49 Favorite Recipes from Our Test Kitchen

Updated: Aug. 21, 2024

From the experts in our Test Kitchen, here's a treasure trove of recipes—appetizers, sides, mains, desserts...even breakfasts! Each of these recipes was created by one of our in-house culinary wizards and got the highest marks from our readers.

1 / 49

One-Skillet Lasagna

This is hands-down one of the best skillet lasagna recipes our testing panel has ever tasted. And with classic flavors and cheesy layers, it’s definitely kid-friendly. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Go to Recipe

2 / 49

Deconstructed Pear Pork Chops

You’ll be tempted to eat this main dish right out of the pan but try to resist. These chops are sure to wow guests at the dinner table. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
3 / 49

Makeover Fruit Pizza

There’s nothing better than a guilt-free dessert, especially when it’s topped with refreshing and colorful fruit. We skimmed the calories and fat from a traditional fruit pizza to create one with about half the calories, fat and cholesterol. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
4 / 49

Caramel-Pecan Monkey Bread

The kids will get a kick out of pulling off gooey pieces of this delectable monkey bread. It’s hard to resist a caramel-coated treat. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
5 / 49

Honey Bagels

Who has time to make from-scratch bagels? You do, with this easy recipe! The chewy golden bagels offer a hint of honey and will win over even the pickiest eaters. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
6 / 49

Lemon-Caper Pork Medallions

For an elegant but easy dinner you can put together in a twinkling for guests or unexpected visitors, these lightly breaded medallions are truly something special! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

7 / 49

Black Bean and Cheese Enchiladas

Picante sauce gives lots of zip to the tasty filling in these meatless black bean and cheese enchiladas. Each generous serving is packed with fresh-tasting ingredients—and fiber, too. — Taste of Home Test Kitchen
8 / 49

Swift Strawberry Salad

A simple blend of syrup, orange juice and caramel topping forms the light dressing for the fresh berries and the crunchy cashews found in this sensational salad. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
9 / 49

Spicy Chicken Stew

When you’re craving cozy Mexican flavors, try this spicy chicken and chickpea stew. It couldn’t be easier to make—just round out the meal with a fresh tossed salad. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
10 / 49

Citrus Cranberry Pie

To showcase abundant fall cranberries, make this beautiful lattice-topped cranberry pie. A dollop of orange cream complements the slightly tart flavor. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
11 / 49

Crescent Beef Casserole

This flavorful meal-in-one dish is all you need to serve a satisfying and quick weeknight dinner. It’s on the table in just 30 minutes. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
12 / 49

Palmiers

It takes just two ingredients to make these impressive but easy-to-do French pastries, which are often called palm leaves. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
13 / 49

Lemon Rice Pilaf

No need to buy premade pilaf mix when you can easily make your own in 20 minutes. The lemon zest adds a welcome burst of tang. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
14 / 49

Ranch Pork Roast

This simple pork roast with a mild rub is perfect for new cooks. The leftover meat is tender and flavorful enough to be used in countless recipes. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
15 / 49

Colorful Shrimp Pad Thai

Bright, fresh veggie flavors, a splash of tart lime juice, the crunch of peanuts and a hint of heat make this healthy, beautiful shrimp stir-fry a real standout! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
16 / 49

Easy Chocolate Ice Cream

This super simple chocolate ice cream recipe is the perfect treat at a moments notice. It’s also a bonus that most of the ingredients are kitchen staples. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
17 / 49

Pumpkin Spice Cookies

These big, soft spice cookies created by our staff have a sweet frosting that makes them an extra-special treat. Enjoy! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
18 / 49

Dogs in a Sweater

For a new twist on an old favorite, try these skewered hot dogs wrapped with breadstick dough and baked. They’re fun to dip in ketchup, mustard or ranch dressing. The dressed-up dog recipe comes kid-tested from the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
19 / 49

Shrimp Gazpacho

Here’s a refreshing take on the classic chilled tomato soup. Our twist features shrimp, lime and plenty of avocado. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
20 / 49

Hearty Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing

This warm, hearty spinach and bacon salad offers comfort at any meal. The glossy dressing features a hint of celery seed for a special touch. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
21 / 49

Ravioli with Creamy Squash Sauce

Store-bought ravioli speeds assembly of this cozy, restaurant-quality dish that tastes so good your family won’t notice it’s meatless. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
22 / 49

Hash Brown Pork Skillet

For this pork hash recipe, we added potatoes and veggies to leftover tenderloin. It’s an easy, creamy weeknight supper in minutes! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
23 / 49

Baker’s Dozen Yeast Rolls

A yummy honey-garlic topping turns these easy dinner rolls into something extra special. Try ’em with soups and chili. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
24 / 49

Roast Beef with Chive Roasted Potatoes

It’s hard to believe that last night’s beef roast could get any better, but it shines in this heartwarming dish. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
25 / 49

Easy Morning Waffles

Making your own fluffy waffles from scratch takes no time at all, and the touch of cinnamon in these beats any frozen store-bought version. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
26 / 49

Pineapple Pork Stir-Fry

There’s no need for takeout when you’ve got this pineapple pork recipe in your collection. Omit the cayenne pepper if serving young kids. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
27 / 49

