This time of year it is a great practice to take time and look back over the previous 12 months and think about the events that made the year memorable. We enjoy looking at the food and recipe trends that made 2023 enjoyable and adventurous so this year we teamed up with Google to find the most searched-for food items and recipes of 2023.
1. Grimace Shake
Who could forget the social media bonanza that was the Grimace Shake? McDonald’s one-month launch of its berry-flavored milkshake which celebrated the 52nd birthday of its beloved purple Grimace character.
Plenty of copycat recipes soon followed, including this one from Marathons and Motivation. It’s a tasty treat consisting of vanilla ice cream, blueberries, mixed jams, and assorted other creams. If you are looking for a healthier version, try this purple smoothie instead.
2. Lasagna Soup
2023 started hot when over 100 million TikTok’ers viewed lasagna soup renditions and that number continued to spike all year long. The basis of lasagna soup is a rich tomato soup with fresh ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese resting on pieces of lasagna noodles, protein and garnished with herbs.
For those looking for a lightened-down version, try using turkey sausage and fat-free mozzarella (6 WW points per serving).
3. Chicken Cobbler
Another famous TikTok recipe that was all the rage this past spring, chicken cobbler, rather chicken pot pie with a twist, uses lobster cheddar biscuit mix and is the perfect comfort food. It is an easy casserole recipe to prepare and can feed an army.
During the fall and winter, I adore a good chicken casserole and use this one to stay focused on personal fitness goals.
4. Marry Me Chicken
Marry Me Chicken went viral with claims the chicken is so good that someone would marry you if you served it. The recipe is reminiscent of butter chicken, with juicy chicken breast smothered in a buttery and creamy tomato sauce.
I get the hype and have tried my own version and it is one of my favorite dishes of the year.
5. Pumptini
The biggest cocktail of the year comes from the reality show Vanderpump Rules. The Pumptini, made by Lisa Vanderpump herself, is a vodka grapefruit with raspberry garnish martini with a sugar rim.
6. Hugo Spritz
The St. Germain Hugo Spritz was geared up to make a splash this past summer and it lived up to the acclaim it was receiving. The cocktail is part gin, 2 parts prosecco with soda water topped with mint and lime.
Very refreshing and a bit boozy, but goes down nicely with the mint leaves leaving a clean and fresh finish.
7. Cowboy Butter
Cowboy butter gets its name from its spice, a mixture of cayenne, paprika, and crushed red peppers, and its tang which comes from the Dijon mustard and lemon zest. The recipe creates a great compound butter that can be used as a flavorful dipping sauce or hardened to make a great cooking compound.
It is easy to make and goes great with protein but watch out, it packs calories to your dish, so use it lightly.
8. Coronation Quiche
The Coronation quiche was the official dish of King Charles’ Coronation that took place on May 6th. And as you can see, anything royal has a major impact, including breakfast foods.
You can see the actual quiche being made here, or you can copy the recipe above. Like a great pie, a delicious quiche is all about mastering the crust.
9. Brazilian Lemonade
Another ultra-popular drink this past year was the Brazilian lemonade, which is not a lemonade at all, but a nice lime and condensed milk combination. The blend offers a nice thick and frothy texture that finishes a bit more tart than sweet.
10. Cottage Cheese Ice Cream
TikTok also came alive with an instant hit that has since spawned numerous renditions of this cottage cheese ice cream. The dessert is built on cottage cheese and honey, and you can get as creative as you from there.
Once you have the two building blocks, add your other ingredients of choice, blend, freeze, and serve for a high-protein, healthy alternative to traditional ice cream.
There you have the 10 most viral recipes of 2023. There are so many others that deserve mention but these were the most searched-for recipes of the year. Can’t wait to see what 2024 brings, but I am sure we will be trying some great concoctions in the next 12 months.
