An Affair from the Heart: Reliving the Most Loved Recipes of 2017

As the year drew to a close, it was a moment for reflection and celebration here at An Affair from the Heart. We looked back at all the delicious creations shared throughout 2017, eager to discover which recipes resonated most with you, our amazing readers. This annual “Year in Review” is always a highlight, offering fascinating insights into your culinary cravings and providing a fantastic roadmap for the exciting flavors we’ll explore in the year ahead. We are thrilled to share the highly anticipated list of the absolute best, the most clicked, and the most loved dishes that graced your tables in 2017!

What truly surprised us this year was the remarkable absence of desserts in the top ten countdown. It’s a first! Typically, sweet treats make a strong showing, but 2017 proved to be the year of savory delights. For those with a persistent sweet tooth, don’t fret! Our beloved desserts didn’t go unnoticed, they simply landed a little further down the list. We proudly highlight some fan favorites just outside the top tier: our Old Fashioned Strawberry Icebox Cake, the decadent Eggnog Fudge, and the comforting Depression Cake. These timeless classics certainly deserved their spotlight. However, the true stars of 2017 were a delicious blend of hearty main dishes and irresistible appetizers, splitting the top ten almost perfectly down the middle. Are you ready to dive into the countdown and see what made the cut? Let’s reveal your absolute favorites from 2017!

Number 10. Stuffed Pepper Skillet

Kicking off our countdown at number ten is a brilliant weeknight solution that brings comfort and flavor without the fuss: the Stuffed Pepper Skillet. This inventive recipe cleverly deconstructs the classic stuffed pepper into a convenient skillet meal. Imagine tender ground meat, rich tomato sauce, and vibrant bell peppers, all cooked together in one pan, delivering that familiar, heartwarming taste without the time-consuming process of stuffing and baking individual peppers. It’s an ideal choice for busy families seeking a delicious and satisfying dinner that’s both quick to prepare and easy to clean up. Serve it over rice or with a side of crusty bread, and watch it become a new family favorite.

Number 9. Dr. Pepper BBQ Ribs

Securing the ninth spot is a recipe that proves extraordinary flavor can come from minimal effort: our Dr. Pepper BBQ Ribs. This incredibly popular dish utilizes the magic of your slow cooker to transform boneless country-style pork ribs into fall-off-the-bone tender perfection. The secret? Dr. Pepper! This unexpected ingredient infuses the ribs with a subtle sweetness and unique depth of flavor as they slowly simmer. A quick bake in the oven at the end creates a beautifully caramelized BBQ sauce, delivering that sticky, finger-licking goodness everyone craves. With just three ingredients, this recipe is a testament to how simple ingredients can create show-stopping results, making it a perfect choice for game day, potlucks, or a comforting family dinner.

Number 8. Bacon Cheeseburger Meatballs

At number eight, we have a brilliant appetizer that transforms a classic meal into bite-sized perfection: Bacon Cheeseburger Meatballs. This recipe takes everything you love about a hearty bacon cheeseburger – the savory beef, crispy bacon, melted cheese, and all the classic toppings – and ingeniously presents it in an easy-to-eat meatball format. Each meatball is a miniature explosion of flavor, making it an absolute showstopper at parties, game nights, or as a fun twist on dinner. They’re incredibly customizable with your favorite burger condiments, ensuring every bite is a delicious experience. It’s no wonder these little flavor bombs were so popular, offering a gourmet twist on a familiar favorite that’s impossible to resist.

Number 7. Sweet & Spicy Bacon Wrapped Chicken

Coming in at number seven is a dish that masterfully balances contrasting flavors for an unforgettable experience: Sweet & Spicy Bacon Wrapped Chicken. This recipe is a brilliant choice for anyone looking for a quick, flavorful, and impressive meal. Juicy chicken pieces are coated in a tantalizing sweet and spicy glaze, then lovingly wrapped in strips of savory bacon. As it bakes or grills, the bacon crisps up, while the chicken remains moist and absorbs the incredible marinade. The combination of smoky bacon, tender chicken, and that irresistible sweet-heat glaze creates a symphony of flavors that will have your family begging for more. It’s simple enough for a weeknight, yet elegant enough for entertaining, proving why it became such a popular recipe in 2017.

Number 6. Philly Cheese Steak Stuffed Peppers

Landing at number six, we find another creative spin on a classic: Philly Cheese Steak Stuffed Peppers. This recipe takes the iconic flavors of the beloved Philly cheesesteak sandwich and nestles them into vibrant bell peppers, offering a fantastic low-carb and flavor-packed meal. Picture thinly sliced roast beef, perfectly sautéed onions, mushrooms, and peppers, all smothered in melty cheese, baked until tender and bubbling. It’s a genius way to enjoy all the savory, cheesy goodness of the sandwich in a lighter, healthier format. This dish is not just delicious but also visually appealing, making it a hit for family dinners and a superb choice for anyone craving that unmistakable Philly cheesesteak taste with a vegetable-forward twist.

