The 7 Best Recipes from 2021

Basque-style cheesecake with slices cut out of it. — Simply Recipes / Karishma Pradhan

The Simply Recipe team puts out hundreds of recipes a year—and while we love each and every one for different reasons, there are some that get more playing time in our own kitchens. These are the recipes that make busy weeknights less hectic, our lunches more exciting, and our dessert spreads at Thanksgiving that much more enjoyable. Out of all the recipes we published in 2021, here are the 7 that the Simply Recipes editors are happy to call their favorites.

Sheet Pan Mini Meatloaves

Sharon Lehman

Looking for an easy weeknight recipe for 2022? This sheet pan dinner is a clear winner. “I love this recipe because it’s an all-in-one dinner with minor cleanup, and that’s what I need for busy weeknights,” explains Senior Editor Summer Miller. “I can mix up the vegetables based on what I have and everyone loves it.”

Sheet Pan Mini Meatloaves with Crispy Broccoli and Mustard Glazed Potatoes
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Cherry Cake

Cambrea Gordon

A cake that works for breakfast and dessert? Sign me up! “I basically buy cherries every chance I get and to find a recipe that incorporates them into a buttery snacking cake is a dream come true,” says Editor Milagros Cruz.

Cherry Cake
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Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto

Alison Bickle

We talk about “magic-making” recipes a lot at Simply Recipes—the meals that can feed a family in no time, but also feel special. This is one of those dishes. “This recipe takes care of two constants in my kitchen: the mushrooms in my fridge that are starting to turn and the need for a quick dinner that feels luxurious,” says Commerce Editor Siobhan Wallace.

Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto
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Quick Kimchi (Mak Gimchi)

Cecilia Hae-Jin Lee

“I love fermentation projects—beer, sourdough, sauerkraut—but for some reason hadn't yet tried my hand at kimchi,” says Editor in Chief Emma Christensen. “This recipe changed that fast! I love this kimchi with rice bowls or turned into Kimchi Jjigae.” Compared to traditional kimchi recipes, this recipe only takes a couple hours to prepare in order to eat (although it gets better as it ferments).

Quick Kimchi (Mak Gimchi)
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Continue to 5 of 7 below
Basque-Style Pumpkin Cheesecake

Simply Recipes / Karishma Pradhan

This recipe from Karishma Pradhan was the star of my Thanksgiving dessert table this year. It’s not fussy to make—there’s no water bath involved—and the texture and flavor is just spot on. If you’re not familiar with Basque-style cheesecake, it’s essentially a cheesecake that “self-crusts'' itself (so there’s no graham cracker situation going on). I can’t recommend it enough.

Basque-Style Pumpkin Cheesecake
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Yogurt Cake

Lori Rice

“This is an easy to make, tender cake that I can dress up or down for any occasion,” says Summer. Top it with fresh fruit, whipped cream, or powdered sugar (or all of the above).

Yogurt Cake
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Sheet Pan Sausage, Peppers, and Onions

“Sheet pan meals are known for their easy clean up, but this one goes above and beyond by also taking less than 45 minutes and including less than 10 ingredients,” says Rachel. “Italian sausage has an abundance of flavor and is fuss-free, which makes this an easy family favorite.”

Sheet Pan Sausage, Peppers, and Onions
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