Reflecting on the Most Popular Recipes of 2020: A Year of Unforgettable Home Cooking

The year 2020 was truly unprecedented, profoundly reshaping our daily lives and, perhaps most notably, our relationship with the kitchen. As the world navigated new challenges, many of us found ourselves spending more time at home, rediscovering the joy and necessity of preparing meals from scratch. For countless individuals and families, the kitchen transformed into a sanctuary, a classroom, and a hub of creativity. We embraced new flavors, revisited comforting classics, and experimented with ingredients that brought a sense of normalcy and adventure to our days.

At Fox and Briar, we witnessed this culinary resurgence firsthand. Our community turned to us for inspiration, seeking out recipes that were not only delicious but also practical, accessible, and often, a welcome distraction. As we bid farewell to a year that taught us so much about resilience and resourcefulness, it’s a perfect opportunity to look back and celebrate the dishes that resonated most with you, our amazing readers. These are the recipes that topped the charts, becoming your go-to meals, your weekend projects, and your most cherished kitchen companions.

Join us on a journey through Fox and Briar’s most popular new recipes published in 2020. This curated list reflects the collective culinary journey of a unique year, showcasing meals that brought comfort, convenience, and immense flavor into thousands of homes. We’ve ordered them from tenth to first place, building anticipation for the ultimate fan-favorite. Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom to discover the number one recipe that captured everyone’s hearts and appetites!

Explore More Fox and Briar Favorites: Top Recipes from Previous Years

Curious about what delighted taste buds in years past? Dive into our archives and discover the recipes that have stood the test of time. These collections offer a wonderful glimpse into evolving food trends and enduring classics from the Fox and Briar kitchen.

The Top 10 Most Popular Recipes of 2020 from Fox and Briar

10. Green Bean and Ground Beef Stir Fry

Kicking off our countdown at number ten is the incredibly versatile and satisfying Green Bean and Ground Beef Stir Fry. This recipe quickly became a favorite for its simplicity and explosive flavor, proving that healthy eating can be both delicious and effortless. Perfect for a busy weeknight, it combines tender ground beef with crisp green beans in a savory sauce, making it an ideal choice for quick family dinners. Its adaptability means you can easily customize it with other vegetables or proteins, making it a staple for anyone looking to add an easy, flavorful meal to their repertoire.

9. Egg Roll in a Bowl

Claiming the ninth spot is the immensely popular Egg Roll in a Bowl. This clever recipe delivers all the irresistible flavors of a classic egg roll without the fuss of frying or the carb-heavy wrapper. It’s a fantastic low-carb, gluten-free, and incredibly quick dinner solution that truly became a household sensation in 2020. Packed with savory ground meat, crisp cabbage, and a flavorful sauce, it’s a testament to how creative adaptations of beloved dishes can become new favorites. Its ease of preparation and satisfying taste make it perfect for busy evenings or meal prepping, reflecting the demand for healthy and fast options during a year of increased home cooking.

8. Creamy Basil Skillet Pork Chops

At number eight, we have the incredibly comforting and elegant Creamy Basil Skillet Pork Chops. This dish brings gourmet flavor to your dinner table with minimal effort, making it a standout choice for those seeking something special yet manageable. Succulent pork chops are pan-seared to perfection and then simmered in a rich, velvety basil cream sauce. It’s the kind of meal that feels indulgent but comes together quickly, offering a much-needed touch of luxury during a challenging year. Its popularity highlights a desire for dishes that provide both satisfaction and a touch of sophistication in home cooking, proving that even simple ingredients can create extraordinary results.

7. Korean Chicken Thighs

Landing at lucky number seven are the mouth-watering Korean Chicken Thighs. This recipe became an instant hit for its irresistible balance of sweet, savory, and subtly spicy flavors, all delivered with the ease of baking. Chicken thighs are marinated and baked until caramelized and tender, making for an incredibly satisfying main course that’s both vibrant and comforting. It’s a fantastic way to introduce exciting international flavors into your weekly rotation without complicated steps. Its popularity in 2020 underscores a growing interest in global cuisine and easy oven-baked meals that provide maximum flavor with minimal fuss, perfect for home cooks looking to expand their culinary horizons.

6. Easy Margarita From Scratch

Taking the sixth spot is not a meal, but a much-needed beverage that surely helped many navigate the year: the Easy Margarita From Scratch. With more time spent at home, the art of crafting cocktails became a popular pastime, and this recipe provided the perfect guide to creating a perfectly balanced margarita without any pre-made mixes. Using fresh ingredients, it’s a testament to the fact that simple, high-quality components yield the best results. Its rise in popularity reflects a collective desire for moments of relaxation and enjoyment, showcasing that home entertaining, even if just for ourselves, was a significant part of the 2020 experience. Cheers to fresh flavors and homemade happy hours!

