Celebrating a Culinary Year: Our Top 10 Most Loved Recipes of 2022 and My Personal Favorites!

As we reflect on the incredible journey of 2022, my heart is overflowing with immense gratitude for each and every one of you who has been a part of the Precious Core community. Your continuous support, engagement, and shared love for delicious food made last year truly exceptional. It’s been a fantastic year filled with culinary explorations, cherished family moments, and countless shared meals. Thank you for sticking with me, trying out these recipes, and making this platform a vibrant space for food enthusiasts.

Today, we’re taking a delightful trip down memory lane to unveil the most popular recipes of 2022 – the dishes that captured your attention and graced your tables the most! These are the top ten recipes that garnered the highest views throughout the year, and I must admit, there are a couple of surprising entries in the mix, like number 8 and number 10, that truly stood out.

Beyond the kitchen, 2022 was also marked by wonderful personal milestones. We embarked on memorable family adventures, including an enriching exploration of Nashville, Tennessee, a relaxing family vacation to the serene Lake Havasu, Arizona, and an exciting excursion to Austin, Texas. Each trip was a culinary discovery in itself, opening my palate to diverse flavors and inspiring new recipe ideas that I’m eager to share in the future.

On a more personal note, my baby girl took her very first steps this year – and just like that, she’s transformed into a spirited toddler! Time truly flies when you’re creating and sharing. It’s been an absolute joy to share my passion for cooking with all of you, and I feel incredibly blessed by this connection. So, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU for being an integral part of Precious Core and for making 2022 such a special year!

Your Most Loved: The Top 10 Precious Core Recipes of 2022

Get ready to discover the culinary stars of 2022! This section highlights the ten recipes that resonated most with our incredible community, accumulating the highest number of views and shares throughout the year. From succulent seafood dishes to comforting African chicken stews, and irresistible sweet snacks, these recipes represent the diverse tastes and preferences that make our food journey so exciting. Let’s dive into the countdown and see which delicious dishes made it to the top, becoming staples in kitchens worldwide!

1. Pan Seared Tilapia

Kicking off our list at number one is the incredibly popular Pan Seared Tilapia. This recipe has consistently been a fan favorite, not just on the blog but also on my YouTube Channel, where it continues to gather rave reviews. It’s an absolute game-changer for anyone looking to transform humble tilapia fillets into a truly exquisite meal that’s both healthy and bursting with flavor. The ease of preparation combined with its delicate taste makes it a weekly rotation for many families.

2. African Chicken Stew

Coming in strong at number two is a cherished recipe from my childhood: African Chicken Stew. This flavorful, comforting dish holds a special place in my heart and has clearly captured yours too, becoming immensely popular on both the blog and its accompanying YouTube tutorial. It’s a taste of home for many, and an exciting culinary adventure for others, embodying the rich and vibrant flavors of African cuisine. Its robust, aromatic profile and tender chicken make it an instant crowd-pleaser.

3. Egusi Soup – Nigerian Egusi Soup

Capturing hearts and taste buds at number three is Egusi Soup, a rich and hearty dish that ranks high among my personal favorites to prepare. This iconic West African soup, made with ground melon seeds, is traditionally enjoyed with fufu, creating a truly authentic and satisfying culinary experience. You might have even spotted it making waves on social media, with countless viral videos on TikTok showcasing people delighting in its unique flavors and textures. It’s more than just a meal; it’s a cultural staple and a feast for the senses, celebrated for its complex flavors and fulfilling nature.

4. Perfect Plain Cake

Securing the fourth spot is a timeless classic: Perfect Plain Cake. This recipe holds a special nostalgic value for me as it was the very first cake I ever baked, marking the beginning of my culinary journey. To this day, it remains one of my absolute favorites, both to prepare and to enjoy. Its simple elegance and comforting flavors prove that sometimes, the most basic recipes are truly the most beloved and satisfying, offering a comforting slice of homemade goodness without any fuss.

5. Jollof Rice With Chicken

Halfway through our top ten, we find the iconic Jollof Rice with Chicken, a dish so beloved it’s almost a culinary rite of passage across West Africa. This vibrant, flavorful chicken and rice masterpiece is a staple that everyone should master. Whether you’re planning a casual family dinner or preparing for an elaborate special occasion, Jollof Rice is always a showstopper, guaranteeing a memorable and deeply satisfying meal that’s celebrated with pride in many households. Its smoky, rich tomato base and perfectly cooked rice are simply irresistible.

6. 20 African Dinner Recipes To Try

Claiming the sixth spot isn’t a single recipe, but an invaluable collection: “20 African Dinner Recipes to Try.” This comprehensive post is a true treasure trove, offering a diverse array of dinner ideas from various regions across the African continent. It’s a rich and insightful resource for anyone looking to delve deeper into the vast and varied world of African gastronomy, promising an exciting culinary journey with every dish. From North African tagines to West African stews, this collection is your passport to exploring incredible flavors.

7. Chicken in White Sauce

Holding steady as a perennial favorite at number seven is our irresistible Chicken in White Sauce. There’s truly nothing quite like a rich, creamy chicken dinner to soothe the soul and satisfy the palate, and this recipe delivers every single time. Its enduring popularity year after year is a testament to its deliciousness and ease, making it a reliable choice for countless families seeking comfort and flavor. It’s the kind of dish that brings everyone to the table with anticipation.

