That time your teen made dinner (thanks viral TikTok recipes!)

Lean into viral TikTok recipes ato get your teens cooking

There are many, many things teens won’t do.

They won’t hang up their towels. They won’t respond to a text that says “where are you?”. They won’t, under any circumstances, admit you were right.

But hand them one of those viral TikTok recipes that are basically just following a recipe but let’s not tell the kids that?

Suddenly you can’t keep them out of the kitchen. They’re in there cooking dinner for the family with actual enthusiasm. Probably filming every step of the way… but still a massive win.

Somewhere between the feta pasta trend of 2022 and those oddly mesmerising overnight baked oats doing the rounds lately, viral TikTok recipes have done what years of gentle encouragement could not: they’ve made cooking fun and current.

So let’s lean into it.

Why viral Tiktok recipes actually work for teens

There’s a reason your teen will scroll past your lovingly bookmarked slow-cooker butter chicken recipe but stop dead at a 30-second TikTok video of someone smashing burrata onto toast.

@cookingwithmarshmello

Burrata Pesto Toast #summer #burrata #recipe

♬ original sound – Cooking With Marshmello

Viral Tiktok recipes tick three very important boxes:

  • They’re quick. No teen has the patience for a 14-step method and, hello, don’t make them, ugh, read.
  • They’re visual. They can see exactly what to do.
  • Everyone’s making them. Which, let’s be honest, matters the most.

If “everyone” is making it, the teen’s gotta be making it too.

While their sudden enthusiasm in the kitchen feels like a one-off, it’s actually a brilliant entry point. While they’re busy making pizza dough out of two ingredients, they’re learning something very important about meal time.

Dinner doesn’t just appear out of nowhere. It takes planning, preparation and effort. Even when the meal starts as a 30 second viral recipe.

Maybe, just maybe, the making of dinner will be the making of them?

10 viral TikTok recipes that broke the internet

So, where to start with the teen dinner inspiration? These are the recipes that genuinely went big and for good reason. They’re simple, satisfying and very teen-friendly.

https://www.tiktok.com/@boredoflunch/video/7600228929709952278?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7631781175623648786

@justine_snacks

I like this one idk I’m in a silly goofy butter mood

♬ original sound – speed songs

Pick one and see if your teen is keen to make it. Just quietly, I’d be steering them clear of that pink sauce business.

10 social media cooks your teen might actually listen to

This is where the cooking magic really happens. These recipe creators are fun and accessible. And yes, a good chunk of them are Aussies, so the ingredients shouldn’t require a treasure hunt.

1. RecipeTin Eats

Tiktok @recipetineats and Insta @recipe_tin

Nagi is basically my bestie. Her recipes are foolproof and genuinely delicious and she just had to take the number one spot on this list. If I want anyone teaching my kids how to cook, it’s Nagi.

https://www.tiktok.com/@recipetineats/video/7533774341306174727?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

2. Nat’s What I Reckon

TikTok @natswhatIreckon and Insta @natswhatireckon

This guy, amirite? Edgy energy, sweary as fuck, zero patience for jar sauce. The teens are gonna love him.

3. Newt

Tiktok @newt

With almost 10 million TikTok followers, Newton Nguyen is a sensation. He’s sweet and makes good food, but I can’t honestly see the major appeal. Your teen will probably get it.

4. Tini

TikTok @tinekeyounger

Sweet ‘lil Tineke Younger shares no-fuss recipes with plenty of stories about her life with husband Antoine. She was breakout star on Season 2 of Gordon Ramsay’s Next Level Chef and really does know her stuff.

https://www.tiktok.com/@tinekeyounger/video/7442131137494928686?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

5. Eitan Bemath

TikTok @eitan and Insta @eitan

Young, energetic chef shares viral recipes, hacks, and restaurant-style dishes. This guy is super fun 

6. Steph Cooks Stuff

TikTok @stephcooksstuff and Insta @stephcooksstuff

Fun, bold and very shareable food. Steph de Sousa is such a warm, relatable person (despite her massive following and stints on Sunrise Kitchen) and I reckon the kids will think of this as being taught how to cook by their mum only better (not offended).

https://www.tiktok.com/@stephcooksstuff/video/7622754361793416464?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

7. Tasty

Tiktok @tasty and Instagram @buzzfeedtasty

The original viral food machine still delivers the goods.

