Cooking in Stardew Valley can be daunting at first because there are so many recipes, and starting off you won’t know any of them. There are four main ways that you’ll gather recipes: leveling up, watching The Queen of Sauce, in the mail from friends and buying them from shops! Once you have a kitchen in your house, recipes, and ingredients gathered, you are ready to cook!
Cooked dishes are a great way to provide yourself with enough health and energy to keep yourself going during a long day. You can also be strategic and use buffed meals to help you with various activities. Once you have completed the Community Center and make it to Ginger Island, you will really be able to elevate your dishes.
This Top 15 list will provide a breakdown of my most used dishes in Stardew Valley. Soon you will know the best dishes to use when mining, fishing and foraging. Plus learn how to make Alex’s favorite dish! You will also learn how much Qi seasoning elevates your meals and if dishes are worth selling. Happy cooking!
15) Field Snack
Start by living off of these snacks which are similar to granola bars.
Field snacks are basically the first recipe you will learn. They aren’t the best ever for health and energy, but they are extremely easy to make early on. In the beginning you will probably be chopping down a ton of trees for wood anyway, so it will be easy to gather a ton of field snack ingredients. They are the best snack to carry around with you.
Personally, I live off of field snacks for a long time because the ingredients are so easy to source. You will need a ton of them to keep you energized, but since ingredients are so easy to find, this shouldn’t be an issue. They are also not loved by any villagers, so don’t gift them!
Recipe(1) acorn, (1) maple seed, (1) pinecone
Recipe Source
Reach level one foraging.
Why Is It Great?
- Easy to gather ingredients.
- First recipe learned.
- Can be found in trash cans around Pelican Town.
Field Snack Stats
- 45 energy
- 20 health
Sell Price?
20g
14) Sashimi
Sashimi is a great way to get rid of fish that are worth 75g or less.
Stardew Valley is a cozy little fishing town, so of course you will be cooking with a ton of fish as you learn to cook. However, this fish stays raw. Sashimi is a good early source of health and energy because you can literally use any fish to prepare it. So all of those little, worthless fish you catch early on? Turn them into sashimi and sell it for more gold than the fish itself would be worth.
Sashimi is also a decent gift early on as it is liked by almost all the villagers and loved by Sebastian. It also provides more energy and health than field snacks so once you are fishing, it’s a good dish to carry around with you.
Recipe(1) any fish
Recipe Source
In the mail from Linus after reaching three friendship hearts.
Why Is It Great?
- Turn any fish into Sashimi, including creatures caught in the crab pot.
- Any fish that’s worth less than 75g, is worth turning into sashimi and selling.
- Sebastian loves sashimi.
Field Snack Stats
- 75 energy
- 33 health
With Qi Seasoning
- 135 energy
- 60 health
Sell Price
75g
With Qi Seasoning
112g
13) Chocolate Cake
You can't help but eat an entire cake at once!
Who doesn’t love dessert? Just like in real life, sometimes you just need an entire cake to yourself. It’s high in energy and health, so it’s worth keeping some on hand for yourself and as gifts. Chocolate cake is loved by three villagers and liked by almost every villager, so it’s a great gift early on.
Chocolate cake uses simple ingredients, and if the lowest quality are used, you can even make gold from selling your cakes! Chocolate cakes are also a reward for a community bundle, plus a regular gift from Evelyn. Overall, they are a very simple and useful early game dish.
Recipe(1) wheat flour, (1) sugar, (1) egg
Recipe Source
The Queen of Sauce: Year 1, Winter, Day 14
Why Is It Great?
- High in energy and health with easy to obtain ingredients.
- Great gift. Loved by Abigail, Evelyn and Jodi. Liked by almost everyone.
- Sells for a profit if using the lowest quality ingredients.
Chocolate Cake Stats
- 150 energy
- 67 health
With Qi Seasoning:
- 270 energy
- 121 health
Sell Price
200g
With Qi Seasoning
300g
12) Ginger Ale
Ginger ale will cure an upset tummy.
Ginger ale is a nectar of Yoba. Just like in real life, ginger will calm your nauseated stomach. The ginger ale recipe can’t be bought until later in the game and the recipe can be difficult to obtain. Once you can get your hands on it, it’s a good dish to keep on hand while fighting certain monsters. It will provide a cure for the nauseated debuff on top of giving you energy, health and luck.
Ginger ale is also liked by almost everyone in Pelican Town, so it can be a great gift to keep around as well.
