Celebrity chef and TV host Chuck Hughes shares sure-fire advice and 85 of his favourite recipes to cook at home for friends and family.

These days, cooking at home is a top priority for beloved chef and TV host Chuck Hughes. Compared to the hectic pace of his restaurant—where cooking on the line requires lightning speed and expert precision—cooking at home is all about taking things slow, having a good playlist, and knowing a few sure-fire techniques to make meals quick and easy, especially during those busy weekdays.

Chuck’s Home Cooking features Chuck’s favourite go-to recipes to cook for his family, whether it’s an easy weeknight dinner, a delicious weekend treat, or a dish to impress on special occasions. One thing is for sure: they’re all on steady rotation in Chuck’s home. Juggling work and a young family, Chuck knows first-hand that the hustle of everyday daily life can make mealtime feel like a chore—but with his simple planning and prep-ahead methods, delicious dishes with bold flavours come together with ease!

Inside you’ll find quick-and-delicious recipes to start the day; easy to make every day breads including biscuits, loaves, and bagels; soups and stews; pastas; make-your-own pizza dough with delicious pizza variations; and mouthwatering desserts. Packed with plenty of dishes for dinner, including Fried Chicken with Hot Pepper Maple Glaze; Boiled Chicken Stew with Dumplings; Meat Pie with Fruit Ketchup; Braised Beef Short Ribs; Sausage and Pepperoni Lasagna; Swordfish Kebobs; and Fish Burgers. Chuck’s Home Cooking is a celebration of cooking at home, rich with Chuck’s favourite family recipes, seasonal classics, and even a cabane à sucre (sugar shack) feast.

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Maple Pecan Pie

When we opened Garde Manger in 2006, we were finally realizing our dream of owning a restaurant. After a month of renovations, we had it almost all figured out, the place looked good, and the staff was ready to go. But we had no passion for making desserts. Like a lot of cooks, we were scared by baking, pastries, desserts, and basically anything with precise measuring of ingredients. So for a while my mom made all our desserts! This is the maple pecan pie she used to make. It’s a perfect mix of sweet, gooey, crunchy, and savoury.

Pastry Dough

1-2/3 cups all-purpose flour

½ cup cold salted butter, cut into ½-inch cubes

1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 large egg

1 tablespoon ice water, plus more as needed

Filling

1/3 cup pure maple syrup

1 large egg

1½ cups brown sugar

½ cup heavy (35%) cream

1½ cups toasted pecans

1. Make the pastry dough: In a large bowl, mix the flour, butter, and salt. Using a pastry cutter, cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and ice water. Add to the flour and, using your hands, bring the dough together until it just barely hangs together. Do not overmix. If it’s too dry, add more water a tablespoon at a time, until it just comes together.
3. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and gently knead for 2 minutes. Shape the dough into a disc, wrap with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 3 days.
4. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
5. On a lightly floured work surface, use a rolling pin to roll out the dough into a 12-inch circle, about ⅛ inch thick. Lay the dough in a 9-inch pie plate and gently press it against the edges of the dish. Prick small holes across the surface of the dough with a fork. Trim excess dough and crimp the edges.
6. Make the filling and bake: In a large bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, egg, brown sugar, and cream until smooth. Pour the filling into the pie shell. Spread the pecans evenly over the filling. Bake until the filling is set, about 35 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely before serving. Store leftover pie, wrapped in plastic wrap, on the counter for up to 2 days.

Excerpted from Chuck’s Home Cooking by Chuck Hughes. Copyright © 2024 Chuck Hughes. Photography by Marc-André Lavoie. Published by Penguin, an imprint of Penguin Canada, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved.