What a year it’s been in the 40 Aprons kitchen! As 2025 comes to a close, I’m looking back at the top 50 recipes you couldn’t get enough of—the ones you cooked on repeat, shared with friends, and left glowing reviews about. From cozy soups and weeknight dinners to Whole30-friendly favorites and indulgent treats, these recipes rose to the top because they deliver on flavor, simplicity, and that “I’m making this again next week” factor. These aren’t just my picks, they’re your picks—so let’s dive into the best of 2025!

Best Dinner Recipes

1. Marry Me Chicken

The original viral recipe, marry me chicken is a delicious dinner of juicy pan-seared chicken breasts that are smothered in a rich, creamy sun-dried tomato sauce with garlic, parmesan, and a hint of red pepper flakes for a restaurant-quality dish that lives up to its viral name. This one-pan wonder is so darn good that it might just inspire a marriage proposal!

2. Beef Back Ribs

These fall-off-the-bone beef back ribs are rubbed with a smoky spice blend and slow-roasted in the oven until incredibly tender, then brushed with BBQ sauce and broiled for a caramelized finish. No grill or smoker needed—just your oven and a few hours for restaurant-quality ribs at home!

3. Instant Pot Chicken and Rice

This one-pot Instant Pot wonder combines tender chicken, fluffy rice, and bright lemon-garlic flavors all cooked together with butter and parmesan for a creamy, comforting meal. It’s the ultimate easy weeknight dinner that requires minimal prep and delivers maximum flavor in just minutes!

4. Egg Roll Bowl with Mixed Coleslaw (Whole30)

This deconstructed egg roll is a Whole30 and Paleo-friendly one-skillet wonder loaded with seasoned ground pork, fresh ginger, crunchy water chestnuts, and coleslaw mix, all topped with a creamy sriracha-mayo drizzle. It’s got all the flavors of your favorite takeout egg rolls without the wrapper—and it’s ready in about 35 minutes!

5. Best Chicken Fried Rice (Restaurant Style!)

This restaurant-style chicken fried rice is loaded with tender, savory chicken, fluffy rice, scrambled eggs, and crisp vegetables, all tossed together with butter, soy sauce, and sesame oil for that authentic hibachi flavor you crave. It’s better than takeout and comes together in one skillet!

6. Thai Peanut Chicken

This Thai chicken recipe features tender, juicy chicken thighs marinated in a rich, creamy peanut sauce made with peanut butter, coconut milk, lime, and ginger, then broiled or grilled to perfection. Serve it on skewers or over rice with a drizzle of extra peanut sauce for an irresistible dinner that tastes like your favorite Thai takeout!

7. Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

This paleo and Whole30-friendly slow cooker carnitas recipe transforms pork tenderloin into tender, juicy, fall-apart meat with bright citrus and jalapeño flavors, then gets crisped up in a skillet for those irresistible caramelized edges. It’s incredibly simple with just a handful of ingredients and perfect for tacos, burrito bowls, salads, or eating straight from the pan!

8. Ground Beef Gravy with Mashed Potatoes

Quick, easy, and super budget-friendly, this satisfying comfort food classic features creamy, garlicky mashed potatoes topped with seasoned ground beef in a rich, savory gravy. It’s a family recipe passed down through generations that delivers maximum coziness with minimal effort in just 45 minutes!

9. BBQ Chicken Bowls (Whole30)

This filling Whole30 and paleo-friendly bowl packs in tender BBQ chicken, roasted sweet potatoes with chili and cinnamon, crunchy homemade coleslaw, and quick dill pickles for a surprisingly simple dinner that’s packed full of flavor. Everything comes together in just over an hour, with the Instant Pot doing most of the work on the chicken!

10. Best Chicken Pot Pie

This chicken pot pie is truly the best ever, with a creamy, savory filling packed with tender chicken, fresh veggies, and a perfectly spiced blend of sage, thyme, and nutmeg, all wrapped in a flaky, buttery crust. It’s irresistibly comforting and comes together fairly quickly with store-bought or homemade pie crusts for the ultimate family-favorite dinner!

11. Best Tuna Noodle Casserole

No canned soup here—this from-scratch tuna noodle casserole features egg noodles, green peas, and flaky tuna in a homemade cheese sauce, all topped with golden buttery breadcrumbs. It’s just like how mom and grandma used to make, delivering pure comfort in every bite!

