Home Cooking Trends of 2020

Home Cooking in 2020

Let's start by exploring what we are seeing happening now in Allrecipes kitchens. We know more people are cooking than ever: Nearly three-quarters of Allrecipes cooks say they're using more new recipes versus two years ago. More than half of these Allrecipes cooks are preparing new recipes weekly.

Across all ages of home cooks, the criteria for a good recipe remains the same: taste, convenience, and ease are most important. (We hear you!) But we've seen a rise in the importance of healthfulness and familiarity with ingredients to Allrecipes cooks.

In this research, we found seven key areas of insights. Here, we explore where we are today, with the ingredients and foods you likely have in your fridge as you read this. And then we look at where we're headed, with an eye toward things we expect you'll be reaching for sooner rather than later.

Ready? Let's get started.

Trend: Appetite for Adventure and Cultural Heritage

Cooks today are arguably the most informed generation yet when it comes to access to unlimited resources across magazines, the Internet, TV, and smart devices that are rich with recipes, ingredient information, and cooking instructions. The increased curiosity and connectedness around food is driving a strong appetite for adventure and cultural heritage when it comes to our food choices.

Indeed, we see in our growth of cultural recipes from around the world that cooks want to travel with their taste buds. They're excited to prepare traditional dishes from many global cuisines. This trend is being driven by a variety of factors including: the increasingly cultural diversity, young parents prioritizing passing along cultural heritage to their families, and growing excitement among cooks to see the world through foods.

Now: Filipino Cuisine

Food from the Philippines — which blends Asian, Latin, American, and island culinary influences for a delicious flavor all its own — is trending, in restaurants and home kitchens. Indeed, our research showed that Filipino cuisine has seen a significant popularity growth in the last year, with Filipino recipe views growing by a whopping 32 percent year over year. Why? Perhaps it's because most of the dishes are gluten-free. Favorites like Chicken Adobo and Caldereta (a Filipino beef recipe) fit into that category. It may be because many of the dishes are prepared ahead of time, so they lend themselves to popular meal-prep cooking.

It might also be because families across the U.S. are finding themselves drawn to cultural or ancestral elements of the island nation. The Filipino Kamayan, a communal feast laid out on banana leaves, encourages eating with your hands, connecting to your dishes, and experiencing flavors and foods in close proximity.

Keep Reading: Here's the Filipino Trick for Measuring Water for Rice

Next: Indian Cuisine

You don't have to tell anyone who loves Indian curry or any of our most popular Indian recipes why we predict Indian food will be the next trend in global cuisines for the home cook. Indian foods align well with vegan, vegetarian, and flexitarian diets. Many are gluten-free, and they also lend themselves beautifully to preparation in a slow cooker or Instant Pot.

Many traditional Indian dishes also employ ingredients, like turmeric, that are trending and healthful. Lentils, chickpeas, spinach, and kale are also on on the frequently-used ingredient list.

Keep Reading: Spicy Secrets for Making Better Indian Food at Home

Shifting Shopping Behaviors

As cooks become comfortable with preparing new cuisines, they are encountering and embracing new ingredients. This shifting behavior is driving increased shopping of grocery channels, such as ethnic grocers and online grocers, as cooks seek to find ingredients that may not be in their pantry or conventional supermarket.

In fact, more than one-third of Allrecipes cooks say an "interest in experimenting with new foods" is extremely important to them when choosing a new recipe. And nearly a majority of Allrecipes cooks say they are always looking to add new flavors to their foods and like to try foods they haven't eaten before.

These cooks shared with us their favorite ingredients, and then we're sharing the things we see heading for home cooks's kitchens very soon.

Now: Pork Belly

Pork belly, a boneless piece of meat which comes from the pig's midsection, has long been considered a delicacy in Asian cooking, but today, it's been embraced by home cooks of all stripes. Over the last year, Allrecipes has seen more than 100 percent growth year over year in searches for pork belly recipes, as new ingredients inspired by global cuisines are finding a new life in home kitchens.

