Published January 1, 2021

While the pandemic changed the dining dynamic of the food industry, 2020 was a great year for home-cooks. We followed viral trends on social media like whipped coffee, pancake cereal, and homemade bread (to name a few).

As I reflect on my own skills and growth as a home-cook, I see that 2020 was a year to challenge myself.

Working remotely gave me more flexibility to integrate new ingredients and spices into my recipes, try new cooking techniques, and branch into new cuisines.

While I loved all of my recipe videos from 2020, here are my top 5 from recipes from 2020, as I look ahead to the dishes I want to tackle in the New Year.

5. A Farmgirl's Dabbles Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

A Farmgirl’s Dabbles peanut butter kiss cookies was a newer recipe I reviewed for the holiday season. Making homemade cookies from scratch was an end-of-year, holiday tradition for most foodies.

I love the crumbly, rich flavors of brown sugar, butter, and peanut butter in these cookies. They’re a classic holiday cookie and are easy to bake.

4. Coconut Shrimp with Piña Colada Sauce

Coconut shrimp is one of my favorite appetizers. I was excited to make this bright, summer-y recipe during winter.

Y’all loved this recipe, especially when pairing the crispy coconut shrimp with the piña colada sauce. This was one of the top appetizers from 2020.

3. Popeyes Crispy Chicken Sandwich

We all lost our minds with this recipe.

This homemade Popeyes crispy chicken sandwich is a replica to the one you buy in-store. I personally think this homemade version is even better, since you’re using fresh ingredients — like homemade pickles!

I’ve made the Popeyes crispy chicken sandwich at least four times this year. It’s become one of my family’s favorite recipes, and a nice treat to prepare, rather than going out to eat.

2. Gordon Ramsay's BBQ Ribs

Part of challenging myself as a home-cook in 2020 included growing my skills and working with new ingredients.

Watching Gordon Ramsay’s cooking series on Amazon Prime was a great way to learn from the best and find some new recipes to practice with.

This BBQ ribs recipe is one of my favorites to make. The homemade BBQ sauce is flavorful and savory. Baked in the oven for a few hours, these fall-off-the-bone sticky ribs are an amazing appetizer.

Y’all gave me so much positive feedback from this recipe, I’m excited to tackle more recipes like this one in the New Year!

1. Gordon Ramsay's Meatball Recipe with Coconut Broth

My number one recipe from 2020 is Gordon Ramsay’s meatballs in coconut broth.

Gordon Ramsay is a legend in the culinary world for a variety of reasons, but what I’ve learned from his cooking is that he innovates by adding new ingredients to classic dishes, like this one. Spicy, turmeric coconut broth with juicy, fried meatballs puts a spin on a traditional meatball recipe.

I was excited to make this recipe and challenge myself to work with new ingredients. I found a few favorite ingredients from this recipe, which I’d like to cook with again.

What’s Your Favorite Recipe?

Do you have a favorite recipe video or restaurant review from 2020?

Leave a comment below with your thoughts, or if you have a recipe you’d like me to try this year!