Polls Closed for 2023 Reader Favorites

Vote for Your Favorite Emily Bites Recipes of 2023!

Collage of Emily Bites recipe photos from 2023

Hello, cherished readers! It’s that wonderful time of year again when we celebrate the incredible culinary journey we’ve shared over the past twelve months. The annual “Reader’s Choice Awards” poll is without a doubt one of my most anticipated traditions here on the blog. It fills me with immense excitement and a touch of nervous anticipation to discover which of this year’s creations truly captured your hearts and taste buds. Every vote that comes in is a testament to our vibrant community, and I’m always so relieved and overjoyed by your enthusiastic participation. Once all your invaluable votes have been tallied, I’ll proudly close out the year with a special “Best of” post, featuring all the winning recipes.

This “Best of” compilation serves multiple vital purposes. For my loyal, long-time readers, it’s a fantastic opportunity to revisit beloved dishes, discover new favorites you might have overlooked throughout the year, or perhaps be inspired to try a recipe that caught your eye but you haven’t yet made. For new visitors who stumble upon Emily Bites in the new year, this curated list acts as an essential roadmap, guiding them directly to our most celebrated and popular recipes, offering them the perfect starting point to explore the delicious world of lightened-up comfort food that we’ve cultivated together.

I genuinely hope that 2023 brought many opportunities for you to create and savor some truly tasty, healthier comfort food recipes from the blog. If you find that some of your absolute personal favorites aren’t listed among this year’s nominees, it’s most likely because they were originally posted in a previous year. The good news is that timeless, delicious, lightened-up comfort food truly never goes out of style! Many of our past winners continue to be among the most popular recipes on Emily Bites. You can explore the winners from previous years and discover more enduring classics by following these links:

2022 Winners, 2021 Winners, 2020 Winners, 2019 Winners, 2018 Winners, 2017 Winners, 2016 Winners, 2015 Winners, 2014 Winners, 2013 Winners, 2012 Winners and 2011 Winners.

A Decade Plus of Deliciousness: Celebrating Our Journey

This Christmas Eve marks an incredible milestone: THIRTEEN years of blogging for Emily Bites. It’s truly astounding how quickly time flies; I can barely recall a time when this blog wasn’t an integral part of my life. What began as a simple, joyful hobby – a creative outlet to share my passion for food and healthier living – has organically blossomed into my absolute dream job. This transformation, this incredible journey, would never have been possible without you, my amazing readers. It’s your willingness to cook alongside me, to read my posts, to share my site with friends and family, and to truly engage with the content that has fueled every step of this adventure. I simply cannot convey the depth of my gratitude for your presence here, for allowing me to pursue something I love more than anything else in the world.

THANK YOU. Thank you for meticulously trying my recipes, for sharing your beautiful photos on Instagram and Facebook, and for brightening my day with your heartwarming stories through comments and emails. Hearing about your triumphs, whether it’s your picky eater finally loving a vegetable dish, your partner requesting a recipe again and again, or the success you’ve found on your weight loss journey, means the world to me. Your feedback, your support, and your shared experiences are not just appreciated; they are my constant source of motivation and inspiration. Every comment, every email, every social share, and your unwavering support continually brings a smile to my face and reinforces why I do what I do. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for being such an integral part of the Emily Bites community.

Your Voice Matters: How to Cast Your Vote for 2023’s Best Recipes

As I mentioned, I always get a touch nervous about voter turnout, so if you’re deliberating whether to participate, please do! Your vote is incredibly important to me and helps shape the future of Emily Bites. This year, I’ve worked hard to streamline the voting process, making it as easy and enjoyable as possible. Instead of asking you to leave a comment with your votes, which could be a bit tedious, I’ve transitioned to a simple Google Form survey. This new method is designed for ultimate convenience, allowing you to quickly select your favorite recipes in each category with just a few clicks. I truly hope this makes your participation even smoother and more engaging.

Without further ado, it’s time to empower you to choose your absolute favorite Emily Bites recipes from the past year. I am genuinely eager to see which dishes resonated most with you!

