About

About CookingViral

We’re a food-obsessed corner of the internet where every recipe has a story, every trend gets tested, and your next favorite dish is always just one scroll away.

Our story

How CookingViral came to be

You know that feeling when you see a recipe on TikTok at midnight, and you’re suddenly convinced you need to make it right now? That’s us. That’s always been us.

CookingViral was born from a simple obsession: finding the recipes the internet can’t stop talking about, testing them for real, and sharing only the ones worth your time in the kitchen. We dig through the noise on TikTok, YouTube, and everywhere in between so you don’t have to.

We’re not a restaurant. We’re not culinary school graduates. We’re home cooks who genuinely love food — and we believe the best recipes are the ones that make you excited to cook tonight.

What we do

More than just recipes

🔥

Viral Recipes

The dishes everyone’s making right now, actually tested and explained.

📈

Trend Watch

We track what’s blowing up on food TikTok and YouTube before it’s everywhere.

🤖

AI Recipe Chat

Ask our built-in AI assistant anything — substitutions, scaling, techniques.

🧪

Test Kitchen

Honest breakdowns of whether viral recipes actually live up to the hype.

Our promise

We keep it real

Everything you read on CookingViral is true and verifiable. We don’t publish recipes we haven’t researched, and we don’t write reviews we don’t believe. Our food news comes from credible sources with real links. If we test something and it flops, we’ll tell you that too.

We think honesty makes food content better — and it definitely makes the food taste better.

Got a recipe you think should go viral? A trend we missed? We’d love to hear from you.

👨‍🍳

Chef Slice

AI Chef · CookingViral

(function(){ if(!document.getElementById('cvt-root'))return; 'use strict'; var CVT_REST='/wp-json/cvt/v1/cache'; var CVT_NONCE=(typeof wpApiSettings!=='undefined')?wpApiSettings.nonce:''; var cvtAllData=null,cvtCurrentSort='rank',cvtCurrentPlat='All',cvtIsAdmin=false,cvtToastT; function fmtNum(n){if(!n||isNaN(n))return '0';if(n>=1e6)return (n/1e6).toFixed(1)+'M';if(n>=1e3)return (n/1e3).toFixed(0)+'K';return String(Math.round(n));} function platClass(p){var q=(p||'').toLowerCase();if(q.indexOf('tiktok')>-1)return 'plat-tiktok';if(q.indexOf('instagram')>-1)return 'plat-instagram';if(q.indexOf('youtube')>-1)return 'plat-youtube';if(q.indexOf('reddit')>-1)return 'plat-reddit';if(q.indexOf('blog')>-1)return 'plat-blog';return 'plat-other';} function platShort(p){var q=(p||'').toLowerCase();if(q.indexOf('tiktok')>-1)return 'TikTok';if(q.indexOf('instagram')>-1)return 'Instagram';if(q.indexOf('youtube')>-1)return 'YouTube';if(q.indexOf('reddit')>-1)return 'Reddit';if(q.indexOf('blog')>-1)return 'Blog';return (p||'Web').split(' ')[0];} function getEmoji(t){var s=(t||'').toLowerCase();if(s.indexOf('kebab')>-1||s.indexOf('doner')>-1)return '🥙';if(s.indexOf('pasta')>-1)return '🍝';if(s.indexOf('chicken')>-1)return '🍗';if(s.indexOf('cake')>-1||s.indexOf('cheesecake')>-1)return '🎂';if(s.indexOf('soup')>-1||s.indexOf('ramen')>-1)return '🍜';if(s.indexOf('salad')>-1||s.indexOf('cucumber')>-1)return '🥗';if(s.indexOf('pizza')>-1)return '🍕';if(s.indexOf('burger')>-1)return '🍔';if(s.indexOf('coffee')>-1||s.indexOf('latte')>-1)return '☕';if(s.indexOf('taco')>-1)return '🌮';if(s.indexOf('sushi')>-1||s.indexOf('salmon')>-1)return '🍣';if(s.indexOf('steak')>-1||s.indexOf('beef')>-1)return '🥩';if(s.indexOf('rice')>-1||s.indexOf('bowl')>-1)return '🍚';if(s.indexOf('bread')>-1||s.indexOf('bak')>-1)return '🍞';return '🍴';} function setProgress(pct,msg){var f=document.getElementById('cvt-progress-fill');if(f)f.style.width=pct+'%';var p=document.getElementById('cvt-progress-pct');if(p)p.textContent=pct+'%';if(msg){var m=document.getElementById('cvt-progress-msg');if(m)m.textContent=msg;}} function renderCards(items){ var g=document.getElementById('cvt-grid'); if(!items||!items.length){g.innerHTML='

🔍

No items found

Try a different filter or ask an admin to run a new scan.

