Simply Jamie
by Jamie Oliver
When my lovely sister-in-law handed me a copy of Simply Jamie to review, I was curious. The last cookbook I reviewed from Jamie Oliver was a tricky one to place, and with 35 cookbooks under his belt, I wondered if he would have anything genuinely new to bring to the kitchen table.
Simply Jamie claims to offer quick, everyday recipes that don’t compromise on taste, using clever shortcuts to make cooking less of a chore. From weeknight dinners to simple desserts, I wanted to see if the book truly delivers on its promise or if it’s another beautiful cookbook better suited for the shelf than the kitchen. Here’s what happened when I put it through its paces.
The Look, the Feel, the Flow
Simply Jamie keeps things simple, starting with the cover. Gone is the usual smiling photo of Oliver himself, replaced with a clean white and lime green background and a single silver fork. The back cover continues the half-white, half-green design, where Oliver appears with a dish of pasta alongside a few snapshots of recipes from the book. The bottom half provides a neat summary of the chapters you’ll find inside.
Inside, we have the table of contents, followed by a two-page introduction from Jamie. As with his recent cookbooks, the introduction is not groundbreaking. It focuses on inspiring people to cook, emphasises that anyone can cook, and highlights the value of time and simplicity. After 35 cookbooks, it is understandable that unique introductions are hard to come by.
Page 9 is where readers need to start paying attention, as Oliver introduces the “Jamie Pantry” items that feature throughout his recent books. I was surprised not to see oven temperatures and other basics here, as that information is tucked away at the back on page 269. Given its importance, I would have preferred it upfront.
The chapters themselves are well organised, each opening with a short paragraph to set up the recipes ahead. Many chapters include sub-sections such as “Batch-It-Up Bolognese,” “My Weekly Poached Chicken,” and “The Sauce We All Need,” which guide you through making one base recipe, a better bolognese, simple poached chicken, or secret veg sauce, before using it across multiple dishes.
Recipe layouts vary slightly. The first style uses a two-page spread with the recipe on one side and a full-page photograph on the other. Recipe pages include a short description, serving sizes, prep and cook times, ingredients list, method, and nutritional information. The second layout overlays the text on a full-page image of the finished dish. Ingredients are bolded in the instructions rather than listed separately, which keeps things compact but may make creating a grocery list slightly less straightforward.
The back of the book contains sections on kitchen notes and nutritional information, rounding out a cookbook that is designed to be approachable, practical, and easy to use.
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A copy of Simply Jamie surrounded by fresh ingredients for one of Oliver's recipes.
What You'll be Cooking
Simply Jamie focuses on fast, easy, everyday meals, with the recipes divided into five clear, easy-to-navigate categories.
The book starts with Midweek Meals, designed for busy weeknights. These recipes are simple, delicious, and fuss-free. You’ll find everything from pastas with no-cook sauces to salads, burgers, microwave gnocchi, steak, and fish.
Next is Weekend Wins, which features hero recipes that take a little extra effort but can then be used to create other dishes throughout the week. This includes poached chicken, bolognese, cornbread, and more, each serving as a base for several additional recipes.
Trusty Traybakes celebrates one-pan cooking, whether it is a roast or a bake, while cupboard Love focuses on ingredients you likely have on hand, such as tinned beans, chickpeas, and tortillas. This latter section is perfect for meals in a pinch, and is largely vegetarian and budget-friendly.
Finally, Perfect Puds rounds out the book with a dessert section that includes tarts, cakes, homemade ice cream, and fro-yo.
The four recipes tested from Simply Jamie.
Tried & Tasted
I cooked four recipes from Simply Jamie by Jamie Oliver, and they showed just how versatile and approachable this book really is.
The Steak & Noodles (pg. 74) were bold, punchy, and quick to pull together, with the chilli oil bringing plenty of heat and flavour.
The Summery Salmon Traybake (pg. 162) was the surprise standout. The prosciutto-wrapped salmon, olives, and capers tasted restaurant-worthy, and even the tinned potatoes impressed.
The Cajun-Spiced Enchiladas (pg. 220) proved to be hearty comfort food done right, with cottage cheese on top keeping things lighter but still satisfying.
