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

  • Robyn
    September 6, 2017

    Every single recipe I have tried from your blog has been amazing! I seriously can’t find one I don’t like. Thank you for sharing such wonderful recipes with us! Natasha’s Kitchen is my #1 go-to blog when I’m looking for new recipes 🙂

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      September 6, 2017

      Oh wow, what a compliment Robyn! I’m so glad to hear you are enjoying my recipes! Thank YOU for following and sharing your encouraging comments!

      Reply

  • Sharron Weir
    September 5, 2017

    Your food looks delish and your family precious! And, what a beautiful testimony! God bless you!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      September 6, 2017

      Thank you for following and sharing your kind, thoughtful comments! God Bless Sharron 🙂

      Reply

  • patou
    September 2, 2017

    j adore vos recette j en ai fait beaucoup toute aussi bonne continuée encore merci

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      September 2, 2017

      I’m so glad you are enjoying our recipes! 🙂

      Reply

  • Geetha
    September 2, 2017

    Very healthy food 🥘 would love to try them all . Was really looking out for something like this. Thanks Geetha

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      September 2, 2017

      My pleasure Geetha! Please let me know what you think of the recipes!

      Reply

  • Bj
    August 31, 2017

    The plum jam plums are Damson also known as Italian prune plums. Best of the lot for jam, l think.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      September 1, 2017

      Good to know Bj! Thanks for sharing your great tip!

      Reply

  • pomegranate
    August 30, 2017

    Hi…your recipes are fantastic like your life story…l find your blog rightnow …and decide to follow you…l’m learning english and love to bake and cook European food according their natives…thanks for your delicious recipes…

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      August 30, 2017

      Hello! I’m so glad you found my site! Thanks for following and please let me know what you think of the recipes!

      Reply

  • Minerva Flores
    August 29, 2017

    Hola Natasha,
    Will be trying some of your meals. Mmmm….in Spanish we say Se ve rico, translarion. It looks delicious. Gracias for teaching us to make your favorite teaches. Gracias,

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      August 29, 2017

      Hola! It’s my pleasure! Thank YOU for following 🙂

      Reply

  • Patty Fowl
    August 28, 2017

    Natasha, I just have had a fun marathon evening of watching a small fraction of your videos and loved every single one I viewed. Just am diving into your blog now but have loved reading about your heritage, your family, and your venture into cooking!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      August 29, 2017

      I’m glad you are enjoying my videos and site! Please let me know what you think of the recipes when you decide to make one! Thanks for following Patty 🙂

      Reply

  • Pooja Ramdunnee
    August 28, 2017

    Hello Im Pooja from Mauritius I appreciate your videos on different foods as I love cooking specially for my mum and funny. its already 2 years Im married and i was messing a little bit in kitchen with taste like salt and my husband was angry and I agree. Finally Im used to it and I wake up everyday at 4 a.m to cook before going to work. Now my hubby like my food and the recipes secret you showed i cook them when i have guests and my husband really adore the food i cook. you are really so funny and at ease while cooking before everyone but here i like my kitchen to me alone im angry when someone will disturb me in kitchen. it was nice to knnow about you.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      August 28, 2017

      Hello Pooja! I’m happy to hear you are enjoying the videos and recipes! Thank you so much for following! 🙂

      Reply

  • Sadaf
    August 28, 2017

    Hi !
    I’m Iranian but living in Moscow now . I really like Russian Cuisine . Your blog is Perfect and I learn a lot from your recipes ! 🙂 We like the Breakfast part more 😉
    Thank you for sharing your Experiences .
    I’m Following you on Instagram and always wait to learn new things from you .

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      August 28, 2017

      Hello Sadaf! I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying the blog and my recipes! Thanks so much for following and sharing your thoughtful comments!

