Between the holidays, the flu and travel, I hate that I’ve felt a bit disconnected from the blog and I am so ready to pop in and chat with you guys almost every day. I wanted to kick off 2018 the way I’ve kicked off nearly every year since I started the blog – with a short roundup of some of my top blog posts of the previous year. Let’s begin with the Top Recipes of 2017!
As you will see below, my most popular recipes were not all from 2017. In fact, only six of the top 10 recipe posts were actually shared in 2017, but I love highlighting some old recipe favorites, especially for newer readers who may have missed them in the past.
You’ll notice quite the variety in my top recipe posts – everything from healthy breakfast recipes to simple dinner ideas and delicious desserts – and I hope something below appeals to you and inspires you to give something new a try in the kitchen in 2018!
Also, I’d love to use this opportunity to ask you guys what kind of recipes you’d like to see more of on the blog in the coming year. Are you looking for simple breakfast recipes? More plant-based meals? Paleo or gluten-free eats? Healthy dinner recipes? Please let me know!
Top PBF Recipes of 2018
This recipe is the top recipe I shared on the blog and I’m pretty sure I have Pinterest to thank for this one! It’s such an easy dip recipe (keep this one in mind for the Super Bowl!) and is always a crowd pleaser!
My three-minute egg white oatmeal recipe is consistently a top-viewed recipe on the blog. Any healthy breakfast you can make in five minutes or less is always appealing to me and this bowl of oatmeal is warm, comforting and protein-packed!
If you’re looking for a paleo-friendly cupcake recipe that’s bright and full of lemon flavor, check out these cupcakes! I’ve also made them without any icing for a paleo lemon muffin treat and we loved them that way as well.
- Oatless Oatmeal with Zucchini (Paleo Oatmeal)
This is another throwback recipe that consistently ranks high on my top-viewed blog posts every year. It’s a recipe I still make constantly and the texture reminds me of Cream of Wheat. It’s a great paleo breakfast option for those following a paleo diet who may be sick of eggs for breakfast every morning.
Ooooh! This recipe is such a winner! It’s incredibly simple to make and helps satisfy my chocolate cravings at the end of the day while also providing a little punch of protein in every bite.
If there’s one dinner recipe I shared in 2017 that I personally make the most frequently, it would be this one! It’s hard not to default to throwing this easy chicken sausage sweet potato bake together when I’m not sure what to make for dinner because the ingredients are so simple and we usually have everything I need to make it on hand.
When I initially shared this recipe for easy baked chicken, I shared it as a marinade for chicken breasts but I’ve since opened my eyes to the glory of chicken thighs. Ryan and I used the exact recipe as a marinade for grilled chicken thighs all summer long and it is, without a doubt, my go-to marinade recipe for chicken.
These muffins are a hit with our whole family (yep, they’re picky toddler approved!) and we all enjoy them for breakfast or as a simple grab-and-go snack.
Why oh why did it take me so long to use rotisserie chicken in chicken salad!? I’m never going back! This recipe combines rotisserie chicken with Greek yogurt to make a healthy chicken salad I cannot stop eating!
My favorite Charlotte-area bakery was kind enough to share the recipe for their incredible morning glory muffins with me and I must urge you to make them ASAP. The muffins remind me of carrot cake and are a special recipe I keep in my back pocket to use when we’re hosting people in our home and I want to have freshly baked muffins on hand for guests to enjoy.
My Favorite Recipes of 2017
I also couldn’t resist sharing a small collection of my personal favorite recipes that I created and shared on PBF in 2017. Yum!
We regularly make this salad in our house both as a healthy side dish and an easy light lunch option. It’s also fantastic topped with grilled chicken!
This may be the most comforting one-pot vegetarian dish I’ve ever shared on the blog. It’s warm, creamy, filling and oh so satisfying!
A simple breakfast recipe that will fill you up without making you feel weighed down in the morning.
I’ve heard back from more than a few of you who have made this recipe and thankfully the reviews all seem to be very, very positive! If you’re looking for a vegetarian bolognese sauce recipe that won’t have you missing the meat in traditional bolognese sauce one bit, give this one a shot!
