• TikTok just revealed its 2026 Discover List, spotlighting 10 food creators it says are shaping what we’ll be cooking next.
  • Leading the pack are husband-and-wife duo Hailee Catalano and Chuck Cruz of @2peoplecooking.
  • From fusion mashups to easy, scroll-stopping dinners, these creators are turning viral moments into real-life kitchen inspiration.

If you’ve made baked feta pasta, shoved a piece of cheese into a roasted sweet potato, or fallen deep into a Dubai chocolate spiral, you already know: TikTok isn’t just reflecting food trends—it’s basically running your grocery list.

Now the app is officially spotlighting the next wave of culinary stars. TikTok’s 2026 Discover List—a global roundup of 50 “creators to watch”—highlights the personalities shaping what we’ll be cooking (and craving) this year. And in the Foodies category, 10 creators are turning everyday kitchen experiences into main-character moments.

So what does it take to make the cut?

Making the Discover List isn’t just about racking up millions of views. TikTok says the 2026 selections were community-driven, with its global team nominating creators who’ve made a measurable impact both on and off the app over the past six months.

“TikTok is a unique place because of its incredible global community, and the process for selecting creators for The Discover List 2026 was also community-driven,” a TikTok spokesperson tells Good Housekeeping.

From there, the platform evaluated everything from video output and audience growth to engagement, conversations, and the kinds of posts that ripple beyond the app.

In other words: it’s not only about going viral—it’s about shaping what everyone’s talking about next.

The beloved culinary power couple on #FoodTok

Leading the charge are Hailee Catalano and Chuck Cruz—the delightful husband and wife duo behind @2peoplecooking. The two met at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY and clearly never stopped cooking together. Their cozy Friday night series has become appointment viewing for fans craving low-key, from-scratch dinners—patty melts, chicken pot pie, short rib tacos—with serious culinary chops and zero pretension.

“Hailee and Chuck make cooking feel easy, real, and inviting,” the spokesperson says, pointing to their weekly series, which centers on cooking together with “simple techniques, shared prep, and the natural rhythm of making a meal as a duo.”

The appeal, they add, is authenticity. “The content feels genuine and behind-the-scenes,” so viewers tune in “not just for recipes, but for the joy of cooking alongside them.”

Side note: Look for a recipe from Hailee in the March/April issue of Good Housekeeping on stands now.

Who else made the list?

This year’s list proves #FoodTok is far bigger than any one duo. “From acclaimed restaurateurs to passionate home chefs, The Discover List 2026 Foodies share mouthwatering dishes and crave-worthy cuisine from every corner of the world,” the spokesperson says.

Here are the other food creators to watch:

  • Henry Laporte (salt_hank), a New York–based creator behind over-the-top cooking videos, a New York Times bestselling cookbook, and his West Village restaurant, Salt Hank’s—where the high-end French dip sandwiches have become a viral sensation in their own right
  • Rashad Jones (rashadjonesbbq), a Florida-based BBQ pitmaster redefining modern hospitality through presence-first storytelling at Big Lee’s BBQ in Ocala, FL
  • Cassie Stokes (cassiestokes1111), an Irish creator celebrating food, travel, and hospitality—from regional Irish cuisine to pubs around the world
  • Wayne Chang (munchin_mash), a Cape Town–based foodie sharing his journey experimenting with new recipes and home cooking
  • Ramy Soli (ramysoli), a Dubai-based former architect turned food creator known for clean, design-driven recipes and fridge-drawer creations
  • Lucía Martínez (lu.singluten) a Spanish food and lifestyle creator making gluten-free cooking feel simple, natural, and accessible
  • Nabil Zemmouri (nabil_zemmouri ), a Paris-based, eco-conscious chef and early pioneer of anti-waste cooking content
  • Trevor Were (saute_with_trevor), a Nairobi-based creator using cinematic storytelling to bring elegant, approachable recipes to life
  • Alene Godoy (afroecologica), a Brazil-based creator spotlighting comfort food through the lens of history, nostalgia, and sustainability

What trends are resonating right now?

According to TikTok, a few clear themes: fusion mashups (think dumpling lasagna and scallion pancake croissants), easy low-effort wins like 2-ingredient Japanese yogurt “cheesecake,” scroll-stopping visuals such as mosaic salads and fruit-shaped desserts, and recreations of café favorites at home (hello, whipped cookie butter latte!).

From scroll to stove

Food content has evolved beyond one-off viral hits—today’s creators inspire viewers to tweak, remix and make recipes their own, with comment sections doubling as group chats for tips and hacks. TikTok isn’t just spotlighting big names; it’s elevating the ones who actually influence what ends up on your dinner table.

“Home cooks should be paying attention to this year’s food creators because they’re redefining how we cook and connect in the kitchen,” the spokesperson says, pointing to content that blends approachable recipes with storytelling that “inspires, teaches, and builds community.” In other words, they’re not just showing you what to cook—they’re making you want to cook.

And if your dinner rotation could use a refresh, your For You Page already has suggestions.