Welcome to Inquiring Chef!

Recipes for real life.

With weeknight-friendly recipes, approachable meal plans, and achievable meal prep, Inquiring Chef is the destination for curious home cooks.

Founded in 2010 by professional meal planner, cooking teacher, and cookbook author, Jess Smith.

kung pan chicken in a bowl with rice and chopsticksInstant Potcheese stuffed peppers with dipping sauce on a white plateAppetizerpumpkin chocolate cake with a fork in itDessertchicken spaghetti in a bowl with utensilsFamily-Friendlywaffle with fruit and syrup on a grey plateBreakfast and Brunchkorean beef over rice in a blue and white bowlAsian

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chicken with sauce in a cast iron skillet with a wooden spoonChickendinner rolls in a white rectangular baking dishBread and Pizzachicken soup with miso in a white bowlFreezer-Friendlychocolate chip cookies on a wire rackCookiesthai beef curry in a blue bowl with riceGluten-freewatermelon froze in small clear glassesDrinkschicken spaghetti in a bowl with utensilsFamily-Friendlycheese stuffed peppers with dipping sauce on a white plateAppetizerView All →

Thanksgiving Game Plan

Get your plan for Thanksgiving ready with these easy Thanksgiving recipes, tips for prepping the turkey, and make-ahead side dish ideas.

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Hi there – I’m Jess!

I’m the person chopping all of the vegetables here at Inquiring Chef. As a mom to three kids, cooking instructor, cookbook author, and chief recipe developer for the award-winning meal planning app Cook Smarts, I have spent most of my career finding ways to get delicious dinners on the table in as little time as possible. My healthyish, homemade recipes have been featured in popular online publications like Parade, Hallmark, and HuffPost. Let’s find your next favorite recipe!

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New Recipes

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Thai Recipes

Inquiring Chef was born during the five years that our family lived in Bangkok, Thailand. Thai recipes and flavors are what sparked the curiosity for everything you will find on the pages of this website.

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chicken slices, chopped cucumber and rice in a grey bowl with chopsticks
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Meal Prep

Jess started her career in food as a professional meal planner, creating easy, flexible meal plans for thousands of families every week at Cook Smarts. Get all of her favorite tips and tricks here.

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