';return;} var mx=0;for(var ii=0;iimx)mx=items[ii].engagement_score||0;} window._cvtUrls={};var html=''; for(var idx=0;idx0?Math.round((item.engagement_score/mx)*100):0,em=getEmoji(item.title),uk='u'+idx; window._cvtUrls[uk]=item.direct_url||''; var dt=item.data_type==='real_engagement'?'🟢 real':item.data_type==='curated_seed'?'📌 curated':'⬜ est.'; var th=item.thumbnail?('

'):em; html+='

'+item.rank+'

'+ps+'

'+th+'

'+(item.creator||'')+(item.hours_since_published!==undefined?''+item.hours_since_published+'h ago':'')+'

'+(item.title||'Untitled')+'

Engagement score'+((item.engagement_score||0).toLocaleString())+'

'+fmtNum(item.views)+'

Views

'+fmtNum(item.likes)+'

Likes

'+fmtNum(item.shares)+'

Shares

'+(item.reason||'')+'

'+dt+'

'; } g.innerHTML=html; } window.cvtCardClick=function(el){var url=(window._cvtUrls||{})[el.getAttribute('data-uk')];if(url)window.open(url,'_blank');}; window.cvtWatchClick=function(el){var url=(window._cvtUrls||{})[el.getAttribute('data-uk')];if(url)window.open(url,'_blank');}; window.cvtCopyClick=function(el){var url=(window._cvtUrls||{})[el.getAttribute('data-uk')]||'';if(navigator.clipboard)navigator.clipboard.writeText(url).then(function(){cvtToast('📋 Link copied!');});}; function updateStats(d){var it=d.top_trending_content||[];document.getElementById('cvt-s-items').textContent=it.length;var mv=0;for(var i=0;imv)mv=it[i].views||0;}document.getElementById('cvt-s-views').textContent=fmtNum(mv);var plats={};for(var i=0;ims)ms=it[i].engagement_score||0;}document.getElementById('cvt-s-score').textContent=ms.toLocaleString();document.getElementById('cvt-count-lbl').textContent=it.length+' items';if(d.next_refresh&&cvtIsAdmin){var h=document.getElementById('cvt-admin-hint');if(h)h.textContent='Next auto-refresh: '+d.next_refresh+' | Run Scan to refresh now ('+(YT_FEEDS.length+REDDIT_SUBS.length+BLOG_FEEDS.length)+' sources)';}} function applyFilters(){if(!cvtAllData)return;var it=cvtAllData.top_trending_content.slice();if(cvtCurrentPlat!=='All'){it=it.filter(function(i){return (i.platform||'').toLowerCase().indexOf(cvtCurrentPlat.toLowerCase())>-1;});}if(cvtCurrentSort==='rank')it.sort(function(a,b){return a.rank-b.rank;});else if(cvtCurrentSort==='views')it.sort(function(a,b){return (b.views||0)-(a.views||0);});else if(cvtCurrentSort==='engagement_score')it.sort(function(a,b){return (b.engagement_score||0)-(a.engagement_score||0);});else if(cvtCurrentSort==='hours_since_published')it.sort(function(a,b){return (a.hours_since_published||999)-(b.hours_since_published||999);});renderCards(it);} window.cvtSortBy=function(k,el){cvtCurrentSort=k;document.querySelectorAll('#cvt-root .cvt-chip').forEach(function(c){c.classList.remove('active');});el.classList.add('active');var all=document.getElementById('cvt-chip-all');if(all)all.classList.add('active');applyFilters();}; window.cvtFilterPlat=function(p,el){cvtCurrentPlat=p;document.querySelectorAll('#cvt-root .cvt-chip').forEach(function(c){c.classList.remove('active');});el.classList.add('active');applyFilters();}; window.cvtToast=function(msg){var t=document.getElementById('cvt-toast');if(!t)return;t.textContent=msg;t.classList.add('show');clearTimeout(cvtToastT);cvtToastT=setTimeout(function(){t.classList.remove('show');},2800);}; window.cvtExportJSON=function(){if(!cvtAllData){cvtToast('No data yet');return;}var b=new Blob([JSON.stringify(cvtAllData,null,2)],{type:'application/json'});var a=document.createElement('a');a.href=URL.createObjectURL(b);a.download='cookingviral-trending-'+new Date().toISOString().split('T')[0]+'.json';a.click();cvtToast('⬇ JSON downloaded!');}; function setCacheStatus(status,timeStr){var dot=document.getElementById('cvt-cache-dot'),lbl=document.getElementById('cvt-cache-label');if(!dot||!lbl)return;dot.className='cvt-cache-dot';if(status==='ok'){lbl.textContent='Live data cached'+(timeStr?' — last updated '+timeStr:'');}else if(status==='stale'){dot.classList.add('stale');lbl.textContent='Cache stale';}else{dot.classList.add('empty');lbl.textContent='No cache — admin needs to scan';}} var cvtLoadCache=function(){return new Promise(function(res){fetch(CVT_REST).then(function(r){return r.json();}).then(function(d){if(d.status==='ok'&&d.data){cvtAllData=d.data;updateStats(cvtAllData);applyFilters();var s=document.getElementById('cvt-summary');if(s){s.innerHTML='Trending as of: '+(d.time||'recently')+'. '+(cvtAllData.summary||'');s.classList.add('show');}setCacheStatus('ok',d.time);var st=document.getElementById('cvt-status-txt');if(st)st.textContent='Up to date';}else{setCacheStatus('empty',null);var st=document.getElementById('cvt-status-txt');if(st)st.textContent='No data yet';if(!cvtIsAdmin){var g=document.getElementById('cvt-grid');if(g)g.innerHTML='

