What will I do and make in a vegetarian cooking class and do we eat the meal?

Alongside a chef in Chicago, you'll prepare 1 to 5 vegetarian courses depending on the class. Expect to work with vegetables, herbs, grains, cheeses, legumes or plant-based proteins while learning techniques for balanced, satisfying meat-free meals. Everything you make is yours to enjoy afterwards.

Are vegetarian cooking classes good for beginners?

Definitely. Chicago has 18 vegetarian cooking classes suited to beginners, where the chef walks you through the whole process. Good places to start include Learn to Make Fresh Dumplings, A Taste of Italian Classics and Handmade Autumn Pasta. Even if a class isn't flagged for beginners, the chef can often adjust the instruction and pace to match your experience level.

What are the most popular vegetarian cooking classes in Chicago?

Among the most popular vegetarian cooking classes in Chicago are Hearty Vegan Feast, Learn to Make Fresh Dumplings and A Taste of Italian Classics, which have earned ratings as high as 5.0 across 115 reviews from past guests.

Vegetarian Cooking Classes Chicago

Crafting Italian Pasta From Scratch Review Photo from Cooking Class in Chicago

Crafting Italian Pasta From Scratch Review Photo from Cooking Class in Chicago 2

Eleni K. May, 2026

Booked the class Crafting Italian Pasta From Scratch with Chef Janet in Chicago (North Center)

We absolutely loved our cooking class with Chef Janet! We made bruschetta, a tagliatelle dish, and tiramisu and all of them were delicious! Chef Janet did such a great job catering to the different skill levels of our group members and jumping in when we needed help. My group had such a fun time learning something new and creating a new memory! Not only was she super helpful with teaching us how to cook, but she also came prepared with all of the materials and appliances! She also made sure everything was cleaned up before she left. I will definitely be using Chef Janet in the future!

Crafting Italian Pasta From Scratch Review Photo from Cooking Class in Chicago 3

Crafting Italian Pasta From Scratch Review Photo from Cooking Class in Chicago 4

Sheryl W. May, 2026

Booked the class Crafting Italian Pasta From Scratch with Chef Janet in Evergreen Park

The girls made bruschetta, gnocchi & tiramisu. We booked Chef Janet for my daughterâ€™s 16th birthday party. Chef Janet worked really well with the girls and they enjoyed learning from her. My daughter loved the whole evening making her favorite meal with her closest friends, she didnâ€™t have one favorite moment.

A Taste of Italian Classics Review Photo from Cooking Class in Chicago

Karen M. February, 2026

Booked the class A Taste of Italian Classics with Chef Janet in Chicago

What a delicious Italian meal we prepared ! The evening flew by as we all participated in the prep. Our budding chefs gained confidence and seasoned cooks some new tricks!

Crafting Italian Pizza Review Photo from Cooking Class in Chicago

Shannon C. August, 2025

Booked the class Crafting Italian Pizza with Chef Andy in Chicago (Lower West Side)

We had a lot of fun at our pizza cooking class!

Alek K. September, 2026

Booked the class Vegetarian Indian Classics with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

What a wonderful way to spend an evening! Chef Rakhi is brimming with knowledge and expertise from many years of experience. We learned a lot about the ingredients and received the support needed to be able to execute new kitchen skills independently. The food was delicious, and it was nice enjoying it with the new friends we made :) Weâ€™ll definitely be back!

Yitzie L. August, 2025

Booked the class Hearty Vegan Feast with Chef Jane in Chicago (Lake View)

Jane was great!

Laura G. July, 2025

Booked the class A Taste of Italian Classics with Chef Janet in Chicago (Near West Side)

My sister and I had such a wonderful time in Janetâ€™s cooking class! She was warm, knowledgeable, and made the experience both fun and approachable. We learned how to make a delicious bruschetta with olive tapenade, a perfectly cooked chicken marsala, and a silky panna cotta that was the perfect finish. Janetâ€™s guidance made even the more intimidating steps feel easy, and we walked away with new skillsâ€”and full stomachs! Highly recommend her class to anyone looking for a hands-on and memorable culinary experience.

