The 50 Most Popular Recipes of 2018 (2024)

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We spend a lot of time here at The Daily Meal curating and writing recipes. We try to offer readers a range of ideas and possibilities, and we hope our recipes inspire readers to cook new and delicious things all year long. From fabulous pasta recipes to essential brunch dishes and from recipes you didn't know you could make in a waffle iron to grandmother-approved cookies and countless more, we try to cover all bases when it comes to culinary inspiration.

Now that the year is coming to a close, we decided to look back over the past 12 months to find the recipes that have proven to be the most popular and put them all in one easy-to-find place! We turned to Google Analytics for insight into which dishes were most beloved by our readers in 2018.

Some of the recipes are not so surprising — after all, sloppy Joes, cake crumb cookies, and brisket are all delicious things to make, right? Some of the top recipes did, however, take us by surprise, with some imitation crab recipes taking top spots on our list and crack pie making it into the top four. Who could have predicted that? So go ahead and check out our list of the most popular recipes of 2018.

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This easy, baked pancake served with cinnamon sugar and fresh berries is tasty and the perfect thing to make for breakfast or brunch and if you have a sweet tooth. It could even be a great breakfast for dinner recipe!

For the Triple Berry Dutch Baby Pancake recipe, click here.

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This inexpensive, healthy soup recipe is an easy weeknight dinner and can feed a crowd. Flavorful soup is always a winner.

For the Poor Man's Soup recipe, click here.

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This is the ultimate comfort food dish to serve if you plan on having some picky guests over. This dish is an all-around crowd pleaser. It's a great quick dinner to have on hand and gives the good old chili recipe a little bit of a twist!

For the Instant Pot Beef Enchilada Casserole recipe, click here.

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Meatloaf is an American classic, right? It's homey, comforting and almost always delicious. If you are on the hunt for a truly fantastic meatloaf recipe, this is a great recipe to try.

For the Meatloaf Fit for Champions recipe, click here.

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For those avoiding starchy high-carb foods such as white rice, cauliflower "rice" is a wonderful alternative that is highly nutritious.

For the Paleo Dirty Cauliflower 'Rice' recipe, click here.

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In this simple recipe, we've skipped the grape jelly and made a simple sweet and sour glaze with grape juice. Add in frozen meatballs and heat to serve for a fun, family-friendly recipe.

For the Sweet and Sour Slow Cooker Meatballs recipe, click here.

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A pancake breakfast sandwich? Yes, please! I would want to have that every morning. That's essentially what McDonald's McGriddle is. Make delicious fluffy pancakes with maple syrup incorporated in them and sandwich sausage, eggs, or even bacon between two of them.

For the McDonald's Sausage McGriddle recipe, click here.

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Sometimes a little is just enough, which is why we swap in cornbread for regular bread in our stuffing recipe when we're looking for just a taste of something different. It's subtle enough to let the classic flavors of stuffing shine through, yet still makes it just a little different.

For the Classic Cornbread Stuffing recipe, click here.

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It's fun to say. They're fun to make. And, thanks to the chocolate, butterscotch and peanut butter, they're even more fun to eat.

For the Chocolate Scotcheroos recipe, click here.

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Tenderloin is a soft cut of meat to start with, and cooking it with a hint of citrus and rosemary really brings out the subtleties in this dish.

For the Instant Pot Paleo Pork Tenderloin recipe, click here.

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Carbonara is a fantastic, traditional Roman dish that is so easy to make and is a fantastic dish to have up you sleeve. It is quick to make and wonderfully delicious and satisfying — after all, what's better than egg, guanciale (or bacon), cheese and spaghetti?

For the Spaghetti alla Carbonara recipe, click here.

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This meat, potato and cheese dish is a Midwestern classic. Whether you call it a casserole or you call it a hotdish, you know that tots are the definition of comfort food.

For the Chili Cheese Tater Tot Casserole recipe, click here.

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Transform sweet potatoes into this tasty slow cooker stew with a variety of spices — curry powder, cayenne, and ginger as well as peanut butter and fresh lime juice.

