Who are the most popular food YouTubers, and how do some of them rake in millions of views? Working with food creators for years, we’ve done some research and put together the 10 most popular creators in the food field on YouTube.
Let’s go through them, learn from them, and get some inspiration, shall we?
Who Actually Makes Top Food on YouTube?
We'll break down over 10 of the famous cooking YouTubers dominating the platform in 2025. And we'll highlight practical tips on how you can learn from their success.
Rosanna Pansino – Queen of Nerdy Nummies
Rosanna Pansino is a pioneer of YouTube baking, with over 14 million subscribers drawn to her delightful blend of geek culture and sweets. On her show Nerdy Nummies, she bakes treats inspired by video games, movies, and comics (think Pokémon cupcakes or Star Wars cakes), carving out a niche where fandom meets food.
Her content is high-energy, family-friendly, and visually colorful, making it accessible to both kids and adults. By tapping into popular themes and maintaining a consistent bright style (from thumbnails to her upbeat on-camera persona), Rosanna keeps viewers clicking and remembering her brand.
What really sets Rosanna apart is how she involves her audience. She often asks viewers for theme suggestions (“What should I bake next?”) and then delivers, which makes fans feel heard. Her comment sections overflow with people sharing their own baking results or requesting their favorite characters (a sign of deep engagement). Rosanna responds with encouragement and even features fan creations occasionally.
The takeaway for creators: know your niche and embrace it fully, and make your viewers feel like they’re part of your show. Rosanna’s ability to create a positive community around creative baking has helped her become one of the most popular food YouTubers year after year.
Babish Culinary Universe (Andrew Rea) – Film Food Come to Life
Andrew Rea, aka Babish, turned his love of movies and cooking into a YouTube empire with over 10 million subscribers. His flagship series, Binging with Babish, recreates famous dishes from films and TV (like the “Ratatouille” or the Krabby Patty), satisfying viewers’ curiosity about whether fiction tastes as good as it looks.
Each video blends entertainment with real technique. He might humorously attempt a dish exactly as shown on screen (disasters and all) before revealing a practical, in their own unique way, delicious version anyone can try. This fun narrative keeps even long videos engaging.
Babish’s channel thrives on viewer interaction. Fans constantly comment on suggestions for the next movie recipe, and he listens. Many of his episodes are direct responses to popular requests. By consistently delivering on fan “food wishes” and sticking to a clear format (his video titles always include the dish and its pop culture origin), he’s built a loyal community. The production is clean and focused on the food, letting his witty voice-over shine.
The lesson: a strong gimmick or theme, executed consistently, can set a channel apart and invite your audience to participate (through suggestions or series ideas), keeping them invested in your content.
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Joshua Weissman – Upscaling Comfort Food with Flair
In a few short years, Joshua Weissman rocketed to the top tier of cooking YouTube with a simple proposition: “I can make it better.” From burgers to fried chicken, his viral “But Better” series takes fast-food favorites and shows how to recreate them at home, only more delicious.
This concept, combined with Joshua’s bold, humorous personality (he’s known for quips like “Let’s do this, shall we?”), has attracted a young and enthusiastic fanbase and millions of subscribers.
Joshua’s videos are part cooking tutorial, part entertainment. He cracks jokes, issues playful challenges to big restaurant chains, and keeps a rapid pace that hooks viewers for 15+ minutes. Importantly, he shares genuine cooking knowledge amid the antics, so viewers feel they’re learning pro techniques while having fun.
Fans respond eagerly in the comments, often riffing on his jokes or suggesting what he should tackle “but better” next. By marrying solid culinary skills with YouTube-savvy presentation, Joshua exemplifies how to engage viewers who might not usually watch long recipe videos.
His formula of educate + entertain + engage is one that aspiring creators can adapt
Mark Wiens – Around the World on an Empty Stomach
Mark Wiens is the quintessential food traveler on YouTube, with over 10 million subscribers following him on epic eating adventures. His videos are travel vlogs centered on food. You’ll find Mark sitting on tiny stools in Bangkok, savoring street noodles, or trekking up mountains in Ethiopia to taste local bread. Through his catchphrase “Food is the reason you should travel”, Mark highlights how deeply cuisine and culture are connected.
