Half Baked Harvest Quick & Cozy: A Cookbook

by Tieghan Gerard

120+ recipes for delicious, soul-warming comfort food . . . and getting it ready in a hurry—from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Half Baked Harvest Every Day.

Colorful. Convenient. Comforting.

Mega-bestselling author Tieghan Gerard is busier than ever—always creating recipes, taking photographs, and collaborating with friends. In her fourth cookbook, she returns with a collection of more than 120 recipes that reflect the way she cooks now: simple ingredients, easy to get on the table, short on time yet big on flavor.

Having cooked for her large family from a young age, Tieghan loves the feeling of sharing great food—and now she wants to share that feeling with you. This collection leans into the comfort food she’s known for, but with an eye toward getting it ready in a hurry. With many recipes doable in one pot or pan, most in under forty-five minutes, and a more-is-more focus on flavor (but not ingredients), you’ll be feasting fast. Start your day with Maple Bacon Pancakes with Bourbon Maple Syrup, snack on Cheesy Roasted Shallot Bread, and make Garlic Butter Steak Bites with Bang Bang Sauce your family’s new favorite. Enjoy delicious twists like Sheet Pan Mac & Cheese with All the Crispy Edges, and, of course, finish it all off with something sweet, like a Dark Chocolate Pistachio Cake with Cream Cheese Icing.

Relying on basic ingredients and Tieghan’s signature knack for making sauces and dressings that you’ll want to double to keep on hand at all times, these recipes will make your meals feel like a warm hug. If you’ve ever needed a belly full of comfort and a plate bursting with fresh, unexpected flavors—and wanted it all right now—Half Baked Harvest Quick & Cozy is for you.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food, Reference, Adult, Culinary

285 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 19, 2024

About the author

Tieghan Gerard is a food photographer, stylist, recipe developer, and author of the Half Baked Harvest Cookbook and Half Baked Harvest Super Simple, a New York Times bestseller. Her blog, Half Baked Harvest, features a hearty mix of savory, sweet, healthy, and indulgent recipes. She believes every diet should include a little bit of chocolate because balance is the key to life!

Reviews

[NILTON TEIXEIRA · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful book with beautiful pictures of each recipe.
I would like to try every single recipe, but the title says “quick and cozy”, and lots of recipes take 30 minutes of preparation and 60 minutes or longer to cook. I think the title should say “cozy and comfortable food”, because the majority of the recipes are like that, comfortable.
I wished the recipes had a nutritional value, as there are plenty of cheese, heavy cream and bread.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the fourth Half Baked Harvest cookbook. I really liked her first two but didn't love her last one or this one. I think often in cookbooks or recipes "cozy" equates to food to fatten you up for winter hibernation. As another review pointed out there is a LOT of cheese in the recipes in this book. I LOVE cheese but I don't need every meal to be covered with melted cheese though. There were a couple recipes I want to try but I didn't love this one. There are tags for the recipes that are 30 minutes or less but many of the recipes take an hour+ to make which is not my definition of "quick." Overall, the photos of the food are beautiful but this one isn't for me.

[Emily Duchon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This lady gets so much hate and I just don’t get it. Yes, her recipes use a lot of cream and cheese. I’m from the Midwest so that’s not a downside to me. I made the cheeseburger pasta today and it was absolutely so easy to make and really delicious. Going to move on to the pumpkin muffins this afternoon.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh she’s definitely lost her touch. It’s been clear on her blog/social media for a while now but this cookbook is a reflection of how…weird…some of her recipes are now. I don’t mind a surprising ingredient every once in a while but this reads like a girl who bought gochujang for one recipe and is now trying to integrate it into everything to use it up. And why would I put sliced avocado on a baked potato soup you psycho?

[Violet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aptly named, the recipes in this book are definitely cozy. The Italian Chop Salad with Homemade Italian Dressing is delicious and adaptable, making it a new favorite recipe for me. The Old-fashioned chocolate sheet cake recipe was quick to make and satisfying. Sheet Pan Mac & Cheese with All the Crispy Edges is on my list to try soon and there are many other recipes in the book that I'm planning to cook.

