Whether you’re an aspiring chef who’s always working to perfect their dishes or a passionate foodie with folders full of cherished recipes, you may have considered publishing your very own cookbook to share all the yumminess with others.
If you’ve already begun searching, you may have been disappointed to find that many smaller nonfiction publishers aren’t interested in publishing cookbooks, primarily because these tend to be costly projects when it comes to printing.
However, we’ve done the hard work of tracking down publishers who welcome cookbooks with open arms so you can get one step closer to realizing your culinary dreams!
16 Cookbook Publishers Open to Submissions
Below are 16 publishers who regularly publish cookbooks and nonfiction related to the food and beverage niche.
1. Chronicle Books
Chronicle specializes in nonfiction books, including a vibrant food and drink category that boasts creative cookbooks and guides for entertainers. Chronicle accepts unagented submissions.
Website: www.chroniclebooks.com
Submission Guidelines: www.chroniclebooks.com/submissions
2. Agate Publishing
Agate is particularly interested in food, cooking, and nutrition-related nonfiction, for its Surrey imprint; business-interest nonfiction, especially those that highlight traditional American Midwestern cuisine. Agate accepts unagented submissions.
Website: www.agatepublishing.com
Submission Guidelines: www.agatepublishing.com/about/
3. Gibbs Smith Publisher
In addition to speciality gifts and home design books, Gibbs Smith publishes a wide range of cookbooks, from traditional French cuisine to easy vegan recipes. They currently accept unagented submissions.
Website: www.gibbs-smith.com
Submission Guidelines: www.gibbs-smith.com/submissions
4. Hardie Grant Publishing
Hardie Grant is a nonfiction publisher specializing in nonfiction books spanning the food and drink, lifestyle, and popular culture markets. They currently accept unagented submissions.
Website: www.hardiegrant.com/publishing
Submission Guidelines: www.hardiegrant.com/contact-us
5. Cider Mill Press
If you’ve got the mixologist’s touch and know great recipes to pair with your spirits, Cider Mill Press may be the perfect match for you. They currently accept unagented submissions.
Website: www.cidermillpress.com
Submission Guidelines: www.cidermillpress.com/submissions
6. Bloomsbury
Although best known for publishing the Harry Potter series, Bloomsbury is also a reputable cookbook publisher, especially in the UK. They especially love books that feature region-specific recipes. Note that Bloomsbury does not accept unagented submissions.
Website: www.bloomsbury.com
Submission Guidelines: www.bloomsbury.com/contact-us/
7. Phaidon Press
Phaidon is a nonfiction publisher specializing in the arts, architecture, design, contemporary culture, cultural history, food, and travel. Priority is given to agented submissions.
Website: www.phaidon.com
Submission Guidelines: www.phaidon.com/submitting-a-book-proposal/
8. Hatherleigh Press
Hatherleigh Press publishes books in the health and wellness, fitness, self-help, and green living genres, so if you’ve got a collection of healthy, comforting recipes, you might find your match here. They currently accept unagented submissions.
Website: www.hatherleighcommunity.com
Submission Guidelines: www.hatherleighcommunity.com/submissions/
9. Page Street Publishing
Page Street publishes YA fiction and a variety of nonfiction in categories such as cooking, sports, science, nature, interior design, and parenting. Their cookbook collection includes many diet-specific and healthy-eating recipes. They currently accept unagented submissions.
Website: www.pagestreetpublishing.com
Submission Guidelines: www.pagestreetpublishing.com/submission-guidelines
10. Tuttle Publishing
Tuttle works to spread knowledge and appreciation of Asian cultures, and among their nonfiction published titles are books offering overviews of national cuisines, and even specific subjects like the art of sushi-making. Tuttle currently accepts unagented submissions.
Website: www.tuttlepublishing.com
Submission Guidelines: www.tuttlepublishing.com/become-an-author
11. Square One Publishers
Square One Publishers specializes in adult nonfiction, including cooking, health, self-help, and parenting. They publish a variety of cookbooks aimed at home cooks and are currently open to unagented submissions.