What makes Mark’s long-form videos compelling is his genuine enthusiasm and respect for each culture he visits. He greets every dish with a trademark ecstatic smile and often learns from locals about their recipes. It feels like you’re right there with him, tasting and learning.
His comment sections are a global affair. Locals thanked him for showcasing their food, and travelers were inspired to visit new places. Mark rarely uses fancy editing or gimmicks; his storytelling relies on authenticity and appetite.
The takeaway for creators: passion is contagious. If you truly love the food and stories you’re sharing, viewers will eat it up (and maybe even book a plane ticket, too).
Mis Pastelitos (Gris Verduzco) – Whimsical Latin Dessert Star
With over 17 million subscribers tuning in, Mis Pastelitos (led by Mexican creator Gris Verduzco) is a powerhouse of Spanish-language baking content. Her channel is all about making life “a little sweeter,” quite literally. She specializes in eye-popping desserts, from giant rainbow cakes to trendy DIY candy recipes.
The videos often feature colorful graphics, quick jump cuts, and Gris’s playful humor (she’s known to crack jokes or even break into song while baking).
Her topics center on fun, shareable treats (think unicorn cupcakes or extreme milkshakes), which gives them broad viral potential in the Latin American community. She might do a crazy Oreo cake one week and a beloved traditional Mexican sweet the next, keeping viewers guessing.
Gris has a very personal rapport with her fans, frequently using inclusive language like “vamos amigos” and responding to fan recipe suggestions. Her comment sections are filled with enthusiastic reactions, lots of “¡Yo también lo intentaré!” (I’ll try this too!). By speaking her audience’s language literally and figuratively, she’s built one of the top YouTube cooking channels in the Spanish-speaking world.
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Village Cooking Channel – Epic Proportions and Authenticity
Hailing from a small village in South India, Village Cooking Channel took YouTube by storm with massive outdoor cook-offs that feed entire communities. This channel, run by a family in Tamil Nadu, crossed the 10 million subscriber milestone in record time (even earning the honor of being the first Tamil channel to receive YouTube’s Diamond Play Button).
Their content formula is simple yet mesmerizing: gather traditional recipes, supersize them, and cook under the open sky using age-old techniques. One day, they might fry up a 100-egg omelette on a giant skillet; another day, they’ll make biryani in an enormous pot over a wood fire, always cooking for the many.
The appeal of Village Cooking Channel lies in spectacle meets authenticity. Viewers around the world, regardless of language, can enjoy the visual feast of ingredients being prepared in bulk. Imagine a mountain of rice or a cauldron of curry simmering away.
Beyond the wow factor, there’s a comforting sense of tradition: multiple generations (grandsons alongside their grandfather) cook together, and at the end, the food is often shared with the village or donated to those in need. The channel rarely needs narration; the food and community spirit speak for themselves.
For creators, it’s a reminder that unique formats and staying true to your culture can set you apart. You don’t need fancy studio kitchens to become a famous cooking YouTuber if you have a compelling story to tell.
Jauja Cocina Mexicana – Tradition in Every Bite
Jauja Cocina Mexicana (hosted by Janet and her family) brings the warmth of a Mexican home kitchen to YouTube. With almost 9 million subscribers, this channel stands out for its unhurried, authentic recipes, from handmade tortillas to rich moles, all taught with patience and love.
Janet often shares the cultural stories and memories behind each dish, making viewers feel the history and heart in the food. Her audience engagement is heartfelt: comments are filled with gratitude from viewers who learned family recipes or reconnected with their heritage through her videos.
By focusing on tradition over trends, Jauja Cocina Mexicana has built a devoted community that values genuine cooking and storytelling.
SORTEDfood – Teamwork in the Kitchen
SORTEDfood is run by four British friends (one of them is a chef), proving that cooking on YouTube can be a team sport. Their videos, like cook-off challenges, recipe “pass-it-on” games, and gadget tests, are packed with banter and camaraderie.
This collaborative format gets viewers involved too: fans suggest challenge ideas and even vote on winners, making the audience feel like part of the fun. The channel has nearly 3 million subscribers who come for the laughs as much as the recipes.
