Best comfort food recipes of 2018

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The year 2018 was an incredible one for home chefs and food enthusiasts alike. We saw the rise of the Instant Pot and the evolution of super-realistic meat-less burgers. We saw the shift towards healthier ingredient substitutions on classic dishes and the rise of brand new cuts of meat. We discovered new kitchen gadgets that make your life easier and wild cooking tech that brought artificial intelligence to the kitchen. But at the end of the day, none of that matters without great recipes to try.
For us at Cooktop Cove, the best part of 2018 was the opportunity to experiment with and develop hundreds of new recipes to share with you! From our daily taste tests and weekly recipe reviews, I can tell you that we had some good recipes some bad ones, but every once in a while, we had a great one. We've been collecting the great ones, especially, to share with you.
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The Best Comfort Food Recipes of 2018
Make no mistake, we love all types of food here at Cooktop Cove, but comfort food has a special place in our hearts. We've spent hundreds of hours making, tasting, and curating, and here are our favorite comfort food recipes from 2018. We hope they are as much of a joy for you to discover as it was for us to make. In each category, we've picked some of our favorite recipes. Make sure to check out the recipes in each of the links below.
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Best Hearty Soups of 2018
It's no wonder that when most people think of their favorite comfort food, they think of soup. Stirring memories of being warmed up on cold nights or being cared for when sick, a bowl of warm soup is enough to put a smile on anyone's face. The broth of a good, slow-cooked soup is not just a tummy warmer, it maintains all the nutrients of the vegetables cooked in it, making it an excellent choice for making sure your family is getting their vitamins and minerals. This creamy bacon soup topped the list on our best hearty soup recipes of 2018. Check them out in the link below.
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Best Mac 'n Cheese of 2018
Most people can agree that mac and cheese is pretty delicious all on its own. It's hard to imagine how this creamy, cheesy favorite could possibly get any better. You'll be blown away at how small changes can lead to a huge boost in flavor. These recipes prove that no matter your age, you can still enjoy this tasty dish. There's something for everyone in these scrumptious sides. This southern-style cajun mac 'n cheese, on the other hand, is at a whole other level. If you are a mac and cheese lover then you will definitely want to check out these souped-up versions of your childhood favorite in the link below.
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Best Corn Dogs of 2018
Mini corn dogs are the perfect dinner party appetizer! When you walk into the room with a platter of cute little battered hot dogs, everyone will be in awe. They'll think they took forever to make, but the recipe really is super simple. Cut regular hot dogs in half to make them smaller or use Lit'l Smokies because they're perfectly bite-sized.
There's something nostalgic about enjoying a tasty corn dog. Although most people remember this delicious treat as a staple of their childhood, nobody says you can't still appreciate a good corn dog as an adult. The best part? You don't even have to go to a crowded fair to get it. For the mini corn dog recipe and more, be sure to check out the recipes in the link below.
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Best Chicken 'n Waffles of 2018
Who would have thought chicken 'n waffles would be such a popular dish? It was so popular, in fact, that it has its own category. The southern-style chicken 'n waffles shown above have that extra special something – a crispy crunch giving way to soft cake, perfect little wells for holding all that sweet maple syrup. Throw some savory chicken on top, and you have the breakfast showdown of the year. Not convinced? Try the recipes below and you will be. They're Southern and full of flavor, and they make for a breakfast that you will never regret.
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Best Ribs of 2018
Baby-back ribs are the most tender ribs and have the most meat on them. They'll fill up even the cowboys you know with huge appetites! The roadhouse ribs in the photo took top marks. They were so mouthwateringly juicy, there weren't even enough to go around. However this year, it was a close call. Every contender in the ribs category was fiercely delicious. Honestly, it would be hard to pick just one. Once you see these recipes, you'll realize you need to try every last one. Check out this recipe and its contenders in the link below.
Get the recipes: The best ribs recipes of 2018
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Best Casseroles of 2018
Any seasoned comfort classics cook will not only have a collection of go-to casserole recipes but also an arsenal of 9x13 casserole baking dishes. Casseroles have been a weapon of choice for busy cooks who want a one-dish meal that is both affordable and tasty. "Dump and bake" and similar mottos are the titles of many recipes, trying to catch the attention of the next eager cook. However, not all casserole recipes are created equal. The cheesy tomato casserole shown is one of our favorites, but we think you'll love them all. Check them out in the link below.
Get the recipes: The best casseroles of 2018
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Best Meatballs 0f 2018
There's something exquisitely elegant about meatballs. They combine the heartiness of a slider with the tender comfort of meatloaf, all bundled into a bite-sized ball of pure happiness. We tried dozens of meatball recipes over the past year, but this mac 'n cheese stuffed beauty easily topped the list in our best meatball recipes of 2018. Check out the full recipes below.
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