Celebrating a Delicious Year: The Food Charlatan’s Top 10 Recipes of 2019
What a year 2019 was! It brought so many wonderful things to our kitchen and our lives, culminating in some truly spectacular dishes that captured your hearts and taste buds. Today, we’re not only unveiling the most-loved recipes from The Food Charlatan published last year, but also sharing some incredibly joyous personal news. It’s a double celebration, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to share it all with you!
First, for our big announcement: our family grew by one tiny, adorable human! We welcomed our baby boy, Edison, into the world, and we are absolutely head over heels in love. Bringing a new life into the family is always an incredible journey, and watching his older siblings react has been pure magic, filling our home with even more joy and laughter.
Seriously, how can you resist that sweet, innocent face? Every day with him is a new adventure, filled with tiny coos, heartwarming cuddles, and the unique kind of love only a newborn can inspire.
And this festive shot, captured during the holiday season, perfectly shows his charming personality! It looks like he loves being a Christmas baby just as much as I do. We were incredibly fortunate that Edison chose not to make his grand entrance on Christmas Day itself, a blessing for which I’ll be forever grateful! This allowed us to settle back home in time to enjoy a quiet, cozy Christmas celebration with our entire family, making the holiday even more profoundly special and memorable.
The kids are completely captivated by their new little brother. Their excitement, curiosity, and sheer adoration are truly heartwarming to witness. We recently had some professional newborn and family photos taken to capture this precious time, and I simply cannot wait to share those beautiful moments with you all once they are ready for viewing!
More than anything, I am just profoundly grateful that we are all healthy and safe. Childbirth, even for the fourth time, always comes with its unique anxieties and challenges. However, this delivery was remarkably smooth and quick, and my recovery has been progressing wonderfully, allowing for precious bonding time. These past few weeks at home have been a cherished period of quiet adjustment, endless snuggles, and immense gratitude. And honestly, the relief of no longer being pregnant is immense – can I get an amen for that!
The Most Loved Recipes of 2019: Your Favorites Revealed!
Now, with our hearts full and our kitchen ready, let’s dive into what you’ve all been eagerly anticipating – The Food Charlatan’s top 10 recipes of 2019! It’s always an incredibly exciting and humbling experience for me to see which dishes resonated most deeply with you throughout the year, becoming staples in your homes. Do you have any predictions for the coveted number one spot?
It’s important to remember that this exclusive list highlights the top 10 recipes that were specifically published in 2019. If you’re curious to explore which recipes have been perennial favorites and garnered the most attention across the entire history of the blog, irrespective of their publication date, be sure to visit my dedicated Top 10 Recipes Ever page. Each recipe title or accompanying photo below is a clickable link that will take you directly to the full recipe post, complete with detailed instructions, helpful tips, and reader comments!
10. Creamy Turkey Wild Rice Soup
Making it into the top 10 just weeks after its debut, this Creamy Turkey Wild Rice Soup quickly became a sensation – and for truly excellent reason! I am absolutely smitten with this soup, and it seems you all were too. Its rich, velvety texture combined with hearty wild rice and tender shredded turkey (or chicken, it’s incredibly versatile for whatever you have on hand!) makes it the ultimate comfort food for chilly days. The subtle yet impactful hint of lemon is truly a game-changer, adding an unexpected brightness and zest that elevates the entire dish, preventing it from being too heavy. It’s perfect for cozy weeknight dinners, post-holiday meals utilizing leftovers, or whenever you crave something both deeply satisfying and uniquely flavorful.
9. Zuppa Toscana Copycat (Sausage Potato and Kale Soup)
For those who adore the Olive Garden’s iconic Zuppa Toscana, this sensational copycat recipe promises to bring that beloved, restaurant-quality flavor right into your own kitchen! It’s simply the best: wonderfully creamy, with just the right amount of spicy kick from the Italian sausage that perfectly complements the tender potatoes. And yes, you get the satisfying feeling of loading your bowl with fistfuls of vibrant green kale, which, of course, adds a healthy touch to this indulgent dish, right? 😉 This hearty soup is a fulfilling meal in itself, but it truly shines when paired with my recipe for irresistible Olive Garden Breadsticks. It’s a match made in culinary heaven, promising a cozy, satisfying, and utterly delicious family dinner experience.
