The 10 Recipes Readers Couldn't Stop Making in January (2024)

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Winter Recipes

It's comfort food all the way down.

Megan Scott

Megan is a recipe developer and editor with 12 years of industry experience, most recently as culinary director at a marketing agency. In 2019, she also co-authored the 9th edition of the classic cookbook, Joy of Cooking.

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Published on 01/30/24

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The 10 Recipes Readers Couldn't Stop Making in January (2)

Is January actually the longest month? Even though it shares its 31-day span with seven other months, it somehow always feels vastly longer. Days are short and cold and the holiday glow of December fades fast. But this year I've taken a new (to me) approach to this perhaps least beloved of months by leaning in to winter. I've been staying in, allowing myself to just be cozy and still, and cooking a lot. There have been soups and stews, potpies and roast chickens, and cobblers and one-bowl cakes. It feels surprisingly relaxing to make something with my hands after working at a computer all day, and cooking has the added benefit of warming me up as I stand next to the stove.

It seems like you've all been feeling much the same. Our most popular recipes this month are arguments for staying in and spending more time in our warm kitchens. Little tweaks on breakfast classics, like our easy oven egg bites, scrambled eggs with cream cheese, and fluffy yogurt pancakes were among the most searched for recipes on the site. Comforting and understated soups, like Scottish cullen skink and creamy potato leek soup, were burbling away in soup pots across the country. Maybe we're all getting a little better at this whole January thing. At least, I like to think so.

01 of 10
Easy Oven Egg Bites
If you're on the hunt for an easy make-ahead breakfast with plenty of protein, you'll want to bookmark this recipe. Made with just a few ingredients, these egg bites are the ultimate customizable breakfast: swap the cheddar cheese for pepper Jack or Swiss, use leftover cooked veggies instead of the tomato and spinach, or add in diced ham, crumbled cooked bacon, or crumbled breakfast sausage for your own take on this grab-and-go breakfast staple.
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02 of 10
Moist Banana Bread
I apologize if you find the word "moist" upsetting, but maybe you'll forgive me after taking a bite of this plush quick bread. The secret to the perfect loaf? Lots of ripe (and I mean ripe) banana, using oil instead of butter, and an extra egg in the batter. My personal banana bread strategy? Bake up a loaf, slice it, and freeze the slices. Then reheat them in a nonstick skillet with a pat of butter for golden, aromatic banana bread with a buttery crust.
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03 of 10
Traditional Scottish Cullen Skink
This hearty, simple, chowder-like soup leans on mashed potatoes and smoked haddock for its satisfying flavor. It's just the thing to make on a dreary winter evening when the cold feels like it has seeped into your bones. One of the commenters noted that they "won a soup contest with this recipe," which is recommendation enough for me!
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04 of 10
Cheeseburger Casserole
This hot dish, complete with tater tots and all the cheese you could hope for, is a family favorite beloved by children of all ages (and, yes, the young at heart). You can serve it sloppy Joe-style on toasted buns, scoop it into lettuce leaves, or just eat it as-is with a big green salad on the side. Just don't forget the ketchup, mustard, and dill pickles!
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Continue to 5 of 10 below.
See Also
Vegan Breakfast Sausage Recipe- So Good! - Tastefully Plant Based
05 of 10
Scrambled Eggs With Cream Cheese
Maybe cream cheese isn't the first thing you think of when you're pondering additions to your morning scrambled eggs, but hear me out: you owe it to yourself to give it a try. The cheese partially melts, leaving little pockets of creamy goodness throughout the eggs. It's truly a one-ingredient upgrade that's not to be missed.
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06 of 10
Fluffy Yogurt Pancakes
If you're looking for a way to get more protein into your weekend brunch pancakes, consider, if you will, the humble tub of plain yogurt sitting in your fridge. Not only does it make a simple swap for the milk in your standard pancake recipe, but it also adds a subtle tang that perfectly complements the melted butter and maple syrup bath you're going to give these flapjacks.
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07 of 10
The Ultimate Bean and Rice Burrito
Maybe the word "ultimate" makes you think that this recipe will be complicated, with a pantry's-worth of ingredients. Not so! This recipe's secret to success lies in a couple simple and smart flavor additions, like cilantro and lime juice to the rice and chili powder and hot sauce to canned beans. All told, a bevy of these burritos takes only 25 minutes to make. Hot tip: after rolling up the burritos, place them seam-side down in a nonstick skillet with a little vegetable oil and brown them on both sides for an irresistibly crusty and golden exterior.
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08 of 10
Joe and the Juice Tunacado Sandwich
This recipe absolutely blew up on TikTok last year, and while the breathless viral videos about this sandwich have wound down, my love for it has not (I see you feel the same way). Made with a spicy pesto aioli, a super creamy whipped tuna salad, tomatoes, and sliced avocado, the tunacado is anything but an average tuna sandwich.
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Continue to 9 of 10 below.
09 of 10
French Potato and Leek Soup
This hearty yet light soup is a cousin to the French vichyssoise, but instead of serving it chilled this version is perfect piping hot. It contains a little cream but gets its velvety texture mostly from pureed potatoes. After sauteing the leeks, reserve a big spoonful for garnishing the bowls, or for something completely different (and very un-French), drizzle the soup with bright red chili oil.
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10 of 10
TikTok's Million Dollar Spaghetti
Another dish whose claim to greatness is TikTok stardom, million dollar spaghetti tastes like lasagna, but without the fussy layering process (okay, there's some layering involved, but it's easy, pinky swear). Using prepared vodka sauce imparts even more flavor than a basic marinara would, and a blanket of shredded mozzarella and parmesan makes sure this casserole stays warm at night...I mean, it holds the dish together (and what even is a pasta bake without cheese?!).
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