Top 10 Most Popular Recipes of 2016: Your Favorite Easy Dinners & Decadent Desserts
As another year draws to a close, it’s the perfect moment to look back and celebrate the culinary highlights that defined our kitchens and delighted our taste buds. This year, we’re diving into the **most viewed recipes that were published in 2016**, along with a couple of late 2015 gems that truly captured your hearts and clicks. What a year it has been for delicious discoveries! We’ve seen a clear pattern emerge from your preferences, revealing two undeniable trends: an insatiable love for **chocolate** and a constant craving for **easy, satisfying dinners**. It warms my heart to know that these are the very things we share a passion for – a true sign of kindred spirits!
It’s truly remarkable to see two fantastic brownie recipes securing spots in our top 10! With over 30 unique brownie recipes featured on the blog, it’s thrilling that two from this year’s collection resonated so strongly with you. Beyond the sweet treats, the emphasis on **easy dinner recipes** is equally exciting, with three making this coveted list. Dishes like the Garlic Beef Noodle Bowls have become a cherished staple in my own home, making their popularity among you especially gratifying. These trends reflect our shared reality: a desire for comforting indulgence alongside practical, time-saving meal solutions for busy weeknights.
While this list showcases your favorites, I can’t help but feel a little nostalgic for some of my own personal masterpieces that didn’t quite make the cut. My Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches, a recipe perfected over a decade of family enjoyment, holds a special place in my heart, and I was so excited to finally share it. And then there’s my all-time favorite Skillet Cookie, a warm, gooey delight that everyone simply *has* to try! Perhaps these will climb the ranks in future years. But for now, let’s toast to the incredible dishes that captured the most attention and brought joy to countless kitchens throughout 2016!
So, without further ado, let’s unveil the countdown of your **Top 10 Most Viewed Recipes of 2016**!
10. No Bake Mint Chocolate Chip Pie – Kicking off our countdown at number 10 is the delightful **No Bake Mint Chocolate Chip Pie**. This dessert truly captures the timeless appeal of mint and chocolate, a flavor combination that shines beautifully throughout the entire year. Whether you’re seeking a refreshing treat during the heat of summer or a festive indulgence for the holiday season, this pie is an impeccable choice. Its creamy texture, studded with delightful chocolate chips and often crowned with Andes mints, sits atop a classic Oreo crust. The best part? It’s a ‘no-bake’ wonder, meaning you can enjoy a decadent dessert without ever turning on your oven, keeping your kitchen cool. Its simplicity in preparation makes it a go-to recipe for any occasion, ensuring a delicious outcome with minimal effort. This easy, refreshing pie is perfect for satisfying sweet cravings without the fuss.
9. Hot Fudge Crock Pot Brownies – Imagine rich, fudgy brownies, but made with the ultimate convenience of your crock pot! That’s exactly what earned our **Hot Fudge Crock Pot Brownies** the ninth spot. This recipe truly takes dessert to a new level, offering a profoundly fudgy texture that’s almost gooey, making it incredibly irresistible. The magic of the slow cooker transforms simple ingredients into an extraordinary chocolate experience, ensuring consistent moisture and depth of flavor. For an utterly amazing experience, serve these brownies warm, perhaps straight from the crock pot, generously topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of extra hot fudge sauce. It’s the perfect dessert for parties, potlucks, or any time you need to satisfy a serious chocolate craving with minimal active effort.
8. Peanut Butter Stuffed Brownies – Landing at number 8, these **Peanut Butter Stuffed Brownies** are a dream come true for anyone who adores the classic combination of chocolate and peanut butter. This recipe masterfully brings together two of life’s greatest pleasures: intensely fudgy brownies and beloved peanut butter cups. But it doesn’t stop there! Each brownie is generously stuffed with creamy peanut butter cups, creating delightful pockets of nutty sweetness within the rich chocolate base. To elevate this treat even further, it’s crowned with a luscious, gooey chocolate ganache, often adorned with even more peanut butter cups. If you possess a serious sweet tooth and a passion for indulgent desserts, these brownies are an absolute must-try. They are decadent, satisfying, and utterly unforgettable.
7. Oreo Poke Cake – Claiming the seventh spot is the irresistible **Oreo Poke Cake**, a testament to the enduring popularity of easy-to-make, customizable desserts. Poke cakes are celebrated for their simplicity and the endless possibilities they offer for flavor variations. This particular rendition is a true showstopper, featuring a moist chocolate cake base that is generously “poked” and filled with a delectable hot fudge sauce. It’s then crowned with a creamy, dreamy mixture of whipped cream and crushed Oreo cookies, creating layers of texture and taste that are seriously good. Light, creamy, and packed with everyone’s favorite cookie, this cake is perfect for celebrations, potlucks, or simply as a comforting treat at home. Its ease of preparation combined with its impressive flavor makes it a consistent crowd-pleaser.