Julia F. May, 2025

Booked the class Vegetarian Indian Classics with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

We had a great time with Chef Rakhi! She did a great job teaching us the proper steps and techniques, and educating us about the dishes. It was a pleasure to cook in her beautiful kitchen and the food turned out delicious!

Harla H. July, 2024

Booked the class Vegan Indian Menu with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

This is my second cooking experience with Chef Rakhi and it was just as wonderful as the first. I learned so much and the food was delicious! I highly recommend.

Tiana N. January, 2024

Booked the class Vegan Chinese Takeout Favorites with Chef Andy in Chicago (Lower West Side)

We had a great time with Chef Andy! He is very knowledgeable and friendly. We did the Vegan Chinese Takeout class. This is a great class for beginner and experienced vegans alike. Chef Andy did a great job of adapting to the varied skill levels in our group.

Sam P. August, 2023

Booked the class Traditional Italian Pasta Making with Chef Alex in Chicago (West Loop)

Alex was awesome! We did a couples class and learned how to make cacio e pepe. It was one of the best pasta dishes we've ever had! The recipe was super easy to follow, and he showed us many tips and tricks along the way. Alex was super easy to get along with and talk to, and he made the whole experience enjoyable. He really exceeded expectations, would highly recommend!

Annalise A. February, 2023

Booked the class Advanced Pasta Making with Chef Alex in Chicago

Chef Alexâ€™s Advanced Pasta class was great! My boyfriend and I had a great time cooking with him - he is super personable & extremely knowledgeable with cooking tips & tricks. He brought everything we needed to make the recipes and did some great prep before hand to make sure class ran smoothly & on time. We would highly recommend his class to anyone interested! All of the dishes were SO DELICIOUS! Overall, great experience!!

Ryan A. January, 2023

Booked the class Traditional Italian Pasta Making with Chef Alex in Chicago

Great class!

Amy R. December, 2022

Booked the class Vegetarian Tex-Mex with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Chef Rakhi is personable, knowledgeable, and professional. Her house is beautiful and very welcoming. Chef Rakhi provided us with a fun evening and an incredible meal. We absolutely loved everything on the menu. Best of all, everyone in our group feels confident that we can recreate the meals in our own homes due to Chef Rakhi's excellent instructions and recipes.

Andres U. September, 2022

Booked the class Traditional Italian Pasta Making with Chef Alex in Chicago (Streeterville)

We had an amazing experience with Chef Alex! he was well prepared, experienced, and knowledgeable. He explained every step of the process and let us try it ourselves to help us learn hand on. Finally, and most importantly, the pasta was delicious. I would recommend him 100%.

Keaton P. February, 2022

Booked the class Hearty Vegan Feast with Chef Jane

Jane was extremely down to earth, fun to chat with in between tasks and ultimately an amazing chef. 10/10 would recommend!

Roberto D. August, 2021

Booked the class Mexican Kitchen with Chef Andy in Chicago (Lower West Side)

We hosted Chef Andy for a couples date and it was an amazing experience. Not only Chef Andy is extremely knowledgeable and help us demystify some recipes, he is also very comfortable by hosting his class and extremely fun. We learned and did the work, while still able to join a fun night among friends. We will definitely host Chef Andy more times.

Ben W. March, 2021

Booked the class Pretty in Pink Cancer Awareness Dinner with Chef Kathy in Chicago (Lake View)

Great experience and very accommodating!

Serena M. February, 2020

Booked the class New Orleans Fare Made Vegan with Chef Regina

Wonderful experience all around! The food was amazing, Regina was a wonderful host and chef, and the evening was filled with great energy and a warm ambiance. We will definitely use these recipes at home.

