About

Welcome to Natasha’s Kitchen! I’m Natasha Kravchuk, and together with my husband, Vadim, we’ve been passionately developing and sharing tried-and-true recipes since 2009. Over the years, we have created a trusted recipe resource beloved by millions.

In 2023, I published my debut cookbook – Natasha’s Kitchen Cookbook, which quickly became a New York Times Best-Seller for three consecutive weeks. The book is an extension of our blog with top-quality recipes you can trust.

I come from a family of fantastic cooks, and I’m here to share generations of recipes that are homey, fresh, healthy, family-friendly, authentic, and adventurous. Most importantly, our recipes are meticulously tested and guaranteed to be delicious and reliable.

Natasha holding a lasagna casserole

My Family and Heritage

My culinary journey is deeply rooted in my family’s story. My family came to the U.S. as refugees from Ukraine when I was 4 years old. They brought 5 tiny girls and had nothing but a stack of suitcases. They didn’t know the language, but they worked hard and achieved the American dream. Watch the TV News Segment about our incredible story. My parents’ resilience and passion for food inspire every recipe I create.

Natasha with family posing on steps next to a house
Natasha with her parents and 4 sisters (Natasha is the middle child)

Growing up, I was so shy that I thought no one would marry me until my husband came along and swept me off my feet (true story). Over 20 years ago, I married my wonderful husband, Vadim (who is also Ukrainian). We are blessed with two children. Every recipe that I develop is thoroughly tested and approved by each of us and is often critiqued by relatives and friends. We only post the recipes we love and make over and over.

We live in Idaho (famous for its potatoes), and we love the quieter pace of our beautiful state. We strive to walk in love and live our lives by the word of God and the life of Jesus.

Natasha and Vadim slicing vegetables in the kitchen

Professional Background

We’re so thankful to be full-time foodies and recipe developers. We’re living our dream because of you and I can’t thank you enough! My heritage and diverse professional background, including years in business and nursing, have uniquely equipped me to be the recipe developer, video creator, photographer, writer, and business owner that I am today. We set the bar high so you can expect great recipes and videos here.

The Resume

  • 2003-2007: I worked for 7 years as a business intern, which I consider my most valuable education. My boss and mentor taught me the importance of excellence in business and meticulous attention to detail, which has served me well.
  • 2007 Earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Business with a double major in human resource management
  • 2007-2012 – Worked as a Realtor for 4 years. Fun fact: it was during my realtor days that I learned about blogging (although blogging about real estate was undeniably more boring than food)
  • 2012 Earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and worked as a Registered Nurse in Telemetry. The courses I took in nutrition, as well as being in a caring profession, made for a natural transition into serving my audience with recipes and connections that nurture body and soul.
  • Blogging since 2009 – What started as a way to share my family’s recipes and culinary journey, has turned into a vibrant community of millions of home cooks.

To summarize all of the many hats I wear – I am a wife, mom, food blogger, cookbook author, recipe developer, video creator, photographer, writer, influencer, social media boss, and entrepreneur, and I love to sing in my church choir. If I were a sandwich, I’d be a Chicken Bacon Avocado on Focaccia.

Natasha with family serving food

How I Got Started Cooking

To be completely honest, I wasn’t always excited about cooking. When I got married in 2003, it became a necessity – “must eat to live” and Mom wasn’t doing the cooking anymore. We had a lot of frozen meals and ate-out too much in the first year of our marriage. I had a free summer (and decided I would improve my cooking skills so we could live and eat healthier.

I dove into cookbook after cookbook and plundered my mom’s recipe books. I was at the library all the time bringing home piles of cookbooks; I was hooked! I even read my mother’s cooking textbook from her college days (Mom completed her culinary program when we moved to the US). I had discovered the joy of cooking. Within a few months, my husband and I each lost weight just from cooking more at home. Now I can’t stop cooking and thinking about cooking and dreaming about cooking… I was born for this!

My recipe collection continues to grow. I love to try new recipes and will share my favorites with you (like our internet-famous Meatloaf and beloved Banana Bread Recipe). I hope you enjoy this blog and find recipes that will become your family favorites as well.

Natasha with mom and daughter making pierogi

Natasha’s Kitchen Today

I started this food and family blog in 2009 as a way to share favorite recipes and events with family and friends. It has grown much larger than I could have imagined with about 1,300 recipes and about 19 million hungry visitors per month. In 2024, we passed 3,500,000 subscribers on YouTube and our channel is growing fast. We’ve been featured on:

  • Forbes
  • Good Morning America
  • ABC News
  • New York Times
  • Associated Press
  • USA Today
  • And hundreds more (see Press page for more)

My goal with Natasha’s Kitchen is for you to really discover and fall in love with cooking and find many new favorite recipes your family will love. The ingredients we use are simple and easily accessible, not overly hoity-toity. My motto: if you can read (a well-written, tested, and trusted recipe), you can cook.

