Our 50 Favorite Recipes of 2019

December 19, 2019
Jen Causey; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Kay Clarke
Even amidst the holiday festivities and chaos, the end of the year is always a good time to pause and reflect: What have you accomplished this year? What did you cook? More importantly, what do you wish you’d have cooked? As we close out 2019, it only seemed right that we look back over the recipes we’ve published this year, and pay homage those which we consider our personal best. Some recipes made the list because of brilliant time-saving or flavor boosting technique; others, because of how happy they made our own families. And some made the list due to sheer creative wow factor. (All of which is to say, if cooking more in 2020 lands among your resolutions, this list is a mighty fine place to start.) Here are the 50 recipes our editors fell in love with this year.
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Lasagna Dip With Pasta Chips

Photo: Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Robby Melvin
Lasagna Dip With Pasta Chips Recipe
This party-perfect recipe dissolves the already fine line that separate casserole from dip. Plus, homemade pasta chips are an absolute game-changer.
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Instant Pot Eye of Round Roast Beef

Photo: Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners
Instant Pot Eye of Round Roast Beef Recipe
The Instant Pot transforms this budget cut of beef into a succulent, sliceable hunk of paradise. It's true meat magic.

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Foolproof Chuck Steak with Smoky Chimichurri

Photo: Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners
Foolproof Chuck Steak with Smoky Chimichurri Recipe
Another cheap cut of beef made into a melt-in-your-mouth steak dinner via the genius technique known as a "reverse sear."
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Cashew Butter Cookies

Photo: Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey and Elise Mayfield; Prop Styling: Kay Clarke and Laura Evans
Cashew Butter Cookies Recipe
These gluten-free cookies may appear unassuming, but they're one of the most satisfying, buttery bites we enjoyed this year.

5 of 50

Ultimate Coconut Cake

Photo: Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey and Elise Mayfield; Prop Styling: Kay Clarke and Laura Evans
Ultimate Coconut Cake Recipe
You may think know coconut cake, but trust us—you haven't had coconut cake until you've tried this coconut cake.

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Sesamillionaire’s Shortbread

Photo: Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Robby Melvin  
Sesamillionaire’s Shortbread Recipe
A layer of sesame shortbread, a layer of tahini caramel, and a layer of dark chocolate. Yeah, of course these bars taste like a million bucks.
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7 of 50

Two-Toned Scalloped Potatoes

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners
Two-Toned Scalloped Potatoes Recipe
A little sweet, a little savory, a whole lot of impressive. This is a potato side dish that looks as good as it tastes—and that's saying something.

8 of 50

Vegan Corndogs

Photo: Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners
Vegan Corndogs Recipe
This incredible reinvention of the corndog—a food that's rarely acclaimed for being a wholesome, homemade treasure—deserves a round of applause.

9 of 50

Sheet Pan Thai Red Curry Mussels

Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey
Sheet Pan Thai Red Curry Mussels Recipe
We all know a sheet pan dinner is wonderfully convenient, but rarely are they "exciting." These sheet pan mussels are a proud exception.
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10 of 50

Instant Pot Dal Makhani

Photo: Jen Causey; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland
Instant Pot Dal Makhani Recipe
This lentil recipe converted multiple Instant Pot non-believers into diehard converts. Simply put, they're freaking delicious.

11 of 50

Salty Dog Slushes

Photo: Jen Causey; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Karen Rankin
Salty Dog Slushes Recipe
These pretty-in-pink summertime sippers provide a frosty reminder that pretty much all drinks are better in slushy form.

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Homemade Sloppy Joes

Photo: Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Robby Melvin
Homemade Sloppy Joes Recipe
This is one of those recipes we weren't expecting to be all that wowed by... but then we had our socks knocked off. Moral: Do not underestimate the power of these mighty meat-wiches.
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13 of 50

Aperol Spritz Cake

Photo: Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Sarah Epperson  
Aperol Spritz Cake Recipe
We turned 2019's hottest cocktail into a cake and she couldn't be more lovely. Just look at her!

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Miso Walnut Sticky Buns

Annie Campbell
Miso Walnut Sticky Buns Recipe
Once you go miso caramel, you can't go back. For a freshly baked weekend treat, it doesn't get any better than these homemade sweet rolls.

15 of 50

  Tamarind Peach Cobbler

Jen Causey; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
  Tamarind Peach Cobbler Recipe
Just when you thought peach cobbler couldn't get any better... along came tamarind with a delightfully tangy flavor pop.
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16 of 50

Caprese Ice Cream Sundaes

Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Katelyn Hardwick; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen
Caprese Ice Cream Sundaes Recipe
Are you actually going to make these salad inspired ice cream sundaes? Let's be real, you probably aren't. But if you did, you would be so pleased. Because they're incredible.

17 of 50

Rotel Potatoes Aligots

Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Katelyn Hardwick; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen
Rotel Potatoes Aligots Recipe
When Rotel dip meets classic French cuisine, beautiful things happen. Here's the proof, friends.