8. Ginger Drink

Perhaps one of the most delightful surprises on our list at number eight is the refreshing Ginger Drink. This isn’t just a beverage; it’s a nostalgic taste of childhood for me, a comforting remedy my mom often prepared for my siblings and me when we were feeling under the weather or simply needed a warm hug in a mug. It brings me so much joy to see this traditional, health-boosting drink finding its way into so many other homes and being enjoyed by a wider audience for its incredible flavor and wellness benefits. It’s a simple pleasure with powerful effects.

9. Banana Fritters

Creeping into the ninth spot are the utterly irresistible Banana Fritters. This delightful treat offers a fantastic solution for those perfectly ripe (or even slightly overripe!) bananas sitting on your counter – transforming them into something truly special. Be warned, though: these fluffy, sweet fritters are incredibly addictive! Once you try them, you’ll understand why they quickly became a sensation, perfect for breakfast, a snack, or a light dessert, delighting anyone who tastes them with their soft, cake-like interior and subtly sweet flavor.

10. Chin Chin

Rounding out our top ten is the wonderfully crunchy and utterly addictive Chin Chin. For any Cameroonian home, Christmas simply wouldn’t be complete without a generous batch of this beloved snack. This particular recipe has been a consistent success year after year, proving its reliability and deliciousness. It’s a testament to tradition, a joyful treat, and a delightful surprise to find among the most viewed recipes, truly cementing its place in our community’s heart. Its unique texture and subtly sweet flavor make it an irresistible snack for all ages.

My Personal Culinary Highlights: Favorite Recipes of 2022

While the top ten list reflects the popular vote, there are always a few recipes that hold a special place in my heart from the past year. These are the dishes I found myself craving, perfecting, and truly enjoying in my own kitchen. They might not have topped the charts in views, but they certainly stole the show for me. Here are some of the recipes that brought me the most joy and culinary satisfaction throughout 2022, and I highly recommend you give them a try for a truly delightful experience!

11. Marry Me Chicken

Starting off my personal favorites is the aptly named “Marry Me Chicken.” Beyond its amusing title, this dish is a culinary revelation. It delivers a taste profile so incredibly rich and sophisticated, you’d swear it came straight from a high-end restaurant. This chicken dish truly elevates a simple meal into an unforgettable dining experience, making it an absolute standout in my kitchen this year. Its creamy texture and vibrant flavors are simply divine and incredibly easy to achieve.

12. Garlic Butter Rolls

Next up are my beloved Garlic Butter Rolls. Honestly, after tasting these, I almost can’t bring myself to make ordinary dinner rolls anymore! The burst of flavor from the garlic butter takes these rolls to an entirely new dimension of deliciousness. They are incredibly soft, rich, and utterly irresistible, making them a phenomenal accompaniment to any meal, truly a highlight of my baking endeavors this year. These rolls are a testament to how simple additions can elevate a classic to gourmet status.

13. Baked Turkey Drumsticks

For a truly satisfying and flavorful meal, my pick at number thirteen is the Baked Turkey Drumsticks. These aren’t just any turkey drumsticks; they are incredibly juicy, generously sized, and absolutely bursting with a symphony of flavors from a carefully selected blend of herbs and spices. It’s an insanely good dish that offers a fantastic alternative to cooking an entire turkey, perfect for smaller gatherings or when you simply crave that rich, savory turkey taste without all the fuss. They bake to tender perfection with minimal effort.

14. Lemon Shortbread Cookies

As a huge fan of classic shortbread cookies, discovering the Lemon Shortbread Cookies was a revelation. The addition of bright, zesty lemon elevates these buttery treats to an entirely new level of deliciousness. It’s the perfect fusion of rich, crumbly shortbread with a refreshing citrus kick, making them an exquisite indulgence that I absolutely adored baking and enjoying throughout the year. They bring a burst of sunshine to any cookie plate, truly a delightful twist on a beloved classic.

15. Lemon Butter Tilapia

Last but certainly not least on my list of personal favorites is the magnificent Lemon Butter Tilapia. If there’s one culinary truth I’ve embraced, it’s that garlic butter and lemon butter are the undeniable future of deliciousness! This recipe perfectly exemplifies that philosophy, taking humble tilapia fillets and elevating them to an extraordinary level of gourmet greatness. It’s a simple, elegant, and incredibly flavorful way to enjoy fish, making it a firm staple in my kitchen for its ease and impressive results. The combination of bright lemon and rich butter is simply unbeatable.

More Culinary Inspiration: Bonus Recipe Collections

As an added treat for your continued culinary adventures, don’t forget to explore these fantastic collections! Our compilation of Easy Dinner Recipes For Family is brimming with simple, yet delicious meal ideas perfect for busy weeknights and satisfying family gatherings. And for those eager to expand their global palate, the 20 African Dinner Recipes To Try offers an incredible journey through diverse and authentic flavors from across the continent. Both resources are packed with inspiration to help you discover new favorites and make every meal memorable and exciting.

I would absolutely love to hear from you, our wonderful community! What Precious Core recipes did you try and enjoy in 2022? Or perhaps you’ve already started exploring new dishes and finding new favorites in 2023? Please share your culinary successes, discoveries, and what you loved most in the comments section below. Your feedback and stories truly motivate me and make this shared journey all the more special, so don’t hesitate to connect!

As we step further into the new year, I wish you God’s abundant blessings and His very best in 2023! May your year be generously filled with an abundance of tasty food that nourishes both body and soul, countless good memories forged around the dining table, and endless moments of heartfelt laughter with your loved ones. Happy New Year, dear friends, and here’s to many more delicious adventures together in the kitchen and beyond!