And I’m back! Yesterday, we took a stroll down the walk of fame and reviewed the 11 most popular recipes that were published on Well Plated in 2019. If you haven’t had a chance yet, you can scope out the list of reader favorites here. It is an excellent list (I truly adore those recipes too!) but behind the scenes is another set of recipes. They are the ones that—despite being outrageously, fork-droppingly delicious—never took off. I pour my heart into every recipe and blog post, and after eight (!) years of blogging, I know that not all of them will “go viral.” It’s the way of the internet, and I’m happy to take it in stride… Except for this list. Each year, I share my collection of 11 unsung heroes, the recipes that, for reasons unknown to me or to anyone really, never broke the internet in the way I felt they deserved. These recipes might be quiet in the way of internet buzz, but they certainly have a lot to say when it comes to flavor! I hope you find a new recipe to try and that you love it as much as we do.
The Unsung Hero Recipes of 2019
In no particular order…
Rosemary Chicken Thighs with Apples and Brussels Sprouts: This recipe is love on a pan. It will make you feel like a better chef than you are.
Pecan Pie Cobbler: You’ll feel utterly ridiculous when making this recipe, but just trust. The unstirred mess you put into the oven 30 minutes ago is going to emerge as a moist, buttery, pecan-studded cake floating atop a heavenly pool of the richest caramel.
Green Chili. The flavor is so rich and complex, the texture of the broth so velvety smooth and hearty, and the pork is so tender, it will make you pause and ask yourself, Did I really cook something this soul-strikingly delicious?
Garlic Butter Shrimp. Keep a loaf of crusty bread handy for mopping up every last morsel of the garlic butter sauce. This takes 20 minutes and tastes good enough for a restaurant.
Chicken Pesto Pasta. Admittedly this recipe had a blush of a viral moment, but MAMA MIA. It is so darn good. If you haven’t tried it yet, you must.
Oatmeal Banana Bread. Toasting the oatmeal before folding it into the easy-going batter is a revelation in the way of banana bread. Try and tell me if it isn’t the best banana oat bread you’ve ever had. (Quick bread runner up: Vegan Pumpkin Bread. Mega moist, fluffy yet sturdy, and perfectly spiced.)
Homemade Fried Rice. The kind of forgiving, clean-out-the-refrigerator meal we all need more of in our lives. Also, if there’s a night whose spirit can’t be lifted by a takeout-style meal, I haven’t met it yet.
Crock Pot Apple Sauce. I stood over my sink and quietly ate an entire jar. Don’t be surprised when you do too.
Sautéed Cabbage. Cabbage. It doesn’t get less sexy than this. But let me tell you, once you taste the crispy, caramelized edges of sautéed cabbage melting against the tender inner part of the leaves, you’ll be hard pressed to think of it the same way again.
Farro Risotto. All of the risotto comfort you love with less work AND made better for you. This recipe is a victory.
Curry Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Sweet Potatoes and Chickpeas. Otherwise known as my dream lunch of all lunches. And because I couldn’t let you go without sneaking in just one more…
King Ranch Chicken. A one-pan meal turns the best of enchiladas, nachos, and your grandma’s homestyle cooking into a gooey skillet of Tex-Mex bliss.
A Look Back—My Favorite Recipes from Prior Years
2018 2017 2016
Not finding what you are looking for? I have hundreds of more easy, healthy recipes in my Recipe Index.
