The 10 Recipes You Actually Cooked the Most in 2025

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Okay, look, I spent the last three days staring at my site analytics instead of doing my laundry, and the data is pretty wild. You guys were obsessed with comfort food all year. I’m talking about the kind of meals that make you want to put on sweatpants and ignore your phone. These are the 10 most popular recipes of 2025 that hit my kitchen counter over and over. I’ve made every single one of these at least five times, and honestly? I’m still not sick of them. Let’s break them down.

The Heavy Hitters That Won Your Hearts

My number one recipe this year was definitely the ‘Lazy Sunday’ Short Rib Ragu. I use Diamond Crystal kosher salt exclusively for this because it doesn’t make the sauce taste like a salt lick. It takes about 4 hours of low-and-slow simmering, and yes, that step where you skim the fat is annoying, but trust me, your arteries will thank you. I usually grab my beef from Costco because it’s way cheaper than the local butcher for this kind of volume. It costs about $22 for the meat, and it feeds six people easily. If you haven’t made this yet, what are you doing with your weekend? It’s a total crowd-pleaser.

Why the Short Rib Ragu is King

It’s all about the fat rendering. If you try to rush it, the sauce stays greasy. I’ve ruined two batches by being impatient, so learn from my mistakes. Use a heavy Le Creuset Dutch oven if you have one; the heat distribution is just better.

Weeknight Wins for When You’re Tired

Then there’s the 15-minute Trader Joe’s Gnocchi Hack. Look, I know it’s not ‘from scratch,’ but I have a job, and I’m guessing you do too. You just toss the frozen cauliflower gnocchi in a pan with some Kerrygold butter and fresh sage. I add a squeeze of lemon juice at the end to cut the richness. It costs maybe $7 for the whole meal, and it’s been a lifesaver on Tuesdays when I just want to collapse. Seriously, keep a bag in your freezer at all times. It’s better than takeout, and you don’t have to tip the driver.

The Secret to Crispy Gnocchi

Don’t crowd the pan! If you put too many in at once, they get mushy. I do them in two batches if I’m feeding more than two people. It adds three minutes, but it’s worth it.

The Breakfast Situation Everyone Loved

You guys really went hard for the Overnight Sourdough Pancakes. I don’t know why, but people seem to have a weird fear of sourdough discard. It’s just flour and water, people! I use a starter I’ve had since 2022, but store-bought discard works fine if you’re a beginner. These pancakes cost about $3 to make for a family of four. They’re tangy, fluffy, and basically the only reason I get out of bed on Saturdays. I serve them with a little bit of real maple syrup—don’t buy that corn syrup fake stuff, I’m judging you if you do.

Dealing with the Starter

If your starter is in the fridge, feed it the night before. If you forget, just use it anyway; it’ll be a little less tangy, but the pancakes will still rise just fine.

The Salad That Isn’t Actually Sad

I was surprised by how much you all liked the Crunchy Peanut Slaw. It’s basically just shredded cabbage, a ton of cilantro, and a dressing made with Jif peanut butter and soy sauce. It’s a great side for grilled chicken or those fish tacos you’re always making. It costs under $5 for a massive bowl. I make it on Sunday, and it stays crunchy for like three days in the fridge. That’s a win in my book. Just don’t add the peanuts until right before you serve it, or they get weirdly soft and sad.

The Dressing Trick

Whisk the peanut butter with hot water first. If you just dump it in the soy sauce, it clumps up and you get a mouthful of straight peanut butter, which is not the vibe.

The Dessert You Made for Every Birthday

Finally, the Olive Oil Cake. It’s the most requested thing I’ve ever posted. It’s simple, it’s not too sweet, and it makes you look like a pastry chef without actually being one. I use a decent extra virgin olive oil from Trader Joe’s—don’t use the expensive finishing oil for baking, you’re just wasting money. It takes about 15 minutes of prep and 45 minutes in the oven. It costs maybe $9 total. I’ve made this for my nephew’s birthday, my neighbor’s housewarming, and for myself at 11 PM on a Tuesday. No regrets.

Don’t Overbake It

Check it at 40 minutes. If a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs, pull it out. If you wait until it’s ‘clean,’ you’ve dried it out and ruined it. Stop being paranoid.

⭐ Pro Tips

• Always measure your flour by weight using a digital scale; my OXO scale cost $25 and it changed my life.
• Buy your spices in bulk at an Indian grocery store or Costco; you’ll save $4 per jar compared to the grocery store.
• Don’t skip the rest time on meat; if you cut into that short rib too early, all the juices run out and you’re left with dry beef.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

There you have it—the hits of 2025. Honestly, I’m pretty proud of this list because these are the dishes I actually eat when nobody is watching. Pick one, head to the store, and just get cooking. Don’t overthink it, don’t worry about making it look like a magazine cover, and just enjoy the food. Let me know which one you try first—I’m dying to hear how it goes.