Chef John's Crispy Pork Belly is a wonderful introductory recipe if you've never cooked with pork belly yourself, but you'll find it in Asian favorites like Dong Po (Chinese Pork Belly) and Thit Ko (Caramelized Pork Belly).

Next: Mexican Chorizo

If you thought the search for recipes with pork belly was impressive, you'll be blown away by the increased search for recipes with Mexican chorizo. In the last year, we've seen a nearly 300 percent growth in search for recipes that use the spicy ground meat sausage.

Now: Chipotle

New global flavors are extending beyond traditional boundaries. Chipotle, for example, has been a hot flavor for several years. It's influence is felt most heavily in Mexican cuisine, but really, there's no where chipotle won't go — burgers, meatloaf, hummus.

Next: Harissa

But coming to your kitchen soon will be harissa, a spicy pepper sauce traditionally served North African and Moroccan recipes. Harissa, similar to chipotle, offers an easy way to add heat and flavor to any number of dishes.

It's likewise very versatile, easily going in sauces, on eggs, in soups and stews, or swirled into dips. Bonus: It's gluten-free, which makes it a no-brainer for cooks who prepare food for a variety of dietary needs.

Now: Korean Fried Chicken

New flavors and ingredients in the home cook's kitchen and pantry are driving twists on classic American dishes. Korean Fried Chicken, which moved from food trucks to brick-and-mortar restaurants to home kitchens, has seen year over year growth with Allrecipes cooks.

Next: Peruvian Chicken

Pollo Campero, or "country chicken," is fueling excitement for the emergence of Peruvian chicken in home kitchens. This world's-largest Latin chicken chain boasts a dedicated following, and it gains new ones daily.

Peruvian chicken is made using a wet spice rub that imparts a strong spiced flavor, but it's also has very little to no sugar, which makes it ideal for low-carb and low-sugar eaters.

Trend: Experiential Eating on the Rise

At gatherings today, food is moving beyond the buffets, kitchen counters, and dining rooms to instead become a defining part of the party's conversation and ambiance. Food and cooking where the guests get involved is a growing entertaining format.

Factors driving the trend include: Lessens the load for the host, food becomes a growing part of the conversation and entertainment, guests more easily tailor the dish to match their flavor and dietary preferences, and more home owners installing elaborate outdoor cooking areas that allow guests to cook.

Ideas of Entertaining Are Changing

Entertaining is becoming less formal, less structured, and less planned. Home cooks are excited to bring family and friends together for all types of holidays and smallidays. But as with weeknight meals, Allrecipes cooks prefer entertaining be easy instead of elaborate. They want to spend more time with their guests instead of cooking, serving, and preparing food.

As such, most hosts are finding ways where guests are allowed — and even encouraged — to contribute to the food at the gathering. Potluck-style gatherings make entertaining less work, more fun, and more affordable. It also afford cooks a chance to try new recipes. In fact, three-quarters of Allrecipes cooks say when they host or attend a potluck, they bring a new recipe to the table.

Now: Pellet Smokers

Pellet smokers, such as the Traeger Grill, are easy to control even for novice cooks, and many are now equipped with Wi-Fi, allowing easier and better control and monitoring. Allrecipes cooks searched for smoker recipes more frequently in the last 12 months. Recipes like Smoked Chicken Hot Wings and smoked turkey are driving the trend, but smoked pork roasts and smoked salmon are the top protein choices for most cooks on Allrecipes.

Next: Outdoor Griddles

Allrecipes cooks have been searching for recipes cooked on a griddle more in the last year. And it's no wonder — outdoor griddles, often part of elaborate outdoor kitchens, are a great way to cook nearly any meal of the day and for a crowd. From bacon, eggs, and pancakes at breakfast to griddle cheesesteaks, burgers, and brats at lunch and dinner, the broad cooking space allows cooks to prepare a variety of foods for their friends and family.

