Top 10 Recipes of 2025 + A Year in Review
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Reflecting on the past year and sharing your favorite recipes is always one of my favorite traditions here at An Affair from the Heart. It’s such a joy to look back and see what you return to again and again. The recipes that find their way into weekly meal plans, holiday gatherings, and everyday moments around the table.
In 2025, the Top 10 recipes didn’t change a whole lot over the last year, and I think that says something special. These are dependable, tried-and-true favorites that continue to stand the test of time, proving that simple, comforting recipes made with familiar ingredients never go out of style.
Welcome to my annual year in review! As I reflect on 2025, I’m grateful for another year of cooking alongside you and for the recipes that continue to earn a place in your kitchens.
2025: My Year in Review
This year looked a little different than some in the past. Travel was simpler, with one meaningful retreat in Mexico, along with cherished time spent at our lake home in Okoboji. It felt like a year that allowed for slower moments, familiar places, and time to reflect. Exactly what this season needed.
Professionally, 2025 was a year I’ll never forget.
After years of dreaming and months of behind-the-scenes work, my cookbook, Savor It, officially launched on Valentine’s Day, my favorite holiday and the perfect day to share it with the world. Seeing it available on my website, on Amazon, and now in six retail stores (with more continuing to add it!) has been both humbling and surreal.
This year also brought opportunities I’m incredibly grateful for.
I was honored to be interviewed by KETV Newswatch 7 Omaha with Waverle Monroe, where I had the opportunity to share my story, my love of home cooking, and a glimpse behind the scenes of An Affair from the Heart. The interview came together quickly, and even though I wasn’t feeling my best that day (thanks to a lingering sinus infection!) I was incredibly grateful for the chance to cook alongside Waverle and make a no-bake cherry dessert from my cookbook, Savor It, while sharing this work with a wider audience.
I also had the opportunity to sit down with Allison Evans Coaching for an online interview. Having the space to talk about my journey, the heart behind my recipes, and the work that goes into building this community was both encouraging and affirming.
I was honored, too, to be included in a local holiday gift guide for Milford Magazine. Seeing Savor It highlighted as a gift idea within my own community was a moment I won’t forget.
Each of these experiences served as a reminder of how grateful I am to do what I love and to share it with all of you.
Our Family in 2025
On a personal note, February brought a difficult goodbye when we lost our sweet Theo. Navigating that loss hasn’t been easy, but Libby has remained my constant companion, and together we’re finding our new normal.
September brought a beautiful new beginning when our first granddaughter joined our three grandsons. Watching our family grow and gathering everyone around the table whenever we can continues to be one of my greatest joys.
Those big Sunday night family dinners keep getting bigger, with my two youngest finding their forever people this year, this mama’s heart is very full. #PartyOfFourteen
An Affair from the Heart in 2025
In 2025, I published 90 recipes here on the site, along with continued updates to older favorites to keep them fresh, helpful, and easy to follow. With more than 1,200 recipes on An Affair from the Heart, I hope this space always feels like a place you can come when you’re looking for something comforting, celebratory, or simple for a busy weeknight.
This year also brought growth on social media, including the launch of my TikTok page. I’d love for you to join me there, follow along, leave comments, and be part of the conversation. It truly feels like an extension of this community.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for or have a recipe you’d love to see in the coming year, please reach out. Your messages and notes inspire so much of what I create.
Top 10 Recipes of 2025 – Readers’ Favorites
And now… onto the recipes!
Each year, I love seeing which dishes rise to the top. These are the recipes you cooked, saved, shared, and came back to again and again.
Are you ready to see if your favorite made the list?
If you’re looking for something new to try, this list is a great place to start. I’d love to hear which ones you’ve made, which are staples in your home, and which you’ll be adding to your menu next.
Let’s Count Down An Affair from the Heart’s Top 10 Recipes of 2025!
Are you ready to see if your favorite made the list? I can’t wait to hear which of these you have tried, and which ones you will be making soon!
Number 10:
Comfort food from my childhood – My Mom’s recipe for Beef & Noodles. Tender chunks of beef with thick egg noodles in a beef gravy. There is so much nostalgia in this one!
