The World’s Best Recipes (And Why You’ll Probably Mess Them Up)

Chris Knight | July 28, 2026

Congratulations! You’ve decided to level up your cooking game and tackle the best recipes in the world. How hard could it possibly be, right? RIGHT?

First up, France’s Beef Bourguignon. This dish requires slow-cooking beef in an entire bottle of Burgundy wine. The recipe also demands that you open a second bottle “for the chef.” By the time dinner is ready, you won’t care what it tastes like. Neither will your guests. Magnifique.

Next, we have sushi from Japan. Apparently, Japanese sushi chefs train for up to 10 years before they’re considered qualified. TEN YEARS. But sure, go ahead and watch a five-minute YouTube video and give it a shot. What could possibly go wrong?

Butter Chicken from India is next, and honestly, this one is actually achievable. It’s creamy, it’s delicious, and it only requires about 47 spices that you definitely don’t have in your cupboard. Don’t worry, though—“close enough” is basically a cooking philosophy at this point.

Then there’s Mexico’s Mole Poblano—a sauce with over 20 ingredients, including chocolate AND chili peppers. Chocolate. In a sauce. With chicken. It sounds like something a five-year-old invented, but trust us, it’s absolutely incredible. It also takes approximately three days to make, so clear your schedule and cancel your social life.

Finally, Italian Risotto. Looks simple, right? IT’S NOT SIMPLE. Gordon Ramsay has reportedly reduced grown adults to tears over badly made risotto. It requires constant stirring, perfect timing, and apparently a soul that has been to Italy at least once. Good luck.

So there you have it—the five best recipes in the world, guaranteed to either impress your friends or send you straight to the nearest takeaway restaurant.

Our advice? Attempt at least one. Fail gloriously. Order pizza. Try again next weekend. After all, the best meals aren’t always the ones that turn out perfectly—they’re the ones that make the best stories.

Bon appétit, and may the cooking gods have mercy on your soul.

Got a cooking disaster story? We’d love to hear it! In fact, send us a story—and a picture, if you have one—of your kitchen disaster, and we’ll send you a snazzy Gusto t-shirt or coffee mug AND maybe we’ll print your story in a future edition of The Gustopian!