50 Top Rated Recipes of 2016

By Patricia S York
Jennifer Causey
Out of the hundreds and hundreds of recipes that we published in 2016, we have narrowed down the list to the 50 that received the highest ratings from our editors and Test Kitchen professionals. From tasty breakfast dishes, to comforting soups, and indulgent desserts, we think this list of 50 recipes is a great representation of the kind of delicious and trusted recipes we have been sharing with our readers for the last 50 years.
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1 of 50

Three-Bean Cassoulet with Cornmeal Dumplings

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Three-Bean Cassoulet with Cornmeal Dumplings

A medley of beans gives this dish contrasting textures and colors.

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2 of 50

Ginger Shortbread Cookies with Lemon-Cream Cheese Frosting

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Ginger Shortbread Cookies with Lemon-Cream Cheese Frosting

Fight the winter chill with these sunny, spicy cookies. Make them sparkle by sprinkling the iced cookies with crystallized ginger.

3 of 50

Soulful Chicken Soup

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Soulful Chicken Soup

This homey chicken soup is perfect for the busy cook; simply combine the ingredients, switch on the slow cooker, and walk away.

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4 of 50

Hummingbird Cake

Hector M Sanchez

Recipe: Hummingbird Cake

Mrs. L.H Wiggins of Greensboro, North Carolina, supplied us with this decadent–and frequently requested–recipe. We consider both the lady and her recipe to be Southern treasures.

5 of 50

Ham-and-Greens Pot Pie with Cornbread Crust

Hector M Sanchez

Recipe: Ham-and-Greens Pot Pie with Cornbread Crust

The great Southern staples of ham, greens, and cornbread are combined in one recipe. You will never want to separate this prized trio again.

6 of 50

The Lane Cake

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: The Lane Cake

Emma Rylander’s signature cake won the blue ribbon more than 100 years ago, thanks in no small part to the rich, boozy filling. We pick up where she left off, giving her classic cake a peachy, spirited makeover.

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7 of 50

Asparagus, Spring Onion, and Feta Quiche

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Asparagus, Spring Onion, and Feta Quiche

Think of this quiche as a celebration of spring produce. Sweet spring onions and tender asparagus are complemented by crumbled feta and a dash of nutmeg.

8 of 50

Breakfast Enchiladas

Hector M Sanchez

Recipe: Breakfast Enchiladas

Reimagined for easy weeknight cooking, this Tex-Mex breakfast mash-up has buttery eggs and a homemade cheese sauce to top it off.

9 of 50

Spring Pea Pasta with Ricotta and Herbs

Hector M Sanchez

Recipe: Spring Pea Pasta with Ricotta and Herbs

In this one-pot primavera, fresh herbs, crunchy sugar snap peas, and sweet peas combine with ricotta cheese and salty pasta water for a quick and easy main dish.

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10 of 50

Spinach-and-Vidalia Dip

Greg Dupree

Recipe: Spinach-and-Vidalia Dip

The sweet, mellow flavor of Vidalia onions makes this creamy spinach dip an instant crowd-pleaser.

11 of 50

Strawberry Dream Cake

GREG DuPREE

Recipe: Strawberry Dream Cake

Our frosting, made with a dreamy blend of mascarpone and whipping cream, tops this elegant, three-tiered white cake along with fresh sliced strawberries.

12 of 50

Mouthwatering Marinated Tomatoes

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Mouthwatering Marinated Tomatoes

Treat this recipe for juicy, flavorful tomatoes like a vinaigrette to be added to all kinds of salads or to top a plate of pasta.

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13 of 50

Grilled Flat Iron Steak with Charred Tomato Relish

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Grilled Flat Iron Steak with Charred Tomato Relish

The secret to the smoky relish? Grill the tomatoes, as well as the steak, until they a nice char on both sides.

14 of 50

Grilled Peach Cobbler

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Grilled Peach Cobbler

Who says you can’t make dessert on the grill? The fire gives this favorite Southern stone fruit an extra-smoky, caramelized flavor.

15 of 50

Spiced Peach Galette

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Spiced Peach Galette

This versatile peach dessert can be made with any combination of spices. Consider cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and nutmeg for different flavor profiles.

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16 of 50

Cherry-Plum Pie with Cornmeal Crust

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Cherry-Plum Pie with Cornmeal Crust

Fine yellow cornmeal gives this piecrust a slightly crunchy and flaky texture.

17 of 50

Blackberry Cobbler with Almond-Ginger Biscuits

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Blackberry Cobbler with Almond-Ginger Biscuits

Southern, seasonal, and simple, this cobbler is best served in individual ramekins for the right berry-to-biscuit ratio.

