Most Popular Recipes of 2020: Chicken Casserole, Rice Krispies Treat in a Mug & More (2024)

We interrupt our regularly scheduled Q&A to bring you the most popular HG recipes of 2020! It's been one heck of a year, and we've all been cooking up a storm... Did your favorites make the list?

King Ranch Chicken Casserole1/6th of casserole: 252 calories, 11g total fat (5.5g sat. fat), 626mg sodium, 14g carbs, 2g fiber, 4g sugars, 24g protein

Green Plan SmartPoints® value 7*
Blue Plan (Freestyle) SmartPoints® value 5*
Purple Plan SmartPoints® value 5*

If there's one kind of recipe we can predict will be a hit with the HG readers, it's a chicken casserole like this one. And we're glad you all loved it as much as we do! This easy family meal requires just six main ingredients and is full of lean protein, creamy cheese, and lots of flavor. Hmmm, maybe we should pop one in the oven right now...

2-Ingredient Banana Oaties1/12th of recipe (1 cookie): 42 calories, 0.5g total fat (0g sat. fat), 25mg sodium, 9g carbs, 1g fiber, 2.5g sugars, 1g protein

Green Plan SmartPoints® value 1*
Blue Plan (Freestyle) SmartPoints® value 1*
Purple Plan SmartPoints® value 0*

Does it get any better than healthy cookies with just two main ingredients? If you've got bananas and old-fashioned oats on hand, you can make oaties ASAP! We've also got suggested add-ins, in case you wanna get nuts, add a topping, and go up to (GASP!) three ingredients. We highly recommend making these any time... including now!

Rice Krispies Treat for OneEntire recipe: 104 calories, 2.5g total fat (0.5g sat. fat), 120mg sodium, 19g carbs, 0g fiber, 6.5g sugars, 1g protein

Green Plan SmartPoints® value 5*
Blue Plan (Freestyle) SmartPoints® value 5*
Purple Plan SmartPoints® value 5*

We made a LOT of recipes in a mug this year, and clearly you appreciate ‘em! This is such a great hack for anyone who thinks "I could really go for a Rice Krispies Treat right now, but I don't need an enormous panful." If you've got the three essential ingredients, you can make a single fresh treat just for you in minutes. The hardest part: Waiting for it to cool so you don't burn your mouth.

3-Ingredient Pineapple Cake in a MugEntire recipe: 135 calories, 1.5g total fat (0.5g sat. fat), 244mg sodium, 27.5g carbs, 0.5g fiber, 16g sugars, 2.5g protein

Green PlanSmartPoints® value 6*
Blue Plan (Freestyle)SmartPoints® value 6*
Purple PlanSmartPoints® value 6*

Yes, it's ANOTHER easy single-serving mug recipe. (Told you they were popular!) We whipped up this speedy cake hack, and the results are stellar. Just three easy ingredients! And while the whipped topping is optional, it's highly recommended.

Air-Fryer Hawaiian BBQ Chicken WrapEntire recipe: 207 calories, 5.5g total fat (2g sat. fat), 632mg sodium, 24g carbs, 10g fiber, 7.5g sugars, 20.5g protein

Green Plan SmartPoints® value 5*
Blue Plan (Freestyle) SmartPoints® value 4*
Purple Plan SmartPoints® value 4*

Air fryers rule, and ours has certainly gotten a workout this year. One thing we discovered (and you loved) is that air fryers work great for making hot handheld wraps in a snap. This one is savory, sweet, saucy, creamy, and cram-packed with protein. Pair it with a veggie side dish for a seriously amazing and satisfying lunch!

Ding Dong Protein FreezeEntire recipe: 148 calories, 5.5g total fat (2.5g sat. fat), 170mg sodium, 16g carbs, 2.5g fiber, 7.5g sugars, 11.5 protein

Green Plan SmartPoints® value 4*
Blue Plan (Freestyle) SmartPoints® value 4*
Purple Plan SmartPoints® value 4*

After all the quality time Lisa spent with her blender on Facebook Live, the most popular of this year's frozen drinks has emerged... and of course it's the one inspired by a chocolate snack cake. When your sweet tooth comes a-calling, answer with this shake: under 150 calories, complete with filling fiber and protein, and soooo chocolatey!

Honorable Mentions: More Recipes You Love!

  • Mushroom Swiss Turkey Burger Bowl318 calories
  • Air-Fryer French Toast Sticks157 calories
  • Chicken Chili in a Mug254 calories
  • Nacho Casserole223 calories
  • 100-Calorie Dalgona Coffee100 calories
  • Scoopable Strawberry Cheesecake165 calories
  • Naked Eggplant Parm in a Mug220 calories
  • Deep-Dish Cauliflower Pizza Bowl217 calories

More Fan Q&A on the Latest Hungry Girl Podcast!

Most Popular Recipes of 2020: Chicken Casserole, Rice Krispies Treat in a Mug & More (15)

We’re back with another Hungry Girl to the Rescue episode of Hungry Girl: Chew the Right Thing! Tune in as Lisa tackles fan-requested topics like…

⭑ how to handle diet saboteurs who challenge your healthy habits
⭑ how to stock your kitchen when working from home (turkey & pickles are at the top of Lisa’s list!)
⭑ all about putting the 80/20 philosophy into action
… and so much more!

