Cooking isn't only something players do for fun in Stardew Valley; it's a mechanic that has various uses. Although cooking doesn't have any levels like actual skills in the game, gamers will unlock more recipes as they play and increase their progress in other skills or friendships.

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If the player's health goes down when facing the dangers of the mines or if their energy drops when mining or doing farm work, eating a meal or a snack can increase these levels in an instant. Certain foods also provide boosts that can be extremely helpful in terms of efficiency and monster fighting. So, out of all eighty recipes available in Stardew Valley, which ones are the best?

Updated June 11, 2024, by Alexandra O'Leary: Stardew Valley is easily one of the most successful indie games of all time. Pelican Town's peaceful way of life has provided the backdrop for millions of hours of gameplay for a huge range of gamers. Now, with the highly anticipated 1.6 update, gamers have rushed back in their thousands to continue their save files and experience all ConcernedApe has to offer in his final big update while he works on Haunted Chocolatier. For players who are returning after a period away from the valley, it's helpful to utilize everything on offer to make the game as fluid and fun as possible. Recipes are a great way to do this, as many of them provide unique buffs and will restore various stats to the farmer. Whether players are looking to fish, fight, or farm, there's a tasty dish ready to help.

22 Fish Stew

Fishing Buff

Ingredients:

• 1 Mussel
• 1 Crayfish
• 1 Periwinkle
• 1 Tomato

This is a great dish for any players who love to fish and spend their time with local fisherman Willy. Although it may look a little dubious, this fishy stew will instantly give the player a +3 fishing buff - which is huge for anyone looking to spend a day by the sea.

Most players will encounter this recipe organically by hanging out with Willy, who will send it to the player via mail after reaching seven hearts. This dish also has one of the longest lasting buffs, clocking in at a huge 16 minutes and 47 seconds. Additionally, it will provide 101 health and 225 energy which should set players up perfectly for a long and successful fishing session.

21 Pink Cake

High Sale Price and Popular with Townsfolk

Ingredients:

• 1 Melon
• 1 Wheat Flour
• 1 Sugar
• 1 Egg

This tasty baked good is a favorite among the locals of Pelican Town and is one of the few valuable dishes available in the game. Pink Cakes are super cute and pretty to look at, which makes them a great choice for those who want to display their cooking ability in their home. They're also loved by Haley, Jas, Marnie, and Vincent, making them an excellent choice to build relationships - particularly those looking to romance blonde bombshell Haley.

This pretty little cake sells for 450g, making it one of the more profitable recipes available for those in a tight spot. It also restores 250 energy and 112 health, which means it's best off being used on a day when players have a lot planned and may need an energy boost. There are a few different ways to acquire this dish: It's a reward for completing the Chef's Bundle on the Bulletin Board in the Community Centre; it can be sent in a letter from the player's mother; it has an extremely low drop rate from Big Slimes, and it can be learned by watching The Queen of Sauce on Summer 21, Year 2.

20 Fish Taco

High Selling Price and Fishing Buff

Ingredients:

• 1 Tuna
• 1 Tortilla
• 1 Red Cabbage
• 1 Mayonnaise

This is another great fish for fish lovers, although, for once, it isn't a favorite of Willy's. Fish Tacos are a great dish for those after a medium-length fishing buff since it provides a +2 fishing buff for 7 minutes - long enough for a good session but not quite enough to last all day. It's also a favorite dish of Caroline and Gus and liked by most other villagers. It's not too useful for romancing but a great way to build on the farmer's relationships with them.

A Fish Taco will restore 165 energy and 74 health, which doesn't make it a go-to for a restorative meal. However, the real appeal of this dish is that it sells for a whopping 500g, making it one of the two highest-value dishes in the entire game. This means they're understandably expensive to buy, costing 1000g when purchased from the Stardrop Saloon, so players should avoid buying one just to sell it. Surprisingly, this fishy dish will be given to the player by Linus after reaching 7+ stars with him.

19 Tom Kha Soup

Max Energy And Farming Buff

Ingredients:

• 1 Coconut
• 1 Shrimp
• 1 Common Mushroom

Thanks to its brilliant properties, Tom Kha Soup can be one of the harder recipes to get a hold of. Sandy will send it to a player at 7 or more hearts, or it can occasionally be purchased from the Stardrop Saloon's continually changing menu. It's certainly a dish for those who want to romance the quiet and mysterious members of Pelican Town - since both Elliot and Penny love it.

Tom Kha Soup is most useful for its fantastic buffs, though. It provides a +2 to farming and a +30 to the player's max energy - making it the perfect dish to eat when players want to get a lot of farming done in one day. It also gives 175 health and 78 energy and sells for 250g. It's one of a selection of recipes that will sell for more money than its individual ingredients, but usually, dishes like this are worth eating.

18 Chowder

Fishing Buff

Ingredients:

• 1 Clam
• 1 Milk

For a highly simple recipe, Chowder has some great benefits. Most players will likely receive this recipe from Willy in a letter after reaching three or more hearts with him, and it requires only two easily found ingredients. Milk can be obtained from cows on the player's farm, and Clams can be foraged from the beach or found in a crab pot.

While there are no characters who love this dish - not even Willy - Chowder will provide 225 health and 101 energy when eaten. Most importantly, it will give players a +1 fishing buff for a whopping 16 minutes and 47 seconds. It's no surprise that Willy, the master fisherman, is the one to give this recipe to players.

17 Pumpkin Pie

Worth Good Money

Ingredients:

• 1 Pumpkin
• 1 Wheat Flour
• 1 Milk
• 1 Sugar

Pumpkin Pie is one of Stardew Valley's most festive and tasty treats. While it does require a fair number of ingredients, it's one of the more realistic recipes available and is perfect for those who love a seasonal bake. Marnie loves Pumpkin Pie, and it's enjoyed by everyone but Willy, Krobus, and Leo.

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Those interested in making some money can sell a Pumpkin Pie for 385g, or eat it to restore 225 health and 101 energy - perfect when players are running low on health in the mines. It can also be put into a sewing machine to make a holiday shirt.

16 Fruit Salad

Great Health And Energy Boost

Ingredients:

• 1 Melon
• 1 Apricot
• 1 Blueberry

The main appeal of a Fruit Salad is its great restorative abilities and high selling price. Considering all the needed ingredients can be grown on the farm - melons and blueberry seeds can be bought and planted, apricots come from planting an apricot sapling - this dish sells for a whopping 450g.

It's also fantastic to eat in a pinch. When players are down in the mines or at the very bottom of their farm and don't feel like walking back to the house, a Fruit Salad will restore 263 health and 118 energy - making it very useful in tricky situations. Anybody trying to win over Hayley - a particularly tricky romance - will want to make this dish since she absolutely loves it.

15 Red Plate

Max Energy Boost

Ingredients:

• 1 Red Cabbage
• 1 Raddish

The Red Plate may appear either in the Stardrop Saloon or Krobus' shop on a Saturday (selected randomly). This little veggie dish will grant players +50 max energy for 3m and 30s, which is invaluable for players with big farms or those planning to venture into the mines for a long day of mining and fighting.

Another bonus of a Red Plate is how valuable it is to sell. Any farmer in a money pinch can sell this for a whopping 400g, making it one of the more profitable dishes in the game. Additionally, anybody looking to romance Penny will want to get their hands on this dish, and it's liked by almost every other villager.

14 Maple Bar

Farming, Fishing, And Mining Boost

Ingredients:

• 1 Maple Syrup (made by tapping a maple tree)
• 1 Sugar
• 1 Wheat Flour

Maple Bars are the best snack for players looking to do a bit of everything over the course of their day. This tasty bar gives players a +1 buff to farming, fishing, and mining for a brilliant 16m and 47s. The length of the buff means it's a one-and-done kind of snack that covers all the bases without needing multiple dishes.

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Acquiring this dish is easy, too. Players just need to tune in to The Queen of Sauce on the 14th of Summer, Year 2, to get the recipe. It's a popular dish among the townspeople, but players looking to romance Sam will definitely want to get their hands on some Maple Bars.

13 Farmer's Lunch

Farming Boost

Ingredients:

• 1 Omelet (made with 1 Egg & 1 Milk)
• 1 Parsnip

Unlocked when players reach Farming Level 3, Farmer's Lunchprovides a +3 Farming boost for 5 minutes and 35 seconds. In addition, it also gives 200 Energy and 90 Health points. As early recipes go, Farmer's Lunch is one of the easiest for players to create, as Parsnips are one of the fastest-growing crops in the whole game.

The Farmer's Lunch dish occasionally appears in Krobus' shop on Saturdays and might also be found in a treasure room in the Skull Cavern. Its excellent stamina and health regeneration capabilities make it a great recipe for players to have on hand.

12 Seafoam Pudding

Fishing Boost

Ingredients:

• 1 Flounder
• 1 Midnight Carp
• 1 Squid Ink

For players looking to seriously up their fishing game, this recipe unlocked at Fishing Level 9 is one of the best to master. Seafoam Puddingprovides a +3 Fishing boost for 3 minutes and 30 seconds, which is incredibly useful for high-level players hunting down hard-to-catch fish. This dish also restores 175 Energy and 78 Health points.

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Seafoam Pudding can be bought for 5000g once a year from the shop at the Dance of the Moonlight Jellies. It will occasionally also appear in the Traveling Cart for anywhere between 900g and 1500g.

11 Survival Burger

Foraging Boost

Ingredients:

• 1 Bread (made with 1 Wheat Flour)
• 1 Cave Carrot
• 1 Eggplant

The Survival Burger provides a +3 Foraging boost for 5 minutes and 35 seconds, making it a great food to have on hand when gathering necessities for players' farms. In addition to granting players 125 Energy and 56 Health points, it also increases their axe proficiency as well.

The Survival Burger can be found in a few different places in the game and will unlock for players after reaching Foraging Level 2. Emily also adores this dish, so it's a great one to know for those looking to woo her.

