Publication: Bon Appétit
Topics: Food culture, identity, economics, social issues, lifestyle
Rate: Starts at $250 for ~400 words; longer features pay approx. $0.62+ per word depending on depth
Deadline: Rolling
Submit Via: Webform

If you have a smart, practical food story that helps people become better cooks, Bon Appétit is actively looking for freelance writers.

The publication is interested in short, service-driven stories (typically 400–600 words) that teach readers something useful in the kitchen. Editors are especially looking for focused ideas with one clear takeaway rather than broad overviews. Think techniques, ingredients, grocery shopping advice, cookbook discoveries, or clever kitchen hacks that readers can immediately put into practice.

They’re looking for pitches such as:

• A cooking technique that completely changed how you prepare a dish.
• An underrated pantry ingredient and why everyone should use it.
• Grocery shopping advice that makes cooking easier.
• Why you store a particular ingredient in an unusual way.
• A game-changing tip from a newly released cookbook.
• Easy recipes with minimal ingredients for the “It’s That Simple” series.
• Personal wellness recipes for the “Feel-Good Food Plan.”
• Comfort meals for new parents in the “Fourth Trimester” column.

Before pitching, Bon Appétit recommends:

• Introduce yourself and explain why you’re the right person to write the story.
• Suggest several sample headlines.
• Clearly explain the story angle, why it matters now, and what makes it different.
• If reporting is involved, mention sources you’ve contacted or plan to interview.
• Include links to previous work—but new writers are also welcome.
• If your idea could work well on social media, mention it, as Bon Appétit offers additional pay for social storytelling.
• Check whether a similar story has already been published before sending your pitch.

Bon Appétit welcomes pitches from writers of all experience levels and is committed to publishing stories that reflect diverse culinary traditions and perspectives.