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 most important rule to remember before you begin to cook? ›

    Always wash your hands before you start cooking and between every task — and take the time to wash your hands properly.

    Why do good chefs read the entire recipe first? ›

    First, you take the recipe that you intend to cook and read it thoroughly to familiarize yourself with the timing, techniques, equipment, and ingredients you will need.

    How do cooks remember recipes? ›

    Every restaurant has their own system for teaching recipes to their cooks. Some have recipe books, some have recipe viewers, and some chefs just write the recipes freehand, photocopy them and hand them out at the beginning of the shift.

    When you were going to try a new recipe what is the first thing you want to do? ›

    Explanation: The first thing you want to do when trying a new recipe is to read through the recipe from beginning to end. This will give you an understanding of the steps and ingredients required. It's important to have a clear idea of what the recipe entails before you start.

    What are the four golden rules in the kitchen? ›

    • Choose foods processed for safety.
    • Cook food thoroughly.
    • Eat cooked foods immediately.
    • Store cooked foods carefully.
    • Reheat cooked foods thoroughly.

    What is rule number 1 of cooking? ›

    1. Read the recipe. Of all the important advice out there about cooking, this by far has to be the number 1 rule of cooking: read your recipe completely before getting started. This may seem like a mundane task (especially when you're excited dive in!), but you'll be so thankful you took the time to do it!

    How many times should you at least read a recipe before you begin? ›

    Others recommend reading through the entire recipe at least twice. The first time, make sure all of the ingredients listed are included in the instructions and there are no ingredients in the instructions that are not in the ingredient list.

    Who taught Gordon Ramsay how do you cook? ›

    After earning a vocational diploma in hotel management from North Oxon Technical College in 1987, he moved to London and began honing his culinary skills under chef Marco Pierre White at the restaurant Harvey's and under chef Albert Roux at La Gavroche.

    How many recipes should be in your first cookbook? ›

    The standard expectation is that a cookbook should have between 70 and 100 recipes, but larger compendiums have at least 200. Think carefully about how many you want to include. You might want to save some back for cookbook number two!

    What meals should everyone know how do you cook? ›

    17 Dishes Every Home Cook Should Know How to Make, According to Chefs
    1. 01 of 17. Eggs. Victor Protasio. ...
    2. 02 of 17. Rice. Diana Chistruga. ...
    3. 03 of 17. Roast Chicken. Julia Hartbeck. ...
    4. 04 of 17. Bolognese. Photo and Styling by Julia Gartland. ...
    5. 05 of 17. Baked Fish. Maxwell Cozzi. ...
    6. 06 of 17. Fresh Pasta. ...
    7. 07 of 17. Steak. ...
    8. 08 of 17. French Fries.
    Mar 11, 2024

    What is the easiest way to learn how to cook? ›

    There's no better way to learn how to cook than to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty in a hands-on cooking class near you or even a live online cooking class. From basic knife skills to copying your favorite takeout items, cooking classes offer something for everyone.

    How much money does a chef make working at the White House for the president? ›

    White House Chef Salary
    Annual SalaryHourly Wage
    Top Earners$84,000$40
    75th Percentile$64,500$31
    Average$51,225$25
    25th Percentile$35,000$17

    What is the first thing you should do with every recipe? ›

    1: READ THE RECIPE COMPLETELY BEFORE BEGINNING. The first step in following a recipe is to be sure to read through the ingredients needed as well as the instructions for what you will be doing before you ever begin mixing your batters or doughs. (This is one of the first steps in Mise En Place.)

    What are 4 things to notice when reading a recipe beforehand? ›

    • Plan Your Cooking Time. The first thing to know is that there are a lot of different kinds of recipes out there. ...
    • Assess If You Have All the Ingredients Required. ...
    • Prepare All the Necessary Cooking Equipment. ...
    • Take into Account Special Dietary Needs. ...
    • Ensure That the Dish Turns Out Delicious.
    Sep 27, 2022

    What is the most important part of a recipe? ›

    Ingredient List - The ingredient list is one of the most critical parts of a recipe. The ingredients should be listed in chronological order, with the ingredient used first at the very top of the list (Palmer, 2020).

    What is the first thing you should do before you start cooking? ›

    Before you start cooking, here are some simple things you can do to ensure you have a smooth and efficient cook.
    1. 1) Give yourself space. ...
    2. 2) Get all of your equipment ready for the recipe you're cooking. ...
    3. 3) Gather all your ingredients ready on your workbench. ...
    4. 5) Secure your chopping board. ...
    5. 6) Keep a rubbish bowl nearby.

    What is the most important rule to remember before eating food? ›

    Understand calorie balance and create calorie awareness.

    But calories do matter. They are the primary factor in whether you gain or lose weight. There's no getting around this. Regardless of what you eat if you eat too much you'll gain weight.

    What is the most important step to remember before preparing food? ›

    Preventing food from becoming contaminated during preparation. The most important step to remember before preparing food is to wash and dry your hands thoroughly. Try to use tongs and other utensils when preparing food that will not be cooked before it is eaten, such as salads and sandwiches.

    What is the golden rule in cooking? ›

    Remember, you should always follow the five golden rules of cooking: quality ingredients, preparation, tasting, cleanliness, and timing.

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