And now it’s time for MY favorite recipes from 2025! These are the recipes that I not only tested countless times, but I ended up making for myself and my family many, many times this year. They quickly became some of my new favorite recipes of all time, and I loved seeing all of you fall in love with them, too!
You might find some in here that you have yet to try, so consider this your sign to add them to your cooking or baking menu ASAP! These are great for sharing with kiddos (yes, they were some of my 3 little boys’ favorites as well) and many of them are perfect for meal prep.
Blueberry Protein Pancake Breakfast “Cake”
I love how fabulous this little breakfast cake turned out, and that it can be made to muffins, too! It’s the perfect make ahead breakfast option when you want to pack in the protein or if you just need something that will serve the entire family. It’s fluffy, moist and great to switch up the mix-ins for different flavor options. If you haven’t tried this one, please do so ASAP!
Sheet Pan Hot Honey Chicken and Veggie Glow Bowls
This is my take on the popular Sweet Green hot honey chicken bowls, except I like to use chicken thighs, carrots and sweet potatoes, toss them in spices and roast on a sheet pan until the chicken is juicy and the veggies are perfectly tender. I served mine on a bed of quinoa, but brown rice or jasmine rice is equally amazing! Also I think one of my favorite parts was the zippiness of the arugula paired with everything. Great for meal prep!
This is the pizza I’ll be making every single summer. Originally it was going to go in my cookbook, but I didn’t have room for it and felt like perhaps it was a little too seasonal for the book. Regardless, it is a MUST MAKE. Peaches, goat cheese, mozzarella and pesto! If you’d like you can add prosciutto or Italian sausage.
Where are my orange lovers at?! This quintessential flavor combination is absolutely perfect, especially if you love sweet and tart flavors like I do. The orange muffins are tender and moist and have the most perfect delicate crumb. I love how fresh cranberries are folded into the batter so that they burst in your mouth with each little bite, but also that it has a little cranberry jam on top plus a buttery brown sugar streusel to bring it home. These taste like they came straight from the bakery!
These chicken melts were a result of everything I grew in my garden this year! Tons of fresh herbs, bell pepper, green onion all paired with a spicy mayo yogurt sauce and chicken. These come together in no time at all, and the chicken salad is great on its own too, especially when scooped up with pita chips!
Warm Roasted Vegetable Harvest Couscous Salad
One of the best winter salads you’ll ever eat and absolutely loaded with nutrition thanks to kale, butternut squash, pumpkin seeds. Paired with a lovely maple tahini apple cider dressing that you’ll want to make again and again. I love serving this warm or cold, and it’s especially great with some cooked, sliced chicken sausage for some more protein!
Maple Apple Breakfast Chicken Meatballs
When I first came up with this recipe, I couldn’t believe just how good they were. I wanted something that tasted similar to the maple apple chicken sausages that Applegate farms makes, and I believe these deliver. They’re lean, jam packed with flavor thanks to herbs, fresh shredded apple and pure maple syrup, and are easy to make! Kiddos gobble these up, so if you haven’t tried them, I highly recommend!
Listen, I’ll consume just about any banana muffin out there, but one day I had the idea of making a marbled swirled banana muffin and HOT DAMN, they were unbelieveably fluffy and just so… FREAKING GOOD. I ate one in less than a minute I swear. These are super fun to make, especially with kids who can help swirl the batter. Great if you are just looking for a switch up from the average banana muffin, too. YUM!
These pumpkin bagels took me a few times to really nail, but once I did I knew that I had to put them on the site immediately. They’re my take on the viral yogurt bagels, but infused with pumpkin for a boost of fiber and vitamins, perfectly spiced and just slightly sweetened. I LOVE them with dried raisins or cranberries. They’re freezer-friendly, too, so you can make them ahead of time, slice them, then freeze and pop in the toaster whenever you need a quick breakfast or snack.
Spiced Chickpeas and Eggs with Herb Garlic Yogurt & Tomato Cucumber Salad
This is once of those recipes I wish people made more of because not only is it absolutely stunning, but the flavors are so fresh and unique. It makes a fantastic brunch dish to impress guests and is high in protein thanks to the spiced chickpeas, eggs and yogurt. Please make it if you have the chance! Scoop it all up with warm pita and prepare to fall in love.
One Pan White Wine Chicken Sausage White Bean Bake
OMG this recipe! I couldn’t get enough. It’s basically a deconstructed Tuscan soup and I’m in love. It’s hearty but you get a ton of nutrition and balance of macros, protein from chicken, fiber (and extra protein) thanks to the white beans, tons of veggies from kale and peppers! Oh my, you’re going to love this served with some crusty sourdough bread. Even my husband gobbled it up and he hates kale, so that’s really saying something!
