The BEST Caprese Salad with Pistachios

The BEST caprese salad with pistachios recipe is right here! There’s nothing like finding a good recipe for fresh from the garden tomatoes.

This caprese salad is so light and refreshing and oooooooooohhhhhhhh so wonderful during the summer when you can pick the tomatoes straight from your garden. I had no idea tomatoes could even be that delicious until I tried my first homegrown tomato. It’s like a totally different thing. Am I right, gardeners?!

We love pistachios too and threw some on top of this pretty salad one night and we both found ourselves digging for the pistachios which could only mean one thing, they were meant to be. That added crunch is molto buono!

Recommended Equipment

• Tomato Knife
• Cutting Board

Before You Begin…

Slice your tomatoes nice and thick! I love a meaty bite of garden fresh tomato! And slice your mozzarella into thick slices too.

What is a Caprese Salad?

Caprese salad is a simple Italian salad, made of sliced fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and sweet basil, seasoned with salt and olive oil.

Ingredients for Caprese Salad

Have I ever told you we love caprese salad? No? Well, we do. Like, a lot. Especially when it has a really nice balsamic vinegar (not the cheapest no name stuff at the store). And even more so when it’s the best caprese salad with pistachios. Here is everything you will need…

• Tomatoes: heirloom or vine ripe tomatoes
• Mozzarella: it has to be fresh!
• Pistachios: shelled and either lightly salted or no salt added
• Basil: fresh leaves only
• Olive Oil: you’ll only need a drizzle but a good quality oil will make all the difference
• Balsamic Vinegar: go for a higher quality vinegar or even a balsamic glaze
• Salt and Pepper: just for a little extra flavor

The measurements and details for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

What Kind of Mozzarella is Best for Caprese Salad?

You absolutely have to use fresh mozzarella to get the full caprese experience! The part skim or low moisture mozzarella, while cheaper, is saltier and won’t grab on to the flavors like fresh mozzarella does. You can get the fresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini) if you want, but we love the big hunks of a block of fresh mozz.

If you absolutely need a substitute, then burrata will be your best bet.

What Type of Tomatoes are Best for Caprese Salad?

If you have access to fresh tomatoes straight from the garden, then go with those! Get some at a farmers market or maybe your neighbor! They just can’t be beat!

If store bought is your only option, then go with vin

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

Thai Peanut Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Crisp cold lettuce wrapped around saucy flavorful turkey…and you have our favorite Thai peanut turkey lettuce wraps! A healthy and delicious appetizer or light dinner.

I love these turkey lettuce wraps!  Years ago I was living in Chicago and we all went out to PF Changs for dinner. Everyone was ordering the lettuce wraps and I was like, “meat in lettuce??… yeah sounds really great…blah!” And then I tried them and they were awesome!!!!!!!! I was totally thinking it would be lame, but it was delicious.

This is one of my favorite meals to make in the summer months when you want a light easy meal!

Ingredients for Turkey Lettuce Wraps

A quick and easy recipe is just what I need in the summer time! It always seems like we are running to a soccer practice or rushing in from being at the pool, and simple and delicious is my summer jam! Here are the ingredients that you will need…

For the Filling

• Ground Turkey: You can go as lean as you want, but know that the leaner the turkey, the drier the filling will be.
• Celery: diced up nice and fine
• Carrots: You can shred your own carrots or buy them already shredded.
• Red Bell Pepper: You could use yellow or orange too, but I wouldn’t use green.
• Onion: minced up small
• Garlic: adds flavor
• Slivered Almonds: adds the most amazing crunch to the wraps

For the Sauce

• Peanut Butter: You want creamy and it adds all the great peanut flavor to the sauce.
• Brown Sugar: adds a depth of flavor and richness to the sauce
• Sugar: adds more sweetness to the sauce
• Hoisin Sauce: a thick, dark colored sauce that is both sweet and salty
• Oyster Sauce: a thick, dark sauce made from oyster extract that doesn’t taste fishy despite the name and adds an earthy flavor
• Rice Vinegar: made from fermented rice and adds acidity
• Soy Sauce: adds great umami flavor to the sauce
• Red Pepper Flakes: adds heat to the sauce
• Lettuce Leaves: you want whole large leaves with no tears in them

Scroll down to the end of the post to find all the measurements you will need of each ingredient.

How to Make Lettuce Wraps

You only need about 30 minutes to make this flavorful recipe. It’s as simple as browning the turkey, sautéing the vegetables and whisking together the peanut sauce. Here are the basic steps…

1. Brown the turkey until it is almost totally cooked. Remove to a bowl.
2. Whisk together all the ingredients for the sauce in a separate bowl.
3. Add all the vegetables to the skillet and sauté until tender. Then add the meat back in.
4. Add the sauce and let it all simmer together for a few minutes.
5. Spoon the meat mixture into the lettuce leaves and sprinkle with slivered almonds and sliced green onions.<

3 Ingredient Easy and BEST Grilled Chicken Marinade

Want the juiciest chicken recipe ever?? Then you’ve got to make this 3 ingredient chicken marinade. It’s the most simple combination of garlic and herbs, a hint of buttery-melt-in-your-mouth flavor and then that pop of the champagne vinegar. Which is a must if you haven’t ever tried using different vinegars.

Last summer we were crazy busy trying to move and I needed some fast and easy dinner recipes. On a whim I bought a bottle of Champagne vinegar and whipped up a lazy, 3 ingredient chicken marinade that ended up being the best chicken marinade EVER. In fact, I even caught a short little video of the process so scroll down and check out a blast from the past in our old house.

(PS, fun fact! Did you know we write our blog posts an entire year out? So right now it’s September 2022, and I’m sitting at the counter of the rental house we finally found after the most insane summer. Did you follow that story? Talk about stressful chaos! I wonder, by the time this recipe goes live, will we have found our future home and be getting ready to settle in? I can’t wait to see where life takes us so leave a comment if you want an update!

Chicken Marinade Ingredients

You can’t get any more simple than just 3 ingredients for the most delicious chicken marinade! This is all you will need:

• Olive Oil – the base of the marinade and helps the chicken stay moist and juicy
• Champagne Vinegar – this can be hard to find sometimes, but it really is the best flavor for this marinade
• Kinder’s Buttery Steakhouse Seasoning – we buy ours at Costco, but I’ve seen it at Walmart and Smith’s, and of course there is always Amazon

The measurement for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

How to Make a Grilled Chicken Marinade?

I like to throw all three of the ingredients into a shallow baking dish and to whisk it all together. Then place the chicken breasts into the marinade and give them a flip to coat both sides. Then let it marinade in the fridge.

You can also use a ziploc bag to marinate the chicken. Just whisk all the ingredients together in a glass measuring cup and pour the marinade over the chicken in the bag and let it sit in the fridge until you’re ready to grill.

Can Other Types of Vinegar Be Used?

The best substitute for champagne vinegar is Asian rice vinegar. White wine vinegar or sherry vinegar are also good substitutes.

Red wine or apple cider vinegar are ok substitutes but they are less sweet and pack bolder tangy vinegar flavor.

Can Other Cuts of Chicken Be Used?

You