We’re halfway through our exciting countdown! How are we doing so far? Has your personal favorite from 2017 made an appearance on the list yet? We’d love to hear which recipes you were cheering for in the comments! The anticipation builds as we prepare to unveil the truly elite, the cream of the crop, the top 5 most popular recipes of the year. Get ready to discover the dishes that captured the hearts and appetites of An Affair from the Heart readers more than any others. Let’s continue on and see who claimed those coveted spots!

Number 5. Salisbury Steak Meatballs

Breaking into our top five, at number five, is a dish that exemplifies ultimate comfort: Salisbury Steak Meatballs. This recipe takes all the nostalgic flavors of classic Salisbury steak – savory, tender beef patties smothered in a deeply flavorful mushroom-onion gravy – and transforms them into convenient, delightful meatballs. Served typically over creamy mashed potatoes, this meal is the epitome of home cooking. Each meatball is packed with robust seasoning, and the rich, velvety gravy is truly spoon-worthy. It’s a satisfying, soul-warming dish that brings back cherished memories while creating new ones. Its enduring popularity is a testament to its timeless appeal as a hearty and comforting family dinner.

Number 4. How To: Make Refried Beans Taste Like a Restaurant’s

At number four, we have a genius culinary hack that clearly resonated with many home cooks: “How To: Make Refried Beans Taste Like a Restaurant’s.” This isn’t a complex recipe, but rather a brilliant technique that elevates humble canned refried beans to a whole new level of deliciousness. Forget bland, paste-like beans; this guide reveals the simple, yet transformative steps to achieve that creamy, flavorful texture and rich taste you find in your favorite Mexican restaurants. It’s about adding just the right seasonings and a touch of fat to unlock their full potential. Perfect for taco nights, quesadillas, or as a standalone dip, this tip is a game-changer for anyone looking to upgrade their pantry staples with minimal effort, making it an incredibly valuable and popular resource.

Number 3. {Award Winning} Crack Dip

Securing the bronze medal at number three is our legendary {Award Winning} Crack Dip. The name says it all – this dip is deliciously addictive and truly lives up to its “award-winning” reputation! It’s a creamy, flavorful concoction that perfectly balances a subtle kick from jalapeños with the sweetness of MexiCorn and the fresh bite of green onions. This vibrant combination of textures and tastes creates an irresistible appetizer that disappears rapidly at any party or gathering. It’s the kind of dish that people ask for the recipe of, again and again. Its proven popularity and consistent rave reviews make it clear why this dip held such a prominent spot in your hearts (and bellies!) throughout 2017.

Number 2. Texas Trash Dip a.k.a. Warm Bean Dip

Almost at the top, our silver medalist for 2017 is the incredibly popular Texas Trash Dip, also known as Warm Bean Dip. This appetizer is pure indulgence, a rich and creamy bean dip bursting with savory flavors, crowned with an abundance of ooey-gooey melted cheese, then baked until it’s perfectly bubbly and golden. It’s the quintessential party dip – robust, satisfying, and utterly irresistible. The combination of hearty beans, zesty spices, and a generous blanket of cheese makes this a substantial and incredibly flavorful snack that many confess they could make a meal out of! Its ability to disappear quickly from any gathering solidifies its spot as a true crowd-pleaser and one of our most cherished recipes of the year.

Number 1. Dill Pickle Dip

And now, the moment you’ve been waiting for! Drumroll, please… The undisputed champion, the most beloved recipe of 2017, is the phenomenal Dill Pickle Dip! This unique and incredibly flavorful dip captivated hearts and taste buds across the board. If you’re a fan of those classic dill pickle wraps – you know, the ones with the creamy cream cheese and savory dried beef – then this dip is an absolute dream come true. It captures all those beloved tangy, savory, and creamy elements in an easy-to-scoop format. The refreshing crunch of dill pickles combined with a rich, seasoned cream cheese base creates an irresistible appetizer that’s both familiar and exciting. Its distinct flavor profile and undeniable appeal made it the breakout star of the year, proving that sometimes, the simplest and most unexpected combinations are the most satisfying. It’s truly a dip that will have you grinning from ear to ear!

As we wrap up this incredible 2017 Year in Review, I want to extend my deepest and most heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you. Your unwavering support, your thoughtful comments, your shared love for good food, and your engagement with An Affair from the Heart mean more to me than words can ever express. It’s your enthusiasm that fuels this blog and inspires me to continue creating and sharing delicious recipes. Thank you for being such an integral part of this culinary journey.

I am already looking forward to an even more delicious and inspiring year ahead in 2018, filled with new flavors, exciting creations, and more memorable moments around the table. Here’s to many more wonderful dishes together!