I absolutely loved my time in Florida for Christmas but there’s something to be said for the comfort of everyday life and schedules when you have two kids in the mix. Blogging while traveling ended up feeling next to impossible for me, so I hope that the return to everyday life (and preschool for Chase next week!) will help free up some time to catch up because I have so much I’m dying to write about and share with you guys in 2019.
At the beginning of every year, I like to kick things off on the blog with a look back at the previous year. I am notoriously horrible at checking my blog’s analytics (they stress me out and I typically only check them to update my media kit for brand partnerships and post-campaign reports) but the end of every year is the time I force myself to sit down and look at what recipes, workouts, personal posts, random musings and topical posts seemed to be the biggest hits with all of you. It’s helpful for me to know what you guys like to read when it comes to brainstorming blog posts for the coming year.
In today’s post, I’m highlighting my most popular recipes from 2018. As always, some past favorites claimed the top spots but some new recipes I shared in 2018 gained traction and cracked the top 10.
I’d LOVE to know what kind of recipes you’d like to see more of on PBF in 2019, so please leave a comment to let me know of any recipe requests! Would you like to see more healthy breakfast recipes? Quick and easy dinner recipes? Kid-approved meals? Plant-based dishes? I always take your requests to heart and use them to create a list of ideas for future blog posts so thank you in advance for your suggestions!
Most Popular Recipes of 2018
I owe the popularity of this post to Pinterest! It always seems to get some extra traffic around the holidays and the Super Bowl! Add this dip to your must-make list for your next gathering with family and friends.
If you have three minutes in the morning, you have enough time to make yourself a bowl of fluffy, filling and oh-so-tasty banana egg white oatmeal. It’s a recipe that continues to be popular on the blog 4+ years after I initially shared it on PBF.
I make this recipe all the time and love it because it’s both voluminous (great if you simply enjoy eating large portions) and satisfying. It’s a Paleo take on oatmeal with a texture that resembled Cream of Wheat.
Thanks to a clean ingredient list, these sweet and tangy lemon cupcakes can also double as Paleo lemon muffins! They’re made with fresh lemon juice and sweetened with honey and also happen to be a kid-approved treat!
If you love chocolate but struggle to get enough protein in your diet (ahem, ME!), these fudgey protein bites are a great easy-to-make option to keep on hand when your sweet tooth hits.
This was one of my breakfast obsessions this year so I was excited to see it crack my top 10 most popular recipes from 2018. I love chocolate any time of day and waking up to a big bowl of protein-packed chocolate oatmeal helps begin my day on the best note!
Forever and always a weeknight staple in our house! I love that so many of you seem to love this simple dish, too!
Gosh, I need to update the photos for this recipe but bad photos aside, it’s a delicious protein pancake recipe I love because it doesn’t require any protein powder or the use of a blender. It’s the easiest protein pancake recipe I’ve found and one I continue to make regularly for breakfast or an afternoon snack.
I owe YOU guys a billion thank yous for sharing this recipe! It seemed to take over Instagram this fall and seeing you share photos of you making and enjoying these muffins made me smile over and over again. They’re Chase’s all-time favorite muffins and we make them year-round in our house so definitely keep them on your radar even though pumpkin season is behind us!
I made this chili for the billionth time last night to bring to a NYE party! We cannot seem to stop eating this crock pot chili in our house and I cannot seem to stop making it because it’s SO darn easy. No chopping or difficult food prep required. Just dump everything in the crock pot and enjoy a yummy dinner at the end of the day!
I shared a roundup of Chase’s favorite muffins on the blog earlier this year after a blog reader requested it and apparently you guys have little ones who are muffin-obsessed, too, because it became one of my most popular food-related blog posts from 2018!
A Few of My Favorite Recipes from 2018
And here are a few of my favorite recipes that I shared in 2018 that didn’t crack the top 10 but I still think are worth trying! I hope you find something below that pops out at you to make in the new year!
A simple twist on my beloved Banana Bread Protein Pancakes, these pancakes are a breakfast go-to in our house that every single person in our family loves. Bonus: They’re also freezer-friendly!
My go-to healthy snack and an easy grab-and-go breakfast option! Great for those who love to food prep or make a simple breakfast/snack the night before.
The perfect base for your favorite bowl recipes! I love topping this cauliflower rice with shredded chicken, avocado and sliced tomatoes.