18 of 50

Blueberry Pound Cake Muffins

Jen Causey; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey; Prop Styling Kay Clarke
Blueberry Pound Cake Muffins Recipe
You could think of these as better blueberry muffins or you could think of them as pound cake cupcakes. Either way, they will make you a baking legend among your friends.
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  Cobb Salad Stuffed Burgers

Photo: Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Robin Bashinsky
  Cobb Salad Stuffed Burgers Recipe
The next time you're having that existential crisis over whether to eat a salad or a cheeseburger, here's the recipe you reach for.

20 of 50

Creamy Cucumber Salad

Photo: Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Julia Levy
Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe
Here's a recipe many of us were skeptical about ("creamy" and "cucumber" just don't seem like a natural match), but it turned out to be the easy, refreshing side we couldn't get enough of this summer.

21 of 50

Raspberry, Sumac, and Almond Snack Cake

Annie Campbell
Raspberry, Sumac, and Almond Snack Cake Recipe
When you discover a dry spice that delivers a vibrant punch akin to fresh citrus, it's kind of a big deal. This cake is simple to make and utterly impressive to serve.
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22 of 50

Korean Fried Chicken

Photo: Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Julia Levy
Korean Fried Chicken Recipe
Hands down—this is the best fried chicken any of us have ever experienced. If you're heat-averse, skip the sauce and eat it naked. It's still obsession worthy.

23 of 50

Basic Cheese Dip

Meredith Food Studios 
Basic Cheese Dip Recipe
It's basic but beautiful. This is the only homemade cheese dip recipe you'll ever need in life. Jazz it up however feels right.

24 of 50

Taco Mac & Cheese

Photo: Jen Causey; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Pam Lolley
Taco Mac & Cheese Recipe
For a weeknight skillet supper the whole crew is gonna enjoy, this is a stand-out winner. And if you want to see a bunch of adults crowd around a pan of mac and cheese with forks, make it for your friends.
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25 of 50

Endless Summer Salad

Photo: Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Julia Levy
Endless Summer Salad Recipe
This bountiful bowl of produce encapsulates everything we love about summer. Not to mention, that dressing is everything.

26 of 50

Kung Pao Chicken Salad

Aaron Kirk; Food Styling: Ivy Odom; Prop Styling: Christina Daley
Kung Pao Chicken Salad Recipe
Not that there's anything wrong with classic chicken salad, but chicken salad featuring spicy chile crisp and Kewpie mayo is in a league of its own.

27 of 50

Ramen Casserole

Antonis Achilles; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay Clark
Ramen Casserole Recipe
Folks, this is a casserole for 2019. It's all of the warming comfort of ramen, conveniently baked into an 11x7-inch masterpiece.
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28 of 50

  Instant Pot Korean BBQ

Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners
  Instant Pot Korean BBQ Recipe
Just another dish that proves the almighty kitchen power of the Instant Pot.

29 of 50

Baileys Pecan Pie

Photo: Jen Causey; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
Baileys Pecan Pie Recipe
Baileys Irish Cream is such an easy but impactful upgrade to traditional pecan pie. Not sure how we didn't think of it sooner.

30 of 50

Ranch Mashed Potatoes

Photo: Jen Causey; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
Ranch Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Sure, you could make basic mashed potatoes... or you could make these mashed potatoes loaded with fresh herbs and completely delight everyone at the table.
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31 of 50

Garlic Knot Chicken Parmesan Sliders

Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Anna Theoktisto
Garlic Knot Chicken Parmesan Sliders Recipe
These sliders were a recipe revelation. More sandwiches should really be served on oversized garlic knots.

32 of 50

Apple Pie French Toast Casserole

Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Anna Theoktisto
Apple Pie French Toast Casserole Recipe
This is the kind of make-ahead, crowd-pleasing breakfast recipe that virtually everyone needs in their back pocket.

33 of 50

Tri Tip Roast with Porcini-Shallot Butter

Photo: Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Julia Levy
Tri Tip Roast with Porcini-Shallot Butter Recipe
Clearly, anytime we can take a traditionally inexpensive (and generally less beloved) cut of meat and make it into something deliciously memorable, we are all about it.
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34 of 50

Green Chile Apple Pie

Meredith Food Studios 
Green Chile Apple Pie Recipe
Green chile was the unexpected apple pie flavor twist we needed this year. (But honestly, we'll probably keep needing it next year too.)

35 of 50

Pistachio Tahini Cinnamon Rolls 

Meredith Food Studios 
Pistachio Tahini Cinnamon Rolls  Recipe
If you're going to extend the effort to make homemade cinnamon rolls, you might as well make them exceptional.

36 of 50

Olive Oil Chocolate Chip Cookies

Photo: Caroline Arcangeli; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Sarah Epperson
Olive Oil Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Classic chocolate chip cookies are one of those treats it's hard to improve upon, but swapping butter for fragrant olive oil provided a touch of flavor intrigue we could hardly get enough of.
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