Now: Hot Chocolate

More people are hosting outdoor parties across three or even four of the seasons. Hot beverages, something to keep everyone lingering outside a bit longer when the temps might be a bit chilly, are up in search among Allrecipes cooks.

Hot chocolate, a family-friendly hot beverage, is an always popular option. In the last year, searches for homemade hot chocolate recipes have been on the rise. Peak month for hot cocoa making is December, but we're even seeing folks searching in May.

Next: Champurrado and Atole

Champurrado and Atole, both authentic Mexican beverages, are quickly rising in popularity among Allrecipes cooks. These beverages, inspired by the broader interest in global cuisine, are easily customized.

Champurrado is served more commonly, as Atole is considered a Christmas beverage. But champurrado can feature a variety of flavors, like peanut butter, orange zest, chocolate, and more.

Trend: Let's Go Grazing

If you find yourself having snacks for supper, hosting drink-and-nibble gatherings rather than dinner parties, or turning fridge scraps into cheese boards on the regular, you're part of the grazing trend.

It's built on our love of snacking and variety, a move toward more casual and inclusive dining and the busy pace of modern life. Grazing gives us permission to keep moving, to choose our own dinner destines, and to enjoy a little bit of lots of different things.

Finger Foods Take Flight

Finger foods are among the fastest growing recipe categories for Allrecipes cooks. This type of dinner option allows for more informal eating — while watching TV, standing in the kitchen, driving in the car.

Views for finger food recipes aligned with dinner were up over 600 percent year over year. But finger foods aligned with breakfast — think mini quiches, ham and cheese sandwiches, and donut-inspired muffins — were up over 700 percent in searches in the last year.

Now: Asian Rolls

Spring rolls, lumpia, egg rolls — they've found their way from restaurant appetizer menus to home kitchens thanks in large part to familiarity with the ingredients and methods used to cook these classic finger foods.

Next: Arepas and Empanadas

Arepas, a popular type of South American street food, is regularly made in homes, particularly in Colombia and Venezuela. But now, Allrecipes cooks are welcoming the stuffed cornmeal cakes into their kitchens as part of the trend of finger foods that are ideal for dinner.

Similarly, empanadas are becoming more and more popular. The baked or fried hand pies, which are often filled with beans, chicken, cheese, and other bits of veggies, have seen an increase in searches among Allrecipes cooks.

Now: Easy Dishes Using Refrigerated Pizza Crust

Refrigerated pizza dough makes for a quick crust for any number of dishes. The convenient short-cut ingredient is especially handy for appetizers, from Pizza Dough Pretzels to calzone-style pizza rings. The time-consuming steps of making, rising, and waiting for homemade dough are done for you, which is why it's been such a popular ingredient for so many Allrecipes cooks in recent years.

Next: Easy Dishes and Desserts Made With Puff Pastry

Puff pastry is an elegant but almost entirely too easy ingredient that's perfect for putting finishing crusts on dinners or turning humble snacks and appetizers into show-stopping nibbles.

Allrecipes cooks are drawn to the elevated appeal of puff pastry for appetizers — and the fact is still has a high level of convenience. You can also get very creative with puff pastry and make fun shapes. Our Nutella Pastry Christmas Tree is alway popular around the holidays.

Trend: Nutrient-Rich Foods

Food and health always meet at a crossroads, and perhaps now more than ever before. Cooks are increasingly making dietary choices to manage or boost their health for conditions such as heart health, diabetes, brain functions, cancer prevention, digestive function, and more.

Nearly 6 in 10 Allrecipes cooks say they are cooking more often from "healthy" recipes versus two years ago. And almost half of Allrecipes cooks say they're working hard to make small, permanent changes in their eating for a healthier lifestyle.

Quality Over Quantity

Allrecipes cooks report they are placing a keen eye on nutrient-dense foods that deliver benefits above their weight class. This includes ingredients that contain fiber, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, and high amounts of vitamins.

