21 Cooking Fails and Bad Food for Optimistic Home Chefs Learning to Trust the Process (November 5, 2026)

Cata Holmes • Writer

Nov 5, 2026 5:15 PM EST

No matter how many times you try it, cooking skills are something you're born with. The good thing? We get to learn from our disasters and collect a ton of anecdotes for a non-cookbook.

So yeah, next time you're feeling bad for not being able to master a recipe, remember that part. People have different talents, and most of us are good at something without really even trying. So, focusing our energy on that and avoiding things that aren't that simple can make us feel way better. I said here before that I come from a family of cooks, and I'm not even nearly as good at it as they are. That cost me some sad moments growing up, but over time, I figured out that being bad at cooking doesn't define me, and I'm on my way to discovering what I like to do.

Now, I'd like to preface that when I say I'm bad at cooking, it doesn't mean I order takeout every single day. Of course not! I can cook some easy peasy dinners for myself and my boyfriend (if he dares to try them) because, for me, health always comes first. While ordering something tasty from time to time is still a form of health, let's not make it a habit. Save that for special occasions or days when you're super tired. That'll help you learn to prepare quick meals and move on with your day.

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What can you do when you're not good at cooking but still need to figure out dinner?
I'm not going to share cooking tips because, I promise you, I'm not qualified enough. But I do have some things you can scroll through while you figure out what to have for dinner. Hopefully, you don't have some starving kids running around the house demanding food. This is for people who have a few extra minutes for themselves before they head to the freezer for a bag of frozen chicken nuggets. While you open all your cabinets and go through the pantry, have you thought about pairing it with some good cooking fail memes? Well, they might inspire you in ways you haven't even thought about! After scrolling through some of them, you might realize that putting together a quick salad and avoiding turning on the stove is a better idea. Hey, you might even realize that today's is a good day for pizza delivery, and there you have it!
My point about cooking fails is that we should realize, first, that we're not alone in not being able to cook. But only that: we can laugh about it and, for me at least, it makes me feel better. There's a community of us that would much rather have a cup of coffee for dinner than start thinking of meal ideas. So, if this is your first time here, it's lovely to meet you. If you're still unsure what to have for dinner, you're in the right place. And after this, I promise you'll either DoorDash or have those random chicken nuggets.
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21 Cooking Fails and Bad Food for Optimistic Home Chefs Learning to Trust the Process (November 5, 2026)

What can you do when you're not good at cooking but still need to figure out dinner?

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