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2020 Recap: Most Popular Recipes and My Favorite Things

Woooooh! What a year. I’m rounding up my most popular recipes of 2020 plus a list of my favorite things that got me through this dumpster fire of a year.

Top 10 Most Popular Recipes of 2020

Like most people this year, I found it extremely hard to find the motivation to do as much as I would in a normal year. I’m lucky enough to have a full time job on top of the income I make from this blog, so I’m able to take a step back if it’s not longer making me happy.

So, in 2020, the number of new recipe posts was very minimal. I normally focus on only new recipes, but this year I want to highlight some new plus my all-time favorites. Tell me your favorite in the comments below!

Top 5 NEW Recipes

It’s no surprise soup recipes made it into the tops for this year. We all DEFINITELY needed a bowl of something comforting.

I’ve been so excited to see people making my Breakfast Sliders – these are so good for brunch parties.

And of course, it wouldn’t be a Smile Sandwich recap without some Trader Joe’s and Instant Pot goodness.

5. Italian Sausage and Tortellini Soup

Italian Sausage and Tortellini Soup

4. Classic Beef Stew

Classic Beef Stew

3. Best Trader Joe’s Products

The Best Trader Joes Products

2. Baked Breakfast Sliders

Baked Breakfast Sliders
  1. 3-Ingredient Instant Pot Shredded Chicken: 3 Ways
Instant Pot Chicken Three Ways

My All-Time Favorite Recipes

Since I didn’t have too many new recipes this year to talk about, I wanted to share my all-time faves.

It was so hard to narrow them down and rank in order, but these are the recipes I make over and over again, so you know they have to be good.

5. 15-Minute Chicken Sausage Meal Prep Bowls

4. Italian Sausage and Rigatoni Soup

3. 3-Ingredient Air Fryer BBQ Buffalo Wings

2. The Best Instant Pot Chili

Instant Pot Chili
  1. Seafood Pasta with Roasted Veggies

My 10 Favorite Things of 2020

I can happily say my shopping was way down this year as well, but there were a few purchases that I fell in love with.

These are the things that brought me so much joy. I recommend them to everyone I know!

10. Drunk Elephant Babyfacial Mask

I’ve tried a lot of Drunk Elephant products and this one is my favorite. I was a little alarmed the first time I used this because it turned my face bright red, but once it calmed down, I was left with the smoothest skin. No other product has ever worked this well for me …. it seriously feels like I just got a facial every time I use it.

9. Dyson Cordless Vacuum

I can’t speak to the comparison of cordless vacuum brands … all I can say is YOU NEED A CORDLESS VACUUM. Especially for apartment living, it’s just so much more convenient. I use mine all the time.

8. The softest blanket ever

This blanket feels like the popular Barefoot Dreams ones but it’s way cheaper! Watch for sales.

7. Ninja Air Fryer

This one is pretty self explanatory. I use this multiple times a week.

6. Soma Filtered Water Pitcher

I love this because it looks chic in my fridge, and it holds a ton of water so I can fill it up less frequently.

5. Countertop Herb Garden

I cannot grow plants to save my life, but this countertop herb garden makes it so easy you literally can’t mess it up.

4. Soda Stream

I didn’t think I’d like this at first, but I’m trying to cut down on the waste caused by buying seltzers. Once I got the hang of it, I use this every day. I love just plain carbonated water … it tastes better and more fun to drink!

3. Our Place Always Pan

Pat got me this for my birthday and it is worth the hype. It’s so so easy to clean, yet doesn’t contain the icky chemicals some non-stick pans do. I have the color Spice but I also love Steam.

2. Skims Velour Robe

I walked into Nordstrom shopping for a robe, compared the feel of every single option, and this one was by far my favorite. It’s SO soft. I wish I could live in it.

  1. Double Wall Glass Coffee Mugs

I was totally influenced by Kourtney Kardashian to buy these mugs and now they’re my all-time favorite thing ever. I drink coffee and tea out of them and they just feel so elegant to use. They make a great gift too!

Don’t Miss Past Roundups!

Best Posts of 2018

Top 15 Posts of 2018

Top recipes of 2016:

Top Recipes of 2015: