Weeknight cooking for the win: NYT Cooking has published its collection of the 50 most popular new recipes of 2022, and at least half are dishes you can make at the end of the day without too much stress. There’s a need for that kind of cooking, and I sincerely hope we’ve helped meet that need for you. (Please keep the requests coming: dishes you’d like to see, specific ingredients, cuisines or anything else.)
I’ve chosen five weeknight recipes from the top 50 to share below, in no specific order. (The No. 1 recipe is a noodle dish from Kenji López-Alt’s exceptional new cookbook, “The Wok.” If you love garlic, this recipe is not to be missed.)
Is there anything in particular you loved on the list? Are you aghast that your favorite NYT Cooking recipe of the year is not on it? Tell me everything. You can reach me at dearemily@nytimes.com. I read every note.
1. Pasta Amatriciana
This one comes from Kay Chun, a recipe writer whose byline is all over the top 50 list. Kay developed some of our most ingenious recipes this year. (Look at these chicken thighs roasted pernil-style.) But this pasta amatriciana recipe is a straightforward take on a classic: simple, peerless and, dare I say, a little sexy. (Sexy? On a Monday? Yes!)
2. Greek Chicken With Cucumber-Feta Salad
Ali Slagle’s name also turns up a lot on the list of our most popular recipes. She is a weeknight cooking queen, thanks to recipes like this one, which takes elements of chicken souvlaki and Greek salad, fits them together in a new way, and then streamlines it all for you.
3. Kung Pao Cauliflower
I find Hetty McKinnon’s recipes irresistible, like this kung pao cauliflower, which applies the powerful sweet-and-sour flavors of kung pao sauce to sturdy, versatile cauliflower. With rice, it’s an excellent dinner. (We also have a recipe for kung pao chicken, if that sings out to you, and one for kung pao shrimp as well.)
4. Tajín Grilled Chicken
I know, another chicken recipe. I’m giving you options! This one is a banger from Rick Martínez, a dish that relies on the seasoning blend Tajín to deliver a lime-chile punch. You could make it indoors or out, or with bass, cod or salmon instead of the chicken.