8. Sweet and Moist Honey Cornbread
Developing this Sweet and Moist Honey Cornbread was a delightful culinary adventure, filled with extensive testing to achieve perfection! I spent countless hours experimenting with various cornbread recipes to find my absolute favorite version, and the delicious results speak for themselves. This recipe truly lives up to its name, consistently delivering a sweet, incredibly moist, and almost cake-like texture that sets it apart from denser varieties. It’s utterly divine served warm with a generous smear of butter and a luxurious drizzle of extra honey, melting in your mouth with every bite. And for the ultimate comfort meal, it’s an absolute dream companion to The Best Chili Recipe I’ve Ever Made – a post that, while technically published at the end of 2018, remains one of my blog’s most popular for traffic throughout 2019! Don’t miss out on this fantastic pairing; it’s a true classic.
7. Copycat Chili’s Queso Dip (Slow Cooker)
Planning a Super Bowl party, a casual get-together, or simply craving a ridiculously good snack? This Copycat Chili’s Queso Dip is your ultimate secret weapon! It’s a massive crowd-pleaser, delivering that familiar, irresistible restaurant flavor, and it’s ridiculously simple to prepare. All you have to do is toss all the ingredients into your slow cooker, set it, let it work its magic, and prepare for rave reviews from everyone lucky enough to try it. My sister, Laura, is the genius behind this incredible recipe; she always brings it to family gatherings, and without fail, there’s a constant huddle of people (including yours truly!) eagerly hovering around the crockpot in the kitchen, sneaking delicious, warm bites. Beyond just dipping tortilla chips, try spooning this warm, cheesy goodness over a taco salad – it’s my absolute favorite, indulgent way to enjoy it!
6. Soft Pumpkin Cookies with Brown Butter Icing
Prepare to fall completely in love with these utterly delicious frosted pumpkin cookies! They boast a unique, pillowy soft, almost cake-like texture, which is a rare exception for me, as I usually lean firmly towards chewy cookies. But these are different; their tender crumb and rich flavor simply cannot be resisted. The pumpkin flavor is wonderfully intense and perfectly spiced, and the consistency is simply impeccable. And let’s not even start on the brown butter icing – it’s an absolute game-changer! The nutty, caramelized notes of the brown butter elevate these cookies from great to extraordinary, adding a depth of flavor that makes them an irresistible treat for any season, especially during the cozy fall months.
5. The Very Best Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (Soft and Chewy)
Don’t just take my word for it – check out the glowing positive reviews on this recipe, which speak volumes! For a long time, I was firmly on Team Chocolate Chip, believing no other cookie could compare. However, these Oatmeal Raisin Cookies have truly shown me the light and converted me into a devoted fan. Raisins absolutely belong in oatmeal cookies, especially when they are properly plumped beforehand, ensuring a burst of sweet, juicy flavor and delightful chewiness in every single bite. This perfected recipe consistently yields cookies that are perfectly soft and delightfully chewy, transforming even the most ardent raisin-skeptics (like my former self!) into devoted fans. If you’ve been searching for the ultimate oatmeal raisin cookie, your quest definitively ends here!
4. The Best Tres Leches Cake Recipe
Another culinary masterpiece from my incredibly talented sister, Laura! She has dedicated years to perfecting this Tres Leches Cake recipe, meticulously tweaking every detail until it reached absolute perfection – exactly how she (and I!) always envisioned it. This cake is simply divine, a true testament to her baking prowess! You might feel a touch nervous pouring what seems like an excessive amount of milk over your freshly baked cake; it truly looks like too much. However, trust the process and embrace the soak. The result is an unbelievably moist cake with a rich, exquisite flavor and a dreamy, tender texture that will have everyone at your table asking for a second (or third!) slice. It’s truly a standout dessert, perfect for special occasions, celebrations, or when you simply want to treat yourself and your loved ones to something extraordinary.
3. Absolutely The Best Brownie Recipe I Have Ever Made
Believe me, my friends, when I unequivocally state that these truly are the best brownies you will ever make. I’ve been making this precise recipe for many years now, and it never fails to impress with its consistent fudgy perfection and deep chocolate flavor. The secret to their unparalleled deliciousness lies in one simple yet transformative ingredient: browned butter. This crucial step elevates the flavor from merely great to utterly amazing, adding a depth of nutty, caramelized richness that is simply irresistible and incredibly complex. I used to be perfectly content with convenient box brownies, but this scratch-made recipe is so straightforward to put together and delivers such dramatically superior results that I haven’t looked back since. Go browned or go home, I always say – once you try these, you’ll understand why it’s the only way to make truly exceptional brownies!