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*The WW Points®values for these products and/or recipes were calculated by Hungry Girl and are not an endorsem*nt or approval of the product, recipe or its manufacturer or developer by WW International, Inc., the owner of thePoints® trademark.

Questions on the WW Points® values listed?Click here.

Hungry Girl provides general information about food and lifestyle. This information and any linked materials are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is the information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment.Click herefor more information.

Most Popular Recipes of 2020: Chicken Casserole, Rice Krispies Treat in a Mug & More (2024)

FAQs

Why are Rice Krispies banned in other countries? ›

Japan's ban on Rice Krispies is part of a larger initiative to reduce the presence of legal food additives which are linked to health risks. One such additive, Trisodium Phosphate (TSP), is used in small quantities in some food products, including Rice Krispies, as an emulsifier or nutritional supplement.

Why are Rice Krispie Treats bad for you? ›

It's even made with TBHQ, a highly controversial preservative that some studies show causes damage to the immune system. If that wasn't bad enough, they also contain artificial flavors and more preservatives like BHT, which some studies suggest is a hormone disruptor.

What is the difference between old and new Rice Krispies? ›

Rice represents only 48% of the Rice Krispies Vanilla – from 89.8% in the original. Corn flour (13%) (which may be genetically modified, according to the company) as well as whole wheat flour (10%) are some of the new ingredients. In addition, the company added much more sugar to “enhance the crispiness”.

Why did my homemade rice crispy treats get hard? ›

High heat is the prime culprit for rock hard rice krispie treats. → Follow this tip: It will take a few more minutes of cook time, but melt the butter and marshmallows over low heat. You'll be rewarded with delicious, soft and chewy treats!

Why are Ritz crackers banned? ›

As of 2003, every country that has banned Ritz crackers has done so because the ingredients include trans fats such as partially hydrogenated soybean and cottonseed oils.

What is the Rice Krispies scandal? ›

In 2014, a man recorded himself urinating on a conveyor belt of Rice Krispies. He waited two years to upload the video online. The products were distributed to customers and presumably consumed. Kellogg took action and prosecuted the employee.

Why do bodybuilders eat rice krispies? ›

“Rice Krispies are an awesome source right before a workout because they hit your stomach, they get digested really quickly, they enter your bloodstream, and boom, you have carbs to power your workout. This is why as sports dietitians, we recommend cereal as a pre-workout snack,” Klinger says in a video post.

Do Rice Krispies have any health benefits? ›

It is fat-soluble, and there are 1140 micrograms of vitamin A in 100 grams of Rice Krispies. Vitamin A is important for vision, immunity, cell division, growth and reproduction, as noted by the Mayo Clinic.

What is the difference between regular and homestyle Rice Krispies treats? ›

The Homestyle treats are also 50 percent bigger than the normal ones you get at the store so you can enjoy more sweet and crunchy goodness in every package.

Do store bought Rice Krispies expire? ›

For ultimate freshness and quality, FoodSafety.gov recommends consuming any unopened box of cereal within a year of first storing it in your pantry. Once it's opened, you have up to three months to enjoy it at its peak.

What happens if you put too much butter in rice krispie treats? ›

What happens if you put too much butter in Rice Krispies Treats? If you put too much butter in rice krispies treats they will become oily, the cereal will soak up the butter and the treats will become soggy, rather than crispy.

Can you use old marshmallows for rice krispie treats? ›

Ever cautious, I googled to make sure ahead of time this was possible, and it turns out, no, don't use stale marshmallows for rice krispie treats.

Can I freeze rice krispie treats? ›

If you want to store them for longer than two days, try freezing them. To Freeze: Allow these gooey Rice Krispie Treats to cool completely and cut them into squares. Freeze in an airtight container, or wrap each square in a piece of plastic wrap and place them in a gallon freezer bag. Freeze them for up to 3 months.

Why is Rice Krispies banned in 30 countries? ›

Cereals like Frosted Flakes and Rice Krispies are widely believed to be banned in other countries due to the preservatives they contain, but as it would happen, cereal heavyweights like Kellogg's actually go so far as to remove the harmful preservatives from the food they sell internationally but continue to add them ...

Do Rice Krispies still have BHT? ›

Ingredients. Ingredients: Rice, sugar, contains 2% or less of malt flavor, iodized salt (salt, potassium iodate), cinnamon, natural flavor, BHT for freshness.

Why is Gatorade banned in other countries? ›

Gatorade. Gatorade is a common sports drink in the U.S., but in Europe and Japan, it's banned. In 2012, the European Union banned one ingredient that was once found in Gatorade called brominated vegetable oil, also known as BVO.

Why are American cereals banned in other countries? ›

Frosted Flakes are banned in the entire European Union and Japan. Their reasoning is not because of the added sugar but the added preservatives. Frosted Flakes, as well as Rice Krispies and several other Kellogg brand cereals, contain a preservative called BHT.

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