11 Cookbooks Inspired by Movies, TV Shows, and Novels

You know the old saying: If you love something, obsess over it as much as possible to the point that you're cooking specialized food in order to stay immersed. These pop culture-inspired cookbooks will help you do just that, whether you're looking to dine like the society types from Downton Abbey or just want to brew up your own batch of butterbeer.

1. A Feast of Ice and Fire: The Official Game of Thrones Companion Cookbook; $23

Feast like royalty with these recipes inspired by George R. R. Martin’s bestselling fantasy saga. This cookbook is split into sections based on the different regions of Westeros, with the chapter on the North featuring dishes like beef and bacon pie and the section on Dorne serving up Mediterranean-inspired fare like stuffed grape leaves and chickpea paste. Authors Chelsea Monroe-Cassel and Sariann Lehrer took inspiration from real Medieval recipes, and, with the blessing of George R. R. Martin himself, included descriptions of the dining and entertaining styles specific to each of the seven kingdoms.

Buy it: Amazon

2. The Walking Dead: The Official Cookbook and Survival Guide; $12

This cookbook doubles as a survival guide, offering emergency preparedness suggestions from survivalists as well as organizations like the American Red Cross and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’ll teach you basic food preparation and food storage skills that will come in handy for the next life-changing, potentially apocalyptic crisis you face.

Buy it: Amazon

3. Eat Like a Gilmore: The Unofficial Cookbook for Fans of Gilmore Girls; $16

If there’s one thing Rory and Lorelai Gilmore are known for, it’s eating—a lot. This cookbook features recipes you might find at the Dragonfly Inn, Luke’s Diner, or even Emily and Richard’s fancy Friday night dinners. True to form, there’s an entire section dedicated to coffee alone.

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4. The Necronomnomnom: Recipes and Rites from the Lore of H. P. Lovecraft; $15

Author Mike Slater’s Necronomnomnom is a tribute to H. P. Lovecraft’s surreal horror stories. The book includes hundreds of elaborate illustrations, and each recipe is written in Lovecraft’s signature style (a recipe for “New England damned chowder” instructs amateur chefs to “baptize the onion, celery, and garlic, saut’ing one twelfth hour until tender”). But be forewarned—one top-rated Amazon reviewer tells a disturbing tale. “Absolutely delicious but the food ate the children,” they write. “We still don’t know where the dog is!”

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5. The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook; $11

This cookbook takes fans through the Harry Potter series chapter by chapter, offering recipes for nearly every food item mentioned in passing. Inside, you’ll find a recipe for memorable food items like Madam Rosmerta’s world-famous butterbeer; treacle tart, Harry’s favorite dessert; and pumpkin pasties, a staple for students traveling on the Hogwarts Express.

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6. The Official Downton Abbey Cookbook; $23

Food historian Annie Gray packs the official Downton Abbey cookbook full of fascinating historical details about British dining in the early 20th century. The book is split into two sections: The “upstairs” section includes recipes that would have been common among elites like the Crawleys, including cucumber soup and salmon mousse, while the “downstairs” section explains how to make more common British staples like gingerbread cake and toad-in-the-hole. If you’re searching for more ideas for a Downton Abbey-inspired party, there’s also an official cocktail ($17) recipe book and an afternoon tea ($20) cookbook.

Buy it: Amazon

7. The Bob's Burgers Burger Book: Real Recipes for Joke Burgers; $15

If you’re as big a fan of groan-worthy puns as you are of burgers, this is the cookbook for you. Learn how to make more than 70 different types of burgers inspired by the hit animated series, including the “cheeses is born burger” and the “I know why the Cajun burger sings.”

Buy it: Amazon

8. Firefly—The Big Damn Cookbook; $25

The television show only got one season, but it can live on in your heart—and your stomach. Each recipe included in this book features commentary from the characters, who all pitched in to share their favorite recipes from childhood. And yes, there is a recipe for Mudder’s milk.

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9. Supernatural: The Official Cookbook; $15

You can expect a lot of pie recipes in this cookbook inspired by the long-running paranormal television series. Besides that, the majority of the recipes included here would be right at home in a traditional American diner—not surprising for a TV show that takes place mostly on the road. Get the cookbook before the final episode of the series airs sometime this year.

Buy it: Amazon

10. The One with All the Recipes: The Unofficial Cookbook for Fans of Friends; $17

With this cookbook, you can make so much more than just Rachel’s infamous Thanksgiving trifle. Inside, you’ll find dozens of recipes inspired by the classic sitcom, including floor cheesecake and engagement ring lasagna (minus the engagement ring). Practice long enough and you’ll be The One With All the Cooking Talent in no time.

Buy it: Amazon

11. Doctor Who: The Official Cookbook; $13

The doctor has a history of enjoying some unusual food combinations (fish fingers and custard, anyone?), but this cookbook is full of recipes that are a little more palatable than those depicted in the long-running television series. Entertain your guests (or just yourself) with Adipose Pavlova, Ood Head Bread, or Sally Sparrow’s Weeping Angel Cake, to name just a few.

Buy it: Amazon

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