Countdown to 2026: Best Main Dish
Counting down the best main dish recipes of 2025 to ring in the new year!
This is the Countdown theme that flourishes every year because I primarily make and post main dish recipes. We try new dinner recipes far more than any other category and it’s so hard to narrow it down every year. Some of these are favorites that didn’t make the favorites list. Some of them will be on the favorites list.
Philly Cheesesteak Soup - I didn’t have high expectations going into this, the recipe just sounded good. I was wowed. It was really fantastic. Easy but fantastic!
Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Meatloaf - I don’t think I can make a list without including something jalapeno popper flavored. And if it weren’t main dish, it’d be an appetizer or something else. This was a great meatloaf!
Chicken Sheet Pan Quesadillas - I don’t always like to put quesadillas (or enchiladas) on my meal plan because I feel like they take so long. This is one giant quesadilla on a sheet pan and I really loved that.
California Burritos - Nick’s frequent trips to San Diego got all of us hooked on California-style burritos. Fries belong in burritos.
Crispy Buffalo Chicken - I love a panko-crusted fried or baked chicken breast and, of course, it’s only going to be even better when it’s buffalo!
Carne Asada Fries - Similar to the Cali burritos, these fries were such a hit. My family eats so much pico de gallo.
French Onion Stuffed Meatloaf - Another meatloaf recipe for the round up - this one was rich and had such a lovely flavor profile.
Honey Baked Ham Copycat - I had to share this recipe since I’ve been making it year round on any holiday with ham.
Copycat Chicken Salad Chick Lauryn’s Lemon Basil - When I first started my job, I used to order Chicken Salad Chick a couple times a month. The lemon basil is my all-time favorite. And if you know me, you know I love a copycat recipe.
Loaded Ground Beef Nachos - I believe more pico is involved here. Loved this slightly different take on nachos than my family’s go-to Taco Bell copycat. We don’t often eat queso blanco, so that was a lovely change!
In case you missed it…