Cheesy BBQ Chicken Zucchini Nachos Recipe

Use up your summer zucchini and whip up this easy, cheesy BBQ chicken zucchini nachos recipe! They make for a great party appetizer or a quick, healthy dinner!

I originally posted this recipe back in 2018 with the help of my sweet friend Kristy Denney. She is the best and always has the best healthy dinner ideas! Since then, I have changed the recipe a little, added a few more toppings, and they are better than ever. Zucchini nachos are the perfect way to use up your summer squash and indulge in a slightly healthier version of nachos. Because honestly, who doesn’t love nachos?!

I love good food but I love it even more when it’s easy and healthy…or at least healthy-ish! These can be a great game-day or party app, a quick lunch for mom (just make a smaller version), or make a giant pan for dinner for the family! Easy, cheesy, good!

Ingredients for Zucchini Nachos

All you really need is a few zucchinis and some cheese to make zucchini nachos, but why stop there when you can load them up with BBQ chicken, black beans, grilled corn, tomatoes, etc.? Here is the full ingredients list:

• Zucchinis – picked fresh from the garden or bought from the grocery store
• Olive Oil – helps cook the zucchini on the grill and keeps them from sticking
• Salt and Pepper – adds flavor
• Garlic Salt – adds flavor to the zucchini
• Chicken – you can use rotisserie chicken, grill your own chicken, or use canned chicken
• BBQ Sauce – pick your favorite BBQ sauce or make your own
• Monterey Jack Cheese – we love monterey jack for nachos, but you could use whatever cheese you want
• Bleu Cheese Crumbles – we love the creamy umami burst the bleu cheese crumbles add, and they are totally optional if you have bleu cheese haters in the house
• Black Beans – drain and rinse the beans so that they don’t add any moisture to the nachos
• Grilled Corn – you can grill your own corn on the cob or buy grilled corn from the store
• Tomato – ok, I know there aren’t tomatoes in these photos, but I love some diced tomatoes on top
• Pickled Onions – these are quick and easy to make and add the best burst of flavor
• Red Onions – diced and sprinkled on top
• Bleu Cheese Dressing – I’ve linked to our homemade dressing, but you could also buy your favorite brand

The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post. You can also add to or change the toppings to your liking.

How to Make Zucchini Nachos

Zucchini nachos are so crazy easy to make. Even this cheesy bbq chicken zucchini nachos recipe! We like to

Quick and Easy Cashew Chicken

This cashew chicken recipe comes together in about 10 minutes and is a healthier version of the classic Chinese takeout dish!

These tender bites of chicken are coated in a bold homemade sauce and mixed with roasted cashews. Serve it over a bed of rice with a side of steamed broccoli and dinner is on the table in no time!

Chinese Cashew Chicken Recipe

I have no idea why this is, but Christmas always makes me crave Japanese and Chinese food. Yup, not an Asian ancestor in me, but the holidays, a time when we reflect on family and make family favorite recipes, always makes me want Chinese food like our crispy honey chicken. I have never had cashew chicken at home until now, and I’m sure there are gobs and gobs of recipes out there, but this one is our personal favorite, especially because it’s quick and easy. For real.

I adore cooking, but there’s nothing I love more than a delicious dinner that took no time at all to clean up and then busting out our pajamas and relaxing. It’s my favorite time of day. I love sending everyone upstairs to hop into pajamas.

Especially during the winter because it means I can really get cozy and warm. I have the worst circulation and unless one of you know of some secret way to fix that I depend on layers all winter long. In fact, even during the summer you’ll always catch me in slippers or socks because my feet are freezing. I can’t be the only one, don’t any of you love getting into your pajamas and snuggling up?

Cashew Chicken Ingredients

For this chicken with cashews recipe, you’ll need only a handful of pantry staples and all the ingredients are easy to find at the grocery store. You won’t believe how easy it is to make this restaurant quality recipe right at home. Here is what you will need…

Chicken

• boneless skinless chicken breasts
• cornstarch
• salt and pepper
• garlic
• rice vinegar
• canola oil

Sauce

• hoisin sauce
• soy sauce
• brown sugar
• ground ginger
• water
• cornstarch

Add-Ins

• dry roasted cashews
• sesame oil

This is meant to be an overview of the ingredients for this recipe. For the detailed measurements, scroll down to the recipe card at the end of this post.

Prosciutto Chicken Milanese

Crunchy panko bread crumbs, creamy taleggio cheese, salty prosciutto, fresh arugula and juicy chicken breast…chicken milanese… It’s what’s for dinner!

Soooo we don’t watch TV. Like, ever. It was a decision long ago to have more productive and restful evenings instead of glued to a TV and it’s been life-changing. Until Cade was on a business trip and saw Bobby Flay’s new show. It’s been so much fun to catch an episode here or there and one day we saw a little ad for a reel he’d made about chicken milanese.

Well, I’ve been trying to sell Cade on Chicken Milanese for years but every time we’ve had it there’s been capers (Cade’s nightmare) involved. I could not wait to try this prosciutto and taleggio cheese version. I will confess, I’m making this up entirely on my own, but inspired by what he did so please don’t kill the messenger if you find his recipe and it’s different.

