We are taking a look back at the top recipes of 2020! This was the year that stateofdinner.com was “born” so it is a very special one. In the years to come, I hope to do a similar post on the last day of each year, as a bit of a scrapbook of the journey that this site has taken us on.
A Reflection
Wow, what a year this has been! The entire population across the universe would call 2020 a very abnormal year. We all faced a common challenge. We all had to adapt and adjust.
When I was furloughed in March, I thought it was just going to be for a few weeks. That seems almost laughable now. Little did I know that my furlough would be such a defining moment that would catapult me into this new career.
This blog began in May, and now hosts 67 delicious recipes! As a reflection on the year, and with appreciation and humble gratitude for every single time you have visited this site, I now bring you the top ten most popular recipes on stateofdinner.com (as determined by the total number of page views).
Top 10 Recipes of 2020
10. Oven-Baked Crab Cakes
We kick off this list with a recipe we made for our Massachusetts state dinner. Going into our state dinner project, I had no idea how many states’ iconic foods would be fried. Apparently, we Americans love fried food! So after way too many nights of frying, I decided to skip the oil and bake our crab cakes in the oven. They turned out perfect and were really well received.
9. Applesauce Pumpkin Bread
This recipe went viral (for me) on Facebook, which was exciting to see! Apparently, there are a lot of people out there like me who are not morning people but still have to provide breakfast for their kids. I have been making this recipe since my kids were toddlers, and it was a big hit with other moms!
8. Hoosier Pork Tenderloin Sandwich
I am not usually a pork fan, but this sandwich is so good! The meat is juicy, the breading crispy, and the seasoning is totally on point! And the patty is massive!
7. Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza
I thought I might have to order a deep dish pizza through the mail, because I wasn’t sure it was something I could make at home. I was surprised at how good it turned out! Just thinking about this recipe makes my mouth water. The crust is so buttery, flaky, and delicious!
6. Gooey Butter Cake
This one surprised me! It is a delicious recipe, but I had no idea it would be so well received. I love that it is so easy to make, and that it is versatile. You can have it as a dessert or for breakfast, and there are so many flavor options!
5. Loose Meat Sandwich
The loose meat sandwich was made for our Iowa dinner. I read that there were rumors that Maid-Rite used root beer syrup in their recipe, but there were no recipes online that called for the use of root beer. I decided to test it out, and it turned out so delicious!
4. Ultimate Gooey Chocolate Brownies
This recipe was a labor of love. It took 5-6 times of testing and adjusting to make the perfect brownie recipe. These are gooey, chocolatey, and everything that I want in a brownie!
3. Buttermilk Fried Chicken
The first time I made this was for our Georgia state dinner. I got gigantic chicken breasts and it was a disaster! But the breading was so good that I knew I had to try again with smaller pieces of meat. And boy, am I glad that I did!
2. Thai Cashew Chicken
This is a recipe I am really proud of. It was one of my first attempts at creating a recipe that combined keyword research and my own personal tastes. It perfectly encompasses my food philosophy of being fast to make, but full of flavor!
1. Sugar Cream Pie
I cannot believe that I had never even heard of sugar cream pie before planning our Indiana state dinner! Now it is my absolute favorite pie! So creamy, and I love the caramelized cinnamon sugar topping!
And that’s a wrap! 2020 is officially in the books. Here’s to a joyful, successful, and abundant 2021! -Erin