Amanda O. February, 2020

Booked the class Intro to Plant Based Cooking with Chef Lilly in Chicago (Rogers Park)

My boyfriend and I took this class because we have been curious about plant based eating and cooking. Chef Lilly was so welcoming and warm! She was also very organized and prepared. Chef Lilly got to know us first so we felt comfortable. When it came to cooking and nutrition, Chef Lilly was very knowledgeable. She took the time to teach us step by step and was patient with us learning! We would highly recommend taking a class with her!!

Victor H. February, 2020

Booked the class New Orleans Fare Made Vegan with Chef Regina

A group of four of us attended Chef Regina's cooking class and I must say we were all extremely pleased! Only one from the group was vegan but we all were pleasantly surprised at how good everything tasted. She was very thorough in explaining the cooking process, choosing ingredients and even possible substitutions. Her class is a must for any vegans out there or for anyone wanting to try something new! I highly recommend Chef Regina. 5 stars!

Zach P. January, 2020

Booked the class New Orleans Fare Made Vegan with Chef Regina

We took the New Orleans style vegan class with Chef Regina, who graciously welcomed us into her home. She went above and beyond to make the experience memorable. The food was amazing and we can't wait to try the recipes on our own. We would 100% recommend taking a class with Chef Regina!

Jen C. January, 2020

Booked the class New Orleans Fare Made Vegan with Chef Regina

Chef Reginaâ€™s class exceeded all of my expectations. It was fun, engaging, and she made everything very easy to follow. Most surprising for me - I want to make every single thing we made instead of just one or two things! Absolutely delicious and she made the night a real pleasure! I highly recommend!

D. J. December, 2019

Booked the class Pretty in Pink Cancer Awareness Dinner with Chef Kathy in Chicago (Lake View)

Kathy is incredibly sweet and knowledgeable. Had a blast working in her beautiful home, and the romantic dinner candle-lit dinner we made with her tutelage was out of the world delicious!

Chelsea F. October, 2019

Booked the class Nutritious and Delicious Vegetarian with Chef Frank in Niles

My partner and I took the vegetarian dinner class. Chef Frank was very welcoming and kind! He even accommodated us earlier than expected. He explained important information about how to prepare and cut vegetables, how to season food appropriately, and why it's important to use proper cookware. He also helped us make handmade pasta (huge bonus, we were not expecting that in this course). He demonstrated for us so that we felt comfortable each step of the way. He balanced instruction for a newer chef and one with more experience as well. We ended up with a delicious dinner to eat there, and two dishes to take home! We had a fabulous time, thank you Chef Frank! (The french onion casserole was amazing).

Justine V. August, 2019

Booked the class Raw and Healthy Detox with Chef Lilly in Chicago (Rogers Park)

So welcome, smart, knowledgeable and really made us feel at home. Four courses of AMAZING tasting food, new learning of sauces, marinades and protein sources. Chef Lilly went above and beyond and we are definitely going to take another class with her in the future. Recommend for learning the basics of healthy cooking or wanting to explore your horizons. That bolognese sauce was fire.

Neil D. February, 2019

Booked the class Raw and Healthy Detox with Chef Lilly in Chicago (Rogers Park)

Chef Lilly was great! We had a wonderful experience. She was very insightful on healthy ingredients and not only provided us an explanation on what we were making but created an experience where we could re-create what we made. I would definitely recommend her for a date night and lessons on healthy cooking / eating.

Amy C. December, 2018

Booked the class Raw and Healthy Detox with Chef Lilly in Chicago (Rogers Park)

Chef Lilly was knowledgeable and passionate about healthy eating! She had innovative recipes that were delicious! She can accommodate eating restrictions/dislikes and provided a great atmosphere for a cooking class!

Akanksha V. August, 2026

Booked the class Vegetarian Indian Classics with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Vegetarian Indian cooking class This was a fantastic class from start to finish! Chef Rakhi is extremely skilled and talented, and it shows through the way she discusses cooking techniques and recipes. She knows food very well, and made it a great experience for us by walking us through the steps of the recipe, having us each try something different, and encouraging a warm environment filled with lovely conversation. The menu she created was amazing, and the food was incredible. This was my first-ever cooking class, and I will be going back to Chef Rakhi from now on. 1000/10 experience!