For the African Sweet Potato Stew recipe, click here.

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The best part about this mac and cheese recipe is that it can be made ahead and frozen — just be sure to use a freezer-to-oven-safe pan and increase the baking time to 50 minutes.

For the "World's Best" Mac and Cheese recipe, click here.

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If you ask 10 Swedes how to make authentic Swedish meatballs with cream sauce (called köttbullar med gräddsås), you'll likely get at least 10 different answers. In our opinion, this one is the absolute best.

For the Swedish Meatballs With Cream Sauce recipe, click here.

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Transform leftover cake into something new and delicious with these cake crumb cookies.

For the Cake Crumb Cookies recipe, click here.

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This recipes feature artichoke hearts along with the tradition egg, bacon and cheese for added flavor in this classic Roman dish.

For the Pasta Carbonara recipe, click here.

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Doubles are a vegetarian street food from Trinidad that consists of two flat, palm-sized pieces of fried quick bread filled with a chickpea curry called channa.

For the Doubles recipe, click here.

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If you can't find cheese curds in your grocery store, you can use mozzarella sticks or other cheese sticks cut into small pieces.

For the State Fair Crescent Cheese Curds recipe, click here.

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Buffalo chicken dip is a robust creamy dip featuring the unforgettable flavor of Buffalo wings but without the mess. It's like wings in a bowl! You're going to need to make at least two batches if you want it to last past the coin toss.

For the Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe, click here.

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This American classic is a favorite for Thanksgiving but can and should be enjoyed more than once a year! As well as paring perfectly with turkey, it also goes very well with pork or chicken, so why not switch things up a bit?

For the Sweet Potato Casserole recipe, click here.

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This burger is simple to make — and with a blockbuster secret ingredient (bacon!), it is so delicious that it hardly needs cheese.

For the Best Burger Recipe Ever, click here.

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Voodoo Juice is a co*cktail from Iggies Beach Bar at Bolongo Bay Beach Resort in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The recipe uses the local Cruzan rum in several flavors: pineapple, banana, coconut, citrus and dark. But don't worry, the co*cktail isn't all rum! Cranberry and pineapple juice finish off the drink.

For the Voodoo Juice co*cktail recipe, click here.

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Delicious, sweet and so easy to just keep eating, traditional pinwheels become even more delicious in this recipe with the addition of creamy peanut butter.

For the Peanut Butter Pinwheels recipe, click here.

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If you've ever wondered just how to perfectly cook ground meat, look no further! This simple recipe will set you up for success when it comes to all sorts of ground beef recipes, from chili and casseroles to stuffed shells and more!

For the Ground Beef With Onions and Peppers recipe, click here.

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An easy breakfast recipe is essential to a successful brunch. You can make this tasty casserole the night before and just pop it in the oven the day of your brunch!

For the Easy Breakfast Egg Casserole recipe, click here.

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Usually brisket takes hours and hours to cook perfectly. With this recipe you can have dinner on the table in just 45 minutes thanks to the fabulous pressure cooker!

For the Best Ever Beef Brisket in the Pressure Cooker recipe, click here.

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Potatoes, charred red peppers, tomatoes, and pearled onions add balance and depth to this deliciously healthy dish.

For the Alaska Pollock a la Plancha recipe, click here.

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This may seem an odd recipe to find so far along in our list of most popular recipes, but people seem to love it. Why not give it a go?

For the Imitation Crab Linguine recipe, click here.

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Bring a little bit of California flavor into your kitchen with this recipe for In-N-Out's famous Special Sauce.

For the In-N-Out's Special Sauce recipe, click here.

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You can have a delicious pot pie on the table quickly and easily. A combination of cooked chicken, frozen veggies, and creamy herb and garlic soup is topped with biscuit crust and baked to golden perfection. Give it a try; this is comfort food that's sure to become a family favorite!

For the Quick Chicken Pot Pie recipe, click here.

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There's no need to limit turkey consumption to one day a year! This whole roasted turkey breast will be a welcome addition to the dinner table any day and will make fabulous sandwiches any time of the year.