Recipe(3) ginger, (1) sugar
Recipe Source
Buy for 1,000g at the Dwarf Shop inside the Volcano on Ginger Island.
Why Is It Great?
- Offers a (+1) luck buff for 5m that can be stacked with food buffs.
- Great gift. Loved by Vincent and liked by almost everyone.
- Cures nauseated debuff.
- Once you are on Ginger Island, ginger is extremely easy to find.
Ginger Ale Stats
- 63 energy
- 28 health
- (+1) luck for 5m
- Cures the nauseated debuff
With Qi Seasoning
- 113 energy,
- 50 health,
- (+2) luck for 7 ½m
Sell Price
200g
With Qi Seasoning
300g
11) Escargot
Escargot won't make you a snail when it comes to fishing!
If fishing feels like a daunting task in Stardew Valley, you are not alone! Fishing is SO difficult and can be very frustrating. Fishing is my favorite activity in almost every game I’ve ever played, except Stardew. That being said, you will eventually have to fish. When you finally must start fishing, making dishes with fishing buffs can make your life so much easier.
When you finally swim your way up to level three fishing, you can buy crab pots to put everywhere. Putting a few traps in the freshwater areas will provide a regular source of snails. Escargot has a decent fishing buff, so it’s a good dish to keep on hand early in your fishing career.
Recipe(1) snail, (1) garlic
Recipe Source
In the mail from Willy after reaching five friendship hearts.
Why Is It Great?
- Easy to make. Once you have crab pots in freshwater, you will have a regular source of snails.
- Can be very helpful early on when fishing is most difficult.
- Great gift. Loved by Gus and liked by almost all villagers.
Escargot Stats
- 225 energy
- 101 health
- (+2) fishing for 16m47s
With Qi Seasoning
- 405 energy
- 182 health
- (+3) fishing for 25m12s
Sell Price
125g
With Qi Seasoning
187g
10) Fried Mushroom
More fried mushrooms are always a good thing.
Fried mushrooms are a perfect dish in real life, and they are pretty great in Stardew Valley as well. Fried mushrooms are great because they are high in energy and health, they offer a buff for fighting monsters, and they are easy to make. If you choose mushrooms for the cave on your farm, you will be rolling in mushrooms.
Aside from being great for energy and fighting monsters, fried mushrooms are great gifts for almost everyone.
Recipe(1) common mushroom, (1) morel, (1) oil
Recipe Source
In the mail from Demetrius after reaching three friendship hearts.
Why Is It Great?
- Good buff for traveling deep into the mines and fighting monsters.
- Extremely easy to source mushrooms if you choose mushrooms for your farm cave.
- Great gift. Loved by George and liked by almost everyone.
Fried Mushroom Stats
- 135 energy
- 60 health
- (+2) attack for 7m
With Qi Seasoning
- 243 energy
- 109 health
- (+3) attack for 10m30s
Sell Price
200g
With Qi Seasoning
300g
9) Spicy Eel
This slippery dish will increase your luck and speed!
Spicy eel is an amazing dish because it can be obtained in so many ways. It’s decent for energy and health, plus it offers buffs that will help with anything you are doing. This dish can also turn a profit if you use the lowest quality ingredients!
Spicy eel is a great gift for villagers, but beware, Evelyn hates this dish. Yes, George sends you a dish that his wife hates.
Recipe(1) eel, (1) hot pepper
Recipe Source
In the mail from George after reaching seven friendship hearts.
Why Is It Great?
- Easy to make if you keep eels in a fish pond.
- Can be obtained at the desert trader by trading one ruby.
- Might be dropped by serpents in Skull Cavern, or by lava eels in a fish pond.
- Great Gift! Loved by Abigail and liked by most villagers.
- Provides good buffs for daily activities.
Fried Mushroom Stats
- 115 energy
- 51 health
- (+1) luck
- (+1) speed for 7m
With Qi Seasoning:
- 207 energy
- 93 health
- (+1) luck for 10m30s
- (+1) speed for 10m30s
Sell Price
175g
With Qi Seasoning:
262g
8) Maple Bar
To quote the great Homer Simpson, "Donuts. Is there anything they can't do?"
Maple bars are an amazing well-rounded dish. They offer a ton of energy, health AND buffs to help with your day. You should have a ton of tree taps going by the time you get this recipe, so make sure you save a stock of maple syrup for maple bars.
Maple bars are also an amazing gift because, just like in real life- almost everyone likes donuts!