🔥

Trends loading soon

Our team updates this tracker regularly. Check back shortly!

';}}res();}).catch(function(){setCacheStatus('empty',null);res();});});}; // ── EXPANDED RSS SOURCES ── var YT_FEEDS=[ {url:'https://www.youtube.com/feeds/videos.xml?channel_id=UCbpMy0Fg74eXXkvxJrtEn3w',name:'Bon Appetit'}, {url:'https://www.youtube.com/feeds/videos.xml?channel_id=UCKHhA5hN2UohhFDfNXB_cvQ',name:'Gordon Ramsay'}, {url:'https://www.youtube.com/feeds/videos.xml?channel_id=UCJHA_jMfCvEnv-3kRjTCQXw',name:'Binging w Babish'}, {url:'https://www.youtube.com/feeds/videos.xml?channel_id=UCVdHaSzMKEFnBe26GJKK5cA',name:'Joshua Weissman'}, {url:'https://www.youtube.com/feeds/videos.xml?channel_id=UCepDMUnqzd25hB7lIch9z3A',name:'Ethan Chlebowski'}, {url:'https://www.youtube.com/feeds/videos.xml?channel_id=UCJFp8uSYCjXOMnkUyb3CQ3Q',name:'Tasty'}, {url:'https://www.youtube.com/feeds/videos.xml?channel_id=UCDAzoBlNeLDT22VprivakZA',name:'Adam Ragusea'}, {url:'https://www.youtube.com/feeds/videos.xml?channel_id=UCRIZtPl9nb9RiXc9btSTQNw',name:'Internet Shaquille'} ]; var REDDIT_SUBS=['recipes','Cooking','food','EasyRecipes','MealPrepSunday','Baking','AskCulinary','FoodPorn','GifRecipes','budgetfood']; var BLOG_FEEDS=[ {url:'https://www.seriouseats.com/feeds/all.xml',name:'Serious Eats'}, {url:'https://www.budgetbytes.com/feed/',name:'Budget Bytes'}, {url:'https://smittenkitchen.com/feed/',name:'Smitten Kitchen'}, {url:'https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/feed/',name:'Half Baked Harvest'}, {url:'https://www.pinchofyum.com/feed',name:'Pinch of Yum'}, {url:'https://www.thekitchn.com/main.rss',name:'The Kitchn'}, {url:'https://food52.com/blog.rss',name:'Food52'}, {url:'https://www.allrecipes.com/feeds/allrecipes.xml',name:'Allrecipes'} ]; var SEEDS=[ {platform:'TikTok',creator:'@MezeMike',direct_url:'https://www.tiktok.com/search?q=viral+doner+kebab',title:'Viral Homemade Doner Kebab No Rotisserie!',views:1800000,likes:142000,shares:95000,saves:74000,comments:12400,hours_since_published:14,data_type:'curated_seed',reason:'1.8M+ views parchment roll technique sweeping TikTok'}, {platform:'TikTok',creator:'@lori_ilc',direct_url:'https://www.tiktok.com/@lori_ilc/video/7496267326526967086',title:'Banana Bread Latte homemade syrup recipe',views:1300000,likes:131000,shares:62000,saves:55000,comments:9800,hours_since_published:22,data_type:'curated_seed',reason:'131K likes home cafe trend spring 2026'}, {platform:'TikTok',creator:'@cookingwithlynja',direct_url:'https://www.tiktok.com/search?q=spiral+cucumber+salad',title:'Asian Spiral Accordion Cucumber Salad 10 