Our BEST Recipes from the Past 25 Years (2024)

Home Recipes Cooking Style Comfort Food

Our BEST Recipes from the Past 25 Years (1)Ellie Martin CliffeUpdated: Dec. 13, 2023

    It's our anniversary—and we couldn't have gotten here without you! Here are our best-loved reader-shared recipes from every year we've been around.

    1/26

    Moist Chocolate Cake

    Premiere Issue, 1993

    The cake reminds me of my grandmother, because it was one of her specialties. I bake it often for family parties, and it always brings back fond memories. The cake is light and airy with a delicious chocolate taste. This recipe is a keeper! —Patricia Kreitz, Richland, Pennsylvania

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    2/26

    Taste of Home

    Pork Chops with Scalloped Potatoes

    August/September 1994

    Mom always managed to put a delicious hearty meal on the table for us and for our farmhands. This all-in-one comforting pork chops recipe reminds me of home. —Bernice Morris, Marshfield, Missouri

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    3/26

    Icebox Butterhorns

    June/July 1995

    These beautiful golden rolls just melt in your mouth! People will be impressed when these appear on your table. —Judy Clark, Elkhart, Indiana

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    4/26

    Cheeseburger Soup

    October/November 1996

    A local restaurant serves a similar soup but wouldn’t share its recipe with me. So I developed my own, modifying a recipe for potato soup. I was really pleased with the way this all-American treat turned out. —Joanie Shawhan, Madison, Wisconsin

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    5/26

    Zucchini Cupcakes

    August/September 1997

    I asked my grandmother for this recipe after trying these irresistible spice cupcakes at her home. I love their creamy caramel frosting. They’re such a scrumptious dessert you actually forget you’re eating your vegetables, too! —Virginia Lapierre, Greensboro Bend, Vermont

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    6/26

    Rhubarb Custard Bars

    April/May 1998

    Once I tried these rich, gooey bars, I just had to have the recipe so I could make them for my family and friends. The shortbread-like crust and rhubarb and custard layers inspire people to find rhubarb they can use to fix a batch for themselves. —Shari Roach, South Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    7/26

    Li'l Cheddar Meat Loaves

    April/May 1999

    I got this recipe from my aunt when I was a teen and have made these miniature loaves many times since. My husband and three children count this main dish among their favorites. —Kathy Bowron, Cocolalla, Idaho

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    8/26

    Taste of Home

    Flavorful Chicken Fajitas

    August/September 2000

    This flavorful recipe is definitely on my weeknight dinner rotation. The chicken fajita marinade in these popular wraps is mouthwatering. They go together in a snap and always get raves! —Julie Sterchi, Jackson, Missouri

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    9/26

    Buttery Cornbread

    April/May 2001

    A friend gave me this recipe several years ago, and I think it’s the best cornbread recipe I’ve tried. I love to serve the melt-in-your mouth homemade cornbread hot from the oven with butter and syrup. It gets rave reviews on holidays and at potluck dinners. —Nicole Callen, Auburn, California

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    10/26

    Taste of Home

    Bacon Macaroni Salad

    June/July 2002

    This pleasing pasta salad is like eating a BLT in a bowl. Filled with crispy bacon, chopped tomato, celery and green onion, the sensational salad is coasted with a tangy mayonnaise and vinegar dressing. It’s a real crowd-pleaser! —Norene Wright, Manilla, Indiana

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    11/26

    Blueberry Banana Bread

    June/July 2003

    Blueberries and bananas combine in these tender, golden loaves. Whether you enjoy a slice as a snack or for breakfast, this bread is so flavorful, you won’t need butter. —Sandy Flick, Toledo, Ohio

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    12/26

    Taste of Home

    Baked Mushroom Chicken

    June/July 2004

    This mushroom chicken recipe is the perfect way to dress up a standard weeknight dinner. It’s a recipe I can count on to yield tender and flavorful mushroom chicken every time. —Barbara McCalley, Allison Park, Pennsylvania

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    13/26

    Shrimp Scampi

    October/November 2005

    This shrimp scampi recipe looks like you fussed, but it’s easy to prepare. Lemon and herbs enhance the shrimp, and bread crumbs add a pleasing crunch. Served over pasta, this main dish is pretty enough for company. —Lori Packer, Omaha, Nebraska

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    14/26

    Pineapple Orange Cake

    June/July 2006

    This is one of my favorite cakes. It’s moist and light yet so satisfying. I’ve been adapting it for years and now it’s almost guilt-free. —Pam Sjolund, Columbia, South Carolina