Finally, the Strawberry & Balsamic Tart (pg. 262) was a total showstopper with buttery pastry, jammy strawberries, and a refined touch of balsamic that made it both beautiful and delicious.
→ Want the full Tried & Tasted experience? Read my complete week of cooking from Simply Jamie here.
Cooked and quartered sweet potatoes for Oliver's Cajun-Spiced Enchiladas.
Price Check
I was pleasantly surprised by how affordable this book is. All of the recipes I tested fall comfortably into the everyday budget range, which is impressive considering the quality and flavour of the finished dishes.
Shortcuts like tinned or frozen vegetables keep costs down without sacrificing flavour, while desserts that look expensive and impressive are refreshingly accessible. Jamie Oliver does really well in delivering tasty, satisfying food without breaking the budget.
You'll Love This If...
This book is perfect for beginner cooks and above who want to make homecooked meals with minimal fuss. Jamie keeps things simple yet satisfying, using clever shortcuts like tinned baby potatoes that save time without sacrificing flavour.
If you remember my review of Jamie Oliver’s 5 Ingredients, I tested that book because a family member who had never shown much interest in cooking bought it, but it turned out not to be quite what they expected. Simply Jamie is exactly the kind of book they would have loved. The recipes are approachable, fuss-free, and deliver on taste without overcomplicating the process.
Where it Shines
Many cookbooks love to use the word “simple” in their titles (this is the fourth one I have reviewed so far), but its meaning can vary greatly depending on the reader. In my view, for the average person, this take on simple hits the mark. Oliver has created a full collection of genuinely tasty, easy-to-make, straightforward meals that lean on shortcuts like jarred, tinned, or frozen ingredients - saving time and effort without compromising flavour.
Whether you’re new to cooking, experienced, or somewhere in between, there are plenty of people who don’t enjoy spending hours in the kitchen. Oliver’s approach shows you how to achieve great dishes that don’t look or taste like any shortcuts were taken.
I also appreciate the focus on health. Each recipe includes nutritional information, allowing you to make informed choices and adjust portion sizes to suit your needs. For those interested, the back of the book includes a section on nutrition and balanced eating. If that’s not your priority, it’s easy to skip and simply cook whatever looks delicious.
A Few Caveats
This book follows the same formatting choices Oliver has used in his more recent titles. Notably, some ingredients are not listed in the main ingredients list, specifically “Jamie’s Pantry” – extra virgin olive oil, olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, and black pepper. I find have to admit I find this frustrating. An ingredient list should show everything you need at a glance. Having to read through the instructions to check for these pantry staples adds extra work and increases the chance of missing something.
Another stylistic choice more specific to this book is that Oliver often doesn’t specify how to prepare an ingredient in the list itself. For example, he might list 4 garlic cloves, but you only find out in the method that they need to be minced. This is clearly intended to simplify things for some cooks, making the book feel more approachable. However, if you prefer having everything prepped and listed clearly before you start cooking, just know that with this book you’ll need to dig through the recipe to find some of these details.
Freshly baked Strawberry and Balsamic Tart.
The Verdict
Simply Jamie delivers on its promise of straightforward, flavour-packed home cooking with minimal fuss. Jamie Oliver keeps things approachable without compromising on taste, using clever shortcuts like tinned or frozen ingredients that make everyday meals both achievable and satisfying.
The recipes I tested, from Steak & Noodles to Summery Salmon Traybake, show just how versatile the book is, providing quick weeknight options alongside slightly more ambitious dishes that can be stretched across multiple meals. Desserts like the Strawberry and Balsamic Tart demonstrate that even the sweeter side of the book is accessible yet impressive.
It isn’t without small quirks. The reliance on Jamie’s Pantry staples and occasionally buried prep instructions might frustrate cooks who prefer everything laid out at a glance. But these are minor issues in a book that otherwise hits the mark for simplicity, flavour, and practicality.
For beginners looking to gain confidence in the kitchen, experienced cooks wanting fast, everyday meals, or anyone who values tasty, fuss-free food, Simply Jamie is a reliable, satisfying addition to the cookbook shelf.
4.5/5 Stars
Want to Try It Yourself?
If Simply Jamie sounds like your kind of book, with fuss-free recipes that deliver big flavour, from quick noodles to impressive desserts, you can pick up a copy below
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