5. Slow Cooker Irish Beef Stew

Midway through our list, at number five, we find the ultimate comfort food: Slow Cooker Irish Beef Stew. As many sought solace in hearty, home-cooked meals, this stew delivered warmth, flavor, and incredible tenderness with minimal hands-on effort. The slow cooker transformed tough cuts of beef into melt-in-your-mouth perfection, alongside a medley of root vegetables and a rich, savory broth. It’s the quintessential cozy meal, ideal for batch cooking and enjoying over several days. Its popularity speaks volumes about the year’s craving for deeply nourishing, fuss-free dishes that offer a sense of tradition and comfort, making it a true staple for many families throughout 2020.

4. Easy Sausage and Rice Skillet

Just missing the top three, at number four, is the incredibly practical and delicious Easy Sausage and Rice Skillet. This one-pan wonder perfectly encapsulates the spirit of 2020 cooking: minimal cleanup, maximum flavor, and absolute convenience. Combining savory sausage with fluffy rice and often a mix of vegetables, it’s a complete meal that comes together quickly in a single skillet. Its versatility allows for endless customization, making it a go-to for utilizing pantry staples and adapting to diverse tastes. This recipe’s high ranking highlights the strong demand for efficient, family-friendly dinner solutions that simplify life without compromising on taste during a year when juggling many responsibilities became the norm.

3. Easy Korean Meatballs

Breaking into the top three, we have the crowd-pleasing Easy Korean Meatballs. These succulent meatballs, coated in a delectable sweet and savory Korean-inspired glaze, proved to be an absolute hit. They’re incredibly versatile, serving equally well as a stunning appetizer for a small gathering or as a flavorful main course alongside rice and steamed vegetables. The recipe simplifies the process of creating restaurant-quality Asian fusion at home, making it accessible to cooks of all skill levels. Their popularity in 2020 reflects a yearning for exciting flavors and adaptable meals that can brighten up any weeknight or make a simple meal feel special, reaffirming the love for dishes that are both easy to make and universally adored.

2. 40 Minute Hamburger Buns

Coming in at an incredible number two, the 40 Minute Hamburger Buns highlight a major trend of 2020: home baking. With more time on our hands, many turned to the comforting and rewarding process of making bread from scratch. This recipe stood out because it demystifies bread-making, offering a surprisingly quick and simple way to achieve perfectly soft, fluffy hamburger buns in less than an hour. Freshly baked buns elevate any burger or sandwich to an entirely new level, and the satisfaction of pulling them hot from the oven is unmatched. Its immense popularity speaks to a collective desire for simple, homemade goodness and the joy of mastering new kitchen skills during a year of extensive home cooking. This recipe truly empowered home bakers across the community.

1. Healthy Pumpkin Banana Muffins

And now, the moment you’ve been waiting for! The undisputed champion, the most beloved and visited new recipe of 2020 on Fox and Briar, is the incredible Healthy Pumpkin Banana Muffins. This recipe captured hearts and taste buds for countless reasons. It combines the comforting flavors of pumpkin and banana into a moist, wholesome muffin that’s perfect for a nourishing breakfast, a satisfying snack, or a healthier dessert. Designed to be both delicious and nutritious, these muffins provided a guilt-free indulgence that many sought during a year focused on well-being and mindful eating. Their ease of preparation, delightful aroma filling the kitchen, and family-friendly appeal made them an absolute staple. This recipe perfectly encapsulates the year’s trends: a desire for healthy, comforting, and simple homemade treats. It’s a testament to the fact that even in challenging times, a little bit of sweetness and a lot of goodness can make all the difference.

What Will You Cook Next?

As we close the chapter on 2020, this list of your favorite recipes serves as a wonderful reminder of the creativity, resilience, and comfort found in our kitchens. From quick stir-fries to slow-cooked stews, international flavors to classic homemade buns, and ultimately, a healthy muffin that stole the show, these dishes tell a story of a year lived largely at home, centered around nourishing ourselves and our loved ones.

Thank you for making Fox and Briar a part of your culinary journey throughout 2020. We hope this look back inspires you to revisit these beloved recipes or discover new favorites that you might have missed. Here’s to more delicious moments in the kitchen in the years to come!