Our 20 Most Popular Recipes Ever
If you ask us, every recipe our food editors have created is a hit, but there are some dishes that really stand the test of time. Case in point? These 20 recipes are the ones you, our readers, visit most. If you're not already making these hall-of-famers, then it's time to give them a try.
Our collection of most popular recipes includes breakfast classics, comfort food favorites, no-cook condiments, and easy-to-make desserts. Each deserves a spot in your repertoire—they are the type of essential dishes that every home cook should master.
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Basic Pancakes
Easy and delicious, these pancakes are what Sunday morning breakfast dreams are made of. You probably already have all the ingredients in your kitchen, and the results are so much better than anything made from a boxed mix. Don't skimp on the butter and maple syrup when serving!
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One-Pan Pasta
All you need is one pan and eight ingredients, and this delicious pasta dinner is on the table in 20 minutes.
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Pan-Fried Steak
This is a can't-be-beat special occasion dinner. Strip steaks are cooked in a cast-iron skillet and served with a two-ingredient sauce.
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Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Soft and chewy beats both thin and crispy and cakey chocolate chip cookies according to our home bakers. This foolproof recipe shows you why. Bet you can't eat just one!
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Creamy Lemon Chicken with Spinach and Artichokes
Here's a one-pot winner dinner that's on the table in just 35 minutes. Chicken cutlets are coated in a creamy lemon sauce made with cream cheese and pan juices, no cream needed.
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Apple-Cider Doughnut Cake
Made with cider, applesauce, and whole-wheat flour, this easy Bundt cake is a better-for-you take on apple-cider doughnuts. It's moist, delicious, and full of fall flavor.
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Simple Crepes
Mastering these delicate French pancakes opens up a whole world of delicious meals: go savory with ham and eggs or vegetables and goat cheese, or make something sweet with a strawberry flambé or crowd-pleasing peanut butter and jam.
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John Legend's Macaroni and Cheese
The legendary singer's mac and cheese has been a hit since he and Martha made it on our founder's show. The secret to his ever-popular recipe is a combination of extra-sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack, plus skim milk and evaporated milk. The result is a super silky and creamy textured baked pasta.
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No-Bake Cheesecake
Here's a crowd-pleasing dessert you don't need to turn the oven on for. In fact, the only cooking needed is melting the butter for the easy press-in graham-cracker crust. The rich cream cheese-and-condensed milk filling is combined using a mixer and flavored with vanilla and lemon, then the cheesecake chills in the fridge until it's set.
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Slow-Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage
A busy cook's dream, this St. Patrick's Day favorite practically makes itself. Combine corned beef brisket with vegetables and aromatics in your slow cooker, push a button, and get ready for an ultra-comforting meal.
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Classic French Toast
It's a classic for good reason: This is a recipe that's hard to beat and makes any breakfast or brunch feel special. Use a dense bread, such as challah, brioche, or sourdough, that will soak up the custard and pan-fry to perfection.
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Basic Chicken Soup
Everyone needs a recipe for a comforting chicken soup, and this is the recipe our readers turn to. There's no need to make or buy chicken stock as the recipe starts with a whole chicken and guides you through using it to make stock for the hearty soup.
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Baked-Eggplant Parmesan
For this favorite casserole, eggplant is breaded and baked until succulent, then layered with tomato sauce and mozzarella and baked again until bubbling, gooey, and irresistible.
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Vanilla Pound Cake
An everyday treat that can be dressed up for any occasion, this textbook pound cake has been a favorite with our users for years. What makes it so good? It's fragrant with vanilla and boasts a moist, tender crumb.
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Quick BBQ Sauce
It's so easy to make and doesn't require any cooking, but we think the key reason this recipe is so popular is that it just tastes good. Our Quick BBQ sauce is made with ingredients like ketchup and brown sugar that you probably already have in your kitchen, and it transforms all kinds of grilled and barbecued foods.
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Banana Bread
Sour cream and mashed ripe bananas keep this quick bread incredibly soft and moist, making it the perfect treat for breakfast, lunch, or a sweet snack anytime of day.
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Breaded Chicken Breasts
Our readers love chicken recipes, and it's easy to see why this versatile recipe is a hit. A combination of flour and fresh breadcrumbs is used for the breading for chicken cutlets. They're shallow fried and have a satisfying crunch. Serve them over salad, topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella for chicken parmesan, or as a simple main course alongside your favorite vegetables.
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Sweet Potato Casserole
This is a favorite Thanksgiving side—and the fact that most of us only make this marshmallow-topped sweet potato casserole once per year is a testament to its viral popularity during the holiday.
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Coconut Cloud Cake
Light as air, this fluffy cake is filled with seven-minute frosting and the frosting is spread over the top and sides of the cake. Flaked coconut is the only decoration it needs.
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Big-Batch Vegetable Soup
Who doesn't love a big bowl of soup on a cold day? We love this vegetable soup recipe for several reasons: You can use fresh or frozen produce, the recipe makes a generous amount, and you can easily double it to feed a crowd or stash in your freezer. Best of all, it's a soup that always soothes and satisfies.