20 Most Overlooked (But Damn Good) Recipes of 2020

These 20 most overlooked (but damn good) recipes of 2020 are the ones that our recipe testers—who are home cooks just like you—raved about the most. The list includes sourdough bread, pasta, meatballs, shrimp and grits, broccoli, eggs, and more. So much more. Both classics and what we’d consider quite unconventional. We simply didn’t want them to slip your notice.

A whole grilled beef tenderloin, partially sliced on a wooden cutting board with a knife, meat fork, and twine beside it.
You'll want to double the compound butter recipe for this grilled beef tenderloin because of its fresh and savory notes.
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Two jars of pickled shrimp on a wooden cutting board.
These pickled shrimp are a Southern staple made with poached shrimp and a spicy lemon, garlic, and dill brine.
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A black plate topped with angel hair pasta with lemon bread crumbs and a fork and a squeezed half lemon rests beside the plate.
This angel hair with lemon and bread crumbs is a simple zesty pasta dish made with angel hair, lemon zest, Parmesan, plenty of black pepper, and a sprinkling of toasted bread crumbs. Hello, weeknight supper scrounged from the pantry.
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A smoked prime rib sliced in half on a wooden board with a green-handled knife beside it.
This smoked prime rib, coated with a sugar spice rub and smothered with a horseradish mustard mixture, becomes slowly infused with smoky flavor and is simply the best prime rib we’ve ever tried.
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Creole shrimp and grits in a white bowl, with a spoon above the bowl with a shrimp in it.
This Creole shrimp and grits combines perfectly spiced shrimp, a spicy (but not too spicy) Creole sauce, and creamy white Cheddar grits. It’s Southern comfort food with Big Easy flair.
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A white plate with spears of roasted broccoli with pickled golden raisins scattered overtop and two spoons in the broccoli.
This roasted broccoli with pickled golden raisins is an easy, healthy side dish of lightly caramelized broccoli spears, topped with pickled raisins, fresh mint, and toasted sunflower seeds.
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A toasted classic tuna melt on a wooden board with a dish of ketchup next to it.
This classic tuna melt, with its toasted bread, melted cheese, and creamy tuna filling, is proof that good food need not be fancy.
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A cast-iron skillet filled with eggplant shakshuka made with poached eggs in a tomato and eggplant sauce, with feta scattered over the top.
This eggplant shakshuka adds tender sautéed eggplant and Moroccan spice blend, ras el hanout, to this classic poached egg and tomato sauce meal.
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A fork scooping strands of roasted spaghetti squash from the center of a halved squash.
This roasted spaghetti squash is an easy technique for cooking spaghetti squash so that those silky strands turn out perfectly every time. Here’s how to make it happen with ease and hardly any effort.
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A half-full jar of honey barbecue sauce with a spoon dripping excess sauce back into the jar.
This honey barbecue sauce is easy to make with a handful of pantry ingredients including ketchup, vinegar, molasses, honey, and spices. So long, store-bought sauce.
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A tray of unbaked bbq meatballs with a set of measuring spoons beside it and a bowl of barbecue sauce in the background.
These BBQ meatballs are tossed in the crockpot or oven (translation: no stovetop spattering to clean up) and slathered in a homemade molasses barbecue sauce. Here's how to make them.
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A person holding a spoonful of aligot potatoes over a copper pot.
These aligot potatoes, made with creamy mashed potatoes, cheese curds, and mozzarella cheese, are the richest, cheesiest, and most comforting potatoes we've ever tried.
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Two white plates topped with sliced grilled pork chops with pineapple and basil and corn and jalapeno.
These grilled pork chops with pineapple and basil marry the unexpected flavors of grilled pineapple, corn, jalapeno, and a glammed-up mayonnaise. Truly outstanding. And weeknight dinner friendly.
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Pieces of beef stew with red wine and mashed potatoes in a white bowl with a fork nestled inside.
This beef stew with red wine, made with beef chuck roast and a rich red wine sauce, can be made in your Instant Pot or braised in the oven.
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A ceramic bowl filled with za'atar cacio e pepe and topped with fresh marjoram leaves.
This za'atar cacio e pepe ingeniously gives Rome's classic creamy Parmesan and black pepper pasta middle Eastern flair with the addition of za'atar seasoning.
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Six salmon cakes on rectangular platters with bowls of avocado spread and chimichurri beside.
These salmon cakes are pan-fried and served with an avocado dip and chimichurri sauce. Certain to banish all memories of the less-than-stellar fish cakes of your youth.
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A large chocolate chip skillet cookie topped with ice cream with four spoons resting inside.
This giant chocolate chip cookie is made in a cast-iron skillet and served warm. Top with ice cream and chocolate sauce and devour.
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A stack of gluten-free vegan oatmeal cookies with chocolate on a white sheet.
These gluten-free vegan oatmeal cookies with pecans and chocolate have crisp, granola-like edges and soft, chewy centers. As an added bonus, they’re actually quite healthy for you. But you’d never know it from the taste.
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A scoop of salted peanut butter ice cream with chocolate flecks on a silver spoon.
This salted peanut butter ice cream with chocolate flecks is our new must-have frozen concoction. One spoonful and you’ll understand why peanut butter and chocolate are one of the great romances in the history of food.
Recipe

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