Delicious by the handful, in trail mix or on top of oatmeal, yogurt and even ice cream!
Kid-approved, creamy and a great healthy post-dinner dessert that tastes indulgent!
Healthy comfort food in a bowl and the perfect weeknight dinner to serve when the temperatures outside dip below freezing.
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We’ve made the Crockpot Chicken Corn Chili TWICE since you shared it in October! Love it!
I have made the crockpot chicken corn chili and it is amazing!
I love all things lemon so I’m excited to try out your lemon cupcakes.
Happy new year!
I LOVE the crockpot corn chili. I have made it three times since you posted it! I would love to see more dinner recipes! You are a pleasure Julie and I look forward to reading more in this new year!
Happy New Year to you and your family! I also have been making the chili on repeat—perfect for the days I have to work outside the house! I would love more crock pot recipes. I am planning to try your shrimp dip for the Super Bowl, and the healthy banana ice cream is something I want to try for my 15 month old! Thanks for all the inspiration.
So glad you like the chili!! It’s truly one of our all-time favs! And I am on a crockpot & pressure cooker kick lately so I definitely hope to have more recipes that utilize them to share with you soon!
Thank you for sharing these! I will definitely have to try the copycat cauliflower rice. I would love to see more plant-based recipes. I’m a vegetarian and often struggle finding easy & satisfying dinner recipes.
Vegetarian dishes!
I love your blog and am grateful for all the reliable recipes. Something that I would love to get your perspective on, because I’m dealing with it right now, is how to care for little ones who aren’t feeling well. Any comforting measures you would recommend would be great.
Great post Julie! I love your blog! I would absolutely love to see you post a “How to Get Started” maybe two day meal plan for someone (like me) who isn’t the healthiest eater but wants to be! I would love to see snacks listed… I know you like Lara Bars! And then if you ever wanted to expand you could do a two day kid eating plan (like for Chase!) Or I would love for you to do more “This is what I bought at the grocery store!” Lists and pictures. I know you did that on Instagram once! But I have given up Instagram for this year. 🙁
I’m so glad you highlighted these recipes! I’ve made a few of them and I love your recipes! One of my favorites that I used to make aaallll the time is the egg white protein pancake – love love love that one! I ate it every day for a ridiculously long time and then needed a break, but the break is over-haha! I’m making that one tomorrow. xo
I do this with favorite recipes all the time!! I make them on repeat for weeks on end and then I am OVER IT… but then, randomly, I’ll bring them back again! Hope the pancake it once again a favorite for you! 🙂
That shrimp dip looks amazing! I will definitely be making that. Actually they ALL look pretty good ? I will continue to be a loyal reader no matter what you post- I enjoy all of them. Happy New Year to you and your family Julie!
I made your peppermint ice cream/Oreo dessert for Christmas this year. It was a huge hit, and it was fun to make with the kids! Thanks again for sharing that recipe and your cook’s notes. My guests thought it was very creative way to get outside of the “holiday pie” mold while still having a holiday spin on our dessert!
Thank you for sharing this with me! I’m so glad it was a hit with you and your family. <3 We made it this Christmas as well (as always) and it's always one of my favorite holiday desserts.
I’ve been meaning to make that crockpot chicken chili and after seeing you make it again on Insta I am officially bookmarking it NOW! Can’t wait!! Love an easy chili recipe!
I would love to see a WIAW or all meals included in your day in the life posts for you and Chase too! Or maybe a here’s what I bought at the grocery store this week and here’s what I made (I know you used to do a weekly meal plan post- loved that!!)
Thank you for sharing these!! I’m going to have to make the chicken sausage and sweet potato bake, and definitely that chocolate peanut butter protein fudge for my husband, I think he would love both of those! Happy New Year Julie, looking forward to continue reading your blog this year! Xoxo
Thanks for this roundup! I am bookmarking this post for future reference!!
I always enjoy your breakfast recipes! I’d really love more plant based/meatless recipes that are kid approved in 2019 though. Thanks for all the time and effort you put on your posts. Looking forward to more from you this new year!
Love some of these recipes (still need to make the egg white oatmeal!). I love simple and delicious recipes, especially if they involve roasting veggies. I’m not a fan of diet culture, so maybe less paleo or whole 30 stuff, but I also get there’s an audience for those recipes too.
oh so much yumminess!
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