Number 9:
A copycat recipe – McDonald’s Filet ‘o Fish Sandwich. If you love the fish sandwiches at McDonald’s, you have to try these! Soft buns, piping hot fish filet, melty cheese, and the best tartar sauce ever! Now you can skip the drive-thru and make them at home!
Number 8:
Classic Oyster Stew with tender oysters simmered in a rich, buttery milk-based broth. This classic recipe spotlights the sweet saltiness of fresh oysters with just a few simple ingredients. Enjoy a warm bowl of this hearty stew all winter long or for special occasions like Christmas Eve.
Number 7:
Gotta Love my Texas Trash Dip! What’s Texas Trash Dip? It’s a creamy, warm bean dip packed with flavor and topped with all sorts of ooey-gooey cheese, baked to dipping perfection. I could make a meal out of this dip! Seriously, what more do you need??
Number 6:
This one isn’t “award-winning” for nothin’! Award-Winning Crack Dip This dip is deliciously addictive! Creamy dip with a little bit of heat from the jalapeños, bursting with flavor from the MexiCorn and the green onions. This is a hit and the first thing gone at every party!
Number 5:
This iconic Dill Pickle Dip recipe! if you can’t get enough of those dill pickle wraps, the ones with cream cheese and dried beef, then this dip will have you grinning from ear to ear! This recipe has been in my top 10 ever since the first year I posted it! Want to know something funny? Twice, this recipe got so much traffic at one time that it broke my website!
Number 4:
These Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper BBQ Ribs aren’t just delicious – they’re a viral sensation! With over 300,000 shares, this 3-ingredient wonder is about to revolutionize your BBQ game. Country Style Pork Ribs are slow-cooked in Dr. Pepper, then baked or grilled to caramelize the Dr. Pepper BBQ sauce. This recipe is quick and easy for anyone to enjoy!
Number 3:
Copycat Starbucks Medicine Ball shows how to make this popular cold-fighter super tea. A tremendously soothing tea for cold and flu season. Skip the drive-thru and the crazy prices and make this Starbucks favorite at home!
Note: The teas used in Starbucks’ Medicine Ball have been hard to find since 2023. So, I updated this post to include other teas that allow you to continue to make this healing tea at home!
Number 2:
The Sloppy Dorothy! Move over, Joe – there is a new and improved version of your classic. These Sloppy Dorothy Sandwiches are made with Dorothy Lynch Dressing and will have you licking your fingers in pure satisfaction!
Drum Roll Please…
And now it’s time for the number one recipe of 2024 …
Number 1:
How to Make a Can of Refried Beans Taste Like a Restaurant’s -Turn a can of refried beans into restaurant quality in a matter of minutes! Only two simple add-ins and it’ll feel like you’re eating at your favorite Mexican restaurant, right at home!
Pin the most popular, Top 10 Recipes of 2025, before you go!
I’d love it if you’d pin these 10 recipes, try some of them, and let me know what you think! Shoot me a message or tag me on social media! I love seeing photos of what you made!
A Note on Supporting An Affair from the Heart
One thing I want you to know is that my recipes here on An Affair from the Heart will always remain free. From quick weeknight dinners to holiday favorites and everything in between, my goal has always been to make approachable, dependable recipes available to anyone who needs them.
If you’ve ever wondered how you can support the work I do here, the answer is simple, and it never costs a thing.
Leaving a comment or a star rating on a recipe helps others find it and lets me know what you loved. Following along on social media, liking, sharing, saving, and commenting on posts helps get these recipes seen by more home cooks. Leaving a review for my cookbook, Savor It, makes a bigger difference than you might realize, and sharing my newsletter with family or friends helps this community continue to grow.
Every small action adds up, and none of it goes unnoticed. Your support — in all of these simple, meaningful ways — is what allows me to keep creating, testing, and sharing recipes with you.
Thank you for being here and for supporting this space in the ways that feel right for you.
From the Bottom of My Grateful Heart
Thank you for being here. For reading, cooking, baking, sharing, and trusting my recipes in your homes. It’s truly an honor to be part of your family meals and traditions.
Thank you for coming along for the ride that was 2025. I’m so excited to see what we’ll cook up together in the year ahead.
Here’s to many more moments around the table in 2026. 🤍
