Joanna Gaines‘ kids have grown up with their mom’s love of food and cooking, so it’s not surprising that they are all capable in the kitchen. The former HGTV star shared that her kids also have a passion for food, with one of them taking a particular interest in the culinary arts.
Joanna Gaines Reveals That Her Kids Love to Cook
In an August 2025 interview with Delish, Gaines reflected on her children’s new season of life and their love of cooking.
“My kids are all now in the season of life where they’re closer to leaving than they are staying,” she shared.
Her oldest son, Drake, 20, goes to college an hour from home and enjoys cooking with his girlfriend. “They have these nights where they go all out and they cook 3-, 4-, or 5-course meals,” Gaines explained.
She added, “I mean, he still gets Whataburger, but I think the fact that he’s feeding himself — he’s making grilled chicken, he’s making steaks — he’s set for life.”
Her oldest daughter, Ella, 18, starts her first year of college in the fall. She wowed her mom with a special food-focused surprise for Gaines’ birthday this year.
“I have a tradition with the kids: When they go to bed the night of their birthday, I do all the balloons and the dessert — I get the whole table set,” Gaines explained. This year, Ella repaid the gesture, making all of her mother’s favorite foods for her birthday.
“Middle of the night till 5 a.m.! She’s prepping everything! So I wake up and she’s sleeping, and I open the fridge and all of this food is wrapped, ready to go,” the “Magnolia Table” star shared. “She followed the recipes, but she created her own take on things.”
Gaines added, “I feel like all of my kids have been in the kitchen enough with me to where they’re comfortable.”
Joanna Gaines’ Youngest Child Has a Special Interest in Cooking
Gaines noted that her youngest son, Crew, 7, already has a huge interest in cooking.
“He knows how to work a knife, he knows how to sauté,” she said. “When I’m cooking, he’s the one that’s just hanging by my hip, wanting to be a part of everything.”
During an August 19 interview on the “Today” show, Gaines noted, “He’s always loved anything mixing, messy. It’s not as efficient, but it’s so fun. He’s so intrigued by it.”
She took to Instagram on February 14, 2025, to show Crew in action, helping in the kitchen as her “sous chef.”
Fans loved seeing her son assisting in the kitchen, with one commenting, “He’ll be running the Magnolia cooking shows in no time.”
Others noted, “Teach them young. So sweet” and “Nice job momma. Cooking, learning, and interaction.”
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Joanna Gaines Reveals Her Kids Share Her Passion for Cooking