ABC Muffins (apple, banana, carrot muffins!)
A wonderful muffin packed with nutrition that even the little kiddos will love! These muffins are easy to customize too. Don’t have applesauce? Use another banana or even pureed pear or pineapple. They’re hearty while still being light. Hell, even I’m obsessed with these. I keep them in my freezer and then reheat whenever I need something quick and easy. They are absolutely fabulous with some butter, salt and honey, too!
Lemon Parmesan Chicken Wings with Herby Yogurt Ranch
These are such a fun, vibrant take on a chicken wing and I love that they are grilled, though you could totally bake them instead. Perfect for entertaining and the lemon sauce is one of my most favorite sauces, especially when paired with an herby ranch for dipping!
Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Spicy Sausage, Butternut Squash & Hot Honey
So many of you fell in love with this recipe and I can’t blame you. It’s easy, flavorful, nourishing and full of different textures! Truly a must make from Ambitious Kitchen and one that is made in my own kitchen often!
I had been wanting to make an orange cinnamon roll for YEARS and I finally nailed it. I can truly say that these are exceptional in every way! If you are looking to switch up your usual cinnamon roll game, then you must try these!
Cheesy bread, olives and Calabrian chili paste all piled on top of ciabatta and baked to perfection! The most perfect appetizer, or heck, call it dinner if you want and add some sausage for a little protein boost. Fabulous!
Outrageously Good Pumpkin Protein Muffins
So many of you have raved over these, and me too! They are the best pumpkin muffins, and trust me, I’ve tested A LOT. They’re based off a similar banana muffin in my cookbook but these pack in more protein thanks to protein powder. If you are someone who loves pumpkin, then you must try these. And they’re great for kids, too!
One Pan Southwest Chicken and Rice Fajita Skillet
One pan magic right here! My entire family loves this dish that’s basically chicken fajitas in a skillet, but really it’s about all the incredible toppings. Serve this in bowls with greek yogurt, guac, cilantro, hot sauce, salsa, pickled red onions! Anything you’d put on a taco works here. SO SO GOOD!
High Protein Coffee Overnight Oats
My favorite overnight oats ever… and they taste like a mocha! I couldn’t be happier. They are hearty and pack in almost 30 grams of protein, making them perfect for post workout breakfast or lunch when you need a little pick me up with a boost from caffeine.
Who doesn’t love a really good lasagna? While this fun version is totally a labor of love, what homemade lasagna isn’t? This is great for when you want something nourishing but comforting all at once. And while it’s vegetarian, I’ve included instructions in the recipe to add protein, such as sausage.
Nourishing Banana Bread Zucchini Breakfast Cookies (vegan!)
OMG!! Cookies for breakfast, sign me up! These contain both fruits and veggies, are super easy to make and even kids love them. We went through a phase where my oldest was begging me to bake breakfast cookies almost every other day. And honestly? I didn’t mind because they’re a one bowl recipe with very minimal effort.
Marbled Pumpkin Snacking Cake (gluten free!)
Snacking cakes are kinda my jam and this one was so fun to create for all of you. First of all my in-laws and husband loved it, so I knew it was going to be a hit, and secondly, swirling the batters just brings me so much joy! A must make!
Spiced Mediterranean Chicken Bowls
If you need a quick lunch or dinner that’s absolutely packed with flavor, then these bowls are for you. This is a recipe my family and I have enjoyed over and over again because of the minimal effort and time it takes to create, but also because we love enjoying it a variety of ways. Stuff everything into pitas, or just scoop it up! Or simply pair with rice for meal prep! LOVE.
Lemon Cream Pie with Pecan Gingersnap Crust
Pies can sometimes be intimidating but I promise that this one is really SO EASY. You blitz up some cookies and pecans in the food processor along with a few other ingredients, press it into a pie pan, then pour a gorgeous one bowl filling into the baked pie crust. Simply bake to perfection and viola! This pie reminds me of lemon bars, but even easier and more beautiful for entertaining.
One Pan Chicken Caprese Orzo Bake
LOVE this one. Jammy cherry tomatoes with pesto orzo and tender chicken thighs, plus a little balsamic glaze… what could be better? If you haven’t made this one pan dinner yet, do so ASAP!
Santa’s Naughty Oatmeal Cream Pies
Probably my favorite cookie I made this year… I think. Anyway they’re truly fabulous, easy to make and super fun to do with kiddos!
Were any of these your favorites from this year? Let me know what you loved the most in the comments below. xoxo
The sheet pan gnocchi was so good! I love that I could throw everything on one pan and have dinner ready! I was very reluctant to cook the gnocchi in the oven but it was great! I think even better than boiling it!
So easy and delicious! Agreed on the baked gnocchi, too 🙂
I enjoy with ambitious kitchen recipes