2. The Best Homemade White Cake Recipe of Your Life
Speaking of box mixes… for this particular recipe, it’s absolutely time to put that box down and commit to creating something truly spectacular from scratch! While I certainly appreciate the convenience and versatility of cake mixes for certain recipes (especially when they’re heavily doctored, always), this homemade white cake is remarkably simple to assemble and tastes infinitely, incomparably better than any mix you could buy. It’s wonderfully light, incredibly fluffy, and perfectly moist with a tender crumb, making it an absolute showstopper dessert for any celebration, from milestone birthdays to elegant gatherings and even weddings. Prepare to impress everyone with this classic, perfected white cake – it truly lives up to its name as the best homemade white cake recipe of your life!
1. Funeral Potatoes (Cheesy Potato Casserole)
And finally, the moment you’ve been eagerly waiting for – the number one most popular recipe on The Food Charlatan in 2019! These legendary Funeral Potatoes, also affectionately known as Cheesy Potato Casserole, are truly a carb lover’s dream come true, and your overwhelming support propelled them straight to the top spot. This ultimate comfort dish features tender, shredded hash browns lovingly mixed with a rich and creamy blend of sour cream and canned soup (or for an elevated, homemade touch, you can easily prepare a scratch-made white sauce as detailed in the full recipe here). It’s all generously topped with a decadent layer of melted cheese and a crunchy, buttery crushed corn flake crust that bakes to golden perfection. Funeral Potatoes are not just reserved for holidays; they are absolutely perfect for impressing guests at any Sunday dinner, potluck, or family gathering. They pair beautifully with hearty main dishes like Easy Pot Roast, Grilled Tri-Tip, or practically any main-dish protein you can imagine. It’s a timeless classic that brings warmth, joy, and irresistible flavor to any table!
And that, my friends, concludes our delicious recap of 2019! It was a year filled with wonderful new flavors, cherished family moments, exciting culinary discoveries, and incredible, unwavering support from all of you. We are beyond excited to see what new culinary adventures and reader favorites 2020 will bring to The Food Charlatan, and we look forward to sharing every step of the journey with you.
Thank you so much for being a vibrant and integral part of The Food Charlatan community. Sharing these recipes and connecting with fellow food enthusiasts is one of my greatest passions and joys, and I am truly grateful that you take the time to follow along on this delicious journey. If you ever try one of my recipes, please consider leaving a positive review and comment on the post! Your valuable feedback not only helps me refine my craft and understand what you love, but it also serves as an invaluable guide for other readers who might be interested in making the recipe, helping them know what to expect from your experience. Your experiences truly make a difference!
I’ll be back in just a few days with a fantastic new recipe idea: an easy and incredibly healthy weeknight dinner that we’ve already made twice and are completely obsessed with – it’s going to be a perfect start to the new year’s meal planning. Get ready for more deliciousness and culinary inspiration in the new year! Happy New Year, everyone!
Explore More Reader Favorites from Years Past!
Curious about which recipes captivated our audience in previous years? Dive into The Food Charlatan’s archives and discover the enduring favorites that have graced our tables and delighted palates year after year. Each link below leads to a treasure trove of beloved recipes and a glimpse into our culinary journey through the seasons!
Top 10 Recipes Published in 2018
Top 5 Recipes Published in 2017
Top 5 Recipes of 2016 from The Food Charlatan
Top 5 Recipes from 2015
Top 5 Recipes from 2014
Earlier Top Recipe Posts on The Food Charlatan: A Trip Down Memory Lane!
For those interested in the very beginnings and exciting evolution of The Food Charlatan, these older posts offer a fascinating glimpse into our culinary past. Brace yourself for some truly “vintage” photography, reflecting the early days of food blogging, but rest assured, the recipes themselves are still fantastic and enduring classics!
- Top 20 Recipes of 2013
- My Favorite Recipes from 2013
- Top 20 Recipes of 2012