[Miss✧Pickypants ᓚᘏᗢ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A serviceable cookbook of familiar recipes with little originality. While some dishes would be quick to make, with quick meaning 45 minutes or less, the majority would take longer than that to prepare. Recipes are well-written with tasteful colour photos of all the dishes and the book design is well-done. Fans of the author and her blog will appreciate this book most.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd try EVERYTHING! And the that food photography... 👌 😋

[Jade]

Good soup! (This is a joke, but the soup is actually good.)

There is a big emphasis on the recipes being under 45, but there is truly a recipe that takes four hours… and more that border on one hour, which is what it is, but a little bit of false advertising.

[Skye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tieghan once again has a magnificent cookbook that even those who think themselves hopeless cooks would be able to complete. There is a simplicity where all the recipes, ingredients, and stories can fit on one page and not be cluttered at all. Even if there were no beautiful pictures this in itself is so soothing and encouraging. One can tell that each recipe is filled with memories and with us in mind. At most every recipe is doable in 45 minutes and she explains that even some can be done in under 30 with 10 ingredients or less.

There are gluten free and vegetarian options along with the usual breakfast and dessert sections. One section particularly enjoyed was the Pizza & Pasta section. Oh man! You could have a delicious new pizza every week and not grow bored. I’m excited to taste all of them. They are simple and cozy and not lacking in flavor.

I hardly buy cookbooks but I have bought all three of Tieghans and plan to buy a physical copy of this one as well.

Special thanks to Edelweiss and Clarkson Potter for sharing this book with me in exchange for my honest review.

[Brenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obsessed with every one of these recipes. Perhaps the best HBH yet. Loss of one star because I feel like the publisher made some meh decisions when it comes to how Tieghan was presented; we love her because she seems approachable and humble. However, certain of the early presentations in the book left her feeling inflated and like a celebrity chef rather than a homestyle feel.

[Kristen Barenthaler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every single recipe looks absolutely delicious! I’m now starving!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's no secret that HBH is my go-to source for amazing recipes. While I've only tried a few from this book so far, I can confidently say there isn't a single recipe I'm not excited to make!

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting recipes and vibrant pictures. Would have to leave an ingredient or two out since a lot of them have spices I could not eat.

[ashleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything about this books screams YUM! Can’t wait to try some of these simple recipes at my parent’s new home! 😋

[Mapleleaf · Rating 2 out of 5]

Half Baked Harvest Quick & Cozy by Tieghan Gerard is dedicated to college dorms. Who else can digest all the cheese and fats in the recipes? They are definitely Cozy recipes but I would not call them Quick. The list of ingredients are also daunting. That said, I am tempted to try her Mac and Cheese as well as Honey Balsamic Short Ribs then go for a whole day of running and fasting. No wonder there are no Nutritional Information. There is a constant use of gojuchang throughout the pages which is not fair as it is not readily available at my local grocers. It would have been better to suggest a substitute - after all, it is just a chili paste which I CAN find at the grocers. The recipe I am most looking forward to making from this one - and sharing with so many people or I would go on cardiac arrest from sugar (1.5 cups) and fats (1 cup coconut oil) overload - is the chocolate sheet cake. Not a meal but cozy. I preferred her Super Simple book over this one however if you're looking for comfort food, this book has it. Another recommendation would be Dolly Parton's book - Good Lookin' Cookin' - for more comfort food.

