Food Trends 2027: What Home Cooks Will Be Making Next Year
The 2027 food trends forecast by retailers and analysts, from the bean boom and Japanese comfort food to bitter flavors and zero waste, for home cooks.
By Ayoub Farid · · 2 min read
Every autumn, grocers and industry analysts publish their predictions for the year ahead. Whole Foods Market's Trends Council released its 2027 food and beverage predictions in October 2026, and other forecasters point in similar directions. Here's what the trends mean in a home kitchen, and how to try them now.
Trend forecasts are predictions, not facts, so treat this as inspiration.
1. The bean boom
Beans and legumes are moving to the center of the plate: affordable, high in protein and fiber, and good for the planet. Expect heirloom varieties, bean-forward mains and creamy, slow-cooked "big beans". Try it: bean recipes: creamy white beans with greens, crispy chickpeas, black bean soup.
2. Japanese comfort food
Beyond sushi: curry rice, ramen, onigiri, okonomiyaki, donburi rice bowls, tamagoyaki. Try it: Japanese comfort food at home.
3. Bitter flavors
Radicchio, endive, dark chocolate, coffee, bitter citrus and herbal drinks are being embraced for their complexity. Try it: a radicchio salad with orange and honey; grilled endive with blue cheese.
4. Taste of place (terroir)
Interest in where food comes from: regional olive oils, single-origin chocolate, local honey and regional specialties. Try it: buy one ingredient from a specific region and build a dish around it.
5. Ingredient minimalism
Shorter ingredient lists and simpler products. In home cooking, that means recipes with 5–7 great ingredients. Try it: easy pasta recipes like cacio e pepe and aglio e olio.
6. Dish reinvention
Classic dishes remixed with new formats and global mash-ups. Try it: ask an AI chef to "reinvent" a family favorite: lasagna soup, shakshuka with feta and za'atar, birria-style tacos.
7. Zero waste 2.0
Using whole ingredients: stems, peels, bones, stale bread, aquafaba. Try it: zero-waste cooking.
8. Gut health and fiber
Several forecasters expect the protein focus to be joined by fiber and gut health. Try it: high-fiber recipes and fermented foods like kimchi, yogurt and miso.
How to keep up with trends without the hype
Trends spread fastest on TikTok and Instagram. When you see one you like, save it to a "Trends to try" collection in SmartChef AI with the share button, cook it, and keep only what you'd make again. See viral TikTok recipes worth making.
Frequently asked questions
What are the biggest food trends for 2027?
Forecasts highlight beans and legumes, Japanese comfort food, bitter flavors, taste of place, ingredient minimalism, dish reinvention, zero waste and gut health.
Who predicts food trends?
Grocers, restaurant consultancies, research firms and platforms like Pinterest publish forecasts based on sales, menus and search data.
How can I try food trends at home?
Pick one trend a month and cook two or three recipes from it.
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