10 Lucky Lunch

Luck Boost

Ingredients:

• 1 Sea Cucumber
• 1 Tortilla (made with 1 Corn)
• 1 Blue Jazz

This fortunate food provides a +3 Luck boost for 11 minutes and 11 seconds, making it a great recipe for better odds at finding some of Stardew Valley's rarer items. It also restores 100 Energy and 45 Health points and can be stacked with other lucky recipes for additional effects.

Lucky Lunch is another dish that is profitable when sold, going for 250g. It will occasionally appear in some of the shops and is liked by most of the town's villagers. However, it is one of those dishes that players will likely want to keep for themselves.

9 Roots Platter

Attack Boost

Ingredients:

• 1 Cave Carrot
• 1 Winter Root

The Roots Platterprovides a +3 Attack boost for 5 minutes and 35 seconds, making it the strongest Attack buff of any recipe in the game. It gives the player 125 Energy and 56 Health points as well, so it's a handy dish for players struggling against the game's difficult enemies.

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The Roots Platter recipe can be unlocked by reaching Combat Level 3 and can occasionally be found in Krobus' shop on Saturdays. This dish is one of the few profitable recipes as well and can be sold for 100g.

8 Dish O' The Sea

Fishing Boost

Ingredients:

• 2 Sardines
• 1 Hashbrown (made with 1 Potato & 1 Oil)

Dish O' The Seaprovides a+3 boost to the fishing skill for five minutes and 35 seconds and becomes available once players have reached Fishing Level 3. Boosts like this one can be used regardless of the skill level players have achieved. So, for those heading to catch themselves some fish, this easy dish is a staple.

Its accessibility to the player at such a low level is what makes it so useful, especially at the start of the game. Dish O' The Sea also gives players 125 Energy and 56 Health points. While under the effects of its buff, players will have a greater casting distance as well as the fish size and bar size.

7 Eggplant Parmesan

Defense And Mining Boost

Ingredients:

• 1 Eggplant
• 1 Tomato

As one of the multi-buff recipes, Eggplant Parmesan is a great food in the game. It provides a +3 Defense boost and a +1 Mining boost for 4 minutes and 39 seconds. This recipe is unlocked after earning 7 hearts from Mayor Lewis and is a particular favorite of Jodi. Eggplant Parmesan also grants players 175 Energy and 78 Health points.

This dish is one of the easiest to cook thanks to its low ingredient cost and isn't too hard to unlock either. It's a handy dish to have when mining, as it will help players keep enemies at bay more easily. What's more, Eggplant Parmesan is another profitable dish selling for 200g.

6 Tropical Curry

Foraging Boost

Ingredients:

• 1 Coconut
• 1 Pineapple
• 1 Hot Pepper

Tropical Curry is another food for players who enjoy gathering the materials they need. It provides a +4 Foraging boost for 5 minutes and 1 second and grants players 150 Energy and 67 Health points. Its buff to the Foraging skill is particularly useful during Salmonberry and Blackberry seasons, as it makes it possible to collect more berries per bush.

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This recipe can only be obtained from Gus at the Ginger Island Beach Resort for 2000g, so players will need to save some money if they want to unlock it. This dish is also a particular favorite of Caroline.

5 Pumpkin Soup

Luck And Defense Boost

Ingredients:

• 1 Pumpkin
• 1 Milk

This seasonal soup can be unlocked by achieving 7 hearts with Robin and provides a +2 Luck boost and a +2 Defense boost for 7 minutes and 41 seconds. Pumpkin Soup also grants players 200 Energy and 90 Health points. While other dishes are great to help with actual mining, this dish is great to take down to the mines to keep players safe.

Pumpkin Soup can be purchased from several shops in the game, but given the simplicity of its ingredients, players will be better off cooking it themselves. Those hoping to eventually marry Sebastian should definitely take the time to learn this recipe.

4 Complete Breakfast

Farming And Energy Boost

Ingredients:

• 1 Fried Egg (made with 1 Egg)
• 1 Milk
• 1 Hash Brown (made with 1 Potato & 1 Oil)
• 1 Pancake (made with 1 Egg & 1 Wheat Flour)

There's no better way for players to start their day than eating a Complete Breakfast, which provides a +2 Farming boost and +50 max energy for 7 minutes. The dish also grants players 200 Energy and 90 Health points, which is perfect for those hoping to have a full day of farming and harvesting produce.

To obtain this recipe, players need to watch the Queen of the Sauce television program on the 21st day of spring during their second year. This dish is loved by the villager Alex, too, so players hoping to romance him should be sure to tune in.

3 Crab Cakes

Defense And Speed Boost

Ingredients:

• 1 Crab
• 1 Wheat Flour
• 1 Egg
• 1 Oil

For players looking to navigate dangerous places like Skull Carven as quickly as they can, Crab Cakes are a wonderful food item. This dish provides a +1 Defense boost and a +1 Speed boost for 16 minutes and 47 seconds. Essentially, it'll last them the entirety of an in-game day.

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The Crab Cakes recipe can be unlocked by watching Queen of the Sauce on the 21st day of fall in the player's second year. For those hoping to woo Elliot, one of the game's older bachelors, Crab Cakes are a must-have recipe.