When TikTok first entered the social media scene, it became a popular platform for dance routines and viral challenges.
But food content “blew up on the platform in early 2020 as millions of people were stuck at home during quarantine and cooking became more of a pastime,” writes The New York Times. Remember the days of sourdough and seemingly endless banana bread?
Since then, #FoodTok followers have become more creative and experimental with their culinary creations, and the app “regularly generates viral food crazes.” And while they started with TikTok, they quickly spread to Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram as well.
Here are some viral recipes that are actually worth trying at home.
This “super-simple dessert bread” has four ingredients and “can be made into a rainbow of different colors,” according to Glamor magazine.
It’s “high in protein and extremely low in carbs,” says food blogger Sommer Collier, who replaces sugar with cream cheese for a savory alternative.
Washington Post food writer Aaron Hutcherson said his attitude towards viral culinary moments “tends to oscillate between boundless skepticism and […] and outright disdain. But the feta pasta was an outlier that he was ready to jump in for.
Blogger Mackenzie Smith created a recipe that she says “blew up the internet” – the #BakedFetaPasta hashtag currently has over 166 million views on TikTok. And whether you choose the path with more or less garlic, basil, or chili pepper flakes, “the destination is bound to be delicious,” Hutcherson said.
Melissa’s pastries were more known for sweets than salads, but a simple recipe changed everything in January. Cooking site BuzzFeed writer Jen Adams said salads are quite “labor intensive” to make. But “I was amazed at the taste.”
The base of the salad requires four main ingredients, while the dressing is a savory pesto-like concoction that requires a lot more. It’s a recipe that “proves there’s absolutely no reason salads should be bland or sluggish,” chef Melissa Hemsley told Vogue.
“Sorry, baked feta, but this is better,” PopSugar said. Oreo Sushi is “a dynamic food pairing that can only be described as enticingly sweet” and it’s “easier than it looks.”
All you need is a pack of Oreos and a “pinch of milk” and then it’s basically the process of taking apart and reassembling Oreos. Some food bloggers like Oats Lady prefer to add more ingredients, but why bother with what PopSugar called “the dessert of your dreams”?
In the history of FoodTok trends, this one was an early star. When cafes turned off their espresso machines in March 2020 as the world went into lockdown, TikTokers had a whipped coffee answer.
Metro lifestyle reporter Faima Bakar was “happy to report that it’s actually quite a refreshing and delicious treat” worth a try. And given that you probably already have all the ingredients you need at home, this is probably one of the easiest ways to try it.
Like FoodTok trends, the fryer has also risen to prominence during the pandemic, though the technology behind it “is nothing new,” notes The Guardian. It has won over chefs, including Gordon Ramsay, and food bloggers are coming up with unique ways to use the devices.
Emily Chan is responsible for making pasta chips go viral last year. “The recipe is very quick, simple and includes very few ingredients,” she said today. They’re perfect “for those who like to snack on spicy, cheesy garlic food,” the website says.
And if you’re looking for other toasted pasta recipes, The Washington Post’s Aaron Hutcherson recommends trying toasted ravioli.
According to Cosmopolitan, TikTok may have “found culinary gold” with this recipe. Pesto eggs are “delicious and very easy to make.” Basically, just replace the oil you normally use for frying eggs and use pesto. “So simple and at the same time so innovative?”
An impressive yet easy brunch dish, creator Amy Wilichowski decided to pair it with ricotta, bread and smashed avocado in her now viral video.
If you’re a fan of the baked cheese trend, try baked bursin. And why stop there? After it’s baked, put it in a blender along with the garlic and tomatoes and whip up this easy soup a la Chico’s. The “gorgeous fried vegetable and cheese creation” is well suited for “the colder months,” Metro says.
Soup, of course, needs a side dish. Boxed food delivery company HelloFresh recommended serving it with fried sweet potatoes or cheesy ciabatta for a hearty and flavorful lunch.
These two ingredients may not seem worthy of a social media storm, but even the most modern tastemakers can have a hard time predicting what will go viral. In the case of this recipe, it’s the work of Emily Mariko, YouTuber and TikToker.
“The recipe for salmon, sriracha, mayonnaise, rice, avocado and dried seaweed was so popular” that people got excited when Mariko cooked salmon in other videos “because that means she’ll use leftovers for cooking.” a bowl of rice any minute,” The Cut said.
Plant-based seasoning brand Yondu recommends replacing salmon with tofu for a vegan version of the dish.
According to Food52.com, custard toast is “really delicious.” Flatten the middle of a piece of bread and before baking, pour in a beaten egg with a little yogurt and honey.
Then “TikTok offers the usual set of variations: first they try different types of fruit, then obviously a few vegan versions, and after that people start trading fruit for other flavors like chocolate, tahini, or just confectioner’s sugar. sprinkle on top,” says the food blog.