8. Andy Cooks

TikTok @andy_cooks and Insta @andyhearnden

I looooooove Andy Hearnden. He’s a top professional chef who is so good at dumbing down technique for the rest of us. He explains the science behind the cooking and is just so engaging and fascinating that you could literally watch his channel like a TV show. But do get the kids to cook some of his recipes and learn, learn, learn!

@andy_cooks

Butter Chicken Ingredients Marinade 1 thumb size piece fresh ginger, finely grated 6 cloves garlic, finely grated 1 tsp ground turmeric 1½ tsp ground cumin 1½ tsp ground coriander 1 tsp garam masala 1 tsp kashmiri chilli powder 1 tsp sea salt Juice of 1 lemon 120ml greek yogurt 8 chicken thigh fillets, sliced kasoori methi and coriander leaves, for garnish Steamed Basmati rice and or naan to serve Sauce 2 tbs peanut oil 100g unsalted butter 1 red onion, finely diced 4 cardamom pods 2 dried bay leaves 3 whole cloves ½ tsp ground turmeric 1½ tsp ground cumin 1 tbsp garam masala 1 tsp kashmiri chilli powder 1½ tsp ground coriander Sea salt, to season 60g cashews 250ml (1 cup) water 400g can crushed tomatoes (or 6 fresh ripe tomatoes) 100ml thickened cream 1 – 2 tbsp caster sugar, to taste Method Step 1: Prep the marinade Mix the ginger and garlic together and set half aside for the sauce. Mix the other half with the turmeric, cumin, coriander, garam masala, chilli and salt in a large bowl. Stir in the lemon juice and yoghurt. Add the chicken and mix until well coated in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 3 hours to overnight. Step 2: Cook the sauce Heat half the butter and oil in a heavy based saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and reserved garlic and ginger paste. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes until the onion starts to soften. Add the cardamom, cloves and bay leaves and stir through to infuse the butter. Then add the turmeric, cumin, garam masala, chilli powder and coriander. Season with salt and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often. Stir in the cashews, and cook until starting to toast. Pour in the water and deglaze the pan, then add the tomatoes. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat and cook at a simmer for 20 minutes (add a little more water if the sauce becomes too dry). Remove the hard spices and discard, then transfer the sauce to a blender and puree until smooth and creamy. Return the sauce to the saucepan over a low heat. Stir through the remaining butter and the cream. Season to taste with the caster sugar. Step 3: Grill the chicken Preheat a BBQ grill to high heat. Cook the chicken slices for 5-6 minutes, turning to char well on both sides. Remove the chicken from the grill and add it to the sauce. Stir through over low heat for a few minutes, until heated hot. Serve the butter chicken over steamed rice, garnished with coriander and kasoori methi with some fresh naan bread on the side. #cooking #recipe #food #virla

♬ original sound – Daryl Hall & John Oates

9. Michael Finch

@cookingwithayeh

Michael was once a beauty guru sharing tips in full makeup glam. Now he’s sharing his favourite recipes with much the same sass. He won the Food Creator Of The Year at the 2024 Australian TikTok Awards so he’s definitely getting it right.

10. Catherine Zhang

TikTok @catherine.desserts and Insta 

We’re entering dessert territory here and very happy to be here.

https://www.tiktok.com/@catherine.desserts/video/7456263808554765576?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

How to make this work in real life

This isn’t really about viral TikTok recipes. It’s about meeting your teen where they are and nudging them towards where they need to be.

If that starts with TikTok pasta and ends with a kid who can cook themselves a decent meal, you’ve done very well indeed.

Even if your kitchen needs a lie-down afterwards.

Introduce them to a recipe (or ask them what their favourite is), then give them a night a week to make dinner or dessert for the family. Remind them to start small and let them know you’re not far away if they need any help.

Then step out of the kitchen and leave them to it! Don’t think about the fact that there will be a mysterious sheen of grease over every surface when they’re done (weren’t they making a salad?). Or that every spoon you’ve ever owned will be used. Or that the pile of dishes next to the sink indicates that your child has opened a restaurant with approximately 1000 covers.

They’re cooking. They’re cooking. THEY’RE COOKING. Thanks viral TikTok recipes!

Feature image by Mikhail Nilov

Bron Maxabella

Founder

Bron is the founder of Mumlyfe and is so happy to welcome you here.

Bron has been writing in the Australian parenting space as Maxabella for more than 10 years and is mum to three mostly happy kids and wife to one mostly happy husband. Mostly happy is a win, right?

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