[Kirsty · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cheese in most of the savoury recipes. Why do people who like cheese all believe no one doesn't like the stuff? But it says Quick, and some of the recipes take over an hour. I expected 20ish minutes for quick, not 70...
So, cheese and spice abound, and some recipes are anything but quick, but otherwise it seems ok. Where there's no cheese.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of Tieghan Gerard and have probably cooked at least 50 of her recipes from her cookbooks and blog on repeat. I'm still a fan and love her recipes, however, this cookbook had some hits and misses for me. Hits: Saucy, spicy, cheesy oven-baked meatballs. (I always cook the recipe from the cookbook cover) This savory dish was so good! First dinner served over spaghetti; the next night Italian subs on toasted rolls. Sheet pan lemon shrimp over rice was fabulous, as was the red curry salmon. Make sure to serve it with the avocado-cucumber salad, it's a definite repeat. Other hits: Spicy Italian sausage tortellini soup, double-baked taquitos, sour cream and onion dill pickle dip, sheet pan mac and cheese and chewy pumpkin cookies. I even made homemade pumpkin butter for the cookies.
Misses: Cheeseburger pasta, just had an off-taste. Loaded potato soup with salsa verde, was okay, but too many ingredients and time to repeat.
Looking forward to trying the apple honey cake next and pizza pretzels next!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a cozy, quick cookbook. The highlights for me are the snacks chapter (which includes cocktails and a sour cream + onion + dill pickle dip that is amazing). The sheet pan shrimp, and the beef chapter are also great. She does some retakes on classics, like the mac and cheese that's baked in a pan so that everyone can get a 'corner' piece - I thought that was clever. Most of this is comfort food, but it could be made year round. The salad chapter is also strong, and the double tomato salad is great.

These are solid recipes, but there is no nutritional information. There is a lot of cheese, but a savvy cook could lighten many of these a little (like using 2% greek yogurt instead of full fat, for example). There is a photo for each recipe, and it's gorgeous. My only other complaint is that there are random pictures of the author sprinkled throughout, wearing this year's Pantone color of the year (mocha mousse). She's not a celebrity and I don't need a picture of her standing in a hallway holding a basket in the middle of a cookbook. I could understand a picture of her cooking, but there are too many random shots, which was silly to me.

Otherwise, this is a solid book worth checking out, especially now in January, for quick comfort food.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be honest, I would’ve preferred a smaller seafood section and a larger dessert section, but overall the cookbook is right up my alley (but for the coconut oil requirement in lots of recipes, but that’s just personal choice - the author leans more into the crunchy granola aesthetic than I do - and it’s easy enough to substitute out).

The photos are stunning, the general vibes are quite pleasing, and there are plenty of recipes I’m anxious to attempt and have already added to my ever growing “to be cooked” and “to be baked” lists; e.g. cinnamon waffles, game day snack mix, baked honey Brie, cider beef brisket, and the chewy pumpkin cookies (just in time for autumn treats and BOO boxes)!

There are a few recipes from the internet that I have already made as well! All came out great!

A lovely and welcome addition to my cookbook collection.

Three plus stars.

[Miss Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great collection of recipes with gorgeous photos of each!

Standouts:
Chai-Spice Swirl Quick Bread
Aperol Pomegranate Paloma
Homemade Italian Dressing
Sage Chicken & Apple Salad
Creamy Turmeric Lemon Chicken & Orzo Soup
Thai Curry-inspired Chicken & Rice Soup
Sheet Pan Mac & Cheese
Mom's Cheesy Potato Casserole
Baked Chicken Parm Sandwich
Spicy Thai Basil Chicken Fried Rice
Baked Buffalo Chicken Tenders
Garlic Mushroom Chicken Skillet
Cider-Braised Beef Brisket
Cheeseburger Pasta
Red Chile Beef Enchiladas
Smothered Garlic Parmesan Salisbury Steak
Raspberry White Chocolate Buttermilk Cake
Dark Chocolate Pistachio Cake with cream cheese icing
Chewy Pumpkin Cookies with Maple Icing
Apple Honey Cake

[Amelia Thorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love reading cookbooks page by page. This one was boring. Her writing felt rushed and unbothered, like she didn’t think about any part of it too hard. I felt like I was reading the same thing over and over again. That being said I did bookmark 10 recipes. I will try to come back once I’ve made them to review again.