Here’s How Voting Works:

This year, the process has been updated for simplicity and ease! Previously, you were asked to leave your votes in the comments section of the blog post, which I know could be a bit cumbersome. Embracing your feedback, I decided to innovate this time. I’ve created a user-friendly Google Form survey where you can effortlessly click on the recipes you wish to vote for within each category and submit your answers with ease. I understand that not everyone will have had the chance to make a recipe from every single category, and that’s perfectly fine! Feel free to vote for any recipe that looks most appealing to you, even if you haven’t tried it yet. Alternatively, if you prefer to leave certain categories blank, that works too. There are no strict rules – just genuine engagement and appreciation for your input. Simply click on the link below to access and complete the survey.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR YOUR 2023 FAVORITES!

For your convenience, and in case you wish to click through the links to view the original recipe posts before making your selections, I will list out all the nominated recipes in each category below.

Best Breakfast Recipe

Start your day the delicious, lightened-up way! These breakfast recipes prove that healthy eating can be both satisfying and incredibly flavorful, offering a perfect balance of comfort and nutrition to kickstart your mornings.

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins
Bacon and Spinach Hash Brown Egg Bake
Peanut Butter and Berry Baked Oatmeal Singles
Carrot Cake Bread with Cream Cheese Glaze
Lemon Blueberry Oatmeal
Spinach Feta Quiche
Triple Berry Muffins

Best Appetizer Recipe

Gathering with friends or simply craving a delightful snack? These appetizers are designed to be crowd-pleasers, offering vibrant flavors and lighter options that never compromise on taste, perfect for any occasion.

Dill Pickle Dip
Tomato and Goat Cheese Bruschetta
Nashville Hot Chicken Dip
Goat Cheese Mushrooms Tartlets
Deviled Egg Dip

Best Lunch Recipe

Elevate your midday meal with these fantastic lunch options. From hearty and satisfying to light and refreshing, these recipes make healthy eating enjoyable and convenient, whether you’re at home or packing for work.

Honey Mustard Chicken Tenders
Buffalo Roasted Chickpea Salad
Chicken Shawarma Wraps
Honey Mustard Chicken Wraps
Loaded BBQ Stuffed Twice Baked Potatoes

Best Poultry Recipe

Chicken and turkey take center stage in this collection of flavorful and versatile main dishes. These recipes demonstrate how lean proteins can be transformed into exciting, family-friendly meals that are both wholesome and utterly delicious.

Sticky Honey Coriander Chicken Bites
Chicken Piccata Meatballs
Skillet Chicken and Mushrooms with Gravy
Cheesy Bacon Ranch Stuffed Chicken
Garlic Green Bean and Turkey Stir Fry
Chili Lime Chicken Bites

Best Pasta or Rice Recipe

Comfort food at its finest, but with a lighter touch! This category features hearty pasta and rice dishes that deliver on flavor and satisfaction, proving you don’t have to sacrifice taste for healthier eating.

One-Pot Cheeseburger Pasta
Loaded Spaghetti Bake
One-Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta
Pumpkin Risotto with Spinach and Bacon

Best Side Dish Recipe

The perfect complement to any meal! These side dishes are designed to add flavor, nutrition, and variety to your plate, proving that sides can be just as exciting as the main course.

Corn and Tomato Salad
Air Fryer Ranch Corn on the Cob
Warm Butternut Squash Farro Salad

Best Dessert Recipe

Indulge your sweet tooth without guilt! This collection of desserts offers lighter alternatives to classic treats, allowing you to enjoy delicious finales to your meals while staying on track with your goals.

Strawberry Jello Pie
Easy Pear Galette
Orange Cranberry Cheesecake Cups

Did you miss the voting link above? Click here to cast your vote now!

Thank you so incredibly much in advance for taking the time to participate and share your preferences. Your feedback is truly invaluable and makes Emily Bites the wonderful community it is. You are the absolute best!