Our BEST Recipes from the Past 25 Years (2024)

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Our BEST Recipes from the Past 25 Years (1)

ByEllie Martin Cliffe

Taste of Home's Editorial Process

Updated: 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 Recipe photo by Taste of Home

    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 Recipe photo by Taste of Home

    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 Recipe photo by Taste of Home

    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 Recipe photo by Taste of Home

    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

    Author

    Ellie Martin Cliffe

    Now Taste of Home's content director, Ellie has been writing about food and lifestyle for almost 20 years. Her writing and editing roles have spanned the print and digital landscape. When Ellie isn't at TOH HQ, she's likely trying gluten- and dairy-free recipes, canning whatever's in season, or playing Forbidden Island with her family.

    Read More

    Our BEST Recipes from the Past 25 Years (28)

    Our BEST Recipes from the Past 25 Years (2024)

    FAQs

    What is the oldest surviving book of recipes? ›

    The first recorded cookbook that is still in print today is Of Culinary Matters (originally, De Re Coquinaria), written by Apicius, in fourth century AD Rome.

    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.

    What can you do with old recipes? ›

    Old family recipes can be protected and preserved in archival polyethylene bags, which can be stored in acid-free boxes to help preserve them for generations to come.

    What food is most ordered online? ›

    Biryani was the most-ordered dish for the eighth year in a row on Swiggy too, according to the food delivery platform's year-ender report released recently. India ordered 2.5 biryanis per second in 2023. A Hyderabad man ordered 1,633 biryanis this year.

    Where do most people get their recipes? ›

    There are many good sources out there, including cookbooks, magazines, and friends and family who are willing to share their secrets. One thing is sure: if you want to be a successful food blogger, you need to have a reliable source of recipes you can use as inspiration to create your own dishes.

    What is the oldest foods we still eat? ›

    The oldest foods still eaten today
    • Stew. Who can say no to a delicious, heart-warming stew? ...
    • Tamales. Made from starchy, corn-based dough, tamales are still enjoyed today all throughout Mexico and Central America, South America, the Caribbean, the US and even the Philippines. ...
    • Pancakes. Yep. ...
    • Bread. ...
    • Curry. ...
    • Cheesecake.

    What is the oldest cooked food? ›

    The burned food remnants – the oldest ever found – were recovered from the Shanidar Cave site, a Neanderthal dwelling 500 miles north of Baghdad in the Zagros Mountains. Thought to be about 70,000 years old, they were discovered in one of many ancient hearths in the caves.

    What is the most expensive book in the world? ›

    It's the “Codex Leicester”, basically a handwritten collection of scientific writings by Leonardo de Vinci from the 1500s. Bill Gates bought it in 1994 for US$30,800,000(around 63,970,000 in 2023).

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

    Is It Cheaper to Cook or Eat Out? For those who want a quick and easy answer: It's generally cheaper to cook food at home than eat out.

    Is it legal to post a recipe from a cookbook? ›

    Even if the description of the recipe is sufficiently creative and copyrightable, the copyright will not cover the recipe's ingredient list, the underlying process for making the dish, or the resulting dish itself, which are all facts. It will only protect the expression of those facts.

    Can you legally own a recipe? ›

    Recipes themselves are generally not protected by copyright. This is because they are considered to be a collection of facts and ideas, which are not copyrightable. However, the expression of the recipe can be protected by copyright. This includes the written instructions.

    How do you preserve grandma's recipes? ›

    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. Recipes also can be scanned and accessed electronically while the originals are kept in safe storage.

    What can I do with old family recipe cards? ›

    How to Display and Preserve Handwritten Recipes
    1. Showcase your handwritten recipe with a shadow box.
    2. Turn a cutting board into kitchen art.
    3. Use a small easel to hold recipes upright on the counter.
    4. Make backsplash art with customized recipe tiles.
    5. Create wall art with handwritten recipes on a canvas.
    Nov 11, 2022

    How do I find the best cook? ›

    The best way to ensure that you're comfortable with a potential cook is to ask questions. Start by asking about their experience, including how long they have been cooking and what types of meals they specialize in. You can also ask to see pictures of their past work or even sample some of their food if possible.

    Is Delish credible? ›

    Why You Should Trust Us. We hand-pick every product that appears on Delish with you in mind—and they're all tested, researched, or editor-approved.

    Who has the best cooking? ›

    Top 10 chefs in the world: A detailed look
    1. Alain Ducasse. Alain Ducasse is a French chef with 21 Michelin stars. ...
    2. Gordon Ramsay. Gordon Ramsay is a British celebrity chef, best known for his high-adrenaline cooking shows. ...
    3. Heston Blumenthal. ...
    4. Jamie Oliver. ...
    5. Thomas Keller. ...
    6. Yannick Alléno. ...
    7. Anne-Sophie Pic. ...
    8. Quique Dacosta.
    Jul 10, 2023

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