SORTEDfood’s success shows that a strong group dynamic and interactive content can foster a loyal community around cooking.
Maangchi – Korea’s Home Cooking Ambassador
Maangchi (Emily Kim) is often called the queen of Korean cooking on YouTube. Since 2007, she’s taught millions of subscribers how to make Korean dishes like kimchi, bibimbap, and tteokbokki with clear, friendly tutorials. Her approachable style and a dash of quirky humor make even complex recipes feel doable.
Maangchi’s channel is all about cultural connection. She explains ingredients and traditions, helping viewers worldwide cook and appreciate Korean food. Her comment sections are full of success stories and thank-yous from fans who’ve tried her recipes.
By being a patient teacher and passionate storyteller, Maangchi has built one of the most trusted and beloved recipe communities on the platform.
Dianxi Xiaoge – Rustic Farm-to-Table Serenity (Yunnan, China)
Part of a wave of Chinese rural cooking channels that captivated the world, Dianxi Xiaoge offers a window into the tranquil life and cuisine of Yunnan province. Her videos are a stark contrast to fast-paced modern cooking shows.
Here you watch her harvest vegetables from her garden, forage in the mountains, and slow-cook over a wood fire, all set against breathtaking countryside backdrops. With several million subscribers globally, Dianxi’s content strikes a chord beyond language barriers. Many of her videos have minimal dialogue (spoken in a local dialect) with English subtitles, focusing instead on beautiful visuals and natural sound.
Each episode feels like a short film. Dianxi might start at dawn, collecting fresh ingredients. Say, picking peppers and herbs for a family feast. Then you see the entire process of creating traditional dishes from scratch, often using techniques passed down through generations. The farm-to-table authenticity is front and center.
For viewers, it’s both a soothing escape and a cultural education; many comment that her videos are like “ASMR meets cooking show.” Dianxi rarely needs to prompt engagement. The uniqueness of her content sparks organic discussion as people around the world swap interpretations of recipes and farming methods. Her success shows that storytelling and cinematography can make cooking content universally appealing, even without a single spoken word to camera.
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What Makes These Food Channels Dominate on YouTube?
These channels dominate for their mastery of YouTube’s mechanics:
- Topics
They tap into universal emotions (nostalgia, curiosity, comfort, excitement), making their content inherently shareable.
- Comments
They turn passive viewers into active participants, encouraging discussions, suggestions, and community building.
- Thumbnails
They sell experiences, not just food. Every thumbnail tells a story viewers want to explore further.
- Scripts
They understand pacing, building tension, and rewarding viewers with satisfying reveals.
- Unique Features
They have recognizable formats or styles viewers can instantly identify, creating a strong channel brand.
How Can I Analyze and Be Inspired by Such Channels?
Analyzing these elements in your competitive analysis can be straightforward:
- List recent videos and identify emotional hooks.
- Scan comments for engagement patterns.
- Collect thumbnails to understand what visually resonates.
- Break down scripts to see storytelling mechanics.
- Recognize recurring features or formats.
AIR Media-Tech specializes in helping creators turn these insights into actionable strategies. We've guided countless YouTubers, offering personalized analytics, strategic recommendations, and practical solutions to optimize metadata, improve discoverability, and scale globally. If your goal is to become one of the most popular food YouTubers, we’re here to provide the expert support and tools to make that happen. Contact us today!
Want to Be One of the Top YouTube Cooking Channels?
The most popular food YouTubers in 2025 didn’t reach the top by accident. They each serve up a special recipe of content strategy, consistency, and genuine connection with their audience. What they all have in common, though, is a deep understanding of their audience and a commitment to delivering value, be it entertainment, education, or inspiration (often all three).
As an experienced YouTube creator yourself, you can dissect these channels not to copy them, but to learn what resonates in the food niche. Look for patterns in their success (how they title videos, how they interact with fans, how they differentiate themselves) and experiment with applying those principles to your own channel. The competitive insights and examples we’ve discussed are a starting point.
And remember, you’re not alone on this journey. AIR Media-Tech can assist with everything from fine-tuning your content strategy to maximizing monetization and even scaling your presence globally. Join AIR Media-Tech today, and let’s grow your YouTube together!