Watch Food Network Without Cable: Best Streaming Services to Keep You Satisfied

As a foodie who can’t get enough of the Food Network and other culinary content, I know I don’t need to hang on to my cable contract. In fact, I find I’m better off with a contract-free streaming service.

In a hurry? If you don’t care about all the details and just want to sign-up for a great streaming service with the major food-based TV channels, we recommend the following services:

Why You Need a VPN Today

However, first you need a VPN to unblock US streaming services from . Our favourite is ExpressVPN. It’s definitely not the cheapest option at $4.99/month, but it just works – and across all your devices.

They have servers in 25+ US cities/states and 105 countries, which unblock access to premium streaming platforms available only in the US, as well as free “on demand” TV services worldwide.

You’ll have access to local platforms as if you were in the country, meaning you can watch BBC iPlayer as if you were in the UK, CBC Gem as if you were in Canada, plus hundreds more worldwide.

Sign Up for ExpressVPN

Hotdog users get three months free at ExpressVPN, so it’s a “no-brainer” for us. Decide for yourself with their 30 day money-back guarantee.

IMPORTANT: Once you’ve installed your VPN and connected to a US server, you’ll still need to subscribe separately to access premium streaming services.

Food Network’s programming celebrates the way that food connects us as families, communities, and cultures with niche cooking how-tos, explorations of food culture, original cooking (and grocery shopping) competitions, and compelling personalities like Emeril Lagasse, Ina Garten, and Guy Fieri.

You can cut cable from your entertainment diet and still get all-you-can-watch Food Network and its sister channels. Every major streaming service carries it as a basic channel, which we go into more detail on below.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

How to Watch Food Network Live Without Cable

Food Network is part of Discovery Inc’s family of channels, which includes Cooking Channel, TLC, HGTV, DIY Network, Travel Channel, Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), Animal Planet, Discovery Channel (and all its spin-offs), Destination America, Great American Country, American Heroes Channel, and others.

There’s also a relative newcomer to the scene: independent digital channel Tastemade. It features some original programming mixed with viewer-submitted content that’s aimed at a younger adult audience.

Food Network is considered a pay channel, so it isn’t available OTA (Over the Air) with an antenna like a local broadcast station (think NBC, ABC).

You can only watch it live with a subscription service: traditional cable, satellite, or what is called OTT (Over the Top) services. They’re services that stream channels over the internet and are typically cheaper than cable with no contracts or time commitments.

Streaming Services with Food Network

The good news is that Food Network is available on every single major live TV streaming service, and it’s always included in the base package, so you don’t have to go gourmet to get your Barefoot Contessa on.

The bad news is that its grittier little brother, Cooking Channel, isn’t on quite as many channel menus. Don’t worry though. Most of them still offer it for a little extra, either as an upgrade or add-on.

FuboTV

FuboTV was originally founded to cater to international sports fans, so it may come as a surprise that it has the most food-centered channels: Food Network; the younger, hipper Tastemade; and is the only service to currently carrying Canadian foodie channel GustoTV. The Cooking Channel is available with the Fubo Extra add-on for $7.99/mo.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

Discovery staples Animal Planet, TLC, Travel Channel, and HGTV are here, as well as the Oprah Winfrey Network. In most areas, you’ll also get all your local network affiliates: ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox.

Fubo costs $79.99/month which starts with a free trial. It features over 130 channels, and unlimited cloud DVR, and the ability of households to stream across ten devices simultaneously.

For more information, see these articles:

• FuboTV Review
• FuboTV Packages
• FuboTV Local Channels
• FuboTV Devices.

Philo

Humble little Philo is the most affordable service on this list, and is the only one to include Food Network and all its Discovery sister channels — plus Tastemade. No packages or add-ons, just the flat $28.00/month for over 65 channels, unlimited DVR, and up to 3 devices streaming at the same time.

Try Philo for Free

The only downside is Philo does not carry any local channels, but in most areas, you could pick up an antenna and be golden. Read these for more information.

• Philo Review
• Philo Packages and Channels.

Sling TV

Sling TV includes Food Network in both its Blue and Orange packages. Both plans also have Travel Channel, HGTV, and 50 hours of Cloud DVR.

Save 50% on Sling TV Now

Cooking Channel and DIY Network are available on either package with the Lifestyle Extra add-on for $6/mo. You can get Tastemade+ (the on-demand version of Tastemade) for $3/mo.

While the Blue Package does have Discovery and TLC, neither Blue nor Orange currently has Animal Planet. NBC and Fox local affiliates are available in select markets.