12. Gyro Bowls

Delicious Greek-spiced lamb or beef meatballs are paired with lemony rice, fresh cucumber-tomato salad, and creamy homemade tzatziki sauce for an incredible bowl packed with bright Mediterranean flavors. Everything comes together in just 35 minutes for a satisfying dinner that tastes like your favorite taverna!

13. Hibachi Chicken with Fried Rice

This restaurant-style hibachi dinner features fluffy fried rice, tender sesame-glazed chicken, crisp zucchini and mushrooms, all served with a slightly spicy honey-mustard dipping sauce. It’s a complete hibachi experience you can make at home—no grill required!

14. Loaded Burger Bowls with “Special Sauce”

These super yummy burger bowls are piled high with seasoned ground beef, crispy bacon, quick guacamole, charred red onions, cherry tomatoes, pickle chips, and a sweet-tangy “special sauce” that tastes just like your favorite fast-food burger. It’s an easy, satisfying, and delicious alternative to lettuce-wrapped burgers that comes together fast on a busy weeknight!

15. Chickpea Salad Sandwich

This vegan chickpea salad is just as creamy and delicious as the famous Costco chicken salad, but it’s totally meat-free and only takes 15 minutes to put together. Mashed chickpeas are mixed with celery, onion, parsley, mayo, and Dijon mustard for a satisfying sandwich filling that’s perfect on bread or in lettuce cups!

16. 3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken

This incredibly simple slow cooker Mexican shredded chicken is made with just three ingredients—salsa, taco seasoning, and chicken—and turns out so tender and flavorful you’d never guess it was so easy. Perfect for tacos, burritos, enchiladas, salads, or bowls, it’s a versatile weeknight dinner that practically cooks itself!

17. Big Mac Salad

This low-carb, gluten-free cheeseburger salad has all the flavors and components of a classic McDonald’s Big Mac, including a spot-on copycat Big Mac sauce with mayo, ketchup, pickles, and a hint of sweetness. Loaded with seasoned ground beef, cheddar cheese, fresh veggies, and tangy pickles over crisp romaine, it takes 20 minutes to assemble for the ultimate burger fix without the bun!

Best Soup Recipes

18. Whole30 Tom Kha Soup

This creamy Thai coconut soup is loaded with tender chicken, mushrooms, and aromatic galangal, lemongrass, and lime for a flavor-packed bowl that’s both comforting and bright. It’s Whole30-friendly and comes together in one pot for an easy weeknight dinner that tastes like takeout.

19. Whole30 Zuppa Toscana

This Whole30-friendly version of the classic soup is loaded with crispy bacon, Italian sausage, tender potatoes, and kale in a creamy coconut milk broth. It’s all the comforting, hearty flavors you crave without any of the dairy or gluten!

20. Whole30 White Chicken Chili

This Whole30-friendly white chicken chili gets its rich texture from coconut milk and cashews instead of dairy, and it’s packed with tender shredded chicken, green chilies, and warm Southwest spices. Top it with fresh cilantro and avocado for a cozy, satisfying bowl that’s perfect for meal prep or feeding a crowd!

21. Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Soup

This Cajun-spiced soup combines tender chicken, ditalini pasta, and tomatoes in a rich, flavorful broth that tastes like a cozy hug in a bowl. It’s got all the bold Louisiana flavors you love with an easy one-pot preparation that makes weeknight dinners a breeze!

22. Instant Pot Potato Soup

This creamy Instant Pot potato soup is loaded with tender Yukon gold potatoes, crispy bacon, cheddar cheese, and sour cream for the ultimate comfort food in a bowl. It comes together in 40 minutes with minimal effort, making it perfect for busy nights when you need something warm and satisfying!

Best Side Dish/Salad Recipes

23. Best Ever Risotto

Rich and creamy with plenty of parmesan and a gorgeous golden color from saffron, this homemade risotto reminds me of the best risotto we’ve eaten in Italy. It takes a little patience and stirring, but the result is a luxurious, restaurant-quality side dish that’s absolutely worth the effort!

24. Air Fryer Broccoli

This air fryer broccoli is simply the best, using a special two-temperature method to get perfectly tender broccoli with crispy, caramelized edges without any burning. It tastes just like delicious oven-roasted broccoli but comes together in a fraction of the time—in 20 minutes!