Chai Spice Swirl Quick Bread
Butter flake Biscuits
The Brothers Game Day Mix
Sour Cream and Onion Dill Pickle Dip
Sage Chicken and Apple Salad
Four Cheese Balsamic Mushroom Pizza
Tomato Cheddar Basil Beans
Lemon Pesto Orzo
Sheet Pan Oregano Chicken
Tilapia In Wine Sauce

[Taylor Lamb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fine cookbook with plenty of usable recipes. (that’s fairly high praise for a cook book from me — I have many cookbooks I NEVER use). I will say that the majority of them are recipes I’ve found elsewhere online, so I can’t say much is original — but most cookbooks aren’t, especially those from the world of social media. This is a usable collection of recipes I’ve cooked for years, and it is convenient to have them in a physical book to flip through. I tend to simplify them some because I don’t care to make them quite as elevated as the book seems to want them.

[Wendy Jonson · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is something for everyone in this cookbook, and it’s all so delicious! There are color pictures to go with each recipe. The fish and seafood chapter is especially appealing to me since I’m always looking for tasty, easy to make dishes. But the whole book is loaded with great food ideas. I really like the Sour Cream & Onion Dill Pickle Dip, Spicy Sesame Ginger Roasted Chicken Salad, Creamy Turmeric Lemon Chicken & Orzo Soup, Vegetable Potstickers, Sesame Beef Bowls, and the Red Curry Salmon with Avocado-Cucumber Salad & Coconut Rice. Yum!

[Dede · Rating 1 out of 5]

This cookbook was a huge disappointment. As a fairly decent home cook I was hoping to see some elevated comfort food. Instead it was frat house cuisine. So much cheese, pepperoni, butter, oil, etc. Very unhealthy, unsophisticated dishes. The photography didn't help either, everything looked the same shade, orange/brown, with odd flowers and piles of basil on top. There isn't one recipe in this book that I have any desire to make.

[Tera · Rating 4 out of 5]

I confess I walked away from this cookbook a little worried with how thin the writer is in the pictures, and aside from wanting to understand more about her life behind the cooking (which is probably information that I don't need to know), I did like many of the recipes here. Of course I liked the chocolate chip pumpkin muffins :), there was cheesy stuffed spaghetti squash and red curry salmon and a host of dessert recipes.

[Alice Nye · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first, I was so taken with the photos and recipes that I was literally drooling. Then, I started to cook my way through. This book is just fats on fats on fats. Even the salads are 5 different types of fat (looking at you mean green salad with your olive oil, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, Caesar dressing, and avocados). I have started to modify the recipes (read:slash the fats) to keep them healthful

[Catie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found my favorite cookbook of 2024. Lots of cozy food that's not going to break the bank or take forever, including things you can dress up for parties or gatherings. We're talking fish tacos in 20 minutes, casseroles, sheet pan meals, sandwiches and everything in between. I have some work to do before I return this to the library.

[Leona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great cookbook by this chef. The recipes seem to build on flavors and the steps don’t require any great technique - just patience as it all comes together. This book made me hungry, each recipe is nicely photographed and is tagged with cooking time and if it’s GF, vegetarian, one pan, etc. This cookbook is for people who love food and aren’t afraid to be in their own kitchen.

[Valerie · Rating 2 out of 5]

These recipes are not what I would call quick; many are over an hour. They are also spice and cheese heavy. I love cheese, but the spice level is high. Some advice on how much to reduce the spices so that the dish is tolerable to those who don’t like acid reflux would be helpful. I’m glad I checked it out of the library first; many of the recipes are derivatives of standard dishes.

[Nasty Lady MJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Skimmed through this one the other week at the store. It is just filled with unhealthy recipes that you can find on the blog already. Gerrad is a lot like a younger Paula Deen clearly doesn't eat what she makes because if you made stuff out of this book it would kill you.

Gerrard is also an orange turd supporter. That in itself makes this one a hard pass.