Ultimate Pot Roast

Dutch oven pot roast recipes are the ultimate comfort food. When juicy pot roast simmers in garlic, onions and veggies, everyone comes running to ask “When can we eat?” The answer? Just wait—it will be worth it. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
28 / 49

Lemon Blueberry Biscuits

Lemon and blueberries make such a fresh and flavorful combination in all kinds of baked goods, especially these biscuits. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
29 / 49

Ganache-Topped Chocolate Cake

To say this cake is elegant would be an understatement. It’s worthy of special occasions, but once you learn how to make chocolate ganache, it’s so easy to whip together that you can enjoy it any day of the week. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
30 / 49

Old-Fashioned Turkey Noodle Soup

Make the most of leftover turkey with this down-home soup. Creating a broth by roasting the turkey, garlic and vegetables adds richness and depth to the flavor without the need for additional fats. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
31 / 49

Fluffy Caramel Apple Dip

This sweet, smooth and fluffy dip is really a crowd-pleaser. Be careful—it’s so good that you won’t want to stop eating it! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
32 / 49

Coffee-Chocolate Cake

Say happy birthday with this dark, moist cake. The basic buttery frosting has an unmistakable homemade taste. With a few simple variations, you can come up with different colors and flavors. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
33 / 49

Inside-Out Stuffed Cabbage

Preparing stuffed cabbage rolls can be time-consuming, but this version with butternut squash has the classic flavors —and it’s table ready in just 30 minutes. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
34 / 49

Baked Ham with Honey-Chipotle Glaze

Your Easter celebration will be so simple to orchestrate with this sweet, smoky ham recipe at your fingertips. It feeds a crowd and the baked ham glaze tastes fantastic. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
35 / 49

Garlic Ranch Chicken

The simple ingredients in this recipe give it flavor the whole family will enjoy. A no-nonsense salad will round out the meal. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
36 / 49

Healthier Chocolate Zucchini Bread

With some basic changes, we were able to keep all the flavor of this chocolate zucchini bread recipe from Jennifer Sickels of Greenfield, Indiana, while greatly reducing the sugar. We hope you’ll enjoy this healthier chocolate zucchini bread as much as we did! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
37 / 49

Crispy Fried Onion Rings

We use this onion rings recipe as a burger topper to add an extra element to already fantastic burgers. These onion rings are also perfect for giving your salads a little crunch. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
38 / 49

Quick and Simple Meatballs

Keep a batch of these meatballs in your freezer for an easy weeknight meal. This simple meatball recipe can be used for pizzas, sub sandwiches, in soups and more. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
39 / 49

Chai Cupcakes

You’ll get a double dose of the spicy blend that’s frequently used to flavor tea in these tender single-size cakes. Both the cupcake and frosting use the sweet blend of spices. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
40 / 49

Onion-Dijon Pork Chops

Coated in a flavorful sauce, these chops are cooked to tender perfection. Serve with rice and carrots for a full meal. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
41 / 49

Raspberry-Cinnamon French Toast

We came up with this moist French toast bake that’s a snap to assemble at night and bake the next morning. While it’s pleasantly sweet as is, let guests drizzle raspberry syrup over the top for a finishing touch. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
42 / 49

Cobb Salad

Made on the fly by Hollywood restaurateur Bob Cobb in 1937, the Cobb salad is a world-famous American dish. Here’s a fresh take, with all the original appeal and an extra special presentation. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
43 / 49

Mozzarella Beef Roll-Ups

The kids will love these pepperoni and beef wraps. They’re easy to assemble because each tortilla is simply wrapped around a portion of hearty meat filling with a piece of string cheese. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
44 / 49

Makeover Swiss Chicken Supreme

Stephanie Bell asked our test kitchen to lighten her family-favorite recipe. Even though this makeover recipe is slimmed down, it is still supreme. It has 560 fewer calories, 81 percent less fat and nearly 75 percent less sodium. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
45 / 49

Crab Quiche

Chopped green onions and sweet red pepper bring a bit of color to this golden entree. The creamy filling features imitation crabmeat and Swiss cheese. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
46 / 49

Makeover Li’l Cheddar Meat Loaves

My husband loves my mini meat loaves, but this family-favorite recipe wasn’t very healthy when I first received it. The Taste of Home Test Kitchen experts slashed the calories and fat while keeping the original’s tender and delicious qualities. —Jodie Mitchell, Denver, Pennsylvania
47 / 49

Calico Scrambled Eggs

When you’re short on time and scrambling to get a meal on the table, this recipe is just what you need. There’s a short ingredient list, cooking is kept to a minimum. and the green pepper and tomato makes it colorful. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
48 / 49

Parmesan Risotto

Risotto is a creamy Italian rice dish. In this version, the rice is briefly sauteed, then slowly cooked in wine and seasonings. Watch for that magic moment when the risotto transforms from just rice in liquid to creamy, tender deliciousness. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
49 / 49

Basic Crepes

This is my favorite simple crepe recipe. It’s best to make the batter at least 30 minutes ahead so the flour can absorb all the moisture before you start cooking the crepes. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin