19 Cooking Hacks I Learned From TikTok That Are Actually Game Changers

    Turns out, TikTok can actually make you a better home cook.

    Hannah Loewentheil
    by Hannah Loewentheil

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Is it just me or can you also spend about five hours watching cooking tutorials on TikTok until your eyes are ready to fall out? Turns out, this social media platform is full of creative and culinary tricks. Here are some of the best home cooking hacks I've learned while scrolling.

    1. This genius tortilla hack that basically works with anything in your kitchen.

    @feelgoodfoodie

    Have you tried this latest quesadilla hack?! It was SO GOOD!! What would you add? #tiktokpartner #learontiktok #quesadilla #tortillawrap

    ♬ original sound - Feel Good Foodie
    Just grab four ingredients like avocado, shredded cheese, salsa, and scrambled eggs, and place one in each quadrant of the tortilla. Cut a slit down the center of the quesadilla and fold it up. Cook it on a hot skillet until melty.

    2. In fact, you don't need to use a tortilla or wrap. Try it with a sheet of nori to make DIY sushi.

    Take a sheet of nori and, using the same method as above, add your favorite sushi ingredients (avocado, rice, spicy mayo, spicy tuna, etc.) to each of the four quadrants. Fold it up and enjoy.

    3. This clever tutorial for making copycat Cheesecake Factory avocado egg rolls at home with just five ingredients. 

    All you need are diced avocado, red onion, sun-dried tomato, and wonton wrappers. Spoon the avocado filling into the wonton wrappers, roll them up, and then fry them in oil or cook them in an air fryer.

    4. And this clever egg hack, which might completely change the way you make a breakfast sandwich.

    Add beaten eggs to a skillet and then soak two slices of bread in the egg mixture, making sure to wet both sides of the bread. When the egg cooks, flip the eggs so that the bread is at the bottom of the pan. Add any additional breakfast sandwich toppings (avocado, bacon, cheese, etc.), fold, and flip.

    5. This trick for the easiest pizza ever that happens to be keto-friendly. No pizza dough? No problem. 

    Start with a flour tortilla (burrito-sized is best). Get the tortilla nice and hot in a skillet so that it begins to puff up. Then add your favorite pizza toppings and place it back on the stove until melty.

    6. And this genius way to upgrade instant ramen into a gourmet meal with just a few extra ingredients.

    Rather than use the seasoning packet for soup, use it to turn instant ramen into a delicious, gourmet stir-fry. Mix the seasoning packet with crushed red pepper, garlic, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Boil the noodles in water, combine them with your favorite sautéed veggies, then mix everything together in the homemade sauce.

    7. This matcha affogato recipe that I'm making on repeat.

    @coffeebae97

    ✿ matcha affogato ✿ give it a nice swingle

    ♬ Ghibli-style nostalgic waltz(806744) - MaSssuguMusic
    Just mix matcha powder and sugar in boiling water. Add a few scoops of your favorite ice cream to a glass and pour the hot matcha over the ice cream.

    8. Or this one-pot pasta trick for the creamiest, cheesiest low-effort meal.

    @cookingwithayeh

    Baked Feta Pasta is def worth all the hype!! Inspired by the lovely @feelgoodfoodie 💗 #fyp #foodtiktok #bakedfeta #pasta #foryou #foryoupage

    ♬ Taste It - Ikson
    This viral recipe traces back to a Finnish technique called Uunifetapasta. Place cherry tomatoes and a block of feta cheese in a baking dish. Sprinkle them with olive oil, salt, and pepper (maybe even some red pep flakes and garlic if you so choose), and bake at 400°F for 15 minutes. Turn the heat up (or put the mixture under the broiler) until the tomatoes turn caramelized and the feta gets golden brown. Remove from the oven and stir the mixture into a creamy sauce, then add your favorite cooked pasta!

    9. And this smart method for the creamiest, lump-free mashed potatoes.

    According to this mashed potato hack, use a ricer or food mill to grind boiled potatoes so that they are perfectly shredded and uniform. You should also allow the potatoes to sit in the pan after boiling to rid them of excess moisture. Combine 'em with melted butter and cream, and you'll have the most decadent mashed potatoes ever.

    10. This outrageously good garlic naan recipe you can make using ingredients you probably already have on hand.

    Warm water, sugar, active dry yeast, olive oil, egg, yogurt, and flour are all you need. This homemade naan doesn't require any fancy ingredients either. Just knead the dough, let it rise in a mixing bowl, then divide into little balls and cook the naan in a hot skillet. Top the naan bread with melted butter and garlic, and voilà.

    11. Or these simple mason jar margaritas that you don't even need a cocktail shaker to whip up.

    @courtandnate

    The most refreshing drink! Skip the tequila for a tasty mocktail✨ #recipes #cocktailrecipe #margarita #happyhour #lifeontheroad

    ♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys - Kevin MacLeod
    This recipe uses blackberries and mint, but you can really substitute any fruit like mango, strawberries, or raspberries. Just muddle mint and blackberries in a mason jar; add tequila, lime juice, and ice; then shake, shake, shake.

    12. And this three-ingredient Oreo fudge that literally anyone can make.

    Combine condensed milk and melted white chocolate in a skillet. Add lots of crushed Oreos. Transfer the fudge mixture to a baking dish and refrigerate until it cools. Top with more crumbled Oreos and serve.

    13. These lightened-up, air fryer chicken nuggets that get so crispy that they taste like they were deep-fried in oil.

    @thegoldenbalance

    HealthiER Chicken Nuggets 🤤 Details on IG: TheGoldenBalance (Linked to Personal) #reupload #homecooking #healthy #recipe #food

    ♬ original sound - Ahmad Alzahabi
    Take boneless, skinless chicken and cut it into cubes. Season it with salt, pepper, cayenne, paprika, or whatever is in your spice drawer. Sprinkle the chicken with olive oil and bread crumbs, then air fry it until golden brown.

    14. And this 20-minute chocolate lava cake recipe that's guaranteed to impress.

    Start by microwaving chocolate chips and butter until melted. Add flower, cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and milk. You're going to use 1/4 cup of each ingredient. Transfer to a greased ramekin and bake for 15 minutes at 355°F.

    15. This vanilla sweet cream Starbucks copycat so you can save that $5 on your morning drink.

    You know that luscious sweet cream cold brew from Starbucks? Well, turns out you can make it at home. The sweet cream calls for just whipped cream, half-and-half, and French vanilla syrup. Mix it all up and spoon it over your morning iced coffee.

    16. This simple yet brilliant pasta draining hack that is a total game changer. 

    @myhealthydish

    The Internet taught me a hack on how to drain pasta #cookinghacks #pasta #cookingtip #recipes

    ♬ Savage - Megan Thee Stallion
    This one is mind-blowing. Just place the strainer on top of your sauce pan and pour the water into the sink. Once the water is gone, just the pasta is left in the pan, ready to toss with your favorite sauce. 

    17. This method for the most indulgent grilled cheese sandwich of all time, inspired by the Disneyland recipe.

    There are a few components here. First, combine cream cheese, grated cheddar cheese, a tiny bit of heavy cream, and salt. In another bowl, mix together mayonnaise, minced garlic, and salt.  Top sandwich bread with two slices of cheddar cheese, two slices of provolone, and a spoonful of the cream cheese spread. Close the sandwich and coat the outside of the bread with the garlic mayo. Fry the sandwich in a skillet for 2 minutes on each side and prepare to reach cheese nirvana.

    18. Or this technique for turning a simple bulb of garlic into creamy, spreadable deliciousness.

    Take a bulb of garlic and chop off the tip to reveal the top of the cloves. Drizzle the garlic bulbs with olive oil and wrap them in an aluminum foil pouch. Bake the garlic in the oven at 400°F for about 35 minutes. Squeeze the bulb and the garlic should ooze right out. Combine the roasted garlic with flaky salt, freshly ground black pepper, and plenty of olive oil. 

    19. This seriously cheesy sandwich hack you never knew you needed.

    You can make these adorable little sandwiches with whatever cheese and deli meat you have on hand. Remove the crust and press the two slices of bread together to contain the cheese and meat in a little pouch. Dip both sides of the bread in beaten eggs and fry them in melted butter until the outsides are golden brown.