It’s that time again! The time of year where I round up the top 20 recipes from the past year. Instead of picking the most viral or most visited recipes of the year (because algorithms can be deceiving), I’m rounding up the recipes that I found to be the most delicious. These are the recipes that I don’t want you to miss! So if you haven’t tried one of these 20 recipes yet, make sure to put it on your list!
Let’s go!
Top 20 Recipes of 2020
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Roasted Broccoli Pasta with Lemon and Feta
Roasted Broccoli Pasta with Lemon and Feta – This dish is simplicity at its best. You only need a few ingredients to make this pasta, but the flavor totally pops.
Smoky Roasted Sausage and Vegetables
Smoky Roasted Sausage with Vegetables – I was all about the sheet pan meals this year. This one boasts a super delish smoky vinaigrette to drizzle over top of the roasted vegetables and sausage, which totally takes it to the next level. Serve it over rice to soak up every last drop of that delicious drizzle.
Roasted Cauliflower Taco Bowls with Cilantro Lime Ranch
Roasted Cauliflower Taco Bowls – There’s something about super colorful meals that make them even more delicious, and these cauliflower taco bowls are a great example. So much color, texture, AND flavor in one bowl.
Chunky Ham and Bean Soup
Chunky Ham and Bean Soup – Bean soups usually require hours of soaking and simmering, but this super hearty ham and bean soup gives you all the cozy-comfy vibes in way less time. Stock your freezer with this one so you can reheat a bowl of comfort any time!
Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy
Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy – Try not to think about TV dinners from the 80’s when you make this because I promise this Salisbury Steak is soooooo good! That gravy is everything.
Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
Chicken Parmesan Meatballs – These actually made me like ground chicken. That says a lot. ;)
Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Salad
Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Salad – This simple salad was the runaway hit from 2020. It’s like, “I can’t stop eating this” good and the best part is that it holds up well in the fridge so you can keep eating it for days.
Chocolate Depression Cake (No Eggs, Butter, or Milk)
Chocolate Depression Cake – This type of eggless, dairy-free cake has been around since the Great Depression and it proved to be just as useful in 2020, while we once again experienced grocery shortages. But honestly, it’s easy and delicious at any time!
Yogurt Banana Bread
Yogurt Banana Bread – Banana bread is great and all, but yogurt banana bread is like 💯. The rich and creamy yogurt really takes it to the next level.
Comeback Sauce
Comeback Sauce – I lost count of how many times I made this incredible sauce this year. It’s so good on EVERYTHING. Fries, roasted vegetables, sandwiches, chips, and more.
Blackened Salmon with Zucchini
Blackened Salmon with Zucchini – Blackening seasoning is magic. That is all.
Summer Sweet Corn Salad
Summer Sweet Corn Salad – This one is my new favorite way to eat fresh summer sweet corn! Those fresh little kernels give you a pop of sweetness in every bite. If we ever get back to having potlucks in 2021, make sure you have this salad bookmarked!
The Best Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Easy Broccoli Cheddar Soup – CHEESE LOVERS PAY ATTENTION. This soup is so thick, lush, and cheesy! And it has just enough vegetable action to balance that cheesy goodness. I’ve been making this one on repeat and I don’t get to do that with many because of how many new recipes I have to test and photograph.
Cajun Sausage and Rice Skillet
Cajun Sausage and Rice Skillet – This recipe like a quickie jambalaya for people who don’t have time to do it the traditional way. Rice cooked with a whole heap of herbs and spices, plus smoked sausage to make everything super flavorful and rich. I just love everything about this recipe. <3
Sheet Pan Kielbasa Potatoes and Green Beans
Sheet Pan Kielbasa Green Beans and Potatoes – As I mentioned above, I was very into sheet pan meals this year. This sheet pan meal is the EASIEST of all sheet pan meals. Even with just SIX simple ingredients, this meal has tons of flavor. LOVE IT.
French Onion Soup
French Onion Soup – While I love quick and easy recipes, some recipes really do require you to take your time and go slow. French Onion Soup is one of those, but it is so worth every minute. I would eat this soup on a weekly basis if I could.
Wild Rice Stuffed Acorn Squash
Wild Rice Stuffed Acorn Squash – I originally developed this recipe to be a vegetarian main dish option for Thanksgiving, but it’s really so good that I would eat it any day of the week. Bonus: the filling for the squash is incredible on its own and would make a great side dish to any dinner.