Recipe(1) maple syrup, (1) sugar, (1) wheat flour
Recipe Source
The Queen of Sauce: Year 2, Summer, Day 14
Why Is It Great?
- Offers great buffs for a well-rounded day of different activities.
- Very high in energy and health.
- Ingredients are easy to gather if you already have trees tapped.
- It’s a donut, so it’s a great gift! Loved by Sam and liked by almost every villager.
Maple Bar Stats
- 225 energy
- 101 health
- (+1) farming for 16m47s
- (1) fishing 16m47s
- (+1) mining for 16m47s
With Qi Seasoning
- 405 energy
- 182 health
- (+2) farming for 25m11s
- (+2) fishing for 25m11s
- (+2) mining for 25m11s
Sell Price
300g
With Qi Seasoning
450g
7) Complete Breakfast
Start your day with a complete breakfast when you plan to farm all day!
When farming in Stardew Valley a complete breakfast is the perfect way to start your day. It offers a ton of energy and health plus great buffs for a long day of farming. It uses ingredients that you will be gathering daily if you have a fully functioning farm, so it’s easy to keep around for a daily boost.
The complete breakfast is also one of Alex’s most loved items. It’s a great gift if you’re looking to marry him. However, Sebastian hates this dish, so it’s not great if you want to marry him.
Recipe(1) fried egg, (1) milk, (1) hashbrowns, (1) pancakes
Recipe Source
The Queen of Sauce: Year 2, Spring, Day 21
Why Is It Great?
- Easy to source ingredients if you have a fully functioning farm.
- Offers a ton of energy and good buffs for daily farming.
- Great gift. Loved by Alex and liked by most villagers.
Complete Breakfast Stats
- 200 energy
- 90 health
- (+2) farming for 7m
- (+50) max energy for 7m
With Qi Seasoning
- 360 energy
- 162 health
- (+3) farming for 10m30s
Sell Price
350g
With Qi Seasoning
525g
6) Pumpkin Soup
Bring this hearty soup with you when you go mining in the winter!
Pumpkin soup is the perfect way to warm up in the fall. It rains a ton in the fall and I like to go mining when it’s raining. Pumpkin soup offers great buffs for traversing deep into the mines and fighting monsters. On top of the great buffs, it’s also an amazing source of energy and health.
Pumpkin soup is a good way to bond with Sebastian. Unlike George, Robin sends you the recipe for one of her son’s favorite dishes.
Recipe(1) pumpkin, (1) milk
Recipe Source
In the mail from Robin after reaching seven hearts of friendship.
Why Is It Great?
- Very high in energy and health, with great buffs for mining.
- Easy to obtain ingredients with a fully functioning farm
- Can be bought sometimes at the Gus’ Saloon.
- Great gift. Loved by Sebastian and liked by most villagers.
Pumpkin Soup Stats
- 200 energy
- 90 health
- (+2) defense for 7m41s
- (+2) luck for 7m41s
With Qi Seasoning
- 360 energy
- 162 health
- (+3) defense for 11m32s
- (+2) luck for 11m32s.
Sell Price
300g
With Qi Seasoning
450g
5) Roots Platter
Eat your veggies so you can get strong and slay monsters!
The roots platter is an amazing dish to take mining early on. This dish uses ingredients that are easy to forage and stock up on during the first winter. Cave carrots are very easy to gather by hoeing dirt areas while mining. Winter root is dug out of the snow and can be found throughout the entire winter.
This dish is great to take as you get deeper into the mine, and it’s a great villager gift!
Recipe(1) cave carrot, (1) winter root
Recipe Source
Reach level three combat.
Why Is It Great?
- Great end of year one meal because it uses easily foraged ingredients.
- Good amount of energy and health. It also offers an attack buff that’s great when getting deeper into the mines.
- Can be sold for a profit when made with the lowest quality ingredients.
- Great gift! Loved by Penny and liked by most of the villagers.
Roots Platter Stats
- 125 energy
- 56 health
- (+3) attack for 5m35s
With Qi Seasoning:
- 225 energy
- 101 health
- (+4) attack for 8m24s
Sell Price
100g
With Qi Seasoning
150g
4) Farmer's Lunch
The perfect lunch when tending to a ton of crops!
The farmer’s lunch is an amazing early game dish to keep on hand for yourself and for gifts. You will learn the recipe early on if you farm regularly, plus it uses easy ingredients straight from your farm. It’s also a great source of energy and health plus it provides a massive farming buff.