Most of the recipes I share come from my mom and mother-in-law, family, friends, and my own experience in the kitchen. I am so thankful to have such amazing people in my life who generously share their rich knowledge of cooking.

It Takes a Village! I’m so blessed to partner with an incredible group of specialists who share their talents to support Natasha’s Kitchen. Whether it’s social media, email marketing, content editing, or video editing, their expertise helps everything run smoothly so I can focus on creating delicious recipes and fun videos for you. I’m so grateful for their contributions and for YOU, our amazing readers, who make it all possible.

Natasha's family prepping food in the kitchen

Natasha’s Kitchen Recipes

It’s very important to me to share trusted recipes that are reliable and work well in every kitchen and for every cooking skill level. This is why I develop and perfect all of my recipes through careful research and several rounds of testing in my own Kitchen in Idaho (elevation about 2,600 feet).

Every recipe is tested and approved by my family, and often friends, relatives, and even neighbors. All of the photography is done by myself, and I’m the one showing up in our videos. My husband edits the photos and videos (and he’s the videographer, single-handedly running 3 cameras at once).

Get Featured: If you would like your recipe featured on this site, email it to me by clicking here.

Community Guidelines: I love how this food blog has grown into a supportive cooking community – your comments, questions, tips, and success stories make every recipe better. Review my Comment Policy, then join the conversation.

Disclaimer: Per my Nutrition Disclaimer, this blog includes only my own opinions and is not professional advice. It is not intended to be dietary advice or a diet plan. Please talk to your Doctor or nutritionist for medical or dietary advice. I am not liable if you eat too many Hamburgers.

Leave a Comment

Comments

  • Tracy
    January 21, 2024

    I just found your blog while looking for a recipe. I’m hooked! Thanks for sharing what I’ve already found to be great recipes. It’s great to meet another Christ follower, as well!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      January 22, 2024

      You’re welcome! Great to meet you here too and I hope you’ll enjoy the recipes that you will try.

      Reply

  • Rina
    January 16, 2024

    I’m do glad I found you! I just got the ingredients for split pea soup 🙂 except no one has yellow ones so went with green.
    I loved the video!
    Also, I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you keep your nails short. I’m an old ER doc so that might seem like a weird comment, but 30 years of hospital work makes a person quirky LOL

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 16, 2024

      I love when that happens – I’m so glad you had all the ingredients on hand, Rina! That’s so great!

      Reply

  • Johnny
    January 14, 2024

    Hi Natasha, I just wanted to let you know your recipes are excellent. Our family has used many of them and have never been disappointed. Thank you for sharing them.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 14, 2024

      Thank you so much, Johnny!

      Reply

  • Catherine
    January 13, 2024

    Each week as I plan the menu I ask my three children to each give me a meal or two that they will want for dinner. Well today instead of giving me an actual recipe my 12 yr old responded with ummmm something Natasha. LOL. Thank you for providing my family with delicious and yet kid approved meals.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 13, 2024

      Aw that’s so sweet! I’m so glad to hear that.

      Reply

  • Toni
    January 12, 2024

    Thank you Natasha for all your
    Recipes! They are easy and very tasty!!!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 12, 2024

      You’re so nice! Thank you, Toni! I’m so happy to hear that.

      Reply

  • Michael Cain
    January 9, 2024

    Natasha,
    loved your vid on shrimp tacos; you exude fun; you should have your own tv show; no kidding! That said, speak very little Spanish, but cotija is pronounced co-tee-ha; the j in Spanish is h in English. Ciao, for now.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 9, 2024

      Thank you for the feedback, Michael!

      Reply

  • Sharon
    January 9, 2024

    Has anyone just hand mixed the dough for pierogis? I don’t have a dough hook/mixer.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 9, 2024

      Hi Sharon! Yes, you can mix this by hand.

      Reply

  • Tedd Johnson
    January 8, 2024

    Hi Natasha,
    I am learning to cook and love your recipes and was one of the first to preorder your book (awesome btw) I was hoping you could help me come up with a savory recipe for venison. most people i know just over cook it with onion soup mix. it is really lean and healthy meat i would like to become better at making. any suggestions would help.

    Thank you,
    Tedd

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 8, 2024

      Hi Tedd! Thank you so much for purchasing my cookbook. I’m so glad you’re enjoying my recipes. I appreciate the recipe suggestion and I will make a note of it to see if it’s something we can work on in the future.

