These are the Test Kitchen MVPs.
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
By our own math, the Southern Living Test Kitchen is testing 1,063 recipes annually. Which is a long way of saying that we are doing a lot of cooking. From print recipes that arrive in your mailbox every month, to digital recipes we send out via email in our newsletter, our team of Test Kitchen professionals is hard at work every day making new delicious recipes for you to try.
And each Test Kitchen professional has that one recipe, amongst the many they’ve worked on, that sticks out as a personal triumph. So we asked them to share what they think is their best work from 2024, to inspire you as we welcome 2025 and move into another year of great cooking.
Related: Our Best Recipes Of 2023, According To The Southern Living Test Kitchen
Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
“I really loved how moist and tender the pork turned out in this recipe. The tomato aioli was also so delicious that I wanted to put it on everything! Pork sliders are such a classic at Southern gatherings and I really loved having a new spin on a familiar bite.” — Melissa Gray
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Stacy Allen, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
“I’m pretty proud of this shrimp boil I developed! It’s super straightforward and the seasonings are just right. I use Old Bay in my shrimp boils because it reminds me of going to the Eastern Shore of Virginia with my family, but when I lived in Mississippi, my friends from Louisiana sweared by Zatarain’s—this recipe is flexible to either. The most important part is lots of lemons and onions!” —Catherine Jessee
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Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
“This Cajun Shrimp Stir-Fry uses a unique combination of Cajun seasoning, fish sauce, and ginger to create a familiar yet super interesting flavor profile,” — Marianne Williams
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Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
“I grew up loving this banana pudding and always knew there was something special about it. I love that I got to share our family’s recipe with Southern Living, so that so many other people could fall in love with the pudding like I did. I’ve tried so many different banana puddings, and my Aunt Brenda’s will always be my favorite. It’s not as sweet as most other puddings, due to her secret sour cream addition.” — Ivy Odom
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
“You can almost guarantee I will order a chocolate mousse pie at a restaurant, particularly if an Oreo crust is involved. It is one of my favorite desserts, but I get that it can be intimidating to make at home. I like that this mousse pie uses melted marshmallows in the base rather than having to fuss with separating eggs as well as whipping and folding in egg whites. It looks elegant and tastes amazing. I will definitely be making it for holidays and special occasions to come.” — Tricia Manzanero Stuedeman
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Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
“This double-stack smashburger has it all: crispy edges, a juicy center, and it’s loaded with flavor. Every bite is packed with savory goodness from a mix of pantry condiments you probably already have stashed. I top mine with Wickles Pickles, bringing that sweet and spicy crunch that takes this burger to the next level.” — Jasmine Smith
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Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
“These biscuits are huge, buttery, and tender as all-get-out. These might be your new favorite biscuits! The Bacon Pimiento Cheese on them was also really good. I made it for a bridal shower and 30 people asked me for the recipe, and said that it was the best pimiento cheese they’d ever had. That made me smile.” — Julia Levy.
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Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
“I love getting to develop things that are a cross between savory and sweet, and these cookies are just that! It was challenging to keep the soft cookie texture while trying to make it ‘cornbread’ flavored, but I got there!” — Amanda Holstein
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Dane Tashima; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
“I can’t believe I’m actually choosing a turkey recipe, but the Mayo-Roasted Turkey was maybe one of the best turkeys I’ve ever cooked. The combo of dry brining and slathering it in mayo made for the juiciest, most moist turkey meat and beautifully browned and crisp skin.” — Nicole Hopper
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Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Sally McKay; Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser
“My favorite recipe from this year is probably the Southern Cornbread. Cornbread is something that my mother would make weekly, and it’s basically my favorite food at this point. There are plenty of cornbread recipes out there, but this one is rather nostalgic to me, and I’m glad to share it in hopes that it eventually becomes nostalgic for others.” — Craig Ruff
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