In fact, more than half of Allrecipes cooks say they're paying closer attention to specific foods and ingredients, and they're also actively seeking to avoid "bad" foods. These new, healthful ingredients also bring Allrecipes cooks to make new recipes.

In short, Allrecipes cooks are being very deliberate in their food choices as they look to specific ingredients and nutritional criteria to help them manage or prevent chronic disease.

Now: Turmeric

Turmeric is valued for its anti-inflammatory properties, and it's most commonly showing up in searches on Allrecipes for turmeric milk, tikka masala, and chicken biryani.

Next: Tamarind

Tamarind is key ingredient in southeast Asian and South American cuisines. This fruit produces a brown, edible paste that has a sweet-sour but rich flavor. It's used a lot in desserts, but it's also in iconic dishes like Pad Thai, Tamarind Chicken, and Tamarind Fish Curry.

The health benefits of tamarind have been well-studied, and they include its ability to reduce inflammation throughout the body, improve vision, boost respiratory health, heal skin conditions, and improve the digestive system.

Now: Sweet Potatoes

The humble sweet potato can thank the rise of the Paleo, Mediterranean, and Whole30 diets for its boosted interest in the last few years. View of sweet potato recipes that match these diet styles have been growing in popularity.

But sweet potatoes are especially good ingredients for several of the most popular appliances of today, from the Instant Pot to the air fryer. They provide, no matter the dish, a hint of natural sweetness without the need to add refined sugar.

Next: Plantains

Like the sweet potato, plantains can thank the Paleo and Whole30 diets for their increasing popularity. Though they are technically fruit (and look strikingly similar to bananas), plantains are more savory than sweet. You'll find them as plantain chips before you'll find them in a dessert.

Plantains, like potatoes, can be mashed, sliced, fried, diced, sautéed, and just about anything else you can think of. They're more popular in Caribbean and Latin American cooking, but their versatility is helping more home cooks warm up to the possibility of cooking with this unique ingredient.

Now: Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are popular in desserts and snacks, and they happen to be one of the richest sources of antioxidants. What's more, reasons for eating chia seeds include the facts they're rich in fiber, high in protein, and pack plenty of omega-3 fatty acids, one of the few vegetarian-friendly foods for this vital heart-healthy fat.

The good news of chia seeds has clearly spread, as searches among Allrecipes cooks for the tiny seeds was up in the last 12 months.

Next: Hemp Seeds

Hemp is one of the healthiest plants on the planet. It is naturally resistant to pests, so it doesn't require harmful pesticides, even when grown on a commercial scale.

As a food, hemp seeds have an abundance of health benefits. They supply a good amount of protein and healthy fats. They're also packed with manganese, vitamin E, and magnesium, and they're high in antioxidants.

Nearly 1 in 5 Allrecipes cooks say they're now cooking with hemp seeds or chia seeds and have them on hand in their pantry at all times. Recipes like hemp seed hummus and Chocolate Hemp Protein Shake are spurring popularity for the tiny seeds.

Now: Kidney Beans

Dried and canned beans are a workhorse in most home kitchens. They go from soups and stews to burritos, enchiladas, and grain sides with ease. Allrecipes cooks are specifically seeking out kidney bean recipes in recent months, as the high-fiber, protein-filled bean is a great option for cooks looking to bulk up meals without meat or add nutrients to every day dishes like Mexican Bean Salad and Indian Tacos.

Next: Lentils

Lentils are small and quite unremarkable on their surface, but once you cook with them, you'll fully recognize their culinary super powers. Diets such as vegan, vegetarian, Mediterranean, and Whole30 seek out lentils as a protein-rich, meat-free alternative.

What's more, global cuisines frequently call on lentils. Moroccan, Mediterranean, and Indian recipes in particular are rich with lentil recipes.

