The 10 Most Popular Real Simple Recipes of 2023 (2024)

The year is nearly over, which means it’s the perfect time to look back on the previous 12 months and see which recipes really resonated with you—our readers. With that in mind, we compiled a list of the 10 most popular Real Simple recipes of 2023. These dishes, which include sides, main courses, desserts, and more, were the recipes you clicked on most this year.

While the list includes a few sweet dishes—we see you, magic cake!—you’ll also find quite an assortment of cozy and comforting savory recipes that never disappoint. Not surprisingly, many of these are classics that are in demand no matter what time of year it is. Thai Peanut Butter Ramen, anyone?

Keep reading for the complete list of the 10 most popular Real Simple recipes of 2023!

20 Whole Chicken Recipes That Waste Nothing and Feed a Crowd

3-Layer Magic Cake

This viral homemade cake recipe was the clear favorite of the year, pulling in thousands more views than any other recipe on this list. To be honest, we totally get it. This dessert, which you can adapt for every season or occasion, is in a league of its own thanks to those three distinct layers—a thick, fudgy bottom layer, a custard center, and a top layer of delicate sponge cake. If you haven’t made this yet, now is your chance.

Melting Potatoes

We have dozens of potato recipes to choose from, but this one is the undisputed king of the spuds and it’s not hard to see why. Our favorite thing about this recipe is that by cooking the potatoes in a very hot oven and adding some chicken stock to the pan when they’re nearly done baking, you’re left with creamy, caramelized coins that melt in your mouth. Need we say more?

Crispy Chickpeas

Achieving the perfect crisp on a chickpea can be tough, but this recipe nails it each time, which might just be why it’s so popular. As we’ve discovered, the trick is to bake your chickpeas in a hot oven on a preheated baking sheet. This ensures that the exterior of each chickpea will get perfectly crispy without overcooking the inside. You’re welcome.

Thai Peanut Butter Ramen

Since ramen is a very popular takeout order, we’re not surprised that this ramen recipe snagged a spot on the list. If you’ve ever made this main course, you know it comes together quickly and is packed with flavor thanks to a sauce made with punchy vinegar, salty soy sauce, and spicy gochujang, which perfectly balances the creamy peanut butter.

Carrot Cake Breakfast Cookies

This recipe basically promises cake for breakfast, which we’re betting played a role in its popularity in 2023. However, as you may already know, these downright delicious cookies are actually packed with healthy ingredients such as oats, almond flour, walnuts, and a shower of shredded carrots. You won’t find any of that in a muffin or sugary breakfast cereal!

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Channel your inner Taylor Swift and whip up a batch of these delectable cinnamon rolls. Here, cinnamon is joined by a fluffy, tender base and a glaze that’s sweet but not too sweet thanks to the inclusion of cream cheese. The resulting pastries are most delicious right out of the oven, but if we’re being honest, there really isn’t a bad time to dig in.

Creamy Potato-Cabbage Soup

Simply put, there’s nothing not to like about this recipe. ​​This comforting soup combines sliced cabbage and onion with chopped potatoes and carrots in a vegetable broth, while a dollop of sour cream makes it irresistibly creamy. The fact that this meal comes together in about 30 minutes is just an added bonus.

Slow-Cooker Chocolate Pudding Cake

If you were gifted a slow cooker this holiday season, this is your sign that it’s time to put it to good use. After about 10 minutes of hands-on work and three hours in the slow cooker, you’ll be blessed with the gooiest, fudgiest, easiest chocolate cake on the planet. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and dig in!

Braised Fish With Spicy Tomato Sauce

We love this dish because, while it looks complicated and impressive, you can have it on the table in a mere 25 minutes. And if you’re intimidated by braising fish, don’t be. As this recipe proves, the process is much less complicated than it sounds, and leaves you with tender filets that are evenly cooked.

Make-Ahead Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese that you can make ahead is one of the best inventions ever, so it makes sense that this recipe earned the final spot on the list. Plus, it’s a true crowd pleaser for holidays, surprise guests, and busy weeknights, which only broadens the appeal. This recipe can be made up to four days in advance, and can be reheated in the oven whenever you’re ready to dig in. The combination of Cheddar, Muenster, and Monterey Jack cheeses makes the final result buttery, sharp, and tangy—just how we like it.