18 of 50

Street Corn Salad

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Street Corn Salad

This fresh salad can be served as a quick and easy side or a fun dip with chips.

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19 of 50

Raspberry and Fig Salad with Lemon-Thyme Dressing

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Raspberry and Fig Salad with Lemon-Thyme Dressing

Sweet, mellow figs are paired with bold blue cheese for an incredibly flavorful salad.

20 of 50

Cherry Pie Bars

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Cherry Pie Bars

For a classic cherry dessert baked into crowd-pleasing treats, drizzle these cherry bars with an almond-scented icing and sprinkle the top with pecan crumbles.

21 of 50

Chocolate-Coconut Layer Cake

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Chocolate-Coconut Layer Cake

Layers of coconut cream, dark chocolate frosting, and chocolate cake alternate in the stunning dessert.

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22 of 50

Praline Layer Cake

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Praline Layer Cake

Topped with candied pecans and packed with praline-like filling, this nutty, caramelized layer cake is a certified showstopper.

23 of 50

Apple-Spice Bundt Cake with Caramel Frosting

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Apple-Spice Bundt Cake with Caramel Frosting

Our updated take on Bundt cake benefits from the warm flavors and spices found in the popular Indian chai tea.

24 of 50

Savory Sweet Potato Bread Pudding

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recie: Savory Sweet Potato Bread Pudding

Salty Parmesan custard and smoky bacon balance the richness of sweet potatoes in this company-worthy brunch pudding.

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25 of 50

Cheesy Ham, Corn, and Grits Bake

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Cheesy Ham, Corn, and Grits Bake

With its puffy and golden appearance and the pockets of fresh corn and savory ham, you will think of this casserole as a soufflé without all the work.

26 of 50

Brown Butter Apple Pie

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Brown Butter Apple Pie

Browned butter adds a subtle nutty flavor to the crust, and the filling gets a sweet makeover from two types of apples, warming spices and rich brown sugar. To achieve the best flavor, use a combination of sweet and tart apples.

27 of 50

Hugh’s Southern Mac and Cheese

Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Hugh’s Southern Mac and Cheese

We revived a Southern staple with slab bacon, leeks, and a flavorful mix of Gruyère and Cheddar cheeses.

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28 of 50

Roasted Pumpkin Soup

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Roasted Pumpkin Soup

With oodles of pumpkin, carrots, and onions, this soup is like a serving of fall deliciousness in a bowl.

29 of 50

Classic Skillet Cornbread

Jen Causey, Claire Spollen, Torie Cox

Recipe: Classic Skillet Cornbread

The secret to our crunchy, buttery-crusted cornbread is a screaming-hot cast-iron skillet, yellow cornmeal, butter, and just a pinch of sugar.

30 of 50

Roasted Herb Turkey and Gravy

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Roasted Herb Turkey and Gravy

Simple yet just what you need for your holiday meal, this traditional roast turkey is basted in butter seasoned with sage, thyme, and fennel seeds.

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31 of 50

Brown Butter Sweet Potato Pie

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Brown Butter Sweet Potato Pie

Often called “liquid gold” by chefs and bakers alike, brown butter is the secret, nutty ingredient in our update on this Southern pie.

32 of 50

Sweet Potato-Ginger Scones

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Sweet Potato-Ginger Scones

These tender, apricot-hued scones are filled with chunks of candied ginger and sprinkled with a cardamom and turbinado sugar spice mixture.

33 of 50

Green Tomato Mincemeat Pie

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Green Tomato Mincemeat Pie

With the tart combination of green tomatoes, Granny Smith apples, and cranberries, this mincemeat pie benefits from a boozy dollop of bourbon-pecan ice cream.

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34 of 50

Pumpkin-Lemon Cream Cheese Chess Pie

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Pumpkin-Lemon Cream Cheese Chess Pie

We took the traditional concept of chess pie–a simple combination of butter, flour, sugar and eggs–and added pumpkin, spices, lemon, and cream cheese.

35 of 50

Cinnamon-Pecan Rolls

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Cinnamon-Pecan Rolls

Jam-packed with gooey cinnamon-pecan filling, these fragrant rolls are the ideal Sunday morning wake-up call.

36 of 50

Turkey Tortellini Soup with Greens

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Turkey Tortellini Soup with Greens

A rich stock made from the carcass of the Thanksgiving turkey serves as a delicious base for this soup. Cheesy tortellini and fresh spinach combine with leftover turkey to create a savory pot of soup.

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37 of 50

Gumbo-Style Turkey Soup

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Gumbo-Style Turkey Soup

The gumbo element to this soup is the dark, caramelized roux we start with, not to mention the addition of cut okra. This soup feeds eight, making it ideal for a day-after-Thanksgiving meal.