AIBU to ask a friend not to cook if she's coming over?

Just tell her the kitchen is closed and mean it.

It's weird and audacious of her to repeatedly impose this on you. I bet it's under the guise of doing you a favour too.

I couldn't care less if someone felt 'snubbed' after I had drawn a line on this, as after the first time, I would neither like or appreciate it.

I'd hate that.
It might have been a nice offer initially but now it sounds like she's just using your kitchen for her hobby and thinks you should be grateful.
Obviously I wouldn't put it quite like that to her if you want to remain friends! But saying you would rather just eat and relax after dinner than sitting around the kitchen whilst she cooks (in your space!!) seems pretty reasonable to me.
And if you aren't that keen on her cooking then leaving you with a lot of leftover ingredients and the food to use up or throw away really isn't the kindness it sounds like.

It doesn't, op originally just wanted to meet for a drink, no food involved at all, Bella is the one who has expanded it into a huge home cooked meal!

Basically it sounds like she likes cooking but doesn't have the facilities for it herself so takes advantage of OPs kitchen. Something is only a favour if it's something you actually want! You don't have to be grateful for a "favour" you didn't ask for and don't enjoy!

It's all very strange, I wouldn't be up for it either op! If she tries again I would be reiterating "no I don't want a big meal, let's just go out for a drink" "I'm already eating out a few times this week so I was looking for a quick catch up" "the idea of meeting up is to have a good catch up, I don't think that works when you're rushing around cooking and then cleaning."

Why did you agree to this in the first place, op?!
It’s a massively weird thing to do, unless there’s a backstory and you have some sort of disability that makes cooking for yourself difficult?

DH loves cooking and trying fancier, and more time consuming recipes than I can be bothered with. People are always telling me how lucky I am that he likes - and is good at cooking.
The food is good, but he uses lots of ingredients and seemingly every pan or tray in the kitchen and is very hit and miss (mostly miss) about clearing any of it away, or washing up as he goes along, or wiping up spillages.
He lives here so I have to put up with it but if it was a friend I'd definitely suggest a take away!!

There must be a local college that does an evening cookery class that Bella could sign up for. She gets time and space to enjoy her hobby, her skills will improve and best of all she makes new friends so she can go and cook at their houses!

She's using you to live out her idea of friendship.

Suggest "picky bits" 😈

That sounds quite strange - nice to offer to cook maybe but really weird to insist when the other person isn't keen....

Sounds like either she doesn't have space/appliances like yours at hers and likes using yours, or she has some issues around food that mean she likes to control what she's eating by cooking herself. Though you would think the latter would be solved by meeting just for a drink. I know someone who can behave quite oddly around food due to long term food issues. However she would be happy to meet up just for a coffee or something.

Does she cook a lot at hers?

It does sound as if it's more trouble that it's worth.

Especially if you don't particularly enjoy the meals.

Does she share a kitchen with the landlord or have her own?

I'd tell her the truth that going to someone's house and insisting on cooking is weird and intrusive. I wouldn't want anyone going through my cupboards and leaving me a mess to clean up, it seems one of those things that's couched as a 'nice thing' to do but in reality, it's a pain in the arse.

She's taking the mick using you to indulge in her hobby and making you pay for it!

Put mouse traps in the kitchen and cockroach catchers, maybe a Rentokil leaflet stuck on the fridge door 🤣.

I absolutely hate people cooking in my kitchen.

TBH I don't even really like DH cooking in it but I accept that that's unreasonable.

Can you go out to dinner; why does it need to be at anyone’s house?

If not, kindly, I do think YAB a bit U. Sounds like all you’re having to do is a wipe down of the crevices and backsplash the next day whilst shoving a few dishes in the dishwasher, I’d say that’s no real hardship for someone else doing the cooking for the night and spending quality time with a good friend.

I would stick to ONE reason: "it's been a long week and I'd rather just relax!"

Repeat at nauseum if necessary...

I would have done the same thing as you: politely and firmly turned down her cooking again.

I would find it rude if someone kept on insisted they cooked in my house. Recipes of their choice, not cleaning up properly and making you pay half. Even though it's your energy bills and utensils she's using?
Why not cook for you at her own house?
Just tell her 'no thank you. But we can get a takeaway if you like. I'm craving a Chinese/pizza' (whatever takeaways you like)
She can't just force it upon you! I've honestly never heard someone doing this. Maybe helping to cook if asked, but not doing a whole meal in someone else's kitchen!

so basically, she is using you and your home to pursue a hobby that she can't do where she lives and making you pay for it? Fuck no to that.

Bella needs to stop pissing away money on fancy ingredients and start saving for her own place.

If you split the cost of the ingredients which are more than a meal - and she leaves them behind - doesn’t sound like cost is the issue.

She maybe sees the act of her cooking for you as an act of friendship (while also probably enjoying the space in yours to prepare she doesn’t have!). Since you like her company I’d put up with it once in a while, but otherwise be firm this is how you want to spend your weekends.