25. Antipasto Salad with Easy Italian Vinaigrette

This delicious antipasto salad features all your Italian antipasto favorites—salami, pepperoni, mozzarella, artichokes, olives, roasted red peppers, and pepperoncinis—piled over crisp romaine and tossed in a quick homemade Italian vinaigrette. It’s refreshing, flavorful, and an impressive salad that tastes like your favorite Italian deli!

Best Appetizer Recipes

26. Hot Crap Dip

This super easy and ultra-delicious hot crab dip is loaded with sweet crabmeat, cream cheese, green onions, mayo, and melty cheddar, all baked until bubbly and golden. It’s the perfect crowd-pleasing appetizer for parties, and it’s low-carb, keto, and gluten-free!

27. 3-Ingredient Boursin Dip

Creamy and delicious Boursin dip is one of the easiest party appetizers you’ll ever make—there’s zero cooking, and you only need 3 ingredients (sour cream, mayo, and Boursin cheese) plus your dipping vessels of choice. Just mix everything together, and you’ve got an incredible dip that tastes like you spent way more time on it!

28. Beer Cheese Dip

This party-ready beer cheese dip is savory, creamy, and full of rich beer and sharp cheddar flavor—it’s an absolute must for game days, tailgates, and holiday gatherings! Done from start to finish in 25 minutes, it’s the kind of warm, irresistible dip that’ll have everyone hovering around the snack table with pretzels and chips in hand.

Best Sauces/Condiments Recipes

29. Au Jus Recipe

This rich au jus sauce recipe is so simple and flavorful, and since it’s made with or without beef drippings, you can serve any entrée au jus without needing to cook a large roast first! Ready in a flash, it’s the perfect savory, restaurant-quality dipping sauce for prime rib, French dip sandwiches, or any beef dish.

30. Cottage Cheese Alfredo Sauce

This rich and creamy cottage cheese alfredo sauce is easy, versatile, and super quick to make—by blending cottage cheese with parmesan, milk, and seasonings, it’s a lighter twist on classic alfredo that goes with any pasta and your choice of protein or veggies.

31. Best Chimichurri Sauce

This is the BEST chimichurri sauce recipe—a perfect copycat of Texas de Brazil’s famous version made with fresh parsley, cilantro, garlic, and lemon juice that comes together in 10 minutes! Naturally paleo, Whole30, keto, low carb, and vegan, it’s an incredibly versatile sauce or marinade that transforms everything from grilled steak to roasted vegetables.

Best Breakfast Recipes

32. Gluten-Free Breakfast Casserole

Easy to make and full of delicious, satisfying ingredients like pork sausage, crispy hash browns, eggs, and melty cheddar, this crowd-pleasing gluten-free breakfast casserole is perfect for meal prep, make-ahead meals, holiday mornings, or anytime at all. It feeds 12 people and can be done in just over an hour for a hearty breakfast everyone will love!

33. Crockpot Breakfast Casserole

Wake up to layers of crispy bacon, fluffy scrambled eggs, cheesy hashbrowns, and melted cheddar in this overnight slow cooker breakfast casserole that does all the work while you sleep. Perfect for Christmas morning or any special brunch when you want to serve a crowd without the morning stress!

34. Fully Loaded Bagel Bar

Create the ultimate DIY brunch spread with this fully-loaded bagel bar featuring a variety of bagels, sweet and savory toppings, spreads, and proteins that lets everyone customize their perfect bite. It’s surprisingly easy to put together and always impresses guests at bridal showers, baby showers, or weekend brunches!

Best Dessert Recipes

35. Perfect Paleo Brownies

These gluten-free, paleo brownies are pure perfection with their fudgy, dense centers, crunchy crackly tops, and chewy edges—all topped with a sprinkle of flake salt for the ultimate gourmet touch. Made with almond and coconut flour, they’re surprisingly quick and easy to whip up, and no one will ever guess they’re grain-free and dairy-free!

36. Healthy Cookie Dough (Edible, Vegan, Paleo, Dairy Free)

This edible paleo cookie dough tastes just like mom’s classic chocolate chip cookie dough—rich, sweet, and indulgent—but it’s totally safe to eat raw and completely guilt-free. Ready in only 10 minutes, this vegan and gluten-free treat is so good you’ll want to make it multiple times a week!

37. Keto Cinnamon Roll French Toast Bites

These warm, fluffy keto cinnamon roll bites taste like French toast and cinnamon rolls had a delicious baby—perfectly sweet, buttery, and easy to execute! Made with keto buns coated in cinnamon-sweetener and air fried to golden perfection, they’re served with a dreamy cream cheese icing for dipping.

