked by reaching Combat Level 3 and can occasionally be found in Krobus' shop on Saturdays. This dish is one of the few profitable recipes as well and can be sold for 100g.
7 Dish O' The Sea
Ingredients:
- 2 Sardines
- 1 Hashbrown (made with 1 Potato & 1 Oil)
Dish O' The Sea provides a +3 boost to the fishing skill for five minutes and 35 seconds and becomes available once players have reached Fishing Level 3. Boosts like this one can be used regardless of the skill level players have achieved. So, for those heading to catch themselves some fish, this easy dish is a staple.
Its accessibility to the player at such a low level is what makes it so useful, especially at the start of the game. Dish O' The Sea also gives players 125 Energy and 56 Health points. While under the effects of its buff, players will have a greater casting distance as well as the fish size and bar size.
6 Eggplant Parmesan
Ingredients:
- 1 Eggplant
- 1 Tomato
As one of the multi-buff recipes, Eggplant Parmesan is a great food in the game. It provides a +3 Defense boost and a +1 Mining boost for 4 minutes and 39 seconds. This recipe is unlocked after earning 7 hearts from Mayor Lewis and is a particular favorite of Jodi. Eggplant Parmesan also grants players 175 Energy and 78 Health points.
This dish is one of the easiest to cook thanks to its low ingredient cost and isn't too hard to unlock either. It's a handy dish to have when mining as it will help players keep enemies at bay more easily. What's more, Eggplant Parmesan is another profitable dish selling for 200g.
5 Tropical Curry
Ingredients:
- 1 Coconut
- 1 Pineapple
- 1 Hot Pepper
Tropical Curry is another food for players who enjoy gathering the materials they need. It provides a +4 Foraging boost for 5 minutes and 1 second, and grants players 150 Energy and 67 Health points. Its buff to the Foraging skill is particularly useful during Salmonberry and Blackberry seasons, as it makes it possible to collect more berries per bush.
This recipe can only be obtained from Gus at the Ginger Island Beach Resort for 2000g, so players will need to save some money if they want to unlock it. This dish is also a particular favorite of Caroline.
4 Pumpkin Soup
Ingredients:
- 1 Pumpkin
- 1 Milk
This seasonal soup can be unlocked by achieving 7 hearts with Robin and provides a +2 Luck boost and a +2 Defense boost for 7 minutes and 41 seconds. Pumpkin Soup also grants players 200 Energy and 90 Health points. While other dishes are great to help with actual mining, this dish is great to take down to the mines to keep players safe.
Pumpkin Soup can be purchased from several shops in the game, but given the simplicity of its ingredients players will be better off cooking it themselves. Those hoping to eventually marry Sebastian should definitely take the time to learn this recipe.
3 Complete Breakfast
Ingredients:
- 1 Fried Egg (made with 1 Egg)
- 1 Milk
- 1 Hash Brown (made with 1 Potato & 1 Oil)
- 1 Pancake (made with 1 Egg & 1 Wheat Flour)
There's no better way for players to start their day than eating a Complete Breakfast, which provides a +2 Farming boost and +50 max energy for 7 minutes. The dish also grants players 200 Energy and 90 Health points which is perfect for those hoping to have a full day of farming and harvesting produce.
To obtain this recipe players need to watch the Queen of the Sauce television program on the 21st day of spring during their second year. This dish is loved by the villager Alex, too, so players hoping to romance him should be sure to tune in.
2 Crab Cakes
Ingredients:
- 1 Crab
- 1 Wheat Flour
- 1 Egg
- 1 Oil
For players looking to navigate dangerous places like Skull Carven as quickly as they can, Crab Cakes are a wonderful food item. This dish provides a +1 Defense boost and a +1 Speed boost for 16 minutes and 47 seconds. Essentially, it'll last them the entirety of an in-game day.
The Crab Cakes recipe can be unlocked by watching Queen of the Sauce on the 21st day of fall in the player's second year. For those hoping to woo Elliot, one of the game's older bachelors, Crab Cakes are a must-have recipe.
1 Spicy Eel
Ingredients:
- 1 Eel
- 1 Hot Pepper
Spicy Eel is definitely a fan favorite when it comes to top cooking recipes in Stardew Valley. It provides a +1 Luck boost and a +1 Speed boost for 7 minutes. It also grants players 115 Energy and 51 Health points. Given its easy ingredients, it's a very cheap and achievable food to make.
The Spicy Eel dish can be unlocked when players reach seven hearts with George and will be sent to them in the mail. It can also be bought from a variety of locations and is profitable for players looking to sell. However, when venturing into Skull Cavern, players will want to make sure they have Spicy Eel on hand.
Stardew Valley is currently available on PC, macOS, Linux, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and Mobile.