Top 10 Recipes from 2022: Most Popular Dishes You’ll Love

This is an appreciation post to thank you for sticking with me through 2022. What an incredible year it was! Below I share the top ten recipes of 2022 — the ones that received the most views — and a few personal favorites I enjoyed cooking this year.

Some of the results surprised me (I’m looking at you, numbers 8 and 10), but every recipe on this list holds a special place. Scroll down to see the recipes, short descriptions, and a link to view each full recipe.

Collage of 4 different images of foods which are part of the top ten 2022 recipes on this website.

Highlights from 2022 included family trips to Nashville, Tennessee, Lake Havasu, Arizona, and Austin, Texas. Each trip introduced me to new foods and flavors and reminded me how food connects us across places and people.

On the home front, my baby took her first steps this year and has become a full-on toddler — where did the time go? Reflecting on the year felt right, so here are the top recipes you loved and some personal favorites I enjoyed making.

Top Ten 2022 Recipes

These top ten recipes from 2022 range from seafood and chicken dishes to comforting stews and snacks.

1. Pan Seared Tilapia

This pan-seared tilapia remains a crowd-pleaser on the blog and on my YouTube channel. It’s simple, quick, and full of flavor — you’ll likely want to double the batch.

Pan Seared Tilapia on a serving tray with lime wedges

Pan Seared Tilapia

A fast, delicious way to cook tilapia fillets. Tested with one pound of fillets, but my family easily polished off two pounds in a single meal. Crispy edges and tender fish — perfect for weeknights.

View Recipe

2. African Chicken Stew

A childhood favorite, this tomato-based African chicken stew is rich, comforting, and versatile. It pairs beautifully with rice, plantains, fufu, or crusty bread.

Pan of African Chicken Stew

African Chicken Stew

Full of flavor and hard to stop eating, this stew is perfect for festive gatherings or a hearty weekend meal. A true staple from my childhood.

View Recipe

3. Egusi Soup

One of my favorite soups to make, egusi is hearty and delicious with pounded yam or other fufu. You may have seen viral videos of people enjoying egusi — and for good reason.

Egusi Soup recipe - Africa

Egusi Soup – Nigerian Egusi Soup

Made with red palm oil and a variety of meats, this egusi is best enjoyed with pounded yam, garri, or other fufu.

View Recipe

4. Perfect Plain Cake

This plain cake was the first cake I ever baked and it’s still a favorite. Simple, tender, and beginner-friendly.

Baked cake with a knife.

Plain Cake Recipe

A super simple, reliable cake recipe — perfect for bakers of all skill levels.

View Recipe

5. Jollof Rice With Chicken

Jollof rice is a beloved chicken-and-rice dish that works for everyday meals and special occasions alike. This version makes a complete, flavorful meal.

Jollof Rice on a serving platter with cooked chicken thighs and drumsticks on top

Jollof Rice With Chicken

A complete meal combining rice, chicken, and veggies — perfect for gatherings and everyday dinners.

View Recipe

6. African Dinner Recipes

A curated list of 20 African dinner recipes covering soups, stews, and one-pot meals. A great source of inspiration if you want to explore African flavors.

Red tomato chicken stew

20 African Dinner Recipes To Try

From soups to stews and hearty one-pot meals, this collection offers 20 delicious dinner ideas to try at home.

View Recipe

7. Chicken in White Sauce

A creamy, garlicky chicken dish that’s comforting and quick. This one is a perennial favorite.

Chicken in White Sauce in a cast iron braiser.

Chicken in White Sauce

Rich, buttery, and garlicky — a creamy chicken dinner that feels special but cooks in about 30 minutes.

View Recipe

8. Ginger Drink

A comforting ginger tea my mom used to make for us growing up. It’s an immunity-boosting, fragrant drink that many of you enjoyed this year.

A mug of fresh ginger drink with some ginger and key limes on the side

Ginger Drink

A detoxifying, immunity-boosting drink that’s easy to make and soothing to sip.

View Recipe

9. Banana Fritters

A delicious way to use overripe bananas. These fritters are soft, fluffy, and highly addictive — great for breakfast or snacks.

Banana fritters on a platter with one opened up to show texture

Banana Fritters

Sweet without added sugar, these fritters are tender and flavorful — ideal with tea or coffee.

View Recipe

10. Chin Chin

Chin chin is a must at Christmas in many West African homes. Crunchy, slightly cake-like, and addictively good.

Chin chin on a white tray.

How To Make Chin Chin

Crunchy and rich in flavor, chin chin tastes like a cross between a cookie and a cake. A perennial favorite for holidays and snacking.

View Recipe

Personal Favorite Recipes of 2022

These are recipes I personally loved cooking and eating in 2022 — dishes that were highlights for our family.

11. Marry Me Chicken

A funny name and seriously delicious — creamy, savory chicken that tastes like it came from a restaurant.

Wooden spoon under a piece of chicken breast in creamy sauce.

Marry Me Chicken

Ready in about 30 minutes, this creamy chicken dish is flavorful enough for entertaining yet simple enough for weeknights.

View Recipe

12. Garlic Butter Rolls

Soft, fluffy rolls brushed with a fragrant garlic-herb butter. Once you make these, regular dinner rolls feel plain by comparison.

A full baking dish of dinner rolls brushed with garlic butter

Garlic Butter Rolls

Soft, fluffy rolls finished with garlic herb butter — perfect for dinners or holiday spreads. They require only one rise, making them easy to prepare.

View Recipe

13. Baked Turkey Drumsticks

Huge, juicy turkey drumsticks seasoned and roasted to perfection. An excellent alternative to baking a whole turkey.

Two Turkey Drumsticks on a plate

Baked Turkey Drumsticks

Flavorful and juicy, these drumsticks make a satisfying main when paired with mashed potatoes and vegetables.

View Recipe

14. Lemon Shortbread Cookies

Buttery shortbread elevated with bright lemon — delightful for the holidays or anytime you crave a delicate cookie.

A stack of lemon shortbread cookies.

Lemon Shortbread Cookies

Buttery and lemony, these shortbread cookies are perfect for gifting, holidays, or a simple tea-time treat.

View Recipe

15. Lemon Butter Tilapia

Pan-seared tilapia finished in a garlicky lemon-butter sauce — a simple way to elevate a humble fish fillet.

Lemon butter tilapia fillets on a plate

Lemon Butter Tilapia

Pan-seared until golden, then finished with a garlicky lemon-butter sauce that pairs with many side dishes.

View Recipe

Bonus: Collections like Easy Dinner Recipes For Family and 20 African Dinner Recipes To Try are great places to find additional dinner ideas.

Which Precious Core recipes did you make in 2022? I’d love to hear — please share in the comments. Wishing you God’s best in 2023: may your year be full of tasty food, warm memories, and lots of laughter. Happy New Year, friends!