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    15/26

    Buffalo Chicken Dip

    December/January 2007

    Buffalo wing sauce, cream cheese and ranch or blue cheese dressing make a great party dip. Everywhere I take it, people want this chicken wing dip recipe. —Peggy Foster, Florence, Kentucky

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    16/26

    Taste of Home

    Forgotten Jambalaya

    February/March 2008

    During chilly months, I fix this jambalaya recipe at least once a month. It’s so easy…just chop the vegetables, dump everything in the slow cooker and forget it! Even my sons, who are picky about spicy things, like this dish. —Cindi Coss, Coppell, Texas

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    17/26

    Stamp-of-Approval Spaghetti Sauce

    February/March 2009

    My father is very opinionated, especially about food. This recipe received his almost unreachable stamp of approval. I have yet to hear a disagreement from anyone who has tried it! —Melissa Taylor, Higley, Arizona

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    18/26

    Taste of Home

    Peanut Butter Brownie Trifle

    April/May 2010

    This rich, tempting trifle feeds a crowd and features the ever-popular combination of chocolate and peanut butter. Try this dessert for your next get-together. —Nancy Foust, Stoneboro, Pennsylvania

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    19/26

    TMB Studio

    Creamy Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

    February/March 2011

    Creamy make-ahead mashed potatoes get even better when topped with a savory trio of cheese, onions and bacon. —JoAnn Koerkenmeier, Damiansville, Illinois

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    20/26

    Taste of Home

    Jalapeno Popper Spread

    August/September 2012

    I’ve been told by fellow party-goers that this recipe tastes exactly like a jalapeno popper. I like that it can be made without much fuss. —Ariane McAlpine, Penticton, British Columbia

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    21/26

    Coconut-Pecan German Chocolate Pie

    December 2013

    This pie combines the ingredients everyone loves in its classic cake cousin. It’s so silky and smooth, you won’t be able to put your fork down. —Anna Jones, Coppell, Texas

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    22/26

    TMB Studio

    co*keCola Cake

    September/October 2014

    We live in Coca-Cola country, where everyone loves a chocolaty, moist sheet cake made with the iconic soft drink. Our rich version does the tradition proud. —Heidi Jobe, Carrollton, Georgia

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    We made the original fantasy fudge recipe—and it still stacks up decades later.

    23/26

    Can't-Eat-Just-One Cinnamon Rolls

    February/March 2015

    My cinnamon rolls have been known to vanish quickly. Once I dropped off a dozen rolls for my brothers, and they emptied the pan in 10 minutes. —Regina Farmwald, West Farmington, Ohio

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    24/26

    The Ultimate Chicken Noodle Soup

    February/March 2016

    My first Wisconsin winter was so cold, all I wanted to eat was homemade chicken noodle soup. Of all the chicken noodle soup recipes out there, this one is my favorite, and is in heavy rotation from November to April. It has many incredibly devoted fans.—Gina Nistico, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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    25/26

    Bacon Pea Salad

    June/July 2017

    My husband absolutely loves peas. My middle son isn’t the biggest fan, but he loves bacon. So, I combined the two, and it was perfect! This pea salad is an awesome side dish, especially for barbecue. —Angela Lively, Conroe, Texas

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    26/26

    Sausage and Pepper Sheet-Pan Sandwiches

    February/March 2018

    Sausage with peppers was always on the table when I was growing up. Here’s how I do it the easy way. Just grab a sheet pan and the ingredients, then let your oven do the work. —Debbie Glassco*ck, Conway, Arkansas

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    Up Next: The Best Recipes of 2023

    Originally Published: September 06, 2018

    Our BEST Recipes from the Past 25 Years (28)

    Ellie Martin Cliffe

    Ellie has spent almost 20 years writing and editing food and lifestyle content for several well-known publishers. As Taste of Home's content director, she leads the team of editors sharing tasty recipes, cooking tips and entertaining ideas. Since joining Taste of Home 13 years ago, she has held roles in digital and print, editing cookbooks, curating special interest publications, running magazines, starring in cooking and cleaning videos, working with the Community Cooks and even handing out cookies and cocoa at local holiday events. Gluten- and dairy-free since 2017, she’s a staff go-to on allergy-friendly foods that actually taste good.If she's not in her plant-filled office, find Ellie in her family’s urban veggie garden, in the kitchen trying new GF/DF recipes or at a local hockey rink, cheering on her spouse or third grader.