Sheet Pan Cranberry Chicken Dinner
Sheet Pan Cranberry Chicken Dinner – Sheet pans for the win again! The cranberry balsamic glaze is what makes this meal. It has only three ingredients but is so rich and vibrant. You might start making it to drizzle over all of your other meals!
Marinated Cauliflower Salad
Marinated Cauliflower Salad – Colorful, fresh, flavorful. I LOVE this crunchy vegetable salad. It’s another “refrigerator salad” that you can keep on hand for lunches or snacks throughout the week.
Tomato Lentil Soup
Tomato Lentil Soup – You can’t go wrong with a soup that is this tasty, this inexpensive, and is freezer-friendly. This is what Budget Bytes is all about!
So what do you think? Do you agree that these are the best 20 recipes from the year? Is there one that was a home run for you? Share your favorites in the comments below!
The Sheet Pan Kielbasa, Potatoes, and Greenbeans is a new favorite. It’s just so easy and so yummy!
The Sheet Pan Kielbasa, Potatoes and Green Bean recipe is a new favorite at our house – actually had it again this week. I’m looking forward to trying your other sheet pan recipes and the soups look yummy too. Based on the comments, looks like I have to add some of those salads to my recipe plan too. Thanks for sharing all of these wonderful recipes and this end of year recap.
What a super site. They all look very yummy! NOW I have lots of ideas. Thank you
I have made the Salisbury Steak several times this year, and that’s saying a lot coming from a person who was traumatized in the early 90s by many terrible Salisbury Steak frozen dinners…
I just got done eating the Roasted Broccoli Pasta with Lemon and Feta and it was so good and easy! I’m mad that I’ve been sleeping on that one, because I’ll be making it a lot going forward.
Thanks for the amazing recipes, Beth!
I need to get cooking! I make your recipes multiple times each week, but I’ve only made 4 of the recipes on this list. How have I missed the roasted broccoli pasta? And the cauli taco bowls?
The roasted cauliflower taco bowl is my go to, I seriously have it every week and never tire of it. I use a different sauce (I’m not into ranch) and add avocado (avocado on everything!). It has been a lifesaver, thanks!
Oh yes, so many of these I’ve tried this year and were great but the one I loved the most and raved to everyone was the fresh summer sweet corn salad recipe! It was my favorite recipe in the summer and early fall. I think I’ll head to some of the soups now that it is winter.
The broccoli cheddar salad has been on repeat in my house! Such a great recipe to keep on hand for quick lunches while everyone works and schools from home. We’ve put it in quesadillas, made bowls with a fried egg on top, folded it into scrambled eggs, put it on toast, eaten it plain— everyone in my house loves it and I love the extra veggies we’re getting in.
I’ve been making your recipes for about a year now, and I just wanted to say that the roasted broccoli pasta with lemon and feta is one of the best and easiest things I’ve ever made. I always keep the ingredients on hand in case I need something quick and yummy to make. We also tried the cranberry chicken sheet pan recipe and we almost ate the whole thing in one night because it was so good. Another one that shot to the top of our list was the balsamic mushrooms that you recently posted. Thank you for constantly coming up with easy yet delicious recipes! Can’t wait to see what you come up with this year.
Thank you so much! I think my first ones to try are the lentil soup and salisbury steak. They all look very yummy!
These recipes look yummy. Thank you for posting.
Recently graduated college and living on my own. Proper grocery shopping has been an annoying hurdle, but these breakdowns are immensely helpful :)
I’ve made the broccoli cheddar soup several times. So darn good!
My favorite recipes is the Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Salad and the Cajun Sausage and Rice Skillet. I also have my eye on a few recipes that I would like to make. Miss Beth, thank you so much for sharing your recipes!! You are doing an amazing job by coming up with delicious recipes but staying on budget at the same time. Here’s to health, wealth, prosperity, and good food. Happy New Year 😁
You can’t eat Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Salad for days, because you run out too fast! Srsly, it’s so good I can eat nothing but it for lunch AND dinner and then it’s gone!
Haha, so true! :)
Love the ham and bean soup. I have my eye on a few other recipes as well!
Just had comeback sauce on fish tacos!
Yum! Great idea!!