The Top Healthy, Easy Recipes from Our First 10 Years
Time to celebrate! We’re marking our 10th anniversary of sharing easy, healthy recipes with millions of readers. To honor the milestone, we’ve gathered the top 25 most popular recipes from the last decade. Which of your favorites made the list? And which new ones will you try next?
Ten years ago my friend Gretchen and I nervously hit “Publish” on our very first recipe. That recipe remains a fan favorite and still appears in the Top 25 below.
We celebrated with a little champagne and a lot of excitement — and then set to work improving everything we could. Our site had already been in development for months because we wanted that first recipe to be as good as possible before it reached you.
We worked hard to get it right.
Over the years, much has changed but our core promise has not: every recipe is tested, retested, and written so you can prepare it with confidence.
Getting Recipes Absolutely Right … for You
It matters now more than ever that a recipe works when you try it. The internet is full of recipes that were never tested, copied without care, or published without practical tips. We don’t do that.
Our mission for ten years has been simple: deliver tried-and-true recipes that are easy, healthy, and delicious — recipes you can trust.
We focus on recipes that fit busy lives, are healthy enough to share with the people you love, and taste outstanding.
It’s a Lot to Celebrate!
Cheers to ten wonderful years. We’ve published hundreds of recipes we truly love, and you’ve made many of them favorites in your kitchens. Narrowing those down to 25 was tough, but here they are — the blockbusters that have stood the test of time.
25 Best Recipes of the Decade
3-Ingredient Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos
A longtime favorite for busy weeknights and taco bars. With only three ingredients and about five minutes of prep, your slow cooker does the rest. There’s also an Instant Pot version if you prefer a quicker method.
Easy Candied Pecans (Just 5 Minutes and 4 Ingredients!)
Not-too-sweet candied pecans that are perfect for snacking, topping salads, or gifting. They’re quick to make and don’t require an oven — a great effortless treat.
Farmers’ Market Overnight Breakfast Egg Casserole
A hearty yet lighter breakfast casserole with Italian sausage, sharp cheddar, and plenty of vegetables. Uses shredded potatoes instead of bread, making it a gluten-free-friendly option that’s great for gatherings.
Healthy No Mayo Coleslaw
A lighter coleslaw made with a yogurt-based dressing — the perfect balance between creamy deli-style and tangy vinegar slaws. Excellent alongside pulled pork or BBQ.
Salad with Goat Cheese, Pears, Candied Pecans and Maple-Balsamic Dressing
Fast to make but special enough for potlucks. Creamy goat cheese, juicy pears, tart cranberries, and crunchy pecans are tied together with a maple-balsamic dressing that steals the show.
Christmas Salad with Citrus-Champagne Vinaigrette
A festive, show-stopping salad ideal for holiday gatherings. Arrange it as a wreath on a platter for beautiful presentation and bold seasonal flavor.
Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup
Comforting, quick, and easy. Use rotisserie chicken and a few smart shortcuts to have a nourishing soup ready in under 30 minutes.
Easy Chicken Parmesan Wraps
A grab-and-go meal you can prepare in about 15 minutes and freeze for later. Kid-friendly and perfect for busy schedules.
Crock-Pot Chicken Caesar Sandwiches
An ultra-easy slow-cooker recipe that captures the flavors of a chicken Caesar without raw eggs or anchovies. Great for hands-off weeknight dinners.
Peanut Butter Energy Balls
The very first recipe we ever published and still a crowd-pleaser: easy, healthy, freezable, and portable. A classic snack to keep on hand.
Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl
A build-your-own burrito bowl that’s simple in the slow cooker and perfect for family meals where everyone customizes their bowl.
5-Minute Pepperoni Pizza Quesadilla
A playful mash-up that’s fast, satisfying, and perfect when you want pizza flavors without the fuss.
Corn, Edamame and Quinoa Salad with Lemon-Dijon Vinaigrette
An early favorite adapted from a preschool teacher’s recipe — great served as a salad or a flavorful dip for chips.
4-Ingredient Chicken and Biscuits Homemade Dog Treats
Simple, freeze-friendly dog treats approved by our pup Finn. A fun and easy homemade option for your four-legged family member.
