Frankenrecipe

Our Food Editor's Absolute, All-Time Favorite Recipes

Every once in a while, we dig deep into the Epicurious database and pulls out all of the highest-rated recipes for one classic, beloved dish: lasagna, macaroni and cheese, French onion soup, and other home-cook favorites. Then we tear those recipes apart, taking the best element from each and combining them to make one ultimate, unbeatable recipe. We call them Frankenrecipes. You'll call them dinner.
Image may contain Dish Food Meal Pasta Meatball and Spaghetti
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Rhoda Boone
  • Image may contain Dish Food Meal Pasta Meatball and Spaghetti
    Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Rhoda Boone
    1/13

    Our Favorite Spaghetti and Meatballs

    Want to show someone you really care? Make them our ultimate spaghetti and meatballs.

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  • A key lime pie in a deepdish ceramic pie plate topped with a mound of whipped cream and with one slice cut out.
    Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Rhoda Boone
    2/13

    Our Favorite Key Lime Pie

    This easy key lime pie recipe is a fusion of our best versions. The secret is a touch of lemon juice to balance the lime and a pinch of cinnamon in the crust.

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  • A baking dish of Macaroni and Cheese with a serving spoon.
    Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
    3/13

    Our Favorite Mac and Cheese

    Crispy, creamy mac ‘n’ cheese is the ultimate comfort food, ready to grace your weeknight table or holiday spread.

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  • Several ramekins of French onion soup topped with broiled Gruyèretopped baguette slices on a sheet tray.
    Photo by Travis Rainey, Food styling by Leslie Raney Garetto
    4/13

    Our Favorite French Onion Soup

    Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.

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  • Image may contain Dish Food Meal Bowl Curry and Soup Bowl
    Photo by Charles Masters, Food styling by Sue Li
    7/13

    Our Favorite Texas Beef Chili

    This cowboy-style "bowl of red" is all about tender chunks of beef chuck and a five-chile-pepper purée.

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  • Image may contain Plant and Food
    Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Astrid Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
    8/13

    Our Favorite Meatloaf

    We tried a lot of meatloaf recipes in our test kitchen to create the ultimate version. We promise it won't disappoint.

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  • A loaf of banana bread half sliced on a marble surface with a dish of softened butter to the side.
    Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Rhoda Boone
    9/13

    Classic Easy Banana Bread

    We combined our favorite elements from the most popular banana bread recipes on our site to create the ultimate version of this sweet, nutty, supremely moist quick bread.

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  • Chocolate chip cookies on a sheet tray.
    Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone
    10/13

    Our Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

    We went on a quest for the ultimate chocolate chip cookie: here it is.

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  • Photo of crispy latkes on a platter with applesauce and sour cream for our best latke recipe for hanukkah.
    Photo by Tara Donne, Food and Prop Styling by Diana Yen
    11/13

    Our Favorite Latkes

    We fried dozens of latkes—all the highest-rated versions on our site—to come up with our ultimate recipe with fluffy, pillowy-soft centers and crisp, golden brown edges.

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  • Classic doublecrust apple pie in a ceramic pie dish with one slice removed.
    Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi
    12/13

    Our Favorite Apple Pie

    This classic apple pie recipe makes the perfect holiday dessert with a flaky, buttery crust and a tender, perfectly cooked fruit filling.

    Get This Recipe
  • Mashed potoes swirled into a serving bowl topped with melting butter and black pepper.
    Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone
    13/13

    Our Favorite Mashed Potatoes

    These perfect mashed potatoes are light and fluffy yet rich and creamy, with just a hint of garlic and thyme.

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Read More
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The Most-Saved Recipes in the Epicurious App in October
Like creamy butternut squash soup and brown butter toffee chocolate chip cookies.
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The Most-Saved Recipes in the Epicurious App This Week
Like sweet-and-sour cranberry chicken stir-fry and hot cocoa for one.
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Why American Cheese is a Pro Chef’s Secret Weapon
In this edition of Epicurious 101, professional chef Shilpa Uskokovic shares all the ways American Cheese can enhance your cooking. From creating the perfect melt to keeping your dips and dishes creamier for longer, these American Cheese tips and tricks will level up your cheesy recipes.
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23 Recipes That Deploy a Dollop of Dijon
Double-the-mustard chicken, gingery mustard BBQ sauce, cider-dijon pork with roasted apples, and more.
8 Ways to Upgrade Boxed Mac & Cheese
8 Ways to Upgrade Boxed Mac & Cheese
Epicurious welcomes back Chef David Rose as he takes boxed mac and cheese to the next level. From Kraft mac and cheese waffles to Cheetos Flaming Hot cheese balls, Chef David transforms ordinary boxed mac into elevated cheesy recipes for you to try at home.
31 Puff Pastry Recipes for Effortless Sweets, Appetizers, and More
31 Puff Pastry Recipes for Effortless Sweets, Appetizers, and More
Like potato-cheddar samosas, Egyptian bread pudding, and a super-fancy (extremely easy) pear tart.
20 of Our Favorite Hetty Lui McKinnon Recipes
20 of Our Favorite Hetty Lui McKinnon Recipes
From sesame tofu with broccoli to “ridiculously good” green beans.
4 Levels of Lobster: Amateur to Food Scientist
4 Levels of Lobster: Amateur to Food Scientist
We challenged chefs of three different skill levels–amateur Onika, home cook Lorenzo, and professional chef Fatima Khawaja–to make their take on a lobster dinner. We then asked expert food scientist Rose to explain each chef's choices along the way. Which lobster dinner do you want to tuck into first?
23 Easy Pie Recipes for Low-Effort, High-Reward Desserts
23 Easy Pie Recipes for Low-Effort, High-Reward Desserts
There’s a reason they say, “easy as pie,” you know?
All the Recipes From <em>Bon Appétit’s</em> Thanksgiving Issue
All the Recipes From Bon Appétit’s Thanksgiving Issue
We’ve got sweet potato rolls, pumpkin chili, and the garlickiest mashed potatoes.