If you’re not yet familiar with Buddy Oliver, you certainly have heard of his dad, Jamie. The tween has been cooking alongside his famous father since he was a toddler. He loves to cook so much that he’s been appearing on his dad’s social media channels, and most recently, on his own YouTube channel “Cooking Buddies” since 2020. And just like his dad, his charm, charisma and enthusiasm burst out from the screen in every episode.
Let’s Cook is his first cookbook. He worked on it with his father and it's apparent that the pair took great pains to let readers know that there’s nothing more important than learning basic cooking skills. Why? To them, it provides a sense of control over what they are eating. I can think of more than a few kids who would love to take the reins when it comes to meals. But Let’s Cook also teaches that recipes are road maps and that not every attempt will work. It’s a valuable lesson that sometimes you end up with something different and, possibly even better, than what you set out to make.
If you have a kid who, like Buddy, exhibits curiosity in the kitchen, this sweet book will really encourage and help them develop the confidence to strap on an apron and whip up something delicious. Just think of the pride they will have in themselves as they successfully cook through this book! The publisher shared some recipes with us. They’re linked below.
Breakfast and Brunch
For someone learning to cook, this is a great chapter that’s chock-full of simple and quick recipes. Think wraps, oatmeal, smoothies, poached eggs, scrambled eggs, fried eggs, boiled eggs. And all with great instructions that will have any kid cooking breakfast like a pro before long.
Savory Breakfast Muffins, page 26
Simple instructions yielded a tender and mouth-watering breakfast muffin. I loved the crunchy, seedy topping; it added a great bit of texture. I made a batch and froze them. They reheat easily in the microwave for a quick breakfast on the go.
Eggy Bread, page 28
Meet French toast like you’ve never tried before. This recipe includes the hearty addition of nut butter along with creamy yogurt and fresh fruits. It really made this little number guest-worthy, in my opinion. The high protein from the egg and nut butters sustained me for a long time, which in my book, is always important in a breakfast.
Family Favourites
Every family has their classics and go-to recipes. I loved seeing the approachability of this chapter, many familiar faves sometimes with a new twist.
Ultimate Burger, page 36
Yeah, yeah, yeah, another ‘ultimate’ burger. It seems all cookbooks these days claim to have the title of best burger and I was skeptical about this recipe. But I ended up really loving the combination of beef with canned lentils. I really didn’t notice the lentils much in the final product, but knowing my burger was lighter and healthier made me happy. It also cuts costs a little bit for families facing rising grocery bills.
Buddy’s Bolognese, page 48
Fun fact: I was 25 when I made my first bolognese. And if I had known this recipe back then, well, I would have been unstoppable. Added veggies, like sneaky zucchini, the umami from sausage and beef and a sweet hit from balsamic glaze make this recipe really shine. I recommend doubling it so you can put some sauce in the freezer for cold winter nights to come. Get the recipe: Buddy's Bolognese
Eat The Seasons
To me, this chapter really evokes Jamie and I can sense that he played a significant role in the creation of it. This chapter may appeal to parents more than younger kids with the likes of New Potato and Pesto Focaccia on page 68 and Summery Salmon Bake on page 70. They sound delicious to me! However, I would highly recommend the Grilled Chicken Lollipops on page 72, although, transparently, I was in a rush and bought some pico de gallo and added fresh pineapple rather than making my own salsa. The technique of grilling the chicken breasts on three skewers and then cutting between the skewers for serving is brilliant. The three skewers create a stable chicken breast that is easy to flip around while cooking. And once you cut in between the skewers, you can check on the doneness of the meat. Plus, what kid doesn’t want a lollipop? Even a savoury one. Get the recipe: Grilled Chicken Lollipops
Sweet Treats
Who can resist dessert? Can you tell that my house loves chocolate by the two recipes that I tested from this chapter?
Choccy Microwave Mug Cake, page 152
Although this recipe serves six, I successfully halved the recipe. I whipped it up late one afternoon when I just needed a quick little sweet and cake was what I was craving. Well, this hit the spot because just 15 minutes later, I was eating a delicious little mug cake. It was moist and just sweet enough; the raspberries and plain yogurt saw to that.
Rocky Road, page 168
Disclaimer: When you read the ingredients, you, like me, might look at it and say, “wow, that’s a lot of ingredients!” The recipe uses three types of chocolate – dark, light and white – plus marshmallows and crushed cookies, Crunchie bars and some dried fruit. But you know what, why not? This was a total mashup and super sweet. I think it would appeal to any kid’s palate, it just wasn’t for me. Get the recipe: Rocky Road
Excerpted from Let’s Cook by Buddy Oliver published by Appetite © Jamie Oliver Enterprises Limited. Recipe photography © David Loftus & Paul Stuart, 2025. Published by Appetite by Random House®, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved.