Trend: Foods That Serve Up a Social Statement

Motivated by health and dietary goals, concerns about climate change, and motivations to reduce animal cruelty, cooks are becoming much more thoughtful regarding their consumption of meats and diary products. More than 1 in 4 Allrecipes cooks say their family will have occasional vegetarian meals or days to eat healthier. One in 6 cooks are using more recipes that require little to not meat versus two years ago.

Awareness of meat and dairy production and the surge of plant-based alternatives have made it easier for eaters with an eye toward their impact on earth to make smarter, healthier choices. Plant-based milks are replacing dairy milk on grocery store shelves, with 1 in 5 Allrecipes cooks saying they keep non-dairy milk on hand regularly.

But the emphasis on healthier ingredients, better-sourced ingredients, and cruelty-free options, cooks aren't steering away from taste and quality. It's more important than ever, but it's for these reasons the future of cooking looks to satisfy and delight while helping cooks and families make choices that are better for them and better for the world.

Now: Veggie Burgers

Veggie burgers may have once been regarded as cardboard-stale hockey pucks, but the world of veggie-forward patties is tastier than ever. Indeed, searches for veggie burger recipes have been on the rise at Allrecipes for several years. Patty bases vary from vegetables and legumes, with protein- and fiber-rich chickpeas and black beans leading the way.

Next: Faux Meat Burgers

Plant-based meat replacements are taking up more shelf space in the grocery store than ever before. You can also find these faux-meat burgers in restaurants and fast-food chains.

Now: Recyclable, Reusable Packaging

More than half of Allrecipes cooks say they actively use recyclable packaging. In fact, they say it's important to them when they're buying food products. One in 3 cooks say they use reusable packaging when buying food products.

But recycling is not always sufficient for meeting the demands of reusing single-use food containers. And the same cooks who are looking to eat less meat and lessen their impact on the planet are also looking for alternatives for reducing how much waste they leave behind.

Next: Compostable Packaging

Younger cooks and families with kids are more likely to be conscious of their food and packaging waste than they were just a few years ago. In fact, nearly 3 in 4 Allrecipes cooks between the ages of 18 and 34 say they are more aware of their waste and the impact it could have than two years ago.

Women reduce food waste by being mindful before and after meals; nearly half of women we surveyed say they are taking active steps to reduce food waste in their everyday lives. Some are even turning to composting to reuse their leftovers and food scraps. We see this trend to consciousness around food impact growing in the years to come.

Trend: Next Level Comfort and Convenience

The need for convenience, and the desire to prepare family-pleasing comfort foods, has not changed, despite all these shifts in cooking and shopping and sourcing in recent years. But what we have seen, per this research, is that cooks are adapting a great deal to meet these new needs.

To help them meet both the demands on their time and their need to create food that fits their objectives and goals, home cooks are turning toward larger-dish cooking, like one-dish meals, sheet-pan dinners, and casseroles. They're also cooking ahead and emphasizing recipes that require fewer ingredients so they can cook more, faster, and be efficient with their kitchen time.

But Convenience Doesn't Have to Cost

But fast foods aren't always the healthiest, and today's Allrecipes cook is keen to prepare convenience products that deliver on time savings but also help them meet their healthier-eating objectives.

They're looking for, they tell us, "makeover" recipes that lighten up their favorite comfort foods and shift classic dishes to more vegetarian- or vegan-friendly. That includes takeout favorites that often cost not just extra money but extra calories, too.

Now: Stir-Fry

Stir-fry long felt like a dish you could only eat in its most perfect state in fast-food restaurants, but homemade stir-fry recipes have gotten so good, and cooks more capable of finding the right ingredients, that there's virtually no reason to keep the local take-out spot's number in your phone.

Search for these comforting dishes have increased nearly 100 percent in the last 12 months. But, coming around the corner, is another fantastic comfort food trend.

