Bi-Weekly Chicory Recipe Trends: Week of 8/31/2020

Typically, September marks the unofficial start to autumn, as cooler weather rolls around and retailers get underway with Halloween and fall-themed promotions. In a year unlike any other, we examined changes over the past two weeks in recipe engagement and online grocery orders within our shoppable recipe network to determine if and how consumers are changing their habits now that fall is here. The data shows that many shoppers are returning to old habits that were pushed aside since March 2020 and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recipe usage indicates that consumers are baking a lot more with many recipes that incorporate center store products that they stocked in their pantries during spring months. Trends also indicate that consumers are turning back to the quick and easy recipes that were popular before March and often surge during the back to school season. In a similar vein, consumers are returning to niche diets that typically trend in January and stabilize through the rest of the year. And more, some consumers aren’t yet willing to let go of classic mid-summer produce, even as cooler temperatures approach.

Cooler Weather Means Hotter Kitchens

When summer arrives, ovens typically shut off across American kitchens. We see some activity around classic summer treats like pies and cakes, but otherwise popular sheet pan dinners and casseroles fall off the charts.

The past two weeks marked the return of this trend, with consumers turning back to their favorite oven-baked savory recipes as kids head back to school--whether in person or virtually. Many of these recipes indicate that consumers are looking to use up their favorite pantry staples and the center store products they’ve stored for months, plus cook family-approved meals in a cinch.

The top 250 recipes over the past two weeks in Chicory’s shoppable recipe network are chock-full of casseroles, savory pies and bread.

Easy Recipes Are Back

The quick and easy, 3-ingredient, one-pan and one-pot recipes that dominated recipe trends before March are making a comeback in a big way, as is typical for this time of year. However, consumers this year are different. Getting tired of months of home cooking, they’re turning back to the easy and simple recipes that they loved. We predict that this trend will continue as consumers start to swap out their trendy homemade sauces for premade ones and search for simple solutions to lots of holiday cooking.

Simple Taco Soup

Easy Chicken and Rice Casserole

Summer Produce is Still Going Strong

Although cooler weather approaches, consumers are still holding onto their summer produce favorites like peaches and strawberries. With what felt like a short summer season, impeded in large part due to stay-at-home orders, consumers are extending their summers by incorporating lots of fruits and vegetables into their diets. We may see a mix through the end of September of some consumers moving toward fall staples like pumpkin, apples and cinnamon and others who choose to stick with their summer favorites for as long as possible.

Consumer interest in strawberries peaked in late August and interest in peaches is still high and consistent, even this late in the season.

Recipe Views for Strawberries

Recipe Views for Peaches

Are Niche Diets Returning?

As consumers indulged in hearty recipes earlier this year to deal with stress and anxiety, niche and trendy diets were pushed to the wayside. But just recently, the first niche diet recipe--Keto Mac and Cheese--made its way into Chicory’s top 250 recipes list.

From its high in January, or resolution season, to the end of August, interest in keto recipes dropped by 62%. However, we’re seeing interest creep back up as consumers engaged with keto recipes 30% more at the end of August compared to a month ago and 8% more than a week ago.

Similarly, interest in sugar-free recipes fell by 63% from its height in January to the end of August. But engagement is also climbing by 8% at the end of August compared to a month ago and by 42% just a week ago.

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