Best Drink Recipes

38. Iced Golden Milk Latte

This cool, caffeine-free iced golden milk latte is loaded with nourishing spices like turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom for the perfect cozy-yet-refreshing drink. Ready in just 5 minutes, it’s an easy way to indulge and unwind any time of day!

39. Immune System Booster Shot

Packed with garlic, ginger, turmeric, fresh citrus, honey, apple cider vinegar, and a kick of cayenne, this all-natural immune booster shot has everything you need to fight off sickness during cold and flu season. Ready in only 15 minutes, it’s maximum-strength wellness in a glass!

40. Easy Mojito Pitcher Recipe

Cool off with this light, crisp, and refreshing mint mojito that’s made by the pitcher for easy entertaining! With just a handful of ingredients and minimal effort, this classic summertime cocktail is ready in 10 minutes.

Best New Recipes of 2025

While the 40 recipes above were the most cooked, the following recipes are new kids on the block that readers are constantly raving about!

41. Creamy Marry Me Chicken Casserole

All the flavors you love from classic marry me chicken—tender chicken, creamy parmesan sauce, and sun-dried tomatoes—baked into one easy, show-stopping casserole! This gorgeous dish is packed with Italian seasoning and garlic, making it ideal for a weeknight dinner or a special date night.

42. Salmon and Veggies Sheet Pan Meal with Hot Honey and Yogurt Sauce

Simple, satisfying, and packed with nutrients, this sheet pan salmon dinner with roasted cauliflower, shallots, and garbanzo beans is the perfect answer to the “what’s for dinner?” puzzle. Drizzled with sweet-spicy hot honey and served with a cooling cilantro-lemon yogurt sauce, everything comes together fast and feeds an army!

43. Chick-fil-A Southwest Salad

This spot-on copycat of Chick-fil-A’s Spicy Southwest Salad features tender pickle-brined grilled chicken, fresh mixed greens, black beans, fire-roasted corn, and crispy tortilla strips, all topped with a creamy cilantro-lime Southwest salsa dressing. Marinate the chicken for an hour, grill it up, and you’ll have restaurant-quality salads at home!

44. Smoked Mac and Cheese

This is the absolute best smoked mac and cheese—ultra creamy, rich, and loaded with the perfect blend of cheddar and pepper jack cheeses plus just the right amount of woodsy smoke flavor! Made in a pellet smoker (or charcoal/electric smoker), the mac and cheese gets infused with smokiness for 2-3 hours until it develops a beautiful golden crust.

45. Smoked Queso

Perfect for game day, backyard barbecues, and family cookouts, this tasty smoked queso dish is creamy, cheesy, and loaded with browned sausage, Rotel tomatoes, jalapeños, and fresh cilantro! Made in one skillet on your smoker or grill, this crowd-pleasing dip comes together in about an hour with a delicious hint of hickory.

46. Salmon Carpaccio

This fresh, elegant smoked salmon carpaccio is the perfect show-stopping appetizer that you can do in only 15 minutes! Serve it the traditional way with olive oil, lemon, capers, and toasted pine nuts over baby arugula, or try the indulgent brown butter-ponzu variation for a delicious twist.

47. Peanut Butter Oatmeal No-Bake Cookies

With just 7 simple ingredients and no oven required, these no-bake peanut butter oatmeal cookies are the easiest sweet treat you’ll ever make! These make great snacks for your kids’ lunches and are a healthier version of a sweet treat.

48. Dessert Charcuterie Board

Talk about the ultimate dessert spread! This stunning charcuterie board is loaded with chocolates, cookies, fresh berries, and even cheese—all beautifully arranged on one gorgeous platter with zero cooking required. It’s fantastic for holiday gatherings, game day, or any celebration you’re hosting!

49. Creamy Pesto Sauce

This amazing pesto sauce transforms everyday pasta into something spectacular. Made quickly in a food processor with fresh basil, rich Parmigiano-Reggiano, and a splash of cream, it’s the ultimate solution for busy weeknight dinners. It’s also versatile for marinating chicken or pork.

50. Jalapeño Salsa

This creamy, spicy jalapeño salsa is incredibly versatile—perfect with tortilla chips, spooned over tacos, nachos, quesadillas, or burritos! Made by simmering jalapeños until tender and blending them with garlic, avocado oil, and optional cilantro. Sooo good for your Taco Tuesday parties or entertaining guests.