But more importantly!!! This is our new favorite chicken!!! It’s light and crunchy, with a perfectly juicy inside. Then there’s this beautifully mild and almost a hint of tang from the creamy, melt in your mouth cheese. All topped off with perfect balance (remember in my cookbook how I talk about salt, fat, acid, heat?) of peppery arugula and bright, acidic red wine vinaigrette. It is amazing!!!

What is Chicken Milanese?

Chicken Milanese is one of the best recipes to learn when you’re starting to cook as it’s a great base which you can later experiment with sauces, toppings etc. So what is chicken milanese?

Chicken Milanese is an Italian breaded chicken which is made by first butterflying the chicken so it’s nice and thin, then dipping it in a breadcrumb and seasoning mixture to created the best breading for breaded chicken.

What Do I Need to Make Chicken Milanese?

This easy chicken dinner looks super fancy but the ingredients are actually really simple. Here is what you will need:

• Chicken Breasts – see section below for how to butterfly a chicken breast
• Flour – just regular all purpose
• Kosher Salt – adds flavor to the breading
• Black Pepper – freshly ground
• Eggs – helps the Panko stick to the chicken
• Water – blends with the egg to create an egg wash to help the breading stick
• Panko Bread Crumbs – a Japanese bread crumb that is extra crunchy
• Canola Oil – used to fry the chicken
• Prosciutto – an Italian dry-cured ham that is uncooked and unsmoked and oh so delicious
• Baby Arugula – gives a bright peppery pop of flavor
• Taleggio Cheese – semi soft cheese with a creamy texture and mild/earthy flavor, see section below for possible substitutes

Red Wine Vinaigrette

• Dijon Mustard – rounds out the flavor of this dressing so perfectly
• Red Wine Vinegar – gives the dressing that signature acid and tang
• Lemon Juice – freshly squeezed is best of course!
• Olive Oil – the base of the dressing, a good quality olive oil will make all the difference
• Honey – adds a natural sweetness to the dressing

Loaded Baked Potatoes with Homemade Cheese Sauce

The baked potatoes get sliced in half, baked in the oven and then loaded with bacon, broccoli and homemade cheese sauce. A super, easy family favorite dish on your table in 30 minutes.

Loaded baked potatoes are a very popular in our house. I mean, who doesn’t love bacon, broccoli, and cheese stuffed in a baked potato? It’s a  glorious combination we just can’t get enough of. It’s also an easy dinner option to feed the family or to feed a crowd. I’d like to know if there’s one person out there who hasn’t had a baked potato bar at a family reunion, girls’ camp, scout camp, church function, etc. You get the point! Cheesy baked potatoes just make people happy!

What Do I Need to Make Baked Potatoes?

One of the best things about baked potatoes is that they only take 4 ingredients to make, and they are failproof! Here is what you will need for the potatoes:

• Russet Potatoes – wash them well, and slice them half
• Olive Oil – rub it all over the potatoes, this helps them get so nice and crispy
• Salt and Pepper – adds flavor

Ingredients for Homemade Cheese Sauce

You won’t believe how simple it is to make cheese sauce at home. The ingredients for the base sauce are most likely items you already have at home and the things you add to it are totally up to you…though broccoli and bacon are a dream team with this cheese sauce! Here is what you will need:

• Whole Milk – it has to be whole milk, don’t use any other type of milk
• Butter – unsalted, adds flavor and richness
• Flour – just simple all-purpose works great
• Sharp Cheddar Cheese – sharp cheddar adds that bold cheesy flavor that shines in this sauce
• Hot Sauce – adds a just a hint of heat and flavor you don’t want to miss
• Cayenne Pepper – feel free to add more if you want the cheese to be more spicy
• Broccoli – steamed and chopped into very small pieces
• Bacon – cooked until crispy and chopped into small bits
• Salt and Pepper – add flavor

The measurements for each ingredient and instructions for making this recipe can all be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

What Potatoes Are Best For Baking?

Starchy potatoes such as Russet and sweet potatoes are best for baking or roasting. They work the best for the dry heat of an oven and end up with a fluffy c

Lightened Up Healthier Chicken Parmesan Recipe

Chicken parmesan is always a crowd favorite, but sometimes I want a dinner that’s a little lighter. This lightened up healthier chicken parm recipe is so simple and the flavor is delicious.

In fact, I’ll go so far as to say that you won’t even miss the mounds of mozzarella, piles of pasta or the sauce. Even though we have a traditional chicken parmesan recipe that is fantastic, I think we prefer this healthier version. I love how light and fresh it tastes and the chicken is crazy moist. It’s nice to have a meal where you can still eat great tasting food without feeling weighed down and completely stuffed afterwards. I think everyone should make this parmesan chicken!

What is Parmesan Chicken?

Parmesan chicken (or chicken Parmesan or chicken Parmigiana) is a dish that consists of breaded chicken breast covered in tomato sauce and mozzarella, parmesan, or provolone cheese. Parmesan chicken originated in Italy. We are sort of breaking all the rules with this lightened up version except for the breaded chicken part, but it’s so dang good!

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