Next: Asian Noodle Bowls

Thanks to the rise in popularity of Korean noodle bowls and soba noodle bowls, the noodle bowl will soon be having a moment, as home cooks begin to bring the rounded vessel of warm, rich broth, protein, and veggies into their homes and serve it to their families. Asian-style noodle bowls have been nearly 100 percent more popular in the last year on Allrecipes.

Diets and Allergies Require Adaptations

As families and cooks become aware of special dietary needs or allergies, many home cooks are turning to Allrecipes for adaptations of classic dishes. Desserts made with almond flour and almond milk are increasingly popular.

Trend: From Tech to Table

We've embraced technology at work, in our cars, on our phones. We've strapped smart watches to our wrists, smart earphones to our head, and smart sensors on our pets. So it's no wonder that technology and smart devices are on the rise in the kitchen, too.

Cooks are embracing the convenience and speed of newer, faster cooking methods. Multi-cookers are the fastest growing cooking appliance of the past decade. Searches for multi-cooker recipes are up almost 800 percent in one years.

The Instant Pot, which came to fame several years ago, shows no signs of slowing down in popularity and usage in the home cook's kitchen.

The Introduction of the Air Fryer

Close on the heels of the Instant Pot and other multi-cookers is the air fryer. Searches for air fryer recipes have grown year after year since the appliance first started showing up in stores five years ago.

In fact, one in four GenZ cooks say they're using their air fryers regularly — and often for unexpected dishes, like cooking snacks like chicken nuggets or sides like onion rings.

But as home cooks always do, so many of you are finding unique and fun ways to put this appliance, which gets the outside of foods crispy and hot with less fat than a deep fryer, to use with every type of dish you can imagine. Here are a few of the trends we see.

Now: Sous Vide Egg Bites

Sous vide cooking has had a strong run. This warm water, immersion method of perfectly cooking food has been prized for its ability to bring steak to the perfect temperate or to turn eggs into creamy, tender bites. Even major coffee houses have gotten in on the sous vide egg trend.

The older cousin to sous vide egg bites is the classic omelet, which never fades from popularity. Because it is an essential dish all cooks should know how to make, many cooks turn to it when time is short and energy is low precisely because it's so easy to execute. In fact, searches for omelet recipes have been up in the last year.

Next: Air-Fried Frittatas

As mentioned, home cooks that grow more accustomed to cooking with their new appliances soon become more comfortable with trying new things — and cooking a frittata in an air fryer is certainly a new thing. In fact, searches and views for frittatas cooked in an air fryer are growing rapidly on Allrecipes.

Now & Next: Online Grocery Shopping

It was considered a revolution when grocery stores started partnering with delivery groups to shop for you. You'd simply send a list and select a time, and your groceries would be magically delivered. But today, the world of online grocery shopping is growing more customizable, more specialized, and in some cases more difficult to attain.

Almost 1 in 4 Allrecipes cooks say they are interested in pre-ordering items online from grocery stores for pick-up or delivery. Younger cooks are far more likely to use this service, with Millennials reporting twice to three times more interest than older shoppers. Currently, the predominant trend remains pick-up options, but as delivery grows — and some stores even offer delivery to your fridge and pantry when you're not at home — the landscape for online grocery shopping is shifting rapidly.

Now & Next: Smart Appliances

More than 1 out of every 3 Allrecipes cooks say they would definitely purchase a smart appliance for their home kitchen. Their reasons? Many smart appliances promise and delivery energy and cost savings. They also help you save time and boost your home's value.

But what comes next in the smart appliance world for home cooks? Fridges can already tell you if you have milk. Stoves can already alert you when your roast is nearing done. What about a slow cooker that can be programmed to a specific recipe for more precise cooking? Perhaps. Or a stand mixer that can mix and then cook your food? That's more of a possibility than you may realize.

Indeed, the future of cooking — and all of food for that matter — isn't as far away as you might think. Innovations and changes happen every day. And we get to enjoy the delicious results.