Rachel L. July, 2026

Booked the class Vegan Indian Menu with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Chef Rakhi showed us how to make some delicious vegan Indian food. Her home is lovely and dinner with the group was so nice!

Sanam D. April, 2026

Booked the class Crafting Italian Pasta From Scratch with Chef Janet in Chicago (West Loop)

Italian pasta night was amazing. Had the best experience with chef Janet. She was so fun to talk with as well! Will be doing this again.

Sanam D. April, 2026

Booked the class Crafting Italian Pasta From Scratch with Chef Janet in Chicago (West Loop)

Italian pasta night was amazing. Had the best experience with chef Janet. She was so fun to talk with as well! Will be doing this again.

aileen g. March, 2026

Booked the class Vegetarian Masterclass with Chef Titik in Chicago (New City)

My sister took me to this class for my birthday and I loved it! She cooks more than I do but everything we tried and made was delicious. I was very hungry when I came and was glad I could sample and try the vegetables as we were cooking. We had tomato soup abut halfway through the class. I really enjoyed the crostinis I had with them. We put lots of Parmesan cheese on top. I love cheese and eat a lot of it, this really made the soup taste good. I really like portobello mushrooms and was glad when they were in the main dish. We cooked those in the oven and got rid of the water. I had tried to make a mushroom en croute before and now I know that mushrooms release water when cooking which is why mine was not the best! We used caramelized onions and sautÃ©ed spinach two of my favorites. We used an egg to bind the pastry dough together. The potato au gratin and the demi-glaze sauce together was the best decision I made when eating my dinner after we cooked everything. The table was set beautifully when my sister and I came in. We brought the food to the table and enjoyed all our hard work. 10/10 would take this class again!

aileen g. March, 2026

Booked the class Vegetarian Masterclass with Chef Titik in Chicago (New City)

If you want to take this class please do!! You will not be disappointed! We made a wonderful tomato bisque soup, delicious potato au gratin and the fabulous main course was mushroom en croute. The desert really made the experience which was the poached pear in wine with spices. Everything was perfect. Chef Titik knowledge of different cuisines is amazing and seen in how she was cooking the whole time. We chopped, sautÃ©ed, minced, julienned and used all four burners on the stove at once! Very impressive! When sautÃ©ing and caramelizing the onions for the mushroom en croute we used balsamic vignette but also sampled Indonesian sweet soy sauce! Such a cool experience of flavors! I am not a vegetarian myself but still loved the class! We started by making the desert because of the length of time it was cooking. We sampled the wine the pears were poached in and it was delicious! This is great for the summer, you can use the wine for sangria as well! We had the soup half way through cooking the meal and it was to die for! My brother and myself both took seconds! The potato au gratin was so fun to make! You learn how to make a bÃ©chamel sauce from scratch and how to parboil things! A skill both of us will have with us forever. I really enjoyed making the demi-glazed sauce, this was a new experience for me and I didn't realize how many vegetables were involved. Overall a great experience! Took my brother for his birthday and absolutely loved it!

Kris F. March, 2026

Booked the class Mexican Kitchen with Chef Andy in Evanston

Five stars is not enough. Chef Andy and Chef Coco gave us a wonderful experience from start to finish. They came to our home and taught us how to prepare an absolutely amazing Mexican meal, and everything about the evening exceeded our expectations. They were warm, friendly, very instructive and fund. They made the cooking process feel approachable, fun, and memorable. What really stood out was how they combined great teaching with genuine friendless and a desire to teach. We learned a lot, ate an incredible meal, and truly enjoyed having them in our home. Remarkably, they even left our kitchen cleaner than it was when they arrived. I would highly recommend Chef Andy and Chef Coco to anyone looking for a special, delicious, and well-run private cooking experience.

