15 Recipes Our Readers Loved Most In 2025
This year brought us some seriously delicious dishes that had everyone running to their kitchens.
From creamy pasta that might just inspire a proposal to cakes that disappeared faster than you could say seconds, these recipes captured hearts and taste buds everywhere.
We tracked every click, every share, and every five-star review to bring you the absolute favorites that defined cooking in 2025.
1. Marry Me Shrimp Pasta
Sun-dried tomatoes swimming in silky cream sauce create magic when paired with plump, perfectly cooked shrimp.
Fresh spinach wilts into the mix, adding color and a touch of earthiness that balances the richness.
Al dente pasta catches every bit of that dreamy sauce, making each forkful an absolute flavor bomb.
The name isn’t just cute marketing—people genuinely claimed this dish earned marriage proposals at dinner tables across the country.
2. Easy Carrot Cake
Forget complicated baking techniques—this cake proves simplicity wins every time.
Grated carrots keep everything incredibly moist while adding natural sweetness that doesn’t overwhelm.
Warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg wrap around your senses like a cozy blanket on a chilly afternoon.
That tangy cream cheese frosting? It’s the perfect contrast to the cake’s sweetness, creating balance that dessert dreams are made of.
3. Coca-Cola Cake
Retro recipes made a massive comeback this year, and this beauty led the charge.
The soda adds unexpected moisture and a subtle complexity that keeps people guessing the secret ingredient.
Deep chocolate flavor dominates without being too sweet or cloying on your palate.
Grandma was definitely onto something with this one—nostalgia tastes even better when it’s covered in fudgy frosting that stays soft for days.
4. Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
Comfort food reached peak coziness with this all-in-one dinner hero.
Tender chicken chunks nestle into fluffy rice alongside bright green broccoli florets that actually taste fresh, not mushy.
Creamy cheese sauce binds everything together while those buttery Ritz crackers on top add an irresistible crunch.
Kids devoured it, adults loved the convenience, and leftovers somehow tasted even better the next day.
5. Limoncello Tiramisu
Traditional tiramisu got a zesty makeover that absolutely exploded on social media.
Bright limoncello replaces coffee, transforming this Italian classic into something refreshing and perfect for warmer weather.
Lemon curd adds extra citrus punch between creamy mascarpone layers that practically melt on your tongue.
It’s fancy enough for dinner parties but simple enough that you won’t stress about impressing your guests with technique.
6. Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Browning butter takes an extra five minutes but transforms ordinary cookies into something extraordinary.
That nutty, caramel-like flavor adds depth you never knew was missing from your cookie jar.
Crispy edges give way to chewy centers loaded with melty chocolate chunks that stretch when you pull them apart.
One batch never lasted more than a day in any household—consider yourself warned before starting this dangerously addictive recipe.
7. Creamy Tuscan Chicken
Restaurant-quality flavor happened right in home kitchens with this weeknight wonder.
Golden-seared chicken breasts bathe in a luscious cream sauce studded with sun-dried tomatoes and fresh spinach.
Garlic and Italian herbs bring that authentic Tuscan vibe without requiring a plane ticket to Italy.
Serve it over pasta, rice, or with crusty bread for soaking up every last drop of that incredible sauce.
8. Viral Cucumber Salad
Social media went absolutely bonkers over this ridiculously simple side dish.
Crisp cucumber slices get tossed with sesame oil, rice vinegar, and a hint of heat from red pepper flakes.
It’s refreshing, crunchy, and somehow more addictive than chips—people ate entire bowls as snacks.
The best part? Everything comes together in under ten minutes, making it perfect for those nights when cooking feels impossible.
9. Loaded Baked Potato Soup
Cold weather called for bowls of this thick, creamy soup that basically hugs you from the inside.
Chunks of tender potato swim in a velvety base that’s rich without being heavy or overly filling.
Crispy bacon bits, sharp cheddar, tangy sour cream, and fresh chives pile on top like the world’s best baked potato.
Serve it with crusty bread for dunking and watch everyone go back for seconds.
10. Honey Garlic Salmon
Salmon skeptics became instant converts after one bite of this sticky, sweet, and savory masterpiece.
The glaze caramelizes beautifully, creating a glossy coating that’s equal parts honey sweetness and garlicky goodness.
Flaky fish stays moist and tender inside while the outside develops those coveted crispy edges.
Ready in twenty minutes flat, it became the go-to recipe for impressing dates or just treating yourself on a Tuesday.
11. Birria Tacos
These cheesy, crispy, dippable tacos dominated food trends and nobody complained one bit.
Slow-cooked beef gets shredded and tucked into cheese-lined tortillas that fry up golden and crunchy.
The real magic happens when you dunk them into that rich, spiced consommé that’s bursting with deep flavor.
Messy? Absolutely. Worth every napkin you’ll need? Without question—this recipe earned its viral status honestly.
12. Sourdough Discard Pancakes
Sourdough bakers finally found the perfect use for that discard they’d been tossing out.
These pancakes turned out fluffier and tangier than regular versions, with a complex flavor that elevated breakfast completely.
The slight sourness balanced perfectly with sweet maple syrup, creating taste bud harmony on every forkful.
Plus, reducing waste while making something delicious? That’s the kind of win-win situation everyone can get behind happily.
13. Bang Bang Shrimp
Copycat restaurant recipes ruled the kitchen this year, and this appetizer clone topped the charts.
Crispy breaded shrimp get coated in a creamy, spicy sauce that’s both sweet and fiery in the best way.
The texture contrast between crunchy coating and tender shrimp keeps your mouth interested bite after bite.
Way cheaper than dining out and honestly just as good—maybe even better when you’re eating it in your pajamas.
14. Pesto Gnocchi with Burrata
Pillowy potato dumplings met their perfect match in bright, herbaceous pesto this year.
Creamy burrata gets torn over the top, melting slightly from the warm gnocchi and creating pockets of milky richness.
Fresh basil adds aromatic punch while pine nuts provide subtle crunch throughout each luxurious bite.
Fancy restaurants charge thirty dollars for this, but you made it at home for a fraction of the cost.
15. Air Fryer Nashville Hot Chicken
Air fryers proved they could handle even the spiciest, crispiest challenges with this fiery favorite.
Chicken emerges incredibly crunchy without all the oil that traditional frying requires, making cleanup infinitely easier.
That signature Nashville heat hits your tongue with cayenne-packed intensity that’s addictive rather than punishing.
Pickles and white bread help cool things down between bites, though most people just powered through the delicious burn anyway.
