Unveiling the Best of 2015: Your Top 10 Most Loved Recipes from Our Kitchen!
Discover the most popular dishes and desserts that captivated our readers throughout 2015!
As the year draws to a close, it’s a cherished tradition to pause and reflect on the moments and meals that truly stood out. For us, at the heart of this food blog, that means diving deep into our analytics to see which recipes resonated most with you, our incredible community of readers. Each year, this journey of discovery is remarkably insightful, revealing not only culinary trends but also the timeless appeal of comforting, easy, and delicious homemade food.
It’s always fascinating to see what makes the coveted “Top 10” list and what surprises are waiting to be uncovered. Sometimes, a recipe I anticipate will be a breakout star might quietly find its audience, while other personal favorites, like those irresistible deep-dish cookies, soar to the top! This annual review is a testament to the diverse tastes and cooking needs of our readers, celebrating the dishes that were clicked, cooked, and cherished the most. So, did any of your go-to recipes secure a spot? Are there beloved dishes you hoped to see climb higher? Without further ado, let’s embark on a delicious countdown and reveal the Top 10 most popular recipes from 2015 – a true reflection of what delighted palates and filled kitchens with joy throughout the year!
10. Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Dip
This Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Dip is a true game-changer for any gathering, earning its spot as a consistent crowd-pleaser. Imagine a rich, creamy, and undeniably cheesy dip, boasting just the right amount of zesty spice from green chiles and tender shredded chicken. It’s a bubbling, gooey sensation that transforms your favorite enchilada flavors into an irresistible appetizer. Whether you’re hosting a lively football party, ringing in the New Year, or simply looking for an effortless yet impressive starter, this dip is your answer. Serve it hot with sturdy tortilla chips, and watch it vanish in record time – trust us, everyone will be asking for the recipe!
9. Cranberry Vodka Cocktail
It seems our readers certainly appreciate a festive beverage, and we couldn’t agree more! Landing at number nine, the Cranberry Vodka Cocktail is a testament to the power of simplicity and elegance in a glass. This super easy concoction combines the tartness of cranberry juice with smooth vodka and a hint of effervescence, creating a vibrant and refreshing drink. Perfect for holiday celebrations, cozy winter evenings, or even a festive brunch, its bright red hue and crisp flavor make it an instant hit. It’s a sophisticated yet uncomplicated choice for entertaining, ensuring your guests always have something delicious and beautiful to sip on.
8. Chocolate Saltine Toffee (aka Christmas Crack)
Prepare for addiction! The Chocolate Saltine Toffee, affectionately known as “Christmas Crack” by many, stormed into our top 10 for good reason. This ridiculously easy candy delivers an explosion of sweet and salty flavors with an irresistible crunch. Thin saltine crackers are transformed into a buttery, caramelized toffee base, then generously topped with melted chocolate and often a sprinkle of sea salt or festive sprinkles. It’s the kind of treat that disappears from holiday platters and gift tins faster than you can say “more please!” A perfect recipe for last-minute homemade gifts or simply satisfying a serious sweet tooth, its legendary status is well-deserved.
7. Easy Skillet Lasagna
Who doesn’t adore a quick and satisfying dinner, especially one that minimises cleanup? Our Easy Skillet Lasagna became a firm favorite for its incredible convenience and comforting flavors. This recipe takes all the rich, layered goodness of traditional lasagna and condenses it into a single skillet, ready in under 30 minutes! Imagine tender pasta, savory meat sauce, and gooey cheese, all cooked together to perfection. It’s the ultimate weeknight hero, delivering pure comfort food without the fuss. Perfect for busy families or anyone craving a hearty Italian-inspired meal in a flash, this skillet lasagna proves that delicious dinners don’t have to be complicated.
6. Chicken Chilaquiles
If you’re a fan of loaded nachos and hearty casseroles, then our Chicken Chilaquiles is likely to become your new obsession – and it certainly did for many of our readers in 2015! This dish is a magnificent fusion, offering all the vibrant flavors of chicken nachos transformed into a satisfying, baked dinner casserole. Think layers of crispy tortilla chips softened by a rich, savory sauce, generously mixed with tender chicken, and blanketed in melted cheese. It’s a meal that’s bursting with flavor, incredibly comforting, and substantial enough to please even the hungriest crowd. Prepare to see everyone at the table clean their plates when you serve up this flavorful Mexican-inspired delight!