Oma A. March, 2026

Booked the class Crafting Italian Pasta From Scratch with Chef Janet in Naperville

Janet was incredible! We loved our private class and highly recommend. We made gnocchi, bruschetta, and tiramisu all under her guidance and instruction. Janet is super personable and easy to get along with, and has a great sense of humor in addition to her impressive background! We highly recommend taking a class with her and will likely do so again in the future. Thank you for an amazing experience Janet!

Megan D. October, 2025

Booked the class From Dough to Delicious Pizza with Chef Janet in Lincolnwood

Fun class and Chef Janet was so helpfully in answering all our questions. Such a nice experience to do in your own home!

Julia S. October, 2025

Booked the class Vegan Indian Menu with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

This was a great experience! We love that it was fully vegan!

Theresa F. August, 2025

Booked the class Bakery-Worthy Pastries with Chef Eric in Chicago (Streeterville)

Chef Eric is fantastic! He's knowledgeable, charismatic, patient and super supportive. He made me feel like a A+ student in class. It was very easy to follow his instructions and he is a very pleasant teacher overall. I will be looking for more classes with chef Eric! And of course everything was delicious!

Helen W. July, 2025

Booked the class Bake the Rainbow with Chef Eric in Chicago (Streeterville)

Chef Eric was well versed in the making of macaroons--how to troubleshoot and avoid disaster. They turned out quite tasty!

Erica H. July, 2025

Booked the class Crafting Italian Pasta From Scratch with Chef Janet in Chicago (Logan Square)

Chef Janet was fantastic! My partner and I had so much fun learning how to make bruschetta, pasta, and tiramisu on her birthday. Chef Janet brought all the materials needed and even cleaned up after, so it made for a fun and easy night for us.

Jacob D. June, 2025

Booked the class Vegetarian Indian Classics with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

I booked a class with Chef Rakhi for my girlfriend's birthday and it was a fantastic experience! Chef Rakhi was so welcoming and fun to talk with, she was great at explaining what we were going to make and walking us through the process. My girlfriend and I loved the experience, the food, and getting to work with Chef Rakhi. We did the vegetarian Indian menu and everything was delicious. Definitely recommend taking her classes.

Rick A. May, 2025

Booked the class Pie Dough Creations with Chef Eric in Chicago (Streeterville)

This class was outstanding!! Heather made the class very hands-on; she showed me a few new cooking tricks, which I greatly appreciated; the 3 items were delicious, which I will make again; and she made the class lots of fun. But most of all I feel much more comfortable in making the perfect pie crust! I will definitely take more classes. Thank you.

Jeremy A. May, 2025

Booked the class Plant-Based Bites for Vegans with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Chef Rakhi is a very talented chef with lots of great stories and a good sense of humor. I learned a lot during the lesson while having fun. Thank you, Chef!

patrick s. May, 2025

Booked the class Plant-Based Bites for Vegans with Chef Rakhi in Chicago (North Center)

Food was phenomenal and I felt very much at home. Will definitely come back.

Agusta O. April, 2025

Booked the class Vegan Chinese Takeout Favorites with Chef Andy in Chicago

I hosted the class at my house with 5 of my friends. Chef Andy and Chef Nan were wonderful instructors. They are so nice and fun. We all had a fantastic time and learned cool new things to make. Highly recommend!!!

Tiffany Q. April, 2025

Booked the class Crafting Italian Pizza with Chef Andy in Chicago (Lower West Side)

Chef Andy was incredibly knowledgeable and welcoming, creating a fun and inviting atmosphere throughout the class. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would absolutely take another class with him. Highly recommend Chef Andy to anyone looking to learn and have a great time!

Christine W. March, 2025

Booked the class Crafting Italian Pizza with Chef Andy in Chicago (Lower West Side)

We had a wonderful time learning and making pizzas with Chef Andy. We will be recommending to our friends.