The 5 Best Recipes of 2024

When you throw a party, you may start with the who, what, and where, but let's face facts: It's all about the food. Whether you're having some friends over or you're throwing a big holiday party, food is what brings people literally together—whether that's at the dinner table or a kitchen island. A party without food is just people standing around and talking, and even a good conversation can't detract from the lack of something tasty.

That's why for Allrecipes' second annual Best Recipes contest we wanted to help our readers find the best recipes for a great party. From the appetizers to the sweets, we tasked our editors, readers, and a panel of judges to sift through Allrecipes' library of more than 55,000 recipes and create the ultimate party menu. Our months-long deliberation resulted in winning recipes in five categories, and they each bring big flavor and creative flair to any occasion. Let's meet the party stars of 2024!

How We Decided the Best Recipes of 2024

There were three phases to Allrecipes' Best Recipes 2024 contest. The first step was figuring out the recipe categories. While in 2023 we tackled five popular ingredients, this year our editors went for an entertaining theme based on the recipe trends we've seen lately. The categories are:

• Top-Notch Apps
• Champion Mains
  
• Prize-Worthy Sides
  
• Gold Medal Sweets
  
• Winning Brunch Bites

We then chose 10 recipes per category based on their popularity on our site, social accounts, and newsletter. We also asked the Allrecipes Allstars to share their favorite recipes for each category.

After we determined the 50 recipes, we asked our readers to vote on their favorite recipes in each category. The month-long campaign resulted in 10,339 votes from 2,160 voters this year (with a $1000 cash prize for voting).

When the reader voting period was over, our test kitchen in Birmingham, Alabama, made the top two vote-getting recipes in each category—10 recipes total. Our judges Nicole McLaughlin and Roscoe Hall tried and rated each dish, ultimately choosing the winning recipe for each category.

Meet the Judges

So many people were involved in choosing the best recipes of 2024, but only two people decided the ultimate winners. Meet our fabulous judges!

Nicole McLaughlin: If you follow Allrecipes on Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube, you probably already know McLaughlin. She's the star behind our "You Can Cook That" video series, where she shows our community how to make approachable and delicious family-approved meals. She's done everything from share her brilliant cooler packing hack, to how to turn Hawaiian rolls into dessert. With 20+ years in the culinary world, McLaughlin has also developed hundreds of recipes for Allrecipes.

Roscoe Hall: Hall worked his way up from being a restaurant dishwasher to executive chef. He's worked with the likes of Alice Waters and David Chang, and was even a contestant on Top Chef season 18. He's also a culinary force behind Allrecipes' social media accounts, where he shares things like the unlikely ingredient for the crispiest fish.

The Best Recipes of 2024

The votes are in, and now it's time to reveal the party-perfect winners. Please welcome the best recipes of 2024!

The Top-Notch App

The contenders: Sausage and Cream Cheese Pinwheels vs. Easy Lemon-Pepper Chicken Wings

Whether you're hosting a holiday shindig, tailgating, or having a few friends over for dinner, appetizers set the tone. We're here to help you get it right.

Our first contender for Top-Notch Apps was the Sausage and Cream Cheese Pinwheels, which have a 4.8 star-rating with 68 comments. McLaughlin described this dish as "salty and tangy," but wished there was more cream cheese. Our second challenger was the Easy Lemon-Pepper Chicken Wings, with a 4.7 star-rating and 69 comments. Hall called these wings "heaven."

WINNER: The winner here was clear—our best appetizer recipe for 2024 is none other than the Easy Lemon-Pepper Chicken Wings.

The Champion Main

The contenders: Crunchwrap Casserole vs. Chicken Cobbler

These two main dishes have one important thing in common: They were both developed by none other than Nicole McLaughlin, one of the judges of Best Recipes 2024. I know what you must be thinking: Isn't that....cheating? But hear me out—not only were these two of the most popular recipes of the past year, but they were the top two recipes voted upon by our readers. So who are we to deny these recipes the title of "best" of the year?

The Chicken Cobbler was inspired by the viral TikTok recipe of the same name. It's a grocery shortcut dream, made with rotisserie chicken, canned cream of chicken soup, frozen mixed vegetables, and biscuit mix. After tasting the recipe, Hall says it "brings you back to after basketball practice in 1989" and McLaughlin describes it as "creamy and comforting." The Crunchwrap Casserole—based on Taco Bell's famous dish—was equally delicious. Hall says it's "It tastes like a good taco."

WINNER: This was a close call, but ultimately the Crunchwrap Casserole came out on top. "There’s just so much flavor in here. I love the crunchy edge," says McLaughlin. So there you have it—let this winner be the main event at your next dinner party!

The Prize-Worthy Side

The contenders: Bang Bang Potatoes vs. Steakhouse au Gratin Potatoes

A dinner party without side dishes is akin to leaving your home without your wallet. Yes, it's completely fine to do so, but something feels off. Vulnerable, even. Incomplete. And you don't want your guests to feel that way, do you?

The Bang Bang Potatoes are crispy oven-roasted potatoes that are drizzled in a sauce consisting of mayo, sweet Thai chili sauce, sriracha, and rice vinegar. McLaughlin called the potatoes "crispy and sweet," and Hall noted that he especially loved the sauce. Our next contender, the Steakhouse au Gratin Potatoes, is an ultra-creamy casserole that's the perfect companion to baked chicken, steak, and ham. Hall proclaimed this recipe "buttery and garlicky" but he wished there was more sauce.

WINNER: While both potato side dishes are winners in our hearts, the Bang Bang Potatoes took home the crown for best side dish of 2024.

The Gold Medal Sweet

The contenders: Mini No-Bake Cheesecakes vs. Homemade Strawberry Crumble

Julia Child once supposedly said, "A party without a cake is just a meeting.” And while the quote attribution is contested, there's no question that the sentiment stands. Every party needs something sweet.

The Mini No-Bake Cheesecakes are made in a muffin tin and have a cream cheese and sour cream base. Both McLaughlin and Hall agreed that the crust on this recipe was "so perfect," and not too sweet. The Homemade Strawberry Crumble is a quintessential summer recipe. Hall said this recipe was "banging," and McLaughlin liked the slight tang the recipe had from the white balsamic vinegar.

WINNER: Even though both recipes are keepers, McLaughlin and Hall thought the Mini No-Bake Cheesecakes were the best dessert recipe of 2024. "It tastes like a real cheesecake," McLaughlin said.

The Winning Brunch Bite

The contenders: Crustless Spinach Quiche vs. Croissant French Toast Bake

Why go out to brunch and buy a plate of scrambled eggs for $20, when you can make something even better—and cheaper—for your friends and family at home?

The Crustless Spinach Quiche is a great option for brunch because it can be made in advance and it hits all of those cheesy, eggy, savory notes. McLaughlin describes the dish as "spinach artichoke dip meets frittata," which sounds like a dream. The Croissant French Toast Bake is a creative take on a classic brunch casserole, and it only takes 30 minutes to make. McLaughlin liked that this dish was "crispy on the outside but still creamy on the inside."

WINNER: This matchup was close, but our judges have deemed the Crustless Spinach Quiche the best brunch dish of 2024. "It's the best savory breakfast dish," Hall explained.