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6.One Pan Cheesy Sausage Pasta – Coming in at number 6, the **One Pan Cheesy Sausage Pasta** perfectly embodies the “easy dinner” trend we’ve observed. The sheer convenience of a meal where everything — even the pasta — cooks together in a single pan is a weeknight game-changer. This recipe is a flavor powerhouse, offering a delightful combination of savory sausage, a hint of spice, and an abundance of melted cheese, all mixed with perfectly cooked pasta. It’s hearty, comforting, and incredibly efficient to prepare, making cleanup a breeze. This dish has earned its place as a regular rotation in my household, and it’s clear it has become a favorite in many of yours too, thanks to its quick prep, minimal dishes, and satisfying taste. It’s a testament to how simple ingredients can create extraordinary family meals.
5. Chow Mein Noodles with Chicken – Asian-inspired cuisine is always a hit, and our **Chow Mein Noodles with Chicken** at number 5 is no exception, especially when delicious noodles are involved! This recipe is a fantastic way to bring the vibrant flavors of your favorite takeout dish right into your home, but in a fraction of the time. It comes together in approximately 15 minutes, making it an ideal choice for incredibly busy evenings when you need a quick yet flavorful meal. Bursting with savory sauces, tender chicken, and perfectly cooked noodles, this dish is packed with flavor that the entire family will adore. It’s healthier, fresher, and often more delicious than traditional takeout, proving that fast food can indeed be fantastic home cooking.
4. Crock Pot Chili– There’s nothing quite like a hearty bowl of chili to warm you from the inside out on a cold day, and our **Crock Pot Chili**, ranking at number 4, is pure perfection. As winter delivers its chilly embrace, this thick and comforting chili recipe becomes an essential part of the meal rotation. Made effortlessly in the slow cooker, it simmers to perfection, allowing the rich flavors to meld beautifully. For the ultimate comforting dinner, serve this delicious chili alongside warm, homemade Corn Bread Muffins. It’s not only incredibly satisfying but also highly practical; any leftovers can be easily frozen for future quick meals, or you can prepare it ahead of time, making it a stress-free option for entertaining or meal prepping.
3. Easy No Bake Avalanche Cookies – Taking the third spot, we have the incredibly popular **Easy No Bake Avalanche Cookies**. I must admit, I’m “cheating” a little with this one, as it was technically published on December 11, 2015. However, its meteoric rise in popularity began right at the end of that year and continued with unstoppable momentum throughout all of 2016, making it an undeniable reader favorite. These cookies are a marvel of simplicity: requiring just four ingredients and a mere five minutes of active preparation time. They offer an irresistible blend of flavors and textures, often compared to Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory’s famous Avalanche Bark. Their ease, speed, and deliciousness make them a perfect treat for any occasion, from last-minute dessert needs to holiday cookie trays. If you haven’t tried them yet, you absolutely must!
2. Garlic Beef Noodle Bowls – Securing the runner-up position at number 2 are these incredible **Garlic Beef Noodle Bowls**. What started as a simple “throw-together” meal to use up leftover pasta in the fridge quickly became a sensation – both in my kitchen and, evidently, in yours! These Asian-style noodle bowls are bursting with savory garlic flavor and come together in an astonishing 15 minutes, making them an ideal solution for even the busiest weeknights. They rely on pantry staples, ensuring that a delicious and wholesome dinner is always within reach. Whenever beef goes on sale, I make sure to stock up specifically to whip up this dish. Its speed, flavor, and use of everyday ingredients make it a perfect, easy dinner that genuinely satisfies. It’s proof that some of the best recipes are born out of spontaneity!
And the Number 1 Most Popular Recipe of 2016 is…..Reeses Fudge!
Once again, I’m confessing to a slight bending of the rules here! While **Reeses Fudge** was technically posted on December 17, 2015, its phenomenal popularity soared throughout 2016. I almost didn’t share it, fearing it was too close to Christmas and would be overlooked. Oh, how delightfully wrong I was! This incredible fudge didn’t just become the **most popular recipe of 2016**; it has ascended to become the **most viewed recipe of all time** on Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts! Its success is a powerful testament to our collective adoration for the harmonious blend of chocolate and peanut butter. This creamy, rich fudge, packed with the beloved flavors of Reese’s, is pure indulgence and an absolute must-try for any sweet treat enthusiast. Your love for this irresistible combination truly makes my foodie heart sing!
As a special treat, I’m throwing in a bonus entry that consistently ranks among the top 15 most viewed posts every single day, much to my pleasant surprise! It’s a wonderful example of how diverse interests can connect us.
15 Tips for Visiting Universal Studios Orlando – Last September, my family and I embarked on an unforgettable vacation to Universal Studios Orlando, and we absolutely loved every moment. Inspired by our incredible experience, I compiled **15 essential tips** to help others plan their visit, navigate the parks efficiently, and discover must-see attractions. This travel guide, from a food blogger who occasionally ventures into sharing travel insights, has gone absolutely crazy! Its immense popularity among readers is incredibly exciting and a testament to how practical advice can resonate far beyond the kitchen. It’s fantastic to see that our travel adventures provide value and inspiration for your own family trips!
And there you have it – a culinary retrospective of a truly delicious 2016, filled with everything from quick and easy family dinners to decadent, crowd-pleasing desserts. We’ve explored the recipes that captured your attention the most, highlighting shared passions for chocolate, convenience, and comforting flavors. Thank you for making 2016 such a tasty and memorable year. I can’t wait to see what new, yummy treats and exciting adventures 2017 has in store for all of us!