5. No Bake Kool-Aid Pie
Sometimes, the simplest recipes create the biggest buzz, and the No Bake Kool-Aid Pie is living proof! We were genuinely surprised by the overwhelming popularity of this recipe, almost not even posting it due to its incredible simplicity. But its viral success speaks volumes: a creamy, cool, and refreshingly delicious pie made with just three ingredients! Yes, you read that right – only three! The beauty of this recipe lies in its versatility; you can easily swap out the Kool-Aid flavor to create a rainbow of vibrant, fruity pies. It’s the ultimate hassle-free dessert, perfect for scorching summer days, kid-friendly projects, or whenever you need a quick, impressive treat without turning on the oven.
4. Cheesy Skillet Gnocchi
Our readers clearly have a soft spot for speedy and satisfying dinners, and the Cheesy Skillet Gnocchi perfectly embodies this preference. This delightful dish combines the pillowy tenderness of gnocchi with a rich, savory, and incredibly cheesy sauce, all prepared in a single skillet. It’s wonderfully comforting and hearty, making it feel like a substantial meal, yet it manages to stay on the lighter side thanks to its well-balanced ingredients. This gnocchi skillet quickly became a beloved staple in our own family, and it’s easy to see why it captured the hearts of so many others. It’s an ideal solution for a quick weeknight dinner that feels gourmet but comes together with minimal effort.
3. Peanut Butter Cup Dump Cake
It’s official: you all love your desserts easy, and incredibly delicious! Our Peanut Butter Cup Dump Cake soared to number three, proving that minimal effort can yield maximum flavor. This heavenly cake requires just a few basic ingredients and literally five minutes of prep time before it goes into the oven. What emerges is a gloriously rich, fudgy, and moist chocolate cake, studded with an abundance of creamy, dreamy peanut butter cups. The combination of chocolate and peanut butter is a classic for a reason, and in this easy-to-make dessert, it’s an absolute showstopper. It’s perfect for potlucks, family gatherings, or simply when a serious craving for an effortless yet decadent dessert strikes – those peanut butter cups truly always win!
2. Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookies for Two
There’s something incredibly special about a dessert made just for two, especially when it’s as perfectly indulgent as our Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookies for Two. This recipe captures the magic of a warm, ooey-gooey, chocolate-filled cookie in a perfectly scaled-down portion, allowing you to enjoy a freshly baked treat without the temptation of an entire batch. Picture molten chocolate chunks amidst a soft, chewy cookie base, served warm with a scoop of ice cream – it’s like a homemade version of the famous Pizookie! The beauty of this small-batch recipe is that you can whip it up for a cozy date night, a personal indulgence, or truly, any night of the week without feeling overwhelmed by leftovers. It’s pure dessert bliss, designed for sharing (or not!).
1. Sausage Pasta Skillet
And the undisputed champion, the most clicked-on and cherished recipe of 2015, is none other than our incredibly popular Sausage Pasta Skillet! This dish truly has it all: it’s a quick, easy, and incredibly flavorful one-pan meal that consistently wins over families. Imagine a creamy, savory, and utterly delicious pasta dish, packed with flavorful sausage and ready to be on your table in under 30 minutes. The convenience of cooking everything in a single skillet means less cleanup, making it an absolute lifesaver on busy weeknights. Its rich, comforting flavors and satisfying texture guarantee that everyone will want seconds. Don’t be surprised if there are no leftovers – this Sausage Pasta Skillet is so good, it often disappears the moment it hits the table, making it a truly deserving number one!
There you have it – the definitive Top 10 recipes that captivated our community throughout 2015! It’s been an absolute delight to revisit these reader favorites, from savory skillet meals and comforting casseroles to indulgent desserts and festive drinks. We sincerely hope that some of your long-standing favorites made the list, bringing back delicious memories. Perhaps, even better, you’ve discovered a new must-try recipe to add to your culinary repertoire, inspiring fresh flavors and exciting cooking adventures.
Thank you for being such an integral part of our food journey and for making 2015 such a delicious year. We’re already looking forward to a fantastic 2016, filled with even more delectable recipes, shared kitchen moments, and countless new favorites to discover together!