2025 is over, and honestly I am breathing a sigh of relief! Here are Restless Chipotle's most popular recipes from 2025. These are the ones y'all made again and again.
This was originally a Casserole Confidential email dated January 1, 2026.
Hey y'all,
As foretold (by me, mostly), I drifted into 2026 half in a dream and fully unbothered. I fell asleep to coyotes singing under my bedroom window-which I know sounds like a deleted scene from a Southern gothic novel, but I find it wildly relaxing. Lullabies, but make them feral.
For the newcomers: we live on a little over two acres that back up to a deep creek bed that occasionally reminds us who's really in charge by flooding. The back half of the property stays wild on purpose. No taming. No bullying. Just co-existing with the woods and whatever decides to wander through them. I've always preferred my neighbors with fur, feathers, or at least a healthy respect for boundaries.
The Husband, being practical and quietly indulgent of my woodland-fairy tendencies, put up security cameras facing the trees-and one under the house (long story, no raccoons were harmed). He even bought me bird feeders that have cameras so I can spy on who's been stopping by for snacks. Surveillance, but make it whimsical. Nature reality TV, starring creatures who do not care about my Wi-Fi password.
James Dean, the Squirrel, has not tried to chew through the front door since the last application of Louisiana Hot Sauce mixed with cayenne. He's merely glared at me from the tree next to the house, no doubt plotting some nefarious act of revenge.
I'll keep you updated but in the meantime? Food. Glorious food.... (you sang that in your head, didn't you? Knew it.")
(Y'all, there might be affiliate links below-gotta keep the coffee flowing so I can keep sharing the recipes you love!)
The recipes y'all loved hardest in 2025
These are the dishes you cooked on repeat, texted to friends, and quietly judged other recipes against. Cozy. Reliable. A little unhinged in the best way. The kind of food that showed up when the year got loud and fed you anyway. If 2025 had a highlight reel, these recipes would be the ones wearing the crown, holding the casserole dish, and absolutely refusing to apologize.
Amish White Bread
Soft. Squishy. Slightly dangerous. This is the bread that makes you realize you've been settling for crumbs your whole life. Toasts like a dream, sandwiches like a hug, and somehow disappears faster than your self-control at a dessert buffet.
Slow Cooker Angel Chicken
Creamy, cozy, and clearly sent from a higher power. This is the kind of dinner that cooks itself while you stare into the middle distance wondering why you don't make it every week. Serve it over rice, noodles, or directly into your soul.
English Muffin Bread
All the nooks and crannies, none of the emotional labor. No kneading, no shaping, just stir, bake, and slather with butter like you mean it. Breakfast solved. Confidence restored.
Chicken Casserole with Stovetop Stuffing
This one shows up with a Pyrex dish and a lot of personal confidence, like a 2 year old wearing her Frozen costume with flipflops to church. Creamy chicken, buttery stuffing, and the audacity to be exactly what you want after a long day. If comfort food had a personality, it would be this-warm, reliable, and slightly nosy.
Copycat Red Robin Campfire Sauce
Sweet. Smoky. A little unhinged. This is the sauce you start putting on fries and end up spooning onto everything within reach. Burgers, chicken, possibly your finger. No judgment, we've all done it.
Old-Fashioned Fruitcake
Hear me out. This one redeems the genre. Dense, sweet, jewel-studded, and unapologetically old-school. The fruitcake that makes people admit-quietly-that they might have been wrong all along.
Honey Buttermilk Bread
Soft with a little sass. Just sweet enough to make butter feel flirty. This is the loaf you slice thick, eat warm, and immediately plan your second batch around. Bread that knows it's loved.
Southern Chicken Spaghetti
Creamy, cheesy, and deeply Southern in a way that doesn't ask permission. Feeds a crowd. Freezes like a champ. Solves problems you didn't even know were brewing. Respect the casserole.
Copycat Cracker Barrel Hamburger Steak
Gravy forward. Comfort maximalist. This is diner food with commitment-juicy patties, rich brown gravy, and zero interest in being trendy. Serve it with mashed potatoes and a sense of superiority.
Lemon Icebox Pie
Cool, bright, and just tart enough to wake you up. This pie doesn't shout-it smirks. The kind of dessert that disappears quietly and leaves people asking who brought it. Spoiler: it was you.
Amazon Finds
I've officially entered my "stop playing container roulette" era, and these are the reason. The Ello Duraglass meal prep containers are 49% off right now and-listen closely-they come with silicone sleeves that help keep the glass from breaking. Which means fewer kitchen tragedies and zero leftover-related rage.
They're the perfect size for lunches, casseroles-that-refuse-to-die, soups, pasta, and that one thing you swear you'll eat later. Airtight lids. BPA-free. Microwave and dishwasher friendly (just pop the lid off like a civilized human). Practical, but still cute enough to open in front of other people without shame.
If you've ever dropped a glass container and stood there whispering no no no-these are for you.
👉 Grab the Ello Duraglass 3.4-cup meal prep set here while they're almost half off
talk soon!
love ya!
PS-
Don't forget about the free January 2026 meal plan with clickable links - 2026 January meal plan.pdf
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