Best Recipes 2023: Allrecipes asked our readers and a panel of judges to help us find the best recipe in five different categories: bacon, chicken, potatoes, cheese, and chocolate. See the full list of winners here, and read more about the best bacon recipe below.
For the first time ever, Allrecipes has itself a definitive best bacon recipe.
Back in June, the Allrecipes team took on the challenge of finding the best recipe on our site. But, as the largest food site on the internet with over 55,000 recipes, we decided it was only right to break the recipes into categories (I mean, how can you possibly pit the Best Chocolate Chip Cookie against Creamy au Gratin Potatoes?). So, the five contending categories were: bacon, potatoes, cheese, chicken, and chocolate. We gave you 10 community-favorite recipe options for each category, then asked you to vote on the best of each.
In the bacon bracket, the recipes ranged from corn dishes to cabbage dishes, from pasta salads to savory snacks. But, to be the very best, this dish had to be salty, satisfying, and bring full-force bacon flavor. Thanks to your votes, we were able to narrow the bacon recipe pool down to two delicious finalists. It was up to our judges—Carrie Boyd, Elizabeth Heiskell, and Dakari Akorede—to pick the winner.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Meet the Two Contenders
In our inaugural Best Recipe Cook-Off, we had two of our talented recipe testers, Jasmine Smith and Julia Levy, battle it out between the top two bacon recipes.
Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers: This recipe comes to us from community member videogator, and was first published on July 25, 2013. The flavorful jalapeño poppers are crispy on the outside, and soft and creamy in the center. Stuffed with two kinds of cheese (cream cheese and sharp Cheddar), the poppers deliver layers of savory, spicy flavor in every bite.
“Wrapped with bacon, these are absolutely the best,” says user R Vicente.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
They’re easy to make (only four ingredients!), perfectly balanced, and exactly what you want to find on the appetizer table. It doesn’t matter if you bake them or grill them—these bacon-wrapped peppers will add a delicious kick to any get-together.
Tater Tot and Bacon Breakfast Casserole: This breakfast casserole from SPezz was first published on November 16, 2014. It’s made for morning comfort, combining every element of your favorite breakfast in one flavorful bite. It’s savory, satisfying, and best of all, simple.
“I put this together in what felt like 5 minutes,” recipe tester Julia said.
This 5-ingredient wonder can be customized with veggies, herbs, or hot sauce, and it’ll still turn out delicious every time.
Peyton Beckwith/Dotdash Meredith
What the Judges Had to Say
- Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers: “Yummmm, exactly what I want tailgating,” says Boyd. “The cheddar addition is tasty and different.” Akorede agreed, saying “The contrast—the cream cheese in conjunction with the bacon—you can’t beat it.” Heiskell said although the peppers were roasted perfectly, bacon was the star of this dish: “It was the first thing I saw.”
- Tater Tot and Bacon Breakfast Casserole: “You know, I make a breakfast casserole, and I have for years, but I have to say, this one is on a whole ‘nother level. This has got everything—it has the bacon, and then the tater tots! I mean, come on! Who does that?,” raved Heiskell. Boyd said it was “the perfect marriage” of an egg casserole and a hot dish. “I have no notes here,” she said, “10/10.”
Peyton Beckwith/Dotdash Meredith
And the Winner Is…
The Tater Tot and Bacon Breakfast Casserole!
We love bacon in almost every application, but everybody knows bacon’s main stage is the breakfast table. So, it’s only right that our top bacon recipe pairs salty, smoky bacon with its best breakfast counterparts.
The judges loved how the bacon flavor melded with the eggs, hash browns, and cheese to make a top-notch breakfast feast. Recipe tester Julia also gave her casserole over-the-top bacon flavor by finishing it off with salty bacon crumbles, ultimately earning it the gold.
Not only is this recipe delicious, but it’s our bacon champion because it’s so simple and dependable, proving that “basic” is hard to beat. With crowd-favorite flavors and a fuss-free preparation, this is a recipe to keep in your back pocket year-round.
