Skip to content

Game Guide � Cooking

Paralives Cooking

every recipe, every category

All 87 Paralives recipes across 17 categories. 65 vegetarian options, 50 group portions, and two linked skills.

Cooking skill

Practical

Your skill level in cooking. Earn 4 XP per hour while cooking. Each level costs 10 XP with a 1.2x increment per level. Related skill: Food (Knowledge).

Portions & vegetarian

65 of 87 recipes

Most recipes come in two sizes: individual (single Parafolk) and group (feeds the household). 50 recipes support group portions, 81 support individual. 75% of all recipes are vegetarian, every Soup, Salad, Pasta, Toast, and Noodle dish.

Browse all 17 categories

What recipe categories are in Paralives?

Bakery14

Bakery

Sweet baked goods including cakes, muffins, croissants, pancakes, and shortcake.

13 vegetarian13 group
Rice9

Rice

Rice-based dishes from simple white rice to paella, jollof rice, and risotto.

8 vegetarian0 group
Toast8

Toast

Quick breakfast options from simple buttered toast to loaded avocado and salmon bagels.

8 vegetarian2 group
Pizza8

Pizza

Homemade and frozen pizzas with classic toppings.

3 vegetarian8 group
Soup7

Soup

Warming soups from classic tomato to mushroom, beet, and pumpkin.

7 vegetarian0 group
Pasta7

Pasta

Italian pasta dishes including spaghetti, carbonara, pesto, and soba noodles.

7 vegetarian0 group
Burger6

Burger

Classic hamburgers, BBQ variants, frozen patties, and vegetarian alternatives.

3 vegetarian6 group
Pie6

Pie

Sweet fruit pies and savory pot pies.

4 vegetarian6 group
Hot Dog4

Hot Dog

Traditional hot dogs and plant-based tofu dog alternatives.

2 vegetarian2 group
Salad4

Salad

Fresh salads from mixed summer greens to Caesar and Greek classics.

4 vegetarian4 group
Sandwich4

Sandwich

Stacked sandwiches from classic club BLT to egg and ham varieties.

2 vegetarian4 group
Steak3

Steak

Grilled meat and plant-based steak alternatives.

1 vegetarian2 group
Noodles2

Noodles

Asian noodle dishes from quick instant ramen to full ramen bowls.

2 vegetarian0 group
Tacos2

Tacos

Mexican-inspired tacos with meat and vegetarian fillings.

1 vegetarian2 group
Breakfast1

Breakfast

Full breakfast plates to start the day.

0 vegetarian0 group
Sides1

Sides

Side dishes and snacks.

0 vegetarian0 group
Pancakes1

Pancakes

Fluffy breakfast pancakes and waffles.

0 vegetarian1 group

Recipe rankings

Which cooking categories have the most recipes in Paralives?

Most recipes

Top 6 categories by recipe count

  1. 1Bakery14 recipes
  2. 2Rice9 recipes
  3. 3Toast8 recipes
  4. 4Pizza8 recipes
  5. 5Soup7 recipes
  6. 6Pasta7 recipes

Most vegetarian options

Top 6 categories by vegetarian recipe count

  1. 1Bakery13/14 veg
  2. 2Rice8/9 veg
  3. 3Toast8/8 veg
  4. 4Soup7/7 veg
  5. 5Pasta7/7 veg
  6. 6Pie4/6 veg

Frequently asked

Cooking FAQ

How many recipes are in Paralives?
Paralives has 87 recipes across 17 categories in Early Access build 1. The largest category is Bakery with 14 recipes, followed by Rice (9), Toast (8), and Pizza (8). 65 of the 87 recipes are vegetarian.
How does the Cooking skill work in Paralives?
Cooking is a Practical skill that levels up by preparing meals. Raising your Cooking skill improves the quality of the food you make. The base XP rate is 4 XP per hour of cooking. There is also a separate Food knowledge skill that provides a 25% XP bonus per level to your cooking progress.
What is the difference between group and individual portions in Paralives?
Most recipes can be cooked as either a single portion (for one Parafolk) or a group portion (feeds the whole household). 50 of 87 recipes support group portions, and 81 support individual portions. Some quick recipes like Buttered Toast are individual-only.
Are there vegetarian recipes in Paralives?
Yes - 65 of 87 recipes (75%) are vegetarian. Every Soup, Salad, Pasta, Toast, and Noodle recipe is vegetarian. Categories with mixed options include Burger (3 of 6), Pizza (3 of 8), Hot Dog (2 of 4), Sandwich (2 of 4), and Pie (4 of 6).
What careers use the Cooking skill in Paralives?
Cooking is useful for restaurant jobs across three restaurant types: Fast Food, Sitting, and Fancy restaurants, plus Hospital Cook. Career perks include 'Practice Cooking at Home' ($30/day per meal cooked in the last 48 hours) and 'A Great Place to Learn' (25% chance to level up cooking after each work day).
How do you cook in Paralives?
Click a fridge or stove and pick a recipe. Your Parafolk handles the prep steps on their own - taking ingredients from the fridge, cutting and mixing at the counter, then cooking on the stove. Most of the 87 recipes can be made as a single or group portion.
How do you learn new recipes in Paralives?
Use the “Browse for new cooking recipes” interaction online. Each Parafolk can learn one new recipe per day this way - the game blocks a second attempt until the next day.

Last updated:

Data extracted from Paralives Early Access game files (build 1). Stats and counts verified against the shipped catalog.