The 10 Most Popular Recipes from 2011
by Malcolm on December 28, 2011

We cooked dozens and dozens of dishes in 2011, from classic New England one-pot slow cooker dishes to our twists on authentic Mexican street food, from chocolate no-bake cookies to all-day smoked pulled pork. Which of our recipes registered most highly with you, our readers? Here are the most popular recipes from 2011, according to the statistics collected by Google:

Homemade Cheez-Its

1. Homemade Cheez-Its
In 2011, more than 90,000 people read our recipe for Homemade Cheez-Its, making it the most popular recipe from the last year. These tiny homemade crackers are every bit as addictive as the packaged version, but you can feel better knowing you are eating 100% more real cheese, and 100% less soy lecithin. Roll them as thinly as possible, to maximize crunch.

Chick-fil-A Copycat Sandwich

2. Chick-fil-A Copycat Chicken Sandwiches
We unlocked the secret recipe for this Southern sandwich chain’s staple offering, but what followed in the 90+ comments was a thorough discussion of Chick-fil-A legend and lore, including a controversy about the truth behind the rumor that Chick-fil-A’s chicken breasts are brined in pickle juice.

American Chop Suey

3. American Chop Suey
A New England classic gets a bit of an upgrade with our version, which adds red pepper, cinnamon, and the spicy heat of Italian sausage. It’s inexpensive, hearty Wintertime food, which I could eat every single day.

Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese

4. “Jalapeno Popper” Grilled Cheese
We brought the cream cheese-stuffed classic bar food home with this grilled cheese version, made with roasted jalapenos, chevre, bacon, and a touch of apricot jam to brighten things up.

Spicy Popeye's Fried Chicken with Delta Sauce

5. Extra Crispy Spicy Fried Chicken with Popeye’s “Delta” Sauce
Was it the recipe for classic buttermilk-soaked fried chicken that made this recipe so popular, or was it that we brought Popeye’s classic “Delta” sauce out of the airport food court, and into the kitchens of thousands of people nationwide?

Homemade Marshmallow Fluff

6. Homemade Marshmallow Fluff
In 2011, we learned exactly how easy it is to make marshmallow Fluff from scratch, using ingredients that are probably already in your pantry. Fluffernutters everywhere appreciated the homemade upgrade.

Homemade Mozzarella Sticks

7. Homemade Fried Mozzarella Sticks
The secret to making mozzarella sticks at home? Packaged string cheese, and a double-dip of Panko breadcrumbs.

Signature Cheeseburger

8. Signature Cheeseburger
We laid down the law, mapping our version of the “ultimate” cheeseburger. Featuring homemade hamburger buns, a custom-ground blend of beef, and carefully selected toppings, this one was a labor of love that was worth every bit of effort.

Thomas Keller BLT

9. Thomas Keller’s “Late Night BLT with Fried Egg and Cheese”
The ultimate late night snack, this B.L.T. adds a fried egg and plenty of cheese. Serve with a tall beer, and a little Paz Vega.

Mexican Meatloaf

10. Mexican Meatloaf
Believe it or not, this “so-inauthentic-it’s-authentic” dish appeals to both Mexico’s appreciation for 1950s cuisine, along with our own natural urge to add poblano peppers to everything.

That’s it! Our ten most popular recipes from 2011. We’ve got a plenty more delicious ideas planned for 2012, so don’t forget to bookmark us, follow us on Twitter, follow us on Facebook, or do whatever it is you need to do to make sure you’re back here every single day to see what’s new. Thanks for reading, and have a happy New Year!