I Tried One New Recipe Each Week for a Year: How it Went + My Favorites

Isn’t it a great feeling when you make a new recipe in the kitchen and knock it out of the park? Everyone in your family smiles widely as they lick their plates clean.

Well, let’s just say that was the opposite of how things were going for me.

I love to cook and try new foods. So, when I found myself in a massive cooking rut (serving the same old boring dishes week after week), I knew I needed to make a change.

As the year was nearing its end, I made up my mind — I would try a new recipe each and every week in the new year. No exceptions. No skipping. It became my official New Year’s Resolution.

As fate would have it, my sister gifted me a recipe book that Christmas. It seemed all too perfect, and gave me the motivation to make my resolution a reality.

But, how do we take our resolutions from good ideas to actual habits?

New Recipes: Here’s What I Did

Step 1. Make a Plan.

I was already in the habit of creating my family’s menu each week. So, I added a reminder on my phone for every Sunday at 8:00 p.m. to, “Try a new recipe this week!” Then, I vowed not to clear that reminder until I had picked a new recipe.

Step 2. Choose a New Recipe.

My only criteria was that it had to be one I had never made before, and something my whole family could eat (so, no alcohol and no food allergies). Pinterest was my go-to, but I also found fabulous recipes using a simple Google search and even Instagram.

Step 3. Buy the Ingredients and Make the New Recipe!

Step 4. Track My Progress.

After making the new recipe, I would write it down in my recipe book. I especially liked the notes section so I could jot down helpful things like, “Definitely would make again,” or, “Could use more garlic.”

So, How Did It Go?

Well, I’m happy to report that I finished the year with my final new recipe (lobster rolls — what a finish!). Not only was the journey fun, it was quite rewarding.

I now have 52 new recipes that I can share with friends, make again for my family, or avoid like the plague. (Let’s just say, I won’t be making a certain batch of bran muffins again anytime soon.)

This may sound like a pretty simple resolution, but it was actually quite hard! If this is something you’re interested in doing, consider the following:

Tips for Incorporating New Recipes

• Be realistic. If you have an overly busy week, pick a simple recipe (think less than 10 ingredients). Put more challenging recipes on slower days. Or, if you’re going to be out of town that weekend, pencil it in for early or mid-week.
• Multi-task when you can. For instance, if you need to make food for a special occasion or event, use your new recipe for this!
• Keep good notes. Whether you snap a picture each week, jot it down in a recipe book like I did, or even save it in on Pinterest board, you’ll want to document your cooking journey.

Ok, so by this point I bet you’re dying to know what may favorites were. Well, in a very particular order, here are my top five:

Recipes You Have to Try

#1 Marry Me Chicken

If you try only one new recipe, make it this one. This dish combines simple and savory ingredients for a flavorful and crowd-pleasing favorite. Since trying this one in early 2023, I’ve made it at least a dozen more times. Serve it over Jasmine rice or on top of mashed potatoes.

#2 Sausage Tortellini Soup

A creamy and slightly salty broth compliments cheesy tortellini noodles and delicious kale. It pairs perfectly with a baguette smeared with butter. This recipe is also now on repeat in our home.

#3 Asian Pulled Pork Tacos with Pineapple Snow Pea Salsa

Two warnings: this dish is quite time-consuming to make and you will crave it immensely after you try it! It’s hard to pinpoint the hero here. It could be the perfectly seasoned pork. Maybe the bright, fresh homemade salsa. Or, perhaps the lightly fried tortillas.

#4 “Fried” Ice Cream Dessert

Rich notes of cinnamon, a luscious drizzle of honey, and cool creamy ice cream. If you have a sweet tooth, you’ll devour this dessert!

#5 Honey Sriracha Salmon Bowls

The flexibility in being able to customize this recipe is awesome! But at the heart of this one is tasty pan-cooked salmon, spicy Sriracha mayo, and crisp, fresh vegetables. You can’t go wrong here.

I hope my year of cooking inspires you to make this the year you step out of your comfort zone in the kitchen and try some new recipes. And if you need some inspiration, these five are a great place to start.