Top 10 Recipes of 2020

The top 10 recipes on Downshiftology this year included savory dinner recipes, one rockstar hollandaise sauce, and the ultimate immune boosting drink! Plus, several YouTube milestones were hit this year – something I never even imagined possible just a few years ago. Oh yes, 2020 was nothing short of surprises.

Top 10 Recipes of 2020

I think we can all agree that 2020 was most definitely a year for the record books. It’s been a tumultuous year on oh, so many levels, with both our physical and mental health challenged in ways previously thought unfathomable. I mean, who could have predicted at the beginning of the year that we’d be quarantined in our homes for 9 months out of the year?!

But one of the bright spots of 2020 was the record number of people in their kitchens cooking. As in MILLIONS of people at home cooking. Many of them, for the very first time. And as food blogger and YouTuber who promotes healthy, home-cooked meals, I felt duty-bound to support all those learning how to make oat milk or almond butter, when the supermarket shelves became bare. Translation: I served up over 140 new recipes on the website this year.

At the beginning of quarantine I also remember chuckling a little because both my turmeric jamu juice and margarita recipe were trending – at the same time! There were those folks trying to boost their immune systems, and those saying, ugh, I just need a drink! And trust me, I get it. But if you’re reading this you’ve persevered (kudos to you) and we’ll continue to get through 2021 together!

With so many people at home cooking, it’s no surprise that Downshiftology hit phenomenal new milestones again this year. The content on this website was viewed more than 56 million times (up from 28 million in 2019). And YouTube, well, we hit one monster-sized milestone reaching 1 million subscribers, and finishing the year with 1.38 million subscribers. Amazing!

My poached egg video surpassed 13 million views, which made clear that while others were learning how to make sourdough bread during quarantine, Downshifters were learning how to poach eggs. Love that! And 17 videos on YouTube now have over 1 million views each. In fact, my anti-inflammatory drinks video nearly reached that mark in just 4 months – the fastest growth of any video yet. Green smoothies, turmeric tea, turmeric smoothies, and ginger shots were definitely the drinks of choice this year.

Our private Facebook group grew to over 20,000 Downshifters in 2020, sharing recipe photos, personal success stories, tips, and all-around helpfulness. I know I say this a lot, but we truly have the best community around. I’m just so grateful for your trust in my recipes, and I sincerely thank you for coming back to this website again and again in 2020 for inspiration on what to serve yourself, your friends, and your families!

Alright, so which new recipes were most popular this year? Without a doubt, hollandaise sauce took that top spot. With everyone working from home in their PJ’s, I suspect there was a lot of eggs benedict happening this year. The rest of the list is savory goodness, and healthy comfort foods, like shepherd’s pie, chicken fajitas, cauliflower pizza, and teriyaki chicken. For once, no desserts made the top 10 list, though admittedly, I didn’t publish as many desserts this year. I’ll have to make up for that in 2021!

If we look at my top 9 on Instagram, it highlights a mix of recipes and milestones. Two personal favorite recipes, my chicken salad, and Mediterranean chickpea salad received the most likes. And there was my annual birthday dessert, a mint chocolate vegan cheesecake, a Vitamix giveaway, and of course, the 1 million subscriber celebration posts. You guys also loved “story time” on Instagram this year, and learning how I adopted my cat, Tasha (short for Tashakor), from Afghanistan. And at the time of writing this, my old girl is unfortunately not doing well. But I’ll do more story time in 2021 – stay tuned.

With a tumultuous and simply bonkers 2020, I’m cautiously optimistic for 2021. Like many of you, I look forward to a little more normalcy and outdoor adventures. Maybe even some hugs. Thus, fingers and toes are now both crossed for a better, safer, and more huggable 2021!

The Top 10 Most Viewed New Recipes in 2020

1. Hollandaise Sauce

Drizzle it on eggs benedict, salmon, potatoes, vegetables, and more! And you can’t beat how easy this foolproof blender version is.

2. Shepherd’s Pie

A comfort food classic with meaty richness on the bottom and fluffy mashed potatoes on top. It’s an all-in-one meal that always satisfies those hungry stomach rumbles.

3. Chicken Fajitas

My love of Mexican cuisine continued this year with a classic take on chicken fajitas. This one-pan dinner was a top recipe for nearly every month of the year… have you made it yet?

4. Tuna Salad

When supermarket shopping became difficult we all turned to pantry staples, like canned tuna fish! And this version of tuna salad elevated that simple can of tuna fish to the next level.

5. Oat Milk

My oat milk video became a sensation on YouTube when I shared my secret tip to make oat milk not slimy (a challenge with many homemade versions). But oh yes, it is possible.

6. Garlic Herb Roasted Potatoes

A classic side dish that pairs well with just about any main, these roasted potatoes are loaded in garlic and fresh herbs. You know my motto, the more garlic the better.

7. Jamu Juice

The immune-boosting recipe winner of the year, I was happy to introduce so many people to this Indonesian turmeric ginger drink. I think it may now have a cult following, and I couldn’t be more pleased.

8. Cauliflower Pizza

When you want the comfort food flavors of pizza but don’t want to be weighed down, make cauliflower pizza and have fun with your favorite topping combinations.

9. Pico de Gallo

If you’re a fan of chunky salsas (as I am), you can’t beat the original pico de gallo. A fresh blend of tomatoes, onion, jalapeno pepper, cilantro and lime juice with a spicy kick.

10. Teriyaki Chicken

This recipe sticks to the classic Japanese version (not the Americanized version), but of course, it has my healthy twist. And you can’t beat how quickly it comes together.