10 Viral Food Trends That Are Worth The Hype & 10 That Really Aren't
Which Bites Are Worth The Buzz?
Sometimes, the biggest stars on the internet aren't influencers, but foods. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok turn recipes into viral sensations, either due to their over-the-top absurdity or their crave-worthy deliciousness. Here are 10 viral foods that are totally worth the hype and 10 that aren't.
1. Baked Feta Pasta
A recipe for baked feta pasta became a viral sensation for its deliciousness and simplicity. Just bake a block of feta with a bunch of cherry tomatoes and add it to pasta. It slaps!
Delicious Adventures on Wikimedia
2. Dense Bean Salad
TikTok has been taken over by beans, and we're all for it. Creator Violet Witchel has been posting recipes for her "Dense Bean Salads" that are as healthy as they are delicious. They're also super easy to prep and keep in the fridge for a week of healthy eating.
3. Cloud Bread
Someone finally created a gluten-free bread recipe that's simple and tastes good. It's made from only three ingredients: egg whites, sugar, and cornstarch. It's incredibly light, fluffy, and pleasant to eat.
4. Dalgona Coffee
Dalgona coffee was one of the most popular food trends during the pandemic. The impressive-looking coffee named after a Korean candy is made with just four ingredients: instant coffee, sugar, milk, and hot water, which are whisked into a frothy, whipped coffee.
5. Leftover Salmon Bowl
TikTok creator Emily Mariko is certainly not the first one to eat leftover salmon with rice, but she was the first one to make it look that good. The viral salmon bowl combines leftovers with staples you already have in the fridge for a convenient and awesome meal.
6. Gigi Hadid’s Spicy Vodka Pasta
Gigi Hadid isn't just a pretty face; turns out she can cook, too! Her viral spicy vodka pasta is the definition of comfort food: creamy, simple, filling, and loaded with flavor.
7. Pizza Beans
Pizza beans combine beans with all the ingredients you would have on a pizza, like tomato sauce and cheese. It's a genius, healthier, low-carb alternative to pizza that packs all the same flavors.
8. Parmesan Crusted Potatoes
How can you go wrong with Parmesan cheese, potatoes, and butter? The internet went wild when TikTok creator kalejunkie posted her recipe, which entailed spreading parmesan and butter onto a pan, placing halved potatoes on top, and roasting them, creating a crispy, cheesy coating on the potatoes.
Karen and Brad Emerson on Wikimedia
9. Lasagna Soup
It's no wonder lasagna soup went viral when it was posted on TikTok, given how simple and delicious it is. It's all the goodness of lasagna but with way less effort. Just combine lasagna noodles with tomato sauce, cheese, and Italian seasoning.
10. Feta Fried Egg
Feta fried eggs became everyone's brunch obsession when they were posted on TikTok. The key is crisping the feta cheese in the pan before adding the egg on top so it creates a beautiful, golden crust.
Now that we've covered the viral food trends that very much earn their hype, let's talk about the ones that don't.
1. Nature's Cereal
Nature's cereal is a bowl of fruit combined with coconut water and ice. Posting something that is essentially just fruit on the internet and calling it a dish is puzzling and definitely not worth the hype.
2. Chamoy Pickle
Perhaps the weirdest trend on the internet ever is the Chamoy Pickle. It combines pickles with the sweet, tangy, and spicy Mexican condiment called chamoy, which also gives it a vibrant red color. The trend has gotten a little out of hand with people adding all kinds of weird ingredients like candy and Fruit Roll-Ups.
SuckerPunch Gourmet on Unsplash
3. Smash Burgers
Thanks to the internet, smash burgers have become so popular that it's hard to find any other style of burger. Smash burgers are quick to cook, making them convenient for restaurants, but we don't think they compare to a juicy, red-in-the-center, thick hamburger.
4. Cereal Milk Lattes
Cereal milk lattes combine espresso with milk that's been infused with sweet breakfast cereal for a dose of nostalgic flavor. It ends up tasting nothing more than a very sweet latte.
5. Butter Boards
To create a butter board, place artisan butter pleasingly on a board and serve alongside bread. Bread and butter are always wonderful, but it's no charcuterie board and shouldn't be treated like one.
6. Corn Ribs
To create corn ribs, grill corn on the cob on the barbecue and smother it with barbecue sauce to mimic ribs. It's tasty, but it will never replace the real thing and is just disappointing if you're craving ribs.
7. Rainbow Bagels
Rainbow bagels are just plain bagels with food coloring to make them more Instagram-worthy. They're fun to look at, but we're not about food trends that are purely for aesthetics.
HeatherMarieKosur on Wikimedia
8. Cotton Candy Burritos
To make cotton candy burritos, flatten cotton candy into a disc and fill it with ice cream, candy, and sprinkles. You have to have a very extremely sweet tooth to find cotton candy burritos appealing.
9. Avocado Lattes
The popularity of avocado has really gotten out of hand, exemplified by the avocado latte. Mashed avocado is combined with frothed milk, and coffee is added to make this weird-tasting vegetal beverage.
10. Galaxy Desserts
Galaxy dessert is maximalism in sweet treats like cakes, cupcakes, and pastries. It usually involves a lot of sprinkles, colorful frosting, and edible sparkles. They're more visually appealing than tasty and usually involve way too much sugar for our taste.
KEEP ON READING
Happy Hour: The 20 Best Foods For Social Snacking
