These are the dishes that kept you inspired from chilly winter nights to the return of warm, sunny days. How many did you cook in 2020?
2020 has been a year like no other. It saw many of us spending more time at home, and in turn, more time in the kitchen as we cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner for the whole family. It’s safe to say, we all needed some extra meal inspiration to keep things fresh. Some of us resorted to quick and easy recipes and learning (or relearning) the basics, while others experimented in the kitchen, making takeaway favourites from scratch. A lot of us also turned the oven on and started baking more, trying out new bread recipes and easy dessert ideas. Whether you were cooking easy meals between video calls, spending the weekend making beautiful cakes or somewhere in between, we’re glad we had a recipe for you.
Here, we take a look back at the recipes you visited most on our website this year. For the most part, our customers were after a dish they could get on the table in under 30 minutes. A lot of your favourites were healthier meals, and many found comfort in a nice slow-cooked meal. Some of you opted for vegetarian recipes , while others discovered different ways to use beef and chicken. All and all, we hope you found a few new favourite recipes that you’ll continue making in 2021.
Discover our top 20 recipes from the year that was, starting with number one.
01
Baked cauliflower cheese
In a year of uncertainty, one thing was certainly clear: comfort is king. It’s no wonder that this baked cauliflower cheese was your favourite recipe out of thousands. It also tapped into another 2020 trend: looking after ourselves. Approved by Woolworths nutritionists, this recipe is proof you can be healthier while still enjoying comfort food. Discover more healthier dinner recipes here.
02
Chicken pesto pasta
Year after year, this chicken pesto pasta recipe reigns supreme. Maybe it’s the delicious simplicity of pesto, cheese and chicken all mixed together or the fact that it only takes 20 minutes to make. Either way, it’s a beloved recipe and perfect for a midweek dinner after a long day of video calls.
03
Easy zucchini fritters
In the Make yourself at home with Woolworths cooking series , Fresh Ideas magazine’s Food Director Tamara Graffen invited us into her kitchen to share tips and show us how to cook from the pantry as we spent more time at home. While the cooking series has evolved, these zucchini fritters remain a top favourite. They’re great at any meal, plus thanks to Tamara’s expert advice, you’ll make them perfectly crispy every time.
04
Easy chicken curry
This easy chicken curry recipe has it all. It’s tasty, uses only five ingredients and is ready in just two steps. Makes sense this recipe has made it into our top five. If you loved cooking this simple curry, try this 30-minute butter chicken recipe, quick coconut curry, or discover more curry recipes here.
05
Classic meatballs
A firm family favourite, this meatball recipe is the dish that kept on giving this year. Ready in 20 minutes, these beef meatballs can be served with spaghetti, stuffed into a roll for a meatball sub or enjoyed as is with a side of crusty bread. Check out our recipe collection to discover even more ways to cook with mince.
06
25-Minute zucchini and chicken fritters
Fritters were a fan favourite in 2020. You loved our easy zucchini fritters recipe and you loved this version with chicken. What’s more, this quick recipe is approved by our nutritionists. Keep cooking these fritters knowing you’ve made a nutritious (and delicious) meal choice, and discover even more healthier lunch and dinner recipes to take you into the new year.
07
Easy chicken parmigiana
While spending more time cooking and eating at home this year, you may have missed some of your preferred dining out options. Recipes like this easy chicken parmigiana, our pepper steak with chips and this budget-friendly take on bangers and mash covered any pub food cravings, while our fakeaway recipe collection had you covered for those takeaway family favourites.
08
Beef and mushroom casserole
Rich, hearty and topped with potato minis, this beef and mushroom casserole kept you and your family warm from April to September. Prep takes just 10 minutes, then you can set and forget it in the slow cooker. You’ll want to save this one (click the star below). It’s the perfect one-pot meal to revisit once the temperatures dip again.
09
Gnocchi with sweet potato sauce
As Australians upskilled in the kitchen this year, one of the most popular ‘how to’ searches on Google was ‘how to make gnocchi’. Your question was answered in this healthier, 30-minute gnocchi recipe with a creamy sweet potato sauce. Fresh Ideas magazine’s Tamara Graffen also showed you how to make gnocchi from scratch in this heartier recipe with brown butter and sage.
10
Healthier banana bread
There’s something incredibly comforting about the smell of freshly baked banana bread. So understandably, banana bread recipes are some of the most searched, and in 2020, our customers loved this healthier banana bread recipe. Banana bread lends itself to so many variations, so we’ve pulled together this recipe collection for you to bake your way through as well.
11
Beef stroganoff
While creamy beef stroganoff may be ideal for winter, our customers love it year round. Stroganoff is a classic, and with just three steps, this recipe makes an easy midweek dinner the whole family is sure to love. You can also try our healthier beef stroganoff recipe or this version made with chicken.
12
Vegetarian bolognese
In 2020, meat-free bolognese was a hit, and you loved this vegetarian bolognese recipe. It provides a meat-free alternative to the beloved family dinner, perfect for a midweek meal. If you end up with any leftovers, you can also replace beef bolognese with this version in one of these leftover spaghetti bolognese meal ideas .
13
San choy bow
San choy bow is a fresh, filling way to feed a hungry family. Ready in just 15 minutes, these lettuce wraps are full of crunchy veg and flavourful chicken mince. Discover more Asian-inspired dishes to try in 2021 here.
14
Sausage rolls
Sausage rolls are an Aussie classic, and this beef sausage roll recipe was a go-to this year. Enjoy them fresh or freeze some for later. You can also try making this giant sausage roll when you’re feeding many or this decadent tear and share version with baked brie. Discover more ways to cook with sausage here.
15
15-Minute Mexican burrito bowl
Lunch at home was easier and healthier this year, thanks to this quick burrito bowl recipe with brown rice, quinoa and two serves of veg. With just two steps, a flavourful lunch is ready in 15 minutes. Discover even more healthier lunch ideas here and find more Mexican-inspired recipes in our collection.
16
Garlic prawns
Whether you were finding a new way to celebrate Easter or Christmas this year, you made sure prawns were still part of the celebration with this garlic prawns recipe. Discover tips and tricks to cooking with prawns, plus more recipes to try in our prawn food guide.
17
Beef and mushroom ragout
No slow cooker is needed for this hearty ragout recipe. Plus, you only need five ingredients and 30 minutes to get this easy, warming weeknight dinner on the table. If this was one of your favourites in 2020, then you’ll love this delicious meat-free version with creamy polenta.
18
15-minute Thai beef salad with rice noodles
Fresh, quick and with only six ingredients, this Thai beef salad is a healthier lunch option you visited again and again in 2020. With zesty flavours and only two steps, it makes sense this became a go-to for many. In 2021, try more salad recipes, like this colourful 20-minute chicken salad or this quick Middle Easter-inspired beef salad.
19
Raspberry cheesecake brownies
Along with her crispy zucchini fritters , Fresh Ideas magazine Food Director Tamara Graffen’s raspberry cheesecake brownies were another favourite from the Make yourself at home with Woolworths series . This decadent recipe is perfect for the indecisive, bringing two delicious desserts together: cheesecake and brownies .
20
Easy scones
Baking recipes made up a majority of the most searched recipes of 2020. We know you enjoyed our healthier banana bread this year, but you also opted to make these easy scones. With just four ingredients, these simple scones can be customised to your liking, with jam and cream or something even more decadent like lemon curd.