Hi, I’m Tyler Brooks — the chef behind Cookuna, and chicken has been my obsession since the day I got my first real kitchen job.
I’m 34, born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, and I’ve spent most of my adult life standing in front of a stove. I started as a line cook at 19, washing dishes before I ever got to touch a pan — and somewhere along the way, chicken became my thing. Not because it was glamorous, but because it’s the most versatile, affordable, and forgiving protein in the kitchen — if you know how to cook it right.
And that’s the key word: if. Most home cooks have a complicated relationship with chicken. Dry chicken breast. Bland chicken thighs. Overcooked, under-seasoned, “just okay” dinners that get made out of obligation instead of excitement. I spent years in professional kitchens figuring out exactly why that happens — and exactly how to fix it.
I started Cookuna because I wanted to build the resource I wish existed when I was learning to cook chicken at home. A place where “healthy” and “delicious” aren’t opposites — where chicken breast doesn’t mean bland, and chicken thighs aren’t just for “cheat days.”
My approach is built on three things: technique that actually works (brining, proper searing, resting times — the small stuff that makes a huge difference), ingredients you already have (because the best recipe is the one you’ll actually make on a Tuesday night), and macros that matter (every recipe includes protein, calories, and cost per serving, because eating well shouldn’t break your budget or your goals).
Whether you’re meal prepping chicken breast for the week, trying to get more protein into your diet, feeding a family on a budget, or just sick of dry chicken dinners — Cookuna is built for you. Every recipe here has been tested in my own kitchen, often more than once, until it’s right.
Outside the kitchen, you’ll usually find me in the garden — I grow most of my own herbs, and a lot of recipe ideas start there. I share my space with my golden retriever, Max, and a cat named Biscuit, who has strong opinions about chicken (he thinks it’s all for him).
Thanks for stopping by Cookuna. Let’s make chicken night something to look forward to.
— Tyler Brooks