Best Recipes of 2022

It’s that time again! At the end of every year, I take a look back at what we’ve published over the past twelve months and round up the most delicious can’t-miss recipes of the year. It’s fun remembering all those delicious first bites and the good times we had in the kitchen while developing the recipes, but it’s also a great way to single out the best of the best of what we have to offer. So whether you’re new to Budget Bytes or have been our friend for years, here are the BEST recipes of 2022 that you should add to your meal plan ASAP!

So let’s get into it! Here are the top 20 recipes we published in 2022, from oldest to newest. I hope you enjoy! And if you can’t get enough of these budget-friendly recipes, you can browse the top recipe posts from years past, which are linked at the bottom of the post. ;)

Coconut Curry Ramen – This quickie instant ramen upgrade is my new favorite way to eat instant ramen. It’s a nice departure from the usual seasoning packet that comes with ramen, plus it’s an easy way to get a dose of vegetables without having to chop a single thing. 🙌

Cajun Sausage and Vegetables – This recipe is the ultimate meal prep. It’s quick, it’s fresh, it’s FLAVORFUL, and it’s low-carb for those who like that sort of thing. ;) (You can also serve it over rice if you’re not into low-carb.)

Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies – I don’t personally need a flour-free cookie for any reason but I still LOVE these cookies for their simplicity! The ingredient list is super short, they take minutes to prepare, and the cookie is soft, rich, and absolutely delicious.

Creamy Pesto Chicken – I love a simple but impressive dinner recipe like this creamy pesto chicken because it actually makes me look forward to eating at home. It’s super easy and the end result makes me feel totally ✨spoiled✨.

Creamy Rice Pudding – Rice pudding is the OG budget dessert. Like, how amazing is it that you can take something as humble as leftover rice and turn it into an absolutely crave-worthy warm, rich, and cozy dessert? Pure magic.

Cheesy Pinto Beans – You really can’t go wrong with beans, rice, and cheese. This simple dish is super budget-friendly, easy to prepare, and it’s 100% comfort food. So when money is extra tight, THIS is the meal I’m making to get me through to payday.

Super Fudgy Homemade Brownies – I’m team #fudgebrownies all the way, so if you’re into the cakey brownies just keep scrollin’. I tested, retested, and tested these brownies some more (poor me) until I had the fudgiest homemade brownies ever.

Vegetable Beef Soup – Skip the canned soup aisle because THIS vegetable beef soup is everything. I used ground beef to keep it budget-friendly and it’s chock-full of flavorful and colorful vegetables so every bite is 💯.

One Pot Chicken and Rice – We love a good one pot meal around here and this simple chicken and rice might be one of my favs. EVER. The rice is cooked with chicken broth, tons of herbs, and all of the delicious flavor that drips off the chicken as it cooks. It’s just perfection.

Homemade Pancakes – I am all about making my weekends as weekendy as possible, and there’s nothing that does that quite like the smell of freshly made pancakes on a Saturday morning. Trust me, do it once and it will become your new favorite weekend tradition.

Vanilla Pudding – I know instant pudding is convenient and all, but after tasting this homemade vanilla pudding there’s just no going back… It’s just so delicately creamy and delicious. There’s no comparison!

3-Ingredient Pie Crust – Monti has made this pie crust several times in the studio since she joined our team this past summer, and I’m not mad about it! We’ve used it for sweet pies, savory pies, and one time we even baked it without filling and ate it by itself. 😅 #noregrets

Chicken Pot Pie – This is one of those recipes that will make you sad when the leftovers are gone, even though you’ve been eating it for four days straight. To make sure your chicken pot pie is next level, use the 3-ingredient pie crust in the previous link!

Slow Cooker Meatball Subs – We eat really well in the Budget Bytes kitchen studio, but on days when we make food like these meatball subs, we have to pinch ourselves to make sure this job is real. We SMASHED the leftovers of these meatball subs for a week straight.

Pollo Guisado (Puerto Rican Chicken Stew) – I often judge how good a recipe is by how quickly we eat the leftovers and let me just tell you… I ate this entire pot of pollo guisado by myself in TWO DAYS. It’s *that* good.

Pumpkin Pie – I love making recipes as simple as possible, but this time around taking a few extra steps is SO worth it. This pumpkin pie is as smooth as silk and as light as air. It’s truly the best pumpkin pie out there.

Homemade Lasagna – Lasagna is the ultimate comfort food, full stop. Lasagna can be super pricey at restaurants, so if I’m going to splurge on it I’m going to make it at home and get a whole pans-worth for the same price that I’d pay for one slice if ordering out! And this homemade version is every bit as indulgent as what you’d get at a restaurant.

Swedish Meatballs – I don’t know if I’ve told you, but I’m meatball-obsessed. And you can’t be meatball-obsessed without having a really great Swedish Meatball recipe. These meatballs are tender and flavorful, drenched in a super creamy gravy, and are just all-around cozy.

Chocolate Chip Cookies – I was never a huge chocolate chip cookie fan UNTIL I had Monti’s chocolate chip cookies. They’re soft and fudgy in the center and fully of that heavenly nutty brown butter flavor. 🤤

Turkey and Wild Rice Soup – I originally made this soup just as a way to use up our leftover roasted turkey from Thanksgiving, but I’m definitely going to keep making it for the rest of the winter using rotisserie chicken because it’s just so hearty and delicious!!

So there we have it! It was a busy year and there were so many great recipes to choose from! Was there a recipe that you really loved this year? Let us know in the comments!

And thank you to everyone out there who has stuck with us for another fantastic year. Budget Bytes wouldn’t exist without YOU! 😘 HAPPY NEW YEAR!