      Reply

  • emma
    January 6, 2024

    I don’t see it anywhere so I’ll ask: what knife do you recommend we use for boning chicken and cutting up a whole chicken. I don’t have anything like what I see you using .

    Thanks for your answer. Emma

    Reply

  • Julie Davern
    January 6, 2024

    Hi Natasha,
    I’m new to your site and have loved your recipes. Question for you, can I use cooked shrimp for your shrimp cake recipe?
    Thank you

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 6, 2024

      Hi Julie, I have had some people report good results using pre-cooked shrimp in this recipe, but it depends on the recipe. I always suggest using what is recommended in a recipe before modifying it. Shrimp Cakes with Lemon Aioli.

      Reply

  • Barbara
    January 3, 2024

    Happy New Year, Natasha. I made your pan seared garlic and butter steak for my husband and I on New Year’s Eve and we both loved it. It was tender and tasty. I also sauteed some mushrooms in butter, garlic and seasoning and put that on top of the steak. So good.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 3, 2024

      That’s great, Barbara! Thank you so much for the wonderful feedback. Would love it if you could leave another review on the actual recipe blog for Pan Seared Steak.

      Reply

  • Marika
    December 31, 2023

    Hi Natasha,
    Love your recipes.
    When I make the beef & broccoli, the beef comes out a bit tough. Any suggestions on how I can correct that ?
    Marika

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 1, 2024

      Hi Marika! I’m glad you’re loving the recipes. Please see my note in the recipe under, “How to Ensure Tender Beef.“

      Reply

  • Rita
    December 28, 2023

    I made your easy Taco soup and it is a keeper. My friends and family love it. I love watching you. You have a Beautiful family. Blessings for 2024

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 28, 2023

      Thank you for that wonderful compliment, Rita! I’m so happy you loved the taco soup!

      Reply

  • Rione Ku
    December 27, 2023

    You’ve saved me from many a cooking crisis! Thank you!

    Do you have an au jus recipe or tricks? I’m using your prime rib recipe for a New Year’s dinner. Thanks!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      December 27, 2023

      Hello! You’re very welcome. I do not have a specific recipe for that, but you can reference how I make my Au jus dip for the French dip sandwich recipe here.

      Reply

  • Steve Mussell
    December 26, 2023

    Used your Prime Rib recipe again this year for our Christmas Dinner. Knocked it out of the park!! It turned out perfectly as I followed the recipe to the letter. Thank you for the recipe. I will use it EVERYTIME I cook one.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      December 26, 2023

      You’re welcome, Steve! Great to hear that this recipe is going to be your new go-to recipe for Prime Ribs.

      Reply

  • Arnaud INSINGER
    December 24, 2023

    Just ‘discovered’ your book, the blog, your personality & family. Shall not hesitate to promote all of them in The Netherlands, where cooking at our semi-Ukrainian home has already improved. Ordering your cookbook, seems like a worthy investment.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      December 24, 2023

      Thank you so much! I’m so glad you found this blog. I hope there will be many recipes you’ll enjoy!

      Reply

  • Matthew
    December 23, 2023

    Hello Natasha,
    I am going to try your roast beef with pan gravy on Christmas. Along with your artichoke spinach dip. I really enjoy your videos and your comic relief. Your family portraits are adorable.
    Just an FYI, my wife and I are both nurses. Besides nursing I love to cook.
    If these recipes work, I may be purchasing your cookbook. Thank you for starting this blog. I can’t wait to see future recipes!!!!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 23, 2023

      I’m so happy you love our recipes! Thank you so much for the fantastic review and your encouraging words. I am smiling big reading your comment, Matthew! Merry Christmas!

      Reply

  • Cheryl Laperriere
    December 22, 2023

    Hello Natasha–

    I love your recipes and videos!

    I don’t cook a lot of meat and wanted to try your Beef Top Round Roast. However, I am having a hard time finding a Top Round. What can be substituted? I found the Eye Round. Did some research, but outside of which part of the cow each cut comes from, it really didn’t help. Thank you!

    Reply

  • Christopher Ponta
    December 21, 2023

    Hello Natashas,
    I am a big fan,love your recipes .
    I make your recipes often.

    Have a successfull 2024

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 21, 2023

      Aww, that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Christopher. Happy Holidays!

      Reply

  • Tish
    December 19, 2023

    The site seems different and can’t find my saved recipes. Help please.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      December 20, 2023

      Hello there, we’re having technial difficulties at the moment but our tech team are working hard to resolve it. Thank you for the heads up!

      Reply

As Featured On

Never Go "Hangry" Again!

Get weekly updates on new recipes, exclusive giveaways plus behind the scenes photos.