PBS shaped the moderncooking showlong before food television became a global industry. The foundation was laid in 1962, whenThe French Chefpremiered on Boston public television, introducing hostJulia Child's joyful, unpretentious approach to cooking French cuisine in real time.
PBS produced the show for a few more seasons, and it continued to gain new audiences in syndication for years afterward. The series was a watershed moment, effectively inventing the American cooking-show format and proving that viewers would tune in to learn, laugh, and cook alongside a warm, knowledgeable presenter.
PBS has remained a home for shows that prioritize education, craft, and cultural storytelling over flash.America's Test Kitchenrefined the genre with its rigorous, science-driven recipe development and unbiased equipment testing, becoming one of the most trusted brands in home cooking.
And let's not forget: The network introduced American audiences toThe Great British Bake-Off, another series that has transformed the landscape offood-centric reality TV.
Together, the following five programs reflect PBS' ongoing commitment to thoughtful, high-quality, and joyful culinary storytelling. They celebrate the technique, heritage, and creativity behind sharing food — values that continue to define the network's influence on how we cook and how we watch others cook.
These areEntertainment Weekly's picks for the five best PBS cooking shows.
America's Test Kitchen(2000–present)
This fast-paced reality TV series stands out for its serious-minded approach to cooking, inviting viewers to examine the science behind the dishes. In other words, it's a cooking show for nerds.
Set in a real test kitchen — a 15,000-square-foot space in Boston — the show features up to several dozen chefs and bakers going through an intense, creative testing process.America's Test Kitcheneschews dramatic plotting and villainy in favor of a rigorous, authentic depiction of the mettle required to blend craft and science in service of the perfect dish. The series is both aspirational and educational, showing viewers how to make perfect recipes at home without professional expertise.
Where to watchAmerica's Test Kitchen: PBS
The French Chef with Julia Child(1962-1973)
The French Chefis the cooking show from which all future cooking shows were forged. Julia Child revolutionized not just the format but educational television itself, demonstrating that such content could be as entertaining and unpredictable as it was illuminating.
Famed writer and filmmakerNora Ephron, who directed the Child biopicJulie & Julia(2009),spoke toNHPRabout the chef's influence on her own career. "When I used to cook from Julia's cookbook, I had long imaginary conversations with her," she said. "I used to think maybe she would come to dinner, even though I had never met her, and never did… She made you know you could do it."
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Where to watchThe French Chef: PBS
The Great American Recipe(2022–present)
Another show that gained a following due to its lovable personalities,The Great American Recipefinds a group of home cooks competing for top honors in a serene country locale. In a modern era during which PBS has produced fewer notable, original cooking shows,Recipestands out as a particularly strong example of the genre.
Each of the competitions focuses on a strand of family history, bringing context to many famous American dishes and expressing the different cultural traditions that exist within the country.
Where to watchThe Great American Recipe: PBS
The Great British Bake-Off(2010–present)
Arguably the most relaxing cooking/baking show on the market,The Great British Bake-Offblends the concept of a village party with areality TV competition. But the show's handles the high stakes and criticism with dignity, never allowing it to overshadow the inherent fun of a bake-off.
Since premiering in 2010,GBBOhas transformed the genre and given way to a host of similar, personality-driven baking shows likeNailed It,Baking It, andBake Squad.
Where to watchThe Great British Bake-Off: Netflix, PBS
No Passport Required(2018–2020)
In each episode of this warm, delightful program, famed chef Marcus Samuelsson finds a different immigrant community within a bustling American metropolis and dives into their ideas and traditions about food. It's not just about flavors and favorite recipes (although there's plenty of that) but also what specific culinary traditions mean to us.
Through episodes revolving around Portuguese and Brazilian foods in Boston, Vietnamese cuisine in New Orleans, and Miami's history of Haitian dishes,No Passport Requiredoffers viewers a tantalizing glimpse at the ways food is more than just food.
Where to watchNo Passport Required: PBS
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