For The Barefoot Contessa's Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast recipe, click here.

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These pies are not difficult, but it is imperative to accomplish more than one thing at a time. For this recipe, you must cook the chicken before it goes in the pie. You also cook the vegetables and make the gravy. Organize your tasks well and you can accomplish these things at the same time!

For the Best Chicken Pot Pie recipe, click here.

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Make your own version of the iconic McDonald's cheeseburger from the comfort of your own kitchen — you might find it's actually better than the original!

For the McDonald's Cheeseburger recipe, click here.

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Everyone will love these tasty little cakes. They're great for breakfast with maple syrup drizzled over the top and equally delicious as an accompaniment to greens or as an alternative to cornbread or biscuits with lunch or dinner.

For the Hoecakes recipe, click here.

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This recipe, with melting cheese and satisfying rice is a comfort food you needn't feel guilty about eating. The roasted peppers pair amazingly well with the turkey filling, and these can easily be made ahead of time for a tasty meal that will add a considerable amount of cozy to the table on any chilly, winter day.

For the Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers recipe, click here.

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Here is a super simple and healthy recipe for swordfish. It combines garlic, olive oil and parsley; paired with a green salad, it makes for a perfect weeknight meal.

For the Baked Swordfish recipe, click here.

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If you don't have the time, energy or perhaps the stove to make hard boiled eggs the old-fashioned way, never fear — this recipe for microwave hardboiled eggs will save the day!

For the Hard-Boiled Eggs in the Microwave recipe, click here.

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This simple beef stroganoff recipe is a twist on the classic. It can be made in a slow cooker for busy family nights when you just want something quick, easy and filling.

For the Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff recipe, click here.

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These hot wings are spicy and delicious — perfectly cooked wings that are coated in a finger-licking sauce made with cayenne, garlic powder, sugar, black pepper, Worcestershire sauce and egg yolks to make it extra creamy.

For the Buffalo Wild Wings' Wings and Sauce recipe, click here.

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Brisket is delicious — tender and full of flavor. If you have ever wondered where to start, look no further than this recipe and enjoy perfect brisket for once and for all.

For the Perfect Brisket recipe, click here.

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This is a traditional scalloped potato recipe that will make the perfect side dish for weeknight dinners.

For the Easy Scalloped Potatoes recipe, click here.

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Take your margarita to the next level by including a Coronita (a 7-ounce bottle of Corona). The drink is also known as a Mexican Bulldog.

For the CoronaRita recipe, click here.

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The secret ingredient in this mouthwatering meatloaf? You guessed it — oats! Make this meatloaf for a hearty dinner that the whole family will love.

For the Quaker Oats' Prize-Winning Meatloaf recipe, click here.

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Who doesn't love a really good margarita? This recipe is easy to make and tastes tart, fresh and smooth — you'll probably want more than one!

For the LAST Margarita Recipe You Will Ever Need, click here.

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If you are looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal, look no further. Serve your sloppy Joes with a side of chips or a salad.

For the Ground Beef Sloppy Joe recipe, click here.

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These imitation crab cakes are a simple, delicious and budget-friendly recipe that people are sure to enjoy.

For the Imitation Crab Meat Crab Cake recipe, click here.

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Crack pie has been a staple at Milk Bar, the growing phenomenon from the mind of Christina Tosi, since the very beginning. With this recipe there's no need to feel deprived for even a moment. This recipe makes two pies so you can always have a slice on hand!

For the Crack Pie recipe, click here.

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If you love McDonald's hash browns (we'll admit they are pretty tasty), you should try making them at home!

For the McDonald's Hash Browns recipe, click here.

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A tasty turkey tenderloin claims the No. 1 spot in our list, proving that readers are well aware that turkey is delicious any time of year! Seasoned with rosemary, garlic and white wine, this recipe is easy as well as delicious and just one of 25 great ways to cook a turkey.

For the Roasted Turkey Tenderloins recipe, click here.

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