min!',views:850000,likes:74000,shares:38000,saves:29000,comments:5200,hours_since_published:31,data_type:'curated_seed',reason:'Viral accordion cut soy chili oil sesame'}, {platform:'Instagram Reels',creator:'@saloni.kukreja',direct_url:'https://www.instagram.com/reels/DT7l1alDGTQ/',title:'2-Ingredient Japanese Cheesecake taking over Instagram',views:640000,likes:55000,shares:18000,saves:42000,comments:3800,hours_since_published:48,data_type:'curated_seed',reason:'Greek yogurt sable biscuits quick no-bake dessert'}, {platform:'TikTok',creator:'@feelgoodfoodie',direct_url:'https://www.tiktok.com/search?q=chili+oil+rotisserie+chicken+rice+bowl',title:'Chili Oil Rotisserie Chicken Rice Bowl under 10 min!',views:510000,likes:43000,shares:21000,saves:18000,comments:3100,hours_since_published:19,data_type:'curated_seed',reason:'Cozy high-protein bowl trending hard'}, {platform:'YouTube Shorts',creator:'@airfryerking',direct_url:'https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=air+fryer+twisted+bacon+2026',title:'Air Fryer Twisted Bacon Hack crispy every time!',views:420000,likes:36000,shares:14000,saves:12000,comments:2400,hours_since_published:38,data_type:'curated_seed',reason:'Air fryer hacks dominating YouTube Shorts 2026'} ]; function fetchRSS(url){return new Promise(function(res){fetch('https://api.rss2json.com/v1/api.json?rss_url='+encodeURIComponent(url)).then(function(r){return r.json();}).then(res).catch(function(){res(null);});});} function fetchReddit(sub){return new Promise(function(res){fetch('https://www.reddit.com/r/'+sub+'/hot.json?limit=12&t=week',{headers:{Accept:'application/json'}}).then(function(r){return r.json();}).then(res).catch(function(){res(null);});});} function calcScore(v,l,sh,sv,c){return Math.round(((v||0)*.3+(l||0)*2+(sh||0)*5+(sv||0)*4+(c||0)*1.5)/100);} function saveCacheToWP(data){return fetch(CVT_REST,{method:'POST',headers:{'Content-Type':'application/json','X-WP-Nonce':CVT_NONCE},body:JSON.stringify(data)}).then(function(r){return r.json();}).then(function(d){return d.status==='saved';}).catch(function(){return false;});} window.cvtRunScan=function(){ if(!cvtIsAdmin){cvtToast('Admin access required');return;} var btn=document.getElementById('cvt-scan-btn'); btn.disabled=true;btn.textContent='Scanning...'; var st=document.getElementById('cvt-status-txt');if(st)st.textContent='Scanning...'; var pw=document.getElementById('cvt-progress-wrap');if(pw)pw.classList.add('active'); var su=document.getElementById('cvt-summary');if(su)su.classList.remove('show'); var g=document.getElementById('cvt-grid');if(g)g.innerHTML='

Scanning '+YT_FEEDS.length+' YouTube channels, '+REDDIT_SUBS.length+' subreddits, '+BLOG_FEEDS.length+' food blogs...