It’s also a great gift to give residents around town. Marnie loves a good farmer’s lunch; this dish is hated by Sebastian since he’s allergic to the outdoors.
Recipe(1) omelet, (1) parsnip
Recipe Source
Reach level three farming.
Why Is It Great?
- Provides a lot of energy and health plus has an amazing farming buff.
- Made from easy to source items from your farm.
- Great gift. Loved by Marnie and liked by most of the villagers.
- Extremely useful when doing a lot of farming.
Farmer’s Lunch Stats
- 200 energy
- 90 health
- (+3) farming for 5m35s
With Qi Seasoning:
- 360 energy
- 162 health
- (+4) farming for 8m24s
Sell Price
150g
With Qi Seasoning:
225g
3) Survival Burger
The opposite of a nothingburger is a survival burger.
I absolutely love foraging in games, and foraging in Stardew Valley is very special. It’s basically endless and you can even level up your foraging skill for better perks while foraging. The survival burger is a perfect year one dish to keep with you when you plan to spend the day foraging.
The survival burger offers a good amount of energy and health, plus a great buff for foraging. Once you have a mill, this dish is very easy and cheap to make. It’s also a good gift, as it is liked by most villagers.
Recipe(1) bread, (1) cave carrot, (1) eggplant
Recipe Source
Reach level two foraging.
Why Is It Great?
- Amazing buff for foraging and a good source of energy and health.
- You learn the recipe very early on as long as you forage.
- Great to use while picking berries to increase the amount and quality.
- Good gift. Loved by Emily and liked by most villagers.
- Can be sold for a profit if using the lowest quality ingredients, and bread made from wheat flour you mill.
Survival Burger Stats
- 125 energy
- 56 health
- (+3) foraging for 5m35s
With Qi Seasoning
- 225 energy
- 101 health
- (+4) foraging for 8m24s
Sell Price
180g
With Qi Seasoning
270g
2) Autumn's Bounty
Roasted veggies are an excellent source of foraging and defense.
Autumn’s bounty is the perfect fall dish to make. If you are a farmer, it uses ingredients you will probably have available all fall. It offers a ton of energy and health, plus buffs that are great for a journey into the Secret Woods. Autumn’s bounty is a great gift for almost the entire village. It’s also a reward for the fall foraging bundle at the Community Center, so be sure and get that done!
Recipe
(1) yam, (1) pumpkin
Recipe Source
In the mail from Demetrius after reaching seven hearts of friendship.
Why Is It Great?
- An amazing source of energy, health and buffs for foraging and defense.
- Easy to make if you keep crops growing all fall.
- Five plates are rewarded for finishing the fall foraging bundle.
- Great Gift. Loved by Lewis and liked by almost everyone.
- Easy to get recipe if you become friends with Demetrius.
Autumn’s Bounty Stats
- 220 energy
- 99 health
- (+2) foraging for 7m41s
- (+2) defense for 7m41s
With Qi Seasoning
- 396 energy
- 178 health
- (+3) foraging for 11m33s
- (+2) defense for 11m33s
Sell Price
350g
With Qi Seasoning
525g
1) Lobster Bisque
Survive fishing with dishes like lobster bisque.
I really can’t stress how difficult fishing can be in this game. If you’re playing without mods, there is no skipping the fishing minigame. When you get to the point where you need to start fishing regularly, keeping dishes around that offer fishing buffs are a great help. Especially dishes like lobster bisque that have buffs that last all day.
Lobster bisque is an amazing dish to take fishing. It offers a ton of energy, health and buffs. It’s extremely easy to gather the ingredients once you have access to crab pots. Lobster bisque is also an amazing gift once you are rolling in lobster, it’s liked by every NPC except Krobus and Leo.
Recipe(1) lobster, (1) milk
Recipe Source
In the mail from Willy after reaching nine hearts of friendship.
Why Is It Great?
- Offers an amazing amount of energy and great buffs for fishing that last all day.
- Once you have crab pots all over the beach, you will be rolling in lobster.
- It’s a great gift. Liked by everyone except Krobus and Leo.
- Fishing is seriously SO hard, and this dish makes it quite a bit easier to catch higher level fish.
Lobster Bisque Stats
- 225 energy
- 101 health
- (+3) fishing for 16m47s
- (+50) max energy for 16m47s
With Qi Seasoning
- 405 energy
- 182 health
- (+4) fishing for 25m12s
Sell Price
205g
With Qi Seasoning:
307g
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