Right now if you prepay for two months, you can get a free AirTV Mini, a streaming device similar to a Roku that hooks up to your TV. For information see the following:

• Sling TV Review
• Sling TV Packages
• Sling TV Local Channels
• Sling TV Devices.

DIRECTV STREAM

The major draw of DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV) is its great coverage of local network affiliates. It also carries the most regional sports networks (RSNs) of any major TV provider.

Get DIRECTV STREAM Free Trial

Food Network is available in all packages, as well as Animal Planet, Discovery, HGTV, and TLC for $86.99/month. This also includes a cloud DVR and unlimited streaming devices at one time.

DIRECTV STREAM has the Cooking Channel, Tastemade, OWN, and the Travel channel starting with its Choice package for $114.99/month. You get the DIY Network and other Discovery channels in the Ultimate and Premier packages.

You also get a free year of HBO Max included if you subscribe to the Choice (or higher) package. For more information, see DIRECTV STREAM review.

Hulu + Live TV

Hulu is where it’s at for binge-watching network TV shows on-demand. You also get access to Hulu’s popular original programmings like Castle Rock and the Handmaid’s Tale.

Get Hulu + Live TV Free

Their live TV service adds over 85 live channels to that service along with ESPN+ and Disney+. Their service starts at $82.99/month and you can watch on up to two screens at a time.

Like Fubo, Food Network is here with all its sister channels, and Cooking Channel and DIY are available with the Entertainment Add-on for $7.99/mo. The Oprah Winfrey Network is not available through Hulu + Live TV right now, so if that’s a deal-breaker for you, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

Find out more about Hulu here:

• Hulu + Live TV Review
• Hulu On-Demand Review
• Hulu + Live TV Packages
• Hulu + Live TV Local Channels.

Other Ways to Stream Food Network

There are a few other ways to catch up on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives:

• Food Network is included on YouTube TV, currently $72.99/month.
• Food Network GO is an app for those already with a pay TV login that lets you watch a live stream of the channel or on-demand content.
• Food Network Kitchen is an app, available on iOS, Android, and other services like Roku, that provides access to on-demand streaming of some shows (but no live content), recipes, a meal planning tool, and more. It costs $19.99 per year, with a 7 day free trial.
• Many of Food Network’s shows can be found on-demand on various services, including Amazon Prime, iTunes, Netflix, and Vudu. Some require a monthly subscription, some require you buy the show by the episode or the season.
  

TVs and Mobile Devices for Food Network

To watch Food Network without cable, you need a device that has a platform for streaming services. The streaming services discussed above all support most devices currently in use.

Universally supported streaming devices include:

• Amazon FireTV
• AppleTV
• Chromecast
• Roku.

Standard web browsers (Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Opera, etc.) and mobile devices running Android or iOS are also universally supported.

DIRECTV STREAM only works on the universally supported devices above, Samsung Smart TVs, and its own proprietary device.

All the rest of the streaming services support Android TV-powered smart TVs.

FuboTV, Sling TV, and Hulu all support Samsung and LG smart TVs. They also support the Xbox One gaming console.

Hulu + Live TV supports almost everything, including gaming platforms that few other live streaming services support, such as the Echo Show, Nintendo Switch, and the Playstation 4 (and up), plus most devices that other streaming services support.

Sling TV supports the Facebook Portal and the Oculus.

Wrapping Up

If you just can’t get enough of Worst Cooks in America but are sick of paying standard cable prices, there is hope. Just sign up for one of the streaming services that include Food Network, and tune into Guy’s Grocery Games anytime.

FAQs

What is the cheapest way to get Food Network?

If you’re only interested in food and cooking programming, like Beat Bobby Flay or The Kitchen, maybe some home improvement, DIY, and travel, you should check out Philo. It’s got Food Network, Cooking Channel, Tastemade, HGTV, DIY, the Travel Channel, and all other Discovery family of channels for $28.00/month. This includes unlimited cloud DVR storage and three-screen simultaneous streaming.

If you’re also into sports and want local channels, you can try Sling TV for $35 per month.

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Alanna Baker

Alanna Baker was the Streaming Content Editor at Hotdog.com, specializing in comprehensive streaming coverage across various genres, with a particular focus on sports and Sling TV offerings. With a background in literature and education, coupled with extensive experience in media and law, Alanna brings a unique perspective to the streaming industry.

Her expertise stems from being an early adopter of various entertainment technologies, from mail-order Netflix to modern streaming platforms. Alanna's in-depth knowledge of Sling TV's modular service and her ability to cover diverse streaming content make her a key expert in navigating the complex landscape of modern streaming options, especially in sports and entertainment.

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