If you’re looking for a cookbook that makes weeknight dinners easier and more fun, Bo Corley’s Dinner in One Take delivers no-fuss recipes with great cooking tips along the way.

Corley, known for his high-energy cooking videos on TikTok and Instagram as @bothegoattv, has packed this book with flavorful, easy-to-follow recipes designed for busy weeknights.

Joy on Every Page

The book’s concept is about bold flavors, creative combos, and fun twists on classics. It will take you on deep dives into ingredients like butter and garlic as well as give insights on cooking tools and meat smoking techniques.

One standout recipe is the Secret Brine Skillet Chicken, which gets a flavor-boosting—spoiler alert!—pickle brine before hitting the pan, resulting in a juicy, tender, and flavorful dish. Then there’s a decadently delicious recipe for French Toast Breakfast Nachos from the “Breakfast for Dinner” section—crispy, cinnamon sugar-dusted tortillas piled high with cheese, chopped breakfast sausages, scrambled eggs, and a drizzle of maple syrup.

And, speaking of cheese, if you love grilled cheese (who doesn’t?), there’s a terrific recipe for Elevated Grilled Cheese that takes this family favorite up a notch using croissant bread (who knew?). For an even fancier twist, the Seafood Platter Grilled Cheese combines fresh lump crabmeat and shrimp for the ultimate upscale comfort food dish.

There’s even a section at the end called “The Beverage Lab” with cocktail recipes and tips to help you brush up on your mixology skills. One of my favorites is a spin on a classic bourbon cocktail called Strawberry Old-Fashioned, Two Ways, one version made with strawberry puree and the other with muddled strawberries. Corley also includes recipes for homemade garnishes, like dried candied orange slices and cocktail cherries.

An Inspiring Backstory

Corley was once an insurance executive who weighed nearly 500 pounds before changing his lifestyle and creating healthier meals that were better for his waistline.

However, the book’s recipes are far from “diet food”—they’re all about good-quality ingredients that bring joy to the table. That said, many dishes are heavy on fatty meats, butter, and cheese—not exactly my idea of healthy cooking. So while the flavors are big and the meals satisfying, this might not be the best pick if you’re watching your cholesterol.

An additional caveat: some recipes call for equipment like grills or smokers, which might not be practical for everyone—like me in my New York City apartment! But overall, if you’re stuck in a dinner rut, Dinner in One Take is packed with fresh, exciting ideas.

Find the book on amazon.com ($17.48 in hardcover or $10.49 on kindle).

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the cookbook in exchange for my honest opinion.