The 20 Best Recipes of 2023
Our test kitchen publishes hundreds of recipes a year. Every single one goes through numerous stages, from developing, to cross-testing, to styling, to photographing—with plenty of rounds of tasting and editing in between. Of course we love them all. But inevitably a few become reader favorites (and, okay, staff favorites too).
In the spirit of end-of-year countdowns, here’s the breakdown of the 20 most popular recipes of 2023: There were five saucy, tomatoey recipes. Four chewy noodle recipes. Three classic (and riffs-on-the-classic) desserts. Two easy sheet-pan dinners. And one tasty tuna melt that climbed its way to the very top. Read on for the recipes our readers and staff couldn’t get enough of in 2023. You can find and save all of these dishes—and so many more—in the Epicurious iOS app.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Gerri K. Williams1/20The Ultimate Tuna Melt
Tuna melts are the best food. Tuna melts should be on the cover of BA. Thank you to Bon Appétit for spreading tuna melt awareness. I made the tuna recipe, but just put it open face in my toaster oven because it is so deeply engrained in my soul to do this that I cannot change my ways. Still amazing. —Dan, BA reader from Queens, NY
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Gerri K. Williams2/20Triple-Chocolate Brownies
This is the one. I can’t even count how many brownie recipes I’ve tried. Most brownie recipes are just not…chocolatey enough? Which is annoying, because that’s the whole point of brownies. The combination of bittersweet chocolate and Dutch-process cocoa gives that chocolate hit while maintaining the perfect fudgy texture, without being too, too dense. Thank you, Chris Morocco. —C.G., BA reader from Detroit
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua3/20Cozy and Quick White Chicken Chili
Photograph by Joe Lingeman, food styling by Shilpa Uskokovic, prop styling by Marina Bevilacqua4/20Carrot Sheet Cake With Cream Cheese Whip
Instead of a layer cake, which has brought me to tears more than once, this carrot sheet cake requires no architectural integrity or good luck. Instead of grating carrots, you blend them. Instead of raisins, there is candied pineapple. Instead of too-sweet cream cheese frosting, this one is salty and tangy. It shook me to my core. —Emma Laperruque, senior cooking editor
Photograph by Emma Fishman, Prop styling by Emma Ringness, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi5/20Spaghetti and Verrry Tender Meatballs
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht6/20Spicy Salmon Roll Bowl
This recipe calls for coating the salmon cubes in mayo before a quick broil, to help them crisp up even better. It worked like a charm. Not only did the salmon cook incredibly fast, but it was moist and crispy too. This bowl was spicy and satisfying and tasted like it took way longer than 40 minutes to put together. —Carly Westerfield, recipe production assistant
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Emma Fishman7/20Tomatoes and Feta With Chickpeas
After roasting in the oven, even not-sandwich-worthy tomatoes taste spectacular. Then you add cumin-and-paprika-spiced chickpeas, slabs of salty feta, and broil the whole thing until it’s bubbly and blistered. A handful of vinegary arugula at the end makes it a one-dish dinner. And while you could spoon the mixture onto a bowl of grains, I found it Monday-thrilling to grab a warm flatbread and eat straight from the sheet pan. —E.L.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua8/20Super-Citrusy Carne Asada
This recipe is nothing short of brilliant. Instead of marinating the steak in lime juice, which is prone to turn bitter once it hits the heat, food editor Shilpa Uskokovic tenderizes the meat with a dry rub, then brushes it with a citrusy dressing after grilling. The result was the brightest, freshest, most vibrant carne asada I’ve ever tasted, ready in just over an hour. I tucked it in tacos alongside slabs of grilled pineapple and washed it all down with—what else?—a margarita. —Zoe Denenberg, associate cooking & SEO editor
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Gözde Eker9/20Gingery Chicken Noodle Soup
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Christina Allen10/20Korean Potato Salad
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Beth Pakradooni11/20Potato and Pea Chowder
Spring in NYC this year was chilly and rainy almost every day. Determined to cook with the season in mind, while satisfying my need for something comforting, this chowder did the trick. The warming, creamy broth and potatoes were indeed comforting, while the sweet peas and fresh dill reminded me that warmer days are ahead. —C.W.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Emilie Fosnocht, prop styling by Gerri Williams12/20Halal Cart Chicken Salad
This recipe transforms store-bought rotisserie chicken into a meal reminiscent of the street food favorite. Iceberg lettuce provides a cool, crisp, and sturdy bed for the chicken, salty pita chips, and a rich yogurt dressing that gives off white sauce vibes. I have used romaine lettuce in a pinch. It works. But trust Zaynab: Iceberg lettuce is best here. —Esra Erol, senior social media manager
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Tim Ferro, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi13/20Warm 7-Layer Skillet Dip
I know absolutely zero things about football, and yet, for the second year in a row, I was roped into participating in my friends’ NFL bracket. What I’m unabashedly more interested in is the food: sheet-pan nachos, wings, and, of course, dips of every kind, like this seven-layer dip that I had my eye on for months. Shilpa is adamant that you don’t swap out American cheese, and she has never led me astray. It’s key to keeping this dip perfectly gooey and emulsified. —A.S.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Shuai Wang, Prop Styling by Megan Forbes and Christina Hussey14/20Miso and Maple Pecan-Butter Mochi Cake
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Kaitlin Wayne, prop styling by Stephanie De Luca15/20Chicken Noodle Salad With Spicy Peanut Sauce
I loved this salad from the moment I tried it in the BA test kitchen. I ate it on one of those days where the humidity reminds you that sweat glands exist everywhere, and yes, it truly was everything I wanted: filling enough, but refreshing from all the cool, crisp vegetables. Eating it made me grateful for Hana and peanut butter and air conditioning. Would make again. —Shilpa Uskokovic, food editor
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Tim Ferro16/20Stuffed Poblanos With Beans and Greens
Delicious and filling, especially for a vegetarian dish. My hubs did not miss the meat! I was surprised how good the tomato sauce was with just canned tomatoes, chipotle chiles, and salt. Delish! Great warmed up the next day as well. This made our favorites list! —Lyneew, BA reader from Anacortes, WA
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca17/20Spinach Lasagna With Ricotta
A fan fave! I decided to experiment with this make-ahead meal for a dish at a family reunion. I underestimated how greatly folks would love this meal. I am making again (and again). So grateful it accommodates my vegetarian gluten-free diet (used GF noodles) and is delicious! —Jay Maren, BA reader from the Pacific Northwest
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Nicole Louie18/20Gochujang Sloppy Joes
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua19/20Smoky, Spicy Creole Red Beans and Rice
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Gözde Eker20/20Sheet-Pan Orange Tofu and Broccoli
