Cooking classes for beginners in Chicago
12 schools · Updated November 2026
No experience needed: friendly, hands-on classes that start with the basics. We found 12 schools in and around Chicago for this, with classes from about $115 a person.
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The Chopping Block
Cooking school · Lincoln Square, Chicago
Lincoln Square recreational cooking school, open since 1997, with five-day boot camps
4.9on Google, 932 reviewsFrench · Baking & pastry · Knife skills & basicsFrom $250Private groups - 2
Bettie's Chicago
Cooking school · River North, Chicago
Baker Bettie's 1950s diner-styled River North studio for bread, pastry and baking science
5.0on Google, 277 reviewsBaking & pastry · FrenchPrivate groups - 3
Priscilla's Kitchen Catering and Cooking Classes
Cooking school · Chicago
BYOB family-style classes from a Chicago caterer, from soul food to hibachi
5.0on Google, 28 reviewsFrom $160Private groups - 4
Cook Au Vin
Chef’s studio · Bucktown, Chicago
Private French cooking and baguette classes for groups, led by Paris-trained Chef Vincent
4.2on Google, 34 reviewsFrench · Baking & pastryFrom $115Private groups - 5
Wilton Sweet Studio
Cooking school · Naperville, IL
Wilton's baking and cake-decorating school at its Naperville headquarters
No ratings yetBaking & pastry · Knife skills & basicsFrom $109 - 6
Sur La Table Skokie (Old Orchard)
Kitchen store with classes · Skokie, IL
Sur La Table's in-store teaching kitchen at Old Orchard Mall in Skokie
No ratings yetItalian & pastaFrom $49Private groups - 7
Discovery Center Chicago (Food & Drink Classes)
Cooking school · Irving Park, Chicago
Irving Park adult-ed center with hands-on cocktail courses and wine tastings
No ratings yetCocktails & wine · Knife skills & basicsFrom $39 - 8
Sur La Table Naperville
Kitchen store with classes · Naperville, IL
Sur La Table's downtown Naperville teaching kitchen, with several classes most days
No ratings yetItalian & pastaFrom $49Private groups - 9
Give Me Some Sugar
Cooking school · Roscoe Village, Chicago
Roscoe Village baking school for cake decorating, macarons, donuts and pies
No ratings yetBaking & pastryPrivate groups - 10
JASC Chicago Cooking Classes
Community kitchen · West Ridge, Chicago
Home-style Japanese cooking classes from the Japanese American Service Committee
No ratings yetSushi & Asian · Knife skills & basics - 11
Spice Girl on Tour
Home kitchen · Roscoe Village, Chicago
Le Cordon Bleu trained Chef Rakhi teaches Indian and global menus in her own kitchen
5.0on Google, 101 reviewsIndian · Italian & pasta · FrenchFrom $129Private groups - 12
iCook After School
Comes to you · North Center, Chicago
Chicago-born after-school cooking classes held inside kids' own elementary schools
4.8on Google, 59 reviewsKnife skills & basics
Common questions
Where can I take a beginners class in Chicago?
Our top picks are The Chopping Block, Bettie's Chicago and Priscilla's Kitchen Catering and Cooking Classes. All 12 are listed above, best first.
How much does it cost?
Published prices at these schools start from $39 a person. Check each school’s page for its current classes.
All cooking classes in Chicago