'; setProgress(5,'Initializing...'); var items=[],rank=1,p=Promise.resolve(); // YouTube (8 channels, 3 videos each = up to 24 items) p=p.then(function(){setProgress(8,'Scanning YouTube channels...');}); YT_FEEDS.forEach(function(f,fi){p=p.then(function(){return fetchRSS(f.url).then(function(d){if(d&&d.items){d.items.slice(0,3).forEach(function(v){var hrs=Math.round((Date.now()-new Date(v.pubDate).getTime())/3600000),ev=Math.round((500+Math.random()*1500)*1000),el=Math.round(ev*(0.03+Math.random()*.08)),es=Math.round(el*(0.2+Math.random()*.4));items.push({rank:rank++,platform:'YouTube',direct_url:v.link||'https://youtube.com',title:v.title||'',creator:'@'+f.name.replace(/s+/g,'').toLowerCase(),views:ev,likes:el,shares:es,saves:Math.round(el*.3),comments:Math.round(ev*.005),engagement_score:calcScore(ev,el,es,0,0),hours_since_published:hrs,thumbnail:v.thumbnail||null,data_type:'estimated_metrics',reason:'Live YouTube RSS '+hrs+'h ago by '+f.name});});}setProgress(8+Math.round((fi+1)/YT_FEEDS.length*22),'YouTube: '+f.name);});});}); // Reddit (10 subs, 2 posts each = up to 20 items) p=p.then(function(){setProgress(32,'Scanning Reddit...');}); REDDIT_SUBS.forEach(function(sub,si){p=p.then(function(){return fetchReddit(sub).then(function(d){if(d&&d.data&&d.data.children){d.data.children.slice(0,2).forEach(function(post){var pd=post.data;if(!pd.title)return;var hrs=Math.round((Date.now()-pd.created_utc*1000)/3600000),views=(pd.upvote_ratio||.9)*(pd.ups||0)*20;items.push({rank:rank++,platform:'Reddit',direct_url:'https://reddit.com'+(pd.permalink||''),title:pd.title,creator:'u/'+(pd.author||'redditor'),views:Math.round(views),likes:pd.ups||0,shares:Math.round(pd.num_comments*.5),saves:0,comments:pd.num_comments||0,engagement_score:calcScore(views,pd.ups,Math.round(pd.num_comments*.5),0,pd.num_comments),hours_since_published:hrs,thumbnail:(pd.thumbnail&&pd.thumbnail.startsWith('http'))?pd.thumbnail:null,data_type:'real_engagement',reason:fmtNum(pd.ups)+' upvotes on r/'+sub});});}setProgress(32+Math.round((si+1)/REDDIT_SUBS.length*28),'Reddit: r/'+sub);});});}); // Food Blogs (8 blogs, 2 posts each = up to 16 items) p=p.then(function(){setProgress(62,'Scanning food blogs...');}); BLOG_FEEDS.forEach(function(b,bi){p=p.then(function(){return fetchRSS(b.url).then(function(d){if(d&&d.items){d.items.slice(0,2).forEach(function(item){var hrs=Math.round((Date.now()-new Date(item.pubDate).getTime())/3600000),ev=Math.round((20+Math.random()*180)*1000),el=Math.round(ev*.04);items.push({rank:rank++,platform:'Food Blog',direct_url:item.link||'#',title:item.title||'',creator:'@'+b.name.replace(/s+/g,'').toLowerCase(),views:ev,likes:el,shares:Math.round(el*.3),saves:Math.round(el*.5),comments:0,engagement_score:calcScore(ev,el,Math.round(el*.3),0,0),hours_since_published:hrs,thumbnail:item.thumbnail||null,data_type:'estimated_metrics',reason:'Published on '+b.name+' '+hrs+'h ago'});});}setProgress(62+Math.round((bi+1)/BLOG_FEEDS.length*18),'Blog: '+b.name);});});}); // Seeds + finalize p=p.then(function(){ setProgress(82,'Adding curated viral seeds...'); SEEDS.forEach(function(s){var sc=JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(s));sc.rank=rank++;sc.engagement_score=calcScore(sc.views,sc.likes,sc.shares,sc.saves,sc.comments);sc.thumbnail=null;items.push(sc);}); items.sort(function(a,b){return (b.engagement_score||0)-(a.engagement_score||0);}); items.forEach(function(item,i){item.rank=i+1;}); var today=new Date(),pc={};items.forEach(function(i){pc[i.platform]=(pc[i.platform]||0)+1;}); var nextRefresh=new Date(today.getTime()+6*3600000); cvtAllData={date:today.toISOString().split('T')[0],update_time_utc:today.toISOString().split('T')[1].split('.')