Website: www.squareonepublishers.com
Submission Guidelines: www.squareonepublishers.com/Submissions
12. Schiffer Publishing
Schiffer has a tradition of publishing books for families, including comfort food recipes you’ll want to share at family gatherings. They are currently open to unagented submissions.
Website: www.schifferbooks.com
Submission Guidelines: www.schifferbooks.com/author_resource
13. Sterling Publishing
Sterling publishes books for adventurous cooks who like to try out new ingredients and invent new recipes, whether it’s for cocktails or vegan meals. They currently accept unagented submissions.
Website: www.sterlingpublishing.com
Submission Guidelines: www.sterlingpublishing.com/contact-us/
14. Stone Pier Press
Stone Pier describes itself as an “environmental media organization with a food focus.” They’re interested in books with a focus on sustainable living, like cooking with your own or locally grown ingredients. Stone Pier currently accepts unagented submissions.
Website: www.stonepierpress.org
Submission Guidelines: www.stonepierpress.org/submissions
15. Pelican Publishing Company
Pelican publishes approximately 30 titles each year, on topics such as history and cooking that are tied to specific regions of the US (especially the South). They are currently accepting unagented submissions.
Website: www.pelicanpub.com
Submission Guidelines: www.pelicanpub.com/viewer.php
16. Great American Publishers
Great American Publishers primarily produces cookbooks. If you have individual recipes, you can submit them to be anthologized in their state-specific collections, or, if you’re interested in publishing a full recipe book, send them a cover letter and a sample of your manuscript.
Website: www.greatamericanpublishers.com
Submission Guidelines: www.greatamericanpublishers.com/manuscript-submission/
Are Cookbooks Profitable?
Cookbook sales were already on a slow but steady rise over the last couple years, and due in part to the coronavirus pandemic that saw millions of people stuck inside under stay-at-home orders, 2020 saw a 15% rise in cookbook sales compared with the previous year. (Interestingly, cookbooks specializing in breads saw a 145% rise over the period of January through September!)
However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that all cookbooks are profitable. Whether you self-publish or go the traditional publishing route, cookbooks tend to be expensive to produce, given that most good ones feature lots of high-quality, color images. Profitability will depend on your expenses, demand for the book, and how much effort you and the publisher put into marketing.
How Do You Get a Cookbook Published?
If you’re interested in one of the cookbook publishers in this list, you should first read through their submission guidelines very carefully and make sure that your book matches their interests.
Once you’ve written an outstanding cookbook, the next step (unless otherwise specified) will likely be to submit your manuscript and write a query letter. Check out our guide on writing a great nonfiction synopsis to learn how you can sell your book’s concept and get a great publishing deal.
Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- How to Write a Cookbook: 8 Steps for Immortalizing Your Favorite Recipes
- Food from Fiction: Recipes Inspired by Your Favorite Books
- How to Write a Recipe: The 4 Key Elements of a Great Cookbook Recipe
- How to Write a Query Letter for Nonfiction
As a blog writer for TCK Publishing, Kaelyn loves crafting fun and helpful content for writers, readers, and creative minds alike. She has a degree in International Affairs with a minor in Italian Studies, but her true passion has always been writing. Working remotely allows her to do even more of the things she loves, like traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.
Thanks for sharing. Do you have any publishers in Asia?
Hello Kaelyn. Thank you for the information provided above. Do you know if any of the publishers you listed have experience with ethnic cuisine cookbooks?
Hello Chef, glad you found the post useful. We’re not too familiar with the publishers so we can’t give a specific recommendation. However, if you look at each of their guidelines, they might have something which ethnic cuisine may fall under.
Thank you for this information. I wrote and had published a cook book years ago. It sold out if a few months. I made little profit from the book and learned a hard lesson. I have done a bit of a re write on it and would like to re publish it however, I remember my first go around well. Most of the publishers today are printers who want a writer to pay them to print then book and then take a percentage of the book sales on top of it. I am looking for a real book publisher? I would also like to find a good writer that can do a light re write for me if needed. DD Little
Hi Don, thanks for sharing your experience. I’m sorry it was a disappointing one! I would always advise against paying a publisher to print or publish your book. I don’t think there are any like that on this list, so I would definitely check these out :)
Thank you so much very helpful and useful.
So glad you found the list helpful! :)