Think aloud
Picking the perfect tattoo design might not be easy for everyone, but when you’re a chef, you already know what you need to do. Between mouth-watering full-course meals and shiny, sharp chef knives, you can’t go wrong with carefully curated chef tattoos.
Chef tattoos are extremely wearable and versatile because they can be anything you want them to be. Whether you opt for a dainty, thinly-lined tattoo to remind you of your love of culinary arts or a statement sleeve tattoo packed with all your favorite produce, pots, and pans, there’s no denying that chef tattoos are made for you. We’ve rounded up a few of the most delicious chef tattoos that are easily personalized to fit your taste to get you started.
1. A chef tattoo on the forearm
Looking for something simple and straightforward? Well, this design consists of a chef’s hat, a spatula and a knife, and, of course, the word “chef” underneath the main design. With a tattoo like this one, everyone will know where your devotion lies.
2. A chef tattoo sticker sleeve
What about a sticker sleeve consisting of the cutest culinary stickers you’ve ever seen? Sticker sleeve tattoos are all the rage these days because they’re simpler to work with, they require less time and effort, and they allow you to experiment with different styles and symbols.
3. A tattoo of tiny tools on the wrist
Whether you’re getting a tattoo for the first time or trying to keep the number of new tattoos to a minimum, you might want to go with a tiny tattoo of kitchen tools! We can’t think of a better way to commemorate your love of all things cooking without going all out.
4. A tattoo of a knife and whisk on the inside of the arm
A knife and a spatula are chief chef tools and they deserve to be celebrated every single day! With a tattoo like this one, you get to be reminded of the role that these tools played in getting you where you are today.
5. A hand-poked chef tattoo
When choosing the right style for your chef tattoo, you might be overwhelmed by the sheer number of techniques and terms you’re bombarded with. A hand-poked tattoo, for example, might be the perfect pick for you when you’re looking for a meaningful, less painful, and less invasive tattoo.
6. A tattoo of recipe ingredients on the forearm
When you’re working on the design of your chef tattoo, don’t shy away from experimenting with different styles and symbols. Whether you go with your favorite ingredients to work with, a recipe you were passed on by your grandmother, or something completely different, you’ll appreciate the sentiment every time you catch a glimpse of your tattoo.
7. A matching tattoo of a pot and a lid
Who would’ve thought chef tattoos could be romantic? If you and your SO are chefs or the two of you share your love of all things cooking, you might be interested in getting a matching tattoo of a pot and a lid.
8. A sketchwork chef tattoo
Traditional tattoos are great, but you might be one of the people who prefer the rough, undone aesthetic of sketchwork tattoos. Sketchwork tattoos are defined by rough, unrefined lines, a loose design, and an organic appearance. So, a sketchwork tattoo of kitchen utensils might be the perfect pick for you.
9. A tattoo of kitchen knives on the forearm
A chef can’t go a day without a good set of kitchen knives, right? With a tattoo like the one in the picture, you can pay homage to your favorite knives and remind yourself of all the times you used them in your kitchen.
10. A fine-line chef tattoo
What about a fine-line tattoo? Chef tattoos are pretty straightforward, ranging from kitchen utensils to ingredients you use when you’re cooking your favorite dish. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to get a dark and gloomy blackwork tattoo to get the point across – you can opt for a fine-line tattoo and work with thinner, lighter lines to create the desired image.
11. A blackwork chef tattoo
While we’re on the topic of blackwork tattoos, we might as well give you an example of one, too! A blackwork tattoo can be super dark, cover your entire arm or leg, and make you look like you’re tattooed from head to bottom. A blackwork tattoo like the one in the picture, though, can simply use a little bit of black ink and negative space to create an image that represents your love (or hate!?) of cooking.
12. A colored chef tattoo
A colored tattoo might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but that needs to change ASAP. Colored tattoos might be a little more expensive and require a little more time and effort, but they’re worth your while – they’re guaranteed to attract attention and turn heads everywhere you go.
13. A tattoo of pots and pans on the inside of the arm
Pots and pans are a must-have for every chef which means they’re the perfect tattoo motif, too! If you’re a fan of simple, subtle tattoo designs, this one might be the right one for you!
14. A tattoo of a cast iron pan on the inside of the arm
What about a cast iron pan? Cast iron pans seem to have taken the culinary world by storm, and they’re slowly becoming some of the most common tattoo motifs, too. A cast iron pan tattoo might be your way of commemorating the tools you need to succeed in your field.
15. A tattoo of ingredients with their scientific names
Whichever ingredients you want to commemorate with your tattoo can make a world of difference in how you feel when you catch a glimpse of your tattoo in the mirror! Adding their scientific names might not be at the top of your priority list, but it’s a step that can spice up the final design of the tattoo, too!
16. A tattoo of carbonara ingredients on the leg
Who doesn’t love a good carbonara? Whether you opt for a sticker sleeve tattoo or a statement piece representing your favorite Italian dish, you can’t go wrong with a tattoo of all the ingredients you need to make it.
17. A tattoo of a tiny pot on the forearm
Tiny tattoos are making a comeback, and we’re here for that! If you’re a fan of smaller ink, you might be interested in getting a tattoo of a tiny pot on your forearm, shoulder, or even back. It’s adorable and it’s guaranteed to get your point across.
18. A tattoo of a beautiful breakfast spread on the back of the arm
What about a tattoo of a breakfast spread on the back of your arm? If you’re a breakfast person, you’re well aware of how happy all the breakfast foods make you. If getting a tattoo of your favorite breakfast spread will make you appreciate your calling even more – go for it!
19. A collection of chef tattoos on the arm
Chef tattoos are wearable and versatile, aren’t they? Whether you’re planning on going all out with a bunch of cute culinary tats or thinking of devoting your first inking experience to your love of cooking, you can come up with mouth-watering designs that make you feel like you’re the best chef that ever existed.
20. A tattoo of a chef on the forearm
Whether you get a tattoo of your own face or opt for a tattoo of a random chef holding a butcher knife and an octopus, there are a million ways you can commemorate your love of cooking.
21. A tattoo of a knife, veggies, and herbs on the forearm
A tattoo of a knife, veggies, and herbs screams “I’m a chef!” Whether you go with a fine-line tattoo, a colored tattoo, or something completely different, you’re guaranteed to be the talk of the kitchen the moment everyone sees your tattoo.
22. A tattoo of a Kiritsuke knife on the forearm
A Kiritsuke knife is one of the most versatile Japanese traditional knives and that’s why it deserves a spot in the spotlight! A tattoo of a Kiritsuke knife can remind you of all of your ups and downs and celebrate where you are in your career right now.
23. A geometric chef tattoo
A geometric tattoo might work wonderfully with your aesthetic, too! If you’re a fan of clean lines, dots, and geometric shapes making up the general design of the tattoo, a geometric tattoo might be right for you.
24. A traditional chef tattoo
A traditional tattoo might be on the opposite side of the spectrum, but it’s a great way to pay homage to your roots and play with styles that aren’t as popular as they used to be. A knife with traditional flowers and roses can be a stand-alone piece or a part of a sleeve.
25. An abstract chef tattoo
We’re ending the article with an abstract tattoo! If you’re a fan of modern, minimalist styles, you’re going to adore this abstract chef tattoo! It consists of a knife, a few veggies, and a few sea creatures that represent what cooking is really about.
