The 21 Best Viral Recipes Of All Time
All of these dishes achieved serious social media fame.
With the exponential rise in social media food content, we're exposed to more exciting recipes than ever before. Some dishes feature inventive flavor combinations while others use smart techniques and hacks to doctor up common packaged foods. Food TV shows and cookbooks are still influential, of course, but the most well known recipes these days get their fame from Instagram and TikTok.
We're constantly seeking out internet food trends to discover the hottest new dishes. We've written about them, tried them at home, and even added our own spin to them. Some recipes (like healthy Coke) are guilty of being more outlandish than they are delicious. But we can confidently say that many of them deserve the hype.
With so much content being churned out, it can be hard to keep up with all of the dishes that have reached social media stardom. So we've rounded up the 21 best viral recipes over the past few years so you can try them for yourself. These are recipes that we've tested and loved—so you can rest assured that they're famous for a reason.
Baked Feta Pasta
There is no recipe that reached the same level of viral stardom as baked feta pasta.
Japanese Soufflé Pancakes
Pancakes are already meant to be fluffy, but this Japanese technique takes our favorite breakfast treat to new heights.
Dalgona Coffee
While dalgona coffee isn't quite the same as the crispy Korean honeycomb candy that inspired its name, this fluffy whipped coffee is absolutely worth the hype.
Alison Roman's Shallot Pasta
This is one of many Alison Roman recipes that achieved social media stardom. The hefty pile of caramelized shallots, the toasty tomato paste, and the obligatory anchovy make for a super savory weeknight winner.
Abi Balingit's Adobo Chocolate Chip Cookies
When Abi Balingit dropped her debut cookbook Mayumu this year, the adobo chocolate chip cookies quickly became the fan-favorite recipe.
Hasselback Potatoes
Hasselback potatoes are a throwback viral recipe that became popular around 2016. The technique of partially slicing along an entire potato maximizes the surface area for an extra-crispy baked potato.
Pesto Eggs
Pesto eggs started the viral trend of frying your breakfast in more than just plain oil or butter. They're garlicky, herbaceous, and super easy.
Dirty Martini Pasta
Emily Eggers first dropped her dirty martini pasta recipe on TikTok in April of this year, and it continues to convert olive haters to this day.
Emily Mariko's Salmon Rice Bowl
If you were on TikTok in 2021, Emily Mariko's mesmerizing recipe videos likely dominated your For You Page. It's one of the most inventive leftover transformations we've ever seen.
Whipped Ricotta
Ricotta isn't just a lasagna filling anymore. Inspired by the toast at the renowned Brooklyn restaurant Misi, this fluffy whipped ricotta has taken over the internet.
Baked By Melissa's Green Goddess Salad
Baked By Melissa founder Melissa Ben-Ishay may run a cupcake business, but she's arguably best known for her viral chopped salads.
Smash Burger Tacos
The internet is obsessed with classic, diner-style smash burgers, but swapping the bun for a tortilla completely changed the game.
Baked Oatmeal
Moving oatmeal from the stove to the oven completely revitalized the once-boring cereal grain.
Feta Fried Eggs
Grace Elkus' recipe for feta fried eggs is everything we want in a breakfast: savory, crispy, and cheesy.
Gigi Hadid's Spicy Vodka Pasta
Model Gigi Hadid posted an Instagram story of her making a simple vodka pasta recipe inspired by Carbone's version, and we're still making it to this day.
Crinkles
TikTok user @ramenasaidwow invented the Crinkle—a flaky, buttery phyllo dessert that tastes just like baklava without all the effort.
Birria Tacos
The classic braised meat from Puerto Vallarta has completely taken over the country—and for good reason. The most viral iteration is served in a tortilla crisped in the braising fat and stuffed with Oaxacan cheese.
Alison Roman's Salted Chocolate Chunk Shortbread
Alison Roman's shortbread recipe takes all of the magic of a chocolate chip cookie and transforms it into a buttery slice-and-bake treat.
Kale Sauce Pasta
Portland chef Joshua McFadden created this vibrant, garlicky pasta sauce as an homage to London's River Cafe. This viral recipe has made eating your greens even more exciting.
TikTok Cinnamon Rolls
This TikTok hack using canned cinnamon roll dough involves pouring heavy cream over the dough before placing it in the oven. It's like transporting a Cinnabon from the mall to your house.
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