      Reply

  • Yunika Umar
    August 24, 2017

    nice blog. loving it!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      August 25, 2017

      Thank you so much Yunika! Thanks for following 🙂

      Reply

  • Kristin
    August 24, 2017

    Natasha,
    I am so glad I found you! I did not enjoy baking not too long ago, but I have discovered a new love of it after using so many of your recipes! It’s my newest passion, and my small children love to help and reap the tasty rewards. I’ve been able to give baked goods as gifts for others, which I never would have dared to before, so I count that as an added blessing. Thank you for your site and your willingness to share your knowledge!
    p.s. We’re Christians, too. I’ll probably never meet you in this life, but I’ll see you on the other side of Glory!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      August 24, 2017

      Hi Kristin, I love how you worded that! It’s just amazing to me and such a blessing that we are all one family in the Lord 🙂 I’m so happy to hear that you and your family are are enjoying our recipes. Your comment blessed me so much. Thank you!! 🙂

      Reply

  • Julie Mancil
    August 23, 2017

    Hi Natasha!
    I’m glad I found your blog. I enjoyed reading about you and your family. Me and my family are also Christians and live in the love and light of Jesus. I’ve sponsored children in Eastern Europe through a Christian organization for many years. It’s truly a blessing.
    I love to cook and bake and am always looking for new things to cook. I look forward to trying your recipes.
    God bless you and your family.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      August 23, 2017

      Hello Julie! I’m glad you found my site! Thanks for following and please let me know what you think of the recipes! God Bless 🙂

      Reply

  • Jan
    August 23, 2017

    I’m Polish/Dutch plus other things thrown in, Grew up in a Polish environment. I was a working nurse, retired now. Live in Michigan esp love to try new recipes and share them in our neighborhood.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      August 23, 2017

      Hello Jan! Thanks for following! Please let me know what you think of the recipes!

      Reply

  • Cheryl White
    August 23, 2017

    Can I freeze peach preserves instead of canning?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      August 23, 2017

      Hi Cheryl, I haven’t tried that but I think that should work fine.

      Reply

  • Hilda Fanfan
    August 23, 2017

    I have just found your blog, and as soon as I saw Ukrainian, I was interested. I live in Chicago, and there has always been a large Ukrainian population. We even have a neighborhood called “Ukrainian Village.” I had some Ukrainian friends when I was younger, and the food and desserts always intrigued me. Your stuffed chicken thighs look delicious. With my large, hungry family, I’ll have to make a double batch. I will be making them this weekend. Looking forward to following you, and trying out more of your delicious recipes!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      August 23, 2017

      Awesome, I’m so glad you found my page Hilda! Thanks for following and please let me know what you think of the recipes!

      Reply

  • Pedro guzman
    August 22, 2017

    Thanks for all the recipes natasha and vadim me and my wife we love your recipes and we learn alot how to cook. God bless you guys.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      August 22, 2017

      It’s our pleasure Pedro! Thanks so much for following and sharing your thoughts! God bless you and your family 🙂

      Reply

  • Alicia
    August 20, 2017

    Natasha! I don’t know if you’ll remember me, but we worked together on 7 east for a bit when you were still doing the blog part time and working out the kinks to make it a full time gig! So glad to see that’s worked for you! Came across your recipe after a panna cotta search–we’ll be making it for our eclipse party brunch! I can’t wait to taste it!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      August 20, 2017

      Hi Alicia! It is so nice to hear from you!! My husband and I have been working on the blog full time since leaving 7 E. I miss you all!! I hope you have an awesome party and that you love the recipe!! 🙂

      Reply

  • Laura
    August 19, 2017

    Did you live in northern NY with your beautiful and large family? Your mama made incredible bread and I tried to tutor you all at school and home….Miss Porter. I’m so happy for you to find your way to joy!!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      August 19, 2017

      Hi Laura, we were in NY just temporarily on our way to Seattle when we first moved to the US so you are probably thinking of another family. 🙂

      Reply

  • Debbbie
    August 19, 2017

    You are adorable and so is your family! I have tried two of your salad recipes and my family loved them. Can’t wait to make more of them. Thank you and God Bless!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      August 19, 2017

      You’re so sweet Debbie, thank you! I’m happy to hear your family is enjoying the recipes! Thank YOU for following and sharing your great review!

      Reply

As Featured On

Never Go "Hangry" Again!

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