Crock-Pot North Carolina BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
Vinegar-forward North Carolina-style BBQ made easy in the slow cooker. Serve with our yogurt coleslaw for a classic combo.
Crock-Pot Crazy Pineapple Chili
Sweet Italian sausage, pineapple, and traditional chili ingredients combine for a trophy-winning, unexpected flavor profile that’s easy to make any night.
Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower Pasta with Parmesan, Lemon and Garlic
Deceptively simple yet packed with flavor. Roasted vegetables make this a meal-in-one for busy weeknights.
Easy Christmas Appetizer “Hummus Wreath”
A festive hummus presentation that’s quick to make and always a hit at holiday gatherings.
3-Ingredient Chocolate Dip
Warm, melty chocolate made in minutes with only three ingredients — no double boiler required. Pure chocolate bliss.
Chia Pudding with Coconut Milk and Berries
A nourishing, make-ahead breakfast tested and perfected alongside my son — a favorite for mornings and a great base to customize with favorite toppings.
Healthy Chicken Salad with Grapes, Apples and Tarragon-Yogurt Dressing
A flavorful chicken salad with a surprising hint of tarragon that elevates the familiar combination of grapes and apples.
Crock-Pot Corn Chowder with Chicken and Bacon
A comforting slow-cooker chowder that’s creamy, hearty, and loaded with sweet corn and smoky bacon — perfect for cozy nights.
Classic Strawberry Banana Smoothie
Refreshing, simple, and satisfying — toss everything into a blender for a fruit-packed, protein-boosted smoothie.
Granola Crunch Apple-Peanut Butter Sandwich Wraps
A reliable, on-the-go snack that fueled busy afternoons and packed lunches — crunchy, satisfying, and kid-friendly.
Mini Crustless Quiche Cups with Sausage and Cheese
Quick individual egg cups that bake fast, refrigerate well, freeze beautifully, and make excellent make-ahead breakfasts for busy weeks.
So Which One Are You Trying Next?
Did your all-time favorite make the list? Which recipe surprised you — the one you’ll add to your grocery list right away?
We hope you found several new must-try ideas to add to your rotation. If you want even more inspiration, we’ve curated themed recipe collections to help you find exactly what you need.
Top Recipe Collections
In addition to individual recipes, we publish curated collections that spotlight the best recipes by category, season, and occasion. A few of our most popular showcases appeared among the Top 25 and include vegetarian favorites, party appetizers, and our most-loved chicken recipes.
55 Best Vegetarian Meals
35 Easy Party Food Appetizers
11 All-Time Best Healthy, Easy Chicken Recipes
Top Educational and Info Posts
We also publish practical cooking guides and how-to articles about techniques, equipment, and ingredients. These posts have helped readers build kitchen confidence and cook smarter, faster, and healthier.
Is It Safe to Use Frozen Meat in Your Crock-Pot?
The Secret to Perfect Shish Kabobs
What is Freekeh? (And How Do You Cook It?)
The Very BEST Recipes for the Very BEST Readers! (That’s You!)
Here’s where I get a little sentimental. Looking back on the past decade fills me with gratitude. What began as a hobby turned into a dream job and a family project. My husband and kids joined in with recipe testing, photos, and even writing. The site grew alongside our family.
Gretchen eventually left to pursue teaching, and though it was bittersweet, the site kept growing. Our kids grew up with this project and became part of the creative process.
Thank you for following along, testing recipes in your kitchens, and sharing your feedback. We wouldn’t be here without you.
We’re excited for the next decade and can’t wait to share more easy, healthy, and delicious recipes with you. From our healthy kitchen to yours — cheers to ten years and many more to come!
More of Our Very BEST Recipes
For a full list of our most popular recipes by year, see our annual Best Recipes Collections on the site.
- Best of 2024
- Best of 2023
- Best of 2022
- Best of 2021
- Best of 2020
- Best of 2019
- Best of 2018
- Best of 2017
- Best of 2016
- Best of 2015
- Best of 2014
- Best of 2013
~ by Shelley