    Our BEST Recipes from the Past 25 Years (2024)

    FAQs

    How much do you have to change a recipe to make it your own? ›

    The general rule [...] is that three major [emphasis added] changes are required to make a recipe "yours." However, even if you make such changes, it is a professional courtesy to acknowledge the source of or inspiration for the recipe.

    How do you preserve old recipe cards? ›

    The size of your recipe collection will dictate how you store them. A sizeable collection can be stored in standard archival file folders and boxes. Weak or damaged paper also can be placed in polyester sleeves and then in folders and boxes.

    Does Allrecipes have a cookbook? ›

    All About the Allrecipes Keepers Cookbook

    This cookbook is a recipe collection created by the world's largest food community, made up of more than 60 million home cooks (including you!). Year after year, these are the dishes we see our Allstars making.

    How do you reduce a recipe? ›

    It's basically arithmetic. If the recipe makes say eight servings, and you want just two servings, each ingredient should be divided by four. So if it starts with 2 pounds of ground beef, Divide that by four and get 1/2 pound of ground beef. If it says one cup of flour, you would use 1/4 cup of flour.

    Can you legally own a recipe? ›

    For example, you can copyright a collection of recipes, such as a cookbook. And you can trademark the name of a recipe, such as "Betty Crocker's Devil's Food Cake Mix." But you cannot copyright or trademark a single recipe.

    Is it cheaper to buy or make your own food? ›

    Overall, the more food you make at home, the math tends to work out so that your food expenses will be considerably cheaper.

    What can I do with my grandma's old recipes? ›

    If you have larger or full-sized 8 1/2 x 11″ recipes, you can easily store them in print pages or 3-ring page protectors, which will display Grandma's beloved apple pie recipe while keeping it safe from your everyday kitchen mishaps.

    How do you preserve grandma's recipes? ›

    Make a recipe box.

    I made about 10 of these wooden boxes last year and gave them as Christmas gifts to my coworkers, family, and friends. While they're not ideal for full-sized pieces of paper, they're perfect for storing 3x5 recipe cards.

    Do people still use recipe cards? ›

    Although many call it outdated, the world of using good ol' paper for books, studies, and even recipes is still very much present. There are simply some things that digital tools cannot replace, and deciding to print your own recipe cards is one of them.

    Is the Allrecipes app discontinued? ›

    The discontinuation of the Allrecipes app in March 2023 came as a disappointment to many users who favored its convenience for accessing content on the go. While the app is no longer available for download, the Allrecipes Dinner Spinner mobile app remains accessible, providing a similar experience for its users.

    What is half of 1 ⁄ 2 cup? ›

    Half of 1 cup is 1/2 cup, half of 1/2 cup is 1/4 cup, and half of 2/3 cups = 1/3 cup.

    What is the half of 1 tablespoon? ›

    Download Chart
    Original AmountHalf the AmountOne-Third the Amount
    1 tbsp1-1/2 tsp1 tsp
    1 tsp1/2 tsp1/4 tsp
    1/2 tsp1/4 tsp1/8 tsp
    1/4 tsp1/8 tspDash
    6 more rows
    Dec 27, 2021

    What's the same as 3 4 cup? ›

    The volume of a 3/4 cup is 6 fl oz (180 mL). In other words, any container that holds exactly 6 fl oz (180 mL) can help you measure wet ingredients and dry ingredients (without the need for a measuring cup).

    At what point does a recipe become your own? ›

    A general rule of thumb is: if you change three or more ingredients in the recipe, and rewrite the recipe instructions in your own voice, you can consider it your own. Even so, stating that the recipe was “adapted from” or “inspired by” the original recipe is a good idea.

    What makes a recipe your own? ›

    A recipe can usually be considered “original” if you have changed three or more major ingredients, or three or more steps in the recipe process, and have written everything in your own words.

    How do you own rights to a recipe? ›

    Recipes can be protected under copyright law if they are accompanied by “substantial literary expression.” This expression can be an explanation or detailed directions, which is likely why food and recipe bloggers often share stories and personal anecdotes alongside a recipe's ingredients.

    How do you not plagiarize a recipe? ›

    The cookbook writers should not copy the cooking method or illustrations used as part of the cooking procedure to avoid copyright infringement. They need to use their image, which helps them avoid copyright-related issues, and it even offers protection to their works from getting copied or plagiarized.

    References

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