It's easy to see why this recipe first stole your hearts way back in 2014, and why it keeps winning raves as a go-to for busy weeknights, and for DIY taco bar parties. You only need 3 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep ... and your crock-pot cooks up a fantastic taco night that's all ready and waiting for you. Pssssst ... you can also make an Instant Pot version, too!

These super easy, not-too-sweet candied pecans are wonderful for snacking, or for sprinkling on top of salads (especially our Goat Cheese and Pear Salad that's hanging out in the #5 spot below). Great as little hostess gifts at the holidays, too! Maybe best of all, you don't even have to fire up your oven. Now, that's EASY!

My big, extended family goes all-in on holiday brunch buffets, usually with two or three breakfast casseroles as the centerpiece. This delicious recipe was my solution for keeping things satisfying and hearty, yet lighter, too! It delivers big flavors with Italian sausage, sharp cheddar cheese, and bountiful veggies. As a bonus, it uses shredded potatoes in its base instead of bread, so it also happens to be gluten-free – great for large gatherings where there are different dietary needs.

I specifically created this slaw to go with my North Carolina BBQ Chicken (which landed at the #15 spot below). Ditch the bottled dressing and make your own, with just a few simple ingredients! It's the perfect middle ground between creamy, deli-style coleslaws and tangy vinegar slaws ... and yes ... seriously fabulous with BBQ!

Super fast to make, but truly special. I take this with me to potlucks and parties all the time, and it still wins raves every time, so I'm not surprised you guys love it just as much. The creamy goat cheese, juicy pears, sweet-tart cranberries and crunchy pecans are spectacular together – but honestly, the very best part is probably the dressing. A thousand, million times better than bottled. It's ok if you want to lick the plate. It happens.

And while I make the salad above on regular repeat, this one is the gold standard for Christmas parties. It's truly fit for a celebration, especially if you shape it into a pretty wreath on a big platter. Serious showstopper, year after year after year!

This soup is super quick to make. But it's still comfort food through and through. The very best kind of comfort food – the kind you can make in under 30 minutes, with great shortcuts and make-ahead options. Because life happens fast. So dinner's gotta happen fast, too!

And maybe dinner happens on the run at your house, while you're coordinating family schedules and trying to keep everyone nourished when nobody's mealtimes line up? Yeah. Been there. Soccer and band and track and Girl Scouts and ... and ... and ... All.The.Things. If you're nodding your head OMG YES, then this is for you. This is a grab-and-go meal you can whip up in about 15 minutes, and even stockpile in your freezer ahead of time. And it beats the pants off of the McDonald's drive-thru!

I know you guys love ultra-easy crock-pot recipes, especially seeing how there are six (YES ... SIX!) slow cooker recipes in this Top 25 Best Recipes list! This one channels the yummy flavors of a chicken Caesar salad, with a speedy homemade Caesar dressing made with ingredients you probably have on hand (and not a single raw egg or anchovy).

Ok, guys. Here it is. The Ball That Started It All (aka "Quick and Healthy Snack Bites"). The very first recipe we ever published, waaaaaaaay back 10 years ago. Easy, healthy, freezable, portable and just ... YUM. So YUM. This is the one people exclaim over, when they first meet me. The one people ask about and remember my website by. THE ONE. Sure, we've got 7 other Energy Ball recipes, and each of them is fantastic. But this one is the classic. Seriously – don't miss it. Bookmark it now!

Chipotle made burrito bowls famous, but you clearly love creating your own at home, too. And why not? This recipe is so darn easy in the slow cooker, and everybody 'round the table can top theirs off any way they please. What's not to love?!?

What could be better than combining two "junk" foods, in one healthier recipe? How about if it's still super delicious? And seriously fast (like, 5 minutes FAST)? Perfect! No wonder this simple recipe is such a fan favorite!

One of the earliest recipes we published, way back in 2013 – this was adapted from a recipe shared with me by my kiddos' preschool teacher. It instantly became one of my personal favorites ... and was clearly just as popular with all our readers, as well. Sure, it's fabulous as a salad. But it's also kind of like a really unique twist on "Cowboy Caviar," making it an outstanding appetizer dip with tortilla chips. Can't go wrong, either way!

I've published three different dog treat recipes, all 100% approved by our pup, Finn. These are simple to make, and they freeze great for long-term storage. And trust me, if your pooch is anything like our little guy, these'll be a HUGE hit! (Finn also recommends that you try our 2-Ingredient Frozen Dog Treats and our Sweet Potato Turkey Treats. Your pup will thank you!)

These vinegar-y, North Carolina-style barbecue sandwiches were inspired by our seriously epic extended-family beach vacations along the Carolina shore. You can mix up the quick, 5-ingredient sauce right in your slow cooker ... super easy and insanely delicious! And, it's gotten resoundingly rave reviews, even from NC natives who grew up eating Carolina-style 'cue. A must-try, for sure! (Mmmmm ... and don't forget to serve these with the coleslaw up at #4 on our list.)

This unique chili has clinched the trophy at one chili cook-off after another. I love when readers send along notes that it's been a winner for them, once again! Sweet Italian sausage and pineapple join more typical chili ingredients to create a memorable flavor combination that people go crazy for. But don't wait until a chili competition rolls around – this recipe is a snap to make for dinner, even on busy weekdays!

This is one of those deceptively simple recipes: just a few ingredients add up to surprisingly big, big flavors! Total bonus that, with all those roasted veggies, it’s essentially a meal-in-one with no vegetable side dish needed, which makes it perfect for busy nights! 

Hummus is one of my favorite snacks, and always a go-to when I need a lightning-fast party appetizer. But for the holidays, it had to be a real showstopper, too. This recipe delivers on all levels ... no wonder it's been over-the-top popular with all of you, too! And even though it's so pretty, and so very festive ... it's also really quick and easy to make, I promise!

No surprise that this recipe's been so popular, right? I mean ... CHOCOLATE. Warm, melty, decadent CHOCOLATE. 'Nuff said. But if you need more convincing to give this one a try, let me just throw in that you truly do need only 3 ingredients and less than 10 minutes. And absolutely no double boiler. Chocolate nirvana is yours in a jiffy!

I'm delighted all of you adore this recipe – it's really near and dear to my heart, since my son and I spent a lot of time working together to test it (exhaustively!) and then stage the photo shoot. (I love being in the kitchen with my kids!) He even wrote the accompanying article, explaining all the ins and outs of how to create our "copycat" version of the amazing A.M. Superfoods Bowl we order at First Watch.

This is no ordinary chicken salad. It's loaded with an addictive combination of flavors and textures. And, it's got the brilliant addition of a "secret" ingredient (ahem ... that'd be the tarragon) suggested by a country club waiter who basically changed my life (or, at least, my chicken salad). It just might change yours, too!

Here's another one of those "just toss everything in the slow cooker" recipes. Toss it all in, turn that crock-pot on ... and go enjoy your day. It's creamy and hearty, with the sweetness of corn and a hint of smoky bacon in every delicious spoonful. Even better served up in a bread bowl (hint hint). I'm not the least bit surprised this recipe's been wildly popular!

So refreshing and so very simple. The directions literally involve (1) putting everything in a blender and (2) blending until smooth. And yet, you end up with a giant glassful of refreshing happiness. And hey hey – it's packed with nutritious fruits and protein-rich Greek yogurt, which is even happier yet!

This recipe has gotten my family through soooooo many on-the-go situations, especially when my kids were in high school with back-to-back-to-back after-school activities and sports. These are surprisingly delicious, and loaded with healthy goodies to power you through whatever your busy day has in store for you. And they're ideal for packing in lunch boxes!

I adore making these quick and easy egg cups for weekend breakfasts, so it's no shock they've become a favorite recipe with all our readers, too. These really are fabulously easy to make! And, because they're in small, individual portions, they bake up lickety-split. Plus, they refrigerate and even freeze beautifully, so they’re a perfect make-ahead breakfast recipe to help you prep for busy weeks.