I’ve been making these chocolate chip almond butter bars on repeat ever since I shared the recipe and think they are the jam! They’re a great recipe to share and I love making them to deliver to friends who may need a little extra love.
I know sharing a random veggie side dish recipe on the blog isn’t the most exciting but I hope the broccolini lovers out there will give this one a shot because it’s so flavorful!
I love the way this recipe can be prepped ahead of time (just reserve the avocado for the end!) and makes enough to ensure you’ll have leftovers for lunch! It’s a great healthy dish to keep on hand to bring to gatherings with friends and family, too!
If you’re looking for a granola recipe that’s higher in protein and lower in sugar than other granola recipes out there, give this one a shot! It’s fantastic by the handful but I love sprinkling it on top of a cup of creamy Greek yogurt for an afternoon snack.
Question of the Day
What kind of recipes would you like to see more of on the blog in 2018?
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I love all your recipes, and the fact that they’re simple and also don’t stick to one specific thing (I like that you’re not all paleo or all-anything-else). You just share good things and I make them all the time. Plus thanks for reminding me of that lemon cupcake recipe, I am obsessed with lemon right now.
I had a devastating Christmas – my brother died suddenly. 🙁 He was not ill. We are completely and utterly destroyed. Inconsolable. I comment regularly and I’m visiting all my regular places, including your blog, as therapy – recognition that he existed. He changed lives and was the most giving soul you’d ever be blessed to know. And I try to be upbeat and comment regularly but I may be pretty absent and quite down. So know I am still reading but I am not myself.
Thanks for your blog, it is part of MY regular routine, and I am glad for it.
I’m so sorry, Kim. Sending love and hope your way.
Thank you so much! I’ll take it!
Oh Kim, I am so incredibly sorry to hear of your brother’s passing. You are always such a strong force of light and positivity on this blog through your comments and I am devastated for you and your unexpected loss. Please know I am thinking of you and praying for you. <3 You have lifted me up during some of the hardest times of my life and I hope you can feel my love coming your way. You seem to live your life with such kindness and I have no doubt you're making your brother so proud just by being you every single day. I'm so, so sorry.
Thank you for these kind and uplifting words and all the prayers – I need them! I’m going to think of this and let it seep in and hopefully help me heal a little bit. I’m glad to hear I did something positive for you, as you and your blog have been such a great positive force in my life. Grabbing tight of those prayers and wrapping myself in them – thank you!
Sending you so much love to you and your family, Kim.
Thank you Jenny, it is SO appreciated. <3
So sorry for the loss of your beloved brother, Kim. I will lift up a prayer for you and your family today. I’m sure this is incredibly difficult what you are having to go through.
Thank you for the prayers, I will cherish that kind strangers have kept me and my family with their kind thoughts. I believe it helps us all. Thank you!
I am so saddened and sorry to hear of your devastating loss Kim. Please know people around the world reading this blog are uplifting you and care. Sending prayers to you and your entire family.
All great recipe ideas! I’d love to see more vegetarian and breakfast recipes!
Oh man. How’d I miss that sweet potato and sausage recipe. That looks like a perfect go-to!
I have been meaning to try that butternut squash grain bowl, it looks so good! Happy New Year Julie!
I love the black bean and brown rice salad recipe you shared! I made it for a barbecue over the summer and it was a hit. I’ll whip up a batch on Sunday and have it for a few meals throughout the week. Thank you for sharing it and all these other recipes. I still need to try the broccolini out!
Love these recipes! And it would be great to see more plant-based recipes (with no dairy or eggs) – the butternut squash grain bowl looks amazing!
We LOVE the protein fudge recipe! I almost always keep some stocked in the freezer. I am always looking for quick and healthy dinner recipes for during the work week.
Woohoo! So happy to hear this! And YES to quick and healthy dinner recipes. They’re definitely the recipes I personally gravitate toward making in our house.
The shrimp dip was by far my favorite recipe you posted this year! I brought it to two separate parties and it was indeed a crowd favorite.