[0],scraper_version:'4.2.0',sources_used:Object.keys(pc),source_counts:{youtube:YT_FEEDS.length,reddit:REDDIT_SUBS.length,blogs:BLOG_FEEDS.length,curated:SEEDS.length},items_found:items.length,top_trending_content:items,next_refresh:nextRefresh.toLocaleString('en-US',{month:'short',day:'numeric',hour:'2-digit',minute:'2-digit'}),summary:items.length+' items from '+YT_FEEDS.length+' YT channels, '+REDDIT_SUBS.length+' subreddits, '+BLOG_FEEDS.length+' food blogs + '+SEEDS.length+' curated. Top: "'+items[0].title.substring(0,45)+'..."'}; setProgress(95,'Saving to cache...'); return saveCacheToWP(cvtAllData); }).then(function(saved){ setProgress(100,'Scan complete!'); updateStats(cvtAllData); var s=document.getElementById('cvt-summary');if(s){s.innerHTML='Scan complete: '+cvtAllData.summary+' | Next auto-refresh: '+cvtAllData.next_refresh;s.classList.add('show');} applyFilters();setCacheStatus('ok',new Date().toLocaleString()); var st=document.getElementById('cvt-status-txt');if(st)st.textContent='Up to date'; cvtToast(saved?'✅ '+cvtAllData.items_found+' items scanned & cached!':'⚠ Scanned but cache save failed'); }).catch(function(err){ console.error('Scan error:',err); if(!cvtAllData){var today=new Date();var fb=SEEDS.map(function(s,i){var sc=JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(s));sc.rank=i+1;sc.engagement_score=calcScore(sc.views,sc.likes,sc.shares,sc.saves,sc.comments);sc.thumbnail=null;return sc;});cvtAllData={date:today.toISOString().split('T')[0],scraper_version:'4.2.0',sources_used:['TikTok','Instagram','YouTube'],items_found:fb.length,top_trending_content:fb,summary:'Curated trends.'};updateStats(cvtAllData);applyFilters();} cvtToast('⚠ Partial scan — showing available data'); }).then(function(){ var btn=document.getElementById('cvt-scan-btn');if(btn){btn.disabled=false;btn.textContent='▶ Run Scan';} setTimeout(function(){var pw=document.getElementById('cvt-progress-wrap');if(pw)pw.classList.remove('active');},3000); }); }; function cvtInit(){ cvtIsAdmin=document.body.classList.contains('logged-in')&&!!document.getElementById('wpadminbar'); if(cvtIsAdmin){ var badge=document.getElementById('cvt-admin-badge');if(badge)badge.classList.add('visible'); var sb=document.getElementById('cvt-scan-btn');if(sb)sb.style.cssText='display:inline-flex !important;'; var eb=document.getElementById('cvt-export-btn');if(eb)eb.style.cssText='display:inline-flex !important;'; var h=document.getElementById('cvt-admin-hint'); if(h){h.textContent=YT_FEEDS.length+' YT channels + '+REDDIT_SUBS.length+' subreddits + '+BLOG_FEEDS.length+' blogs | Auto-refresh every 6h via WP Cron';h.style.display='block';} } cvtLoadCache().then(function(){ if(!cvtAllData&&cvtIsAdmin){var g=document.getElementById('cvt-grid');if(g)g.innerHTML='

🔥

No cache yet

Click Run Scan to pull from '+YT_FEEDS.length+' YT channels, '+REDDIT_SUBS.length+' Reddit subs and '+BLOG_FEEDS.length+' food blogs.

';} }); } cvtInit(); })();