Why is it that some recipes go viral while others remain confined to quaint, little cafes or obscure kitchen corners? Well, taste and ease of cooking have something to do with it for sure. And of course, word-of-mouth-publicity (or influencers’ support). All this, along with the digital-age markers of what’s trending, influences what the world searches. And Google, the ultimate search engine, released its list of the most searched recipes in 2025, across the globe, and also in India. The results mark the trends that shaped food consumption this year!
When it came to what people consumed, enjoyed, and shared in 2025, spice was the name of the game across the globe, but in India, sweets reigned supreme. Google’s Year in 2025 showed the most searched recipes across the globe, and chilli flakes featured in 4 of the top 5 recipes. Clearly, the world needs a little heat on its table. India, on the other hand, seems to be going back to its roots – across regions. 3 of the 5 dishes were regional desserts. Discover these items, and more, below.
From sweet and spicy condiments to authentic sauces, here are the top five most searched recipes in the world:
Social media food trends had marked ‘swicy’ as the flavour of the year a long time ago. No wonder then hot honey, made by infusing honey with chilli peppers, flakes, or hot sauce, often balanced with a touch of vinegar, is the most searched item of the year. This sweet and spicy, or rather swicy condiment is a popular drizzle choice for many fried or roasted treats, rice bowls and even breakfast dishes like pancakes. It’s also been used to marinade steaks. In fact, it can even be stirred into hot drinks and cocktails like a hot toddy or spicy margarita for an unexpected kick.
Grandmothers and great-grandmothers have often said the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. But as per this dish, the way to a woman’s heart (and proposal) isn’t that different after all! Jokes and sayings aside, marry me chicken is actually a recipe designed by Delish’s former editor and cook, Lindsay Funston. And thanks to the magic of social media (in this case, TikTok) and good food, the recipe went viral. It’s chicken, seasoned with salt, pepper, and herbs and grilled to perfection, served with a tomato-and-cheese-based creamy sauce. And how did the recipe get its name? According to the creator, it was when her coworker first tried the dish that she exclaimed, “I'd marry you for that chicken!”

Chimichurri is a vibrant, uncooked sauce originating from Argentina and Uruguay. It is primarily used as a condiment and marinade for grilled meats, particularly steak, though it pairs just as well with shrimp and salmon too. It is known for its fresh, tangy, and garlicky flavour profile and comes in green (verde) and, less commonly, red (rojo) varieties. Fresh flat-leaf parsley makes up the primary base of the dish, lending it the trademark green tinge and herbaceous flavour.
Many food items got on the list of superfoods, but few have become as popular as chia seeds. From overnight oats to fresh smoothies, chia seeds are everywhere. But in 2025, people wanted them to be in their puddings. One of the reasons for its massive appeal is that the dish is highly customisable. The base ingredients remain chia seeds soaked in liquid (usually milk) overnight. This gives the dish a gel-like base that resembles a pudding. It is then topped with a sweetener (like honey or maple syrup), and any other ingredient of your choice — from flavouring agents like vanilla extract to fresh fruits, chocolate sauce, chopped nuts, and even warm spices like ground cardamom, cinnamon, or pumpkin pie spice, can be used to make the chia pudding.
Beef chilli has been a popular curry for ages. White chicken chili is a simple yet equally delicious alternative to the traditional main, which explains its popularity. It’s heartier than a chicken soup, thanks to the addition of white beans. To replicate the chili flavours, green chillies, jalapeño, and sour cream are added to the mix. In less than an hour, you have an easy, creamy dish ready.
Sweet, spicy, and steamed — that’s what describes the top-searched recipes of 2025 in India:
Idli has been a staple in South Indian homes for years. In fact, the rest of India embraced this steamed and savoury rice cake a while ago too. But in 2025, the dish became widely popular, with many people looking to recreate it at home. Soft and fluffy idlis, paired with tangy, soupy sambhar and fresh, coconut chutney is a breakfast favourite.
First created in London in 2002 by the late Douglas Ankrah (bartender and restaurant owner), the porn star martini has come up on India’s most searched list for the second time in a row. It’s a fruity cocktail, made with vanilla-flavoured vodka, Passoã (passion-fruit liquor), passion fruit purée, and vanilla sugar. It is traditionally accompanied by a chilled shot glass of champagne. Clearly, the only risque thing about the drink is its name!
Modak is a type of sweet dumpling originating in Maharashtra and popularly served during the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi. Considered a symbol of happiness, wisdom, and prosperity, the dish has a unique shape – soft, delicate pleats joined together in a rounded, conical top. Modaks can have different types of filling, and even colours, depending on the ingredients mixed into the batter. Ukadiche Modak, in particular, has a sweet coconut and jaggery filling.
Deep-fried and sweet – what’s not to love about this traditional dessert/snack, popular in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Commonly served as a prasad (offering) during the Indian festival of Chath Puja, thekua is made from whole wheat flour mixed with a sweetener, like jaggery. It has a crunchy exterior and slightly softer interior, with a distinct, earthy sweetness from the jaggery.
This sweet dish, popular in South Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tand amil Nadu, featured on India’s top five list in 2024 as well. Ugadi is regarded as the first day of the year in the Hindu calendar. Ugadi Pachadi is a unique, no-cook festive dish combining six distinct tastes—sweet, sour, salty, bitter, spicy, and pungent—to symbolise life's mix of joys, sorrows, and challenges. Key ingredients include jaggery, tamarind, neem flowers, raw mango, salt, and chilli.
Apart from the aforementioned dishes, other recipes also made it to the top ten list. There was little overlap in the lists between India and the world, but the lists did skew towards vegetarian or vegan fares in both cases.
Apart from these dishes, bean sprouts and bell peppers in global results, and gond in India were also among the top searches, even though they’re ingredients and not dishes, per se.
Healthy, spicy, and sweet – that’s what sums up the world and India’s culinary search history. In between the new dishes and old favourites, the one thing that remained common was the shared joy of food. Now, only time, trends, and search engines can tell whether the year 2026 continues on the same sweet note or goes more glocal than ever before.