I would definitely love to see more party type recipes like that one! Also some healthy dinners and any toddler friendly recipes for picky eaters!!! How do you get Chase to eat?? My 2.5 year old lives on chicken nuggets and pasta.
I’ve been dying to try your morning glory muffin recipe so I have that one on my list finally this winter to try!!
I’m so glad the dip has served you well!! Thank you for letting me know! 🙂 And I FEEL YOU on the toddler food struggles. Honestly, it’s a daily battle in our house and some days are better than others. I’ll definitely share more toddler-friendly recipes this year… if Chase actually approves them, that is! Ha!! 🙂
I second this comment – would love more toddler recipes. Thanks!
I love quick & healthy dinner recipes and paleo/grain-free muffin/baking recipes the most! But I really do love the mix you post on your blog because I’m always looking for something different. I *need* to try those morning glory muffins! Officially next on my list.
I’ve been a daily ready for nearly five years, and I remember the first time I read about oatless oatmeal, and also the idea of adding egg whites to my already kindled oatmeal obsession. Breakfast life changing. Thank you for always sharing meal ideas for when I get in a rut and need to mix it up a bit. Praying 2018 is a wonderful year for you business-wise, and also for your family. ❤️
Happy New Year Julie!! I’d love to see more simple dinners and more plant-based options (not necessarily always tied together!)
Our New Year celebration was a little sad this year because we had to put down the family dog on New Years Eve…my vizsla did not understand where she was 🙁 I’m glad that she’s not in pain anymore, but it doesn’t make it any easier.
I’m so sorry to hear this, Erinn. Dogs truly are members of the family. Sending love and comforting thoughts your way. <3 <3
Hi Julie, great post! I found a few recipes that I missed and saved to my Pinterest. We use your baked chicken marinade recipe for chicken that we grilled over the summer and it was so good!
Recipes I’d love to see more of this year are one pot/one pan, crock pot, Instant Pot, “packable” lunches, and make ahead breakfasts.
Happy New Year!
Love these ideas. I recently got an Instant Pot and can’t wait to start experimenting with it!
Since you feature your family quite often, I would love to see things they make or their favorites, like your moms stuffing or grandma”s cookies. Possibly favorite things of your dad or sister, that your mom would always make for the family.
Anything that happens to be gluten free or paleo is always helpful! Love your simple recipes and the variety. Thanks for going to the trouble to share them! And Happy New Year to you and your sweet family! Your blog is one I never miss and an absolute favorite of mine.
I made Simple Shrimp Dip for my Christmas Eve Party and it was BOMB! It was a big hit but sadly, I came down with the worst stomach virus known to man ON Christmas Day and was basically dead for 48 hours.
I may make a small version of Shrimp Dip soon because I couldn’t eat any leftovers!
So glad you loved the shrimp dip!!! But I’m so sorry to hear you were so sick on Christmas. Being sick is so miserable, especially around the holidays. Hope you are feeling better!!
Yum yum! Every year I share the top recipes from THAT year, but this year I decided to just round up my top recipes. It’s fun to see what stands the test of time and what is a hit right away!
Your Easy Baked Chicken is a go-to in my household. I’ve made it countless times and each time my husband comments on good it is! I’d love to see more simple, weeknight recipes like this one!
Happy 2018!
That makes me so happy! Have you tried it with chicken thighs on the grill? So good that way!!
Yes, I have made it with thighs more times now than I have with breasts. We havent made it on the grill yet but I did just get an INstant Pot so I’m going to give it a whirl in that!
You really do post such a great variety of recipes – I love it! I am always interested to read about the snacks that people eat throughout the day. I feel like I get caught in a rut so easily of the snacks I tend to gravitate towards, so I am always looking for new ideas.
Happy New Year, Julie! I have a young picky toddler (14 months). I love reading your toddler hits – especially those that I can make ahead and freeze for ease. I’d love to see some more of your go to eats for Chase. Though, now he’s probably eating the same foods as you and Ryan. I can’t seem to get Cailie to broaden horizons very well yet!
My hubby isn’t a huge sweet potato fan (one of the only things he doesn’t like – crazy right? because I LOVE sweet potatoes), so I tried to make the chicken sausage bake with red potatoes instead. It just didn’t work. The flavor pop wasn’t there. I regretted not using the sweet potatoes and telling him to suck it up :-).
Thanks for your bright posts. I look forward to reading as you often remind me to enjoy the moment and the little things in life!
Thank you for the recap! Found two new recipes that I added to my rotation this week and am excited to try 🙂 I would love to see more recipes that are quick prep for busy weeknights – appreciate those recipe staples the most. Hope you have a wonderful year, Julie!
I would love to see more plant-based recipes!
My goal for 2018 is to include a lot more plant-based dishes in our weekly meal planning and try to include at least 1 meat-less day in our week. I’d love to see more ways to spice up veggies and find some new recipes to become part of our weekly routine!
I would like to see more toddler approved recipes. I had my first child, Myles, in September, and through your blog I learned about baby led weaning. I plan to talk with our pediatrician about BLW when Myles’ gets old enough to start solids. So I am interested in any baby/toddler foods that you remember Chase enjoying that are simple/healthy! I also love healthy dessert and breakfast options, and one pot/pan meals!
Thanks for reminding us of these! The chicken salad and shrimp are on my list to try. I love when you post easy healthy lunch/dinner recipes that can be thrown together fast and would love to see more.
If you’re looking for other ways to prepare broccolini, I had an awesome broccolini Caesar salad out the other night that I want to recreate at home. Just grill the broccolini, toss with Caesar dressing, a sprinkle of parm, crisped up prosciutto done in a frying pan and toasted crushed pistachios. It was ADDICTIVE!
Hi Julie!
I just made your shrimp dip for NYE and it was loved by all! It was so easy and delish, I cannot wait to make it again! We cut it in half and I am so glad we did because it was only for 10 people and it still made a ton!!
My husband and I recently moved and are now commuting about an hour each way to work so I am always looking for fast/easy dinner recipes as well as some that we could make on Sunday and have throughout the week! I have made many of your recipes and have loved all of them! Happy New Year!!
That lemon cupcake recipe looks great. I’m not quite sure how I missed it the first time around (I’m a regular reader), but I’ve added it to my list of things to try. I’d love to see recipes that are affordable. I’m on a pretty tight budget, so I’m all about meals that are inexpensive.
LOVE the idea of budget-friendly recipes!
We do your Easy Baked Chicken all the time!! Love that one 🙂
Hello, how about some paleo recipes in the new year?
I appreciate your blog and all of your amazing recipes that you have shared. Thank you for posting the tops for 2017.
I love new ideas for quick and healthy dinner recipes that my husband won’t roll his eyes at…he’s thinks a meat has to be served at every meal.
I recently started following your blog this past year and have enjoyed reading your stories and recipes. Thanks for sharing some delicious recipes. I love how you post a variety of recipes. Thanks again! I look forward to trying these recipes!
Shelby
So glad you found me! And thanks so much for taking the time to comment, Shelby! <3
gluten free for sure! thanks!
I have been reading your blog for years (love it) and every year I hear about your mom’s cheese puff casserole. THIS is the recipe I want to see the most. And while we are at it, I would love the monkey bread recipe also 😉 Thanks in advance!
I can’t wait to try the paleo muffins! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve made your 3 minute egg white oatmeal over the past years. I also make your oatmeal pancakes (not sure if that’s the exact name?) weekly. My kids who are very picky enjoy both of those recipes, too. I’m excited to try some of the other top recipes you have listed as well.
Woohoo! Thrilled to hear this! And I hope you liked the muffins!
definitely would love more Paleo/gf recipes!
I really enjoy reading your blog, and would love to see more vegan recipes!?
As a vegetarian, I obviously love to see vegetarian recipes. I tried the Butternut Squash Grain Bowl, and my husband and I LOVED it, as did my nine month old son:) Surprisingly flavorful with so few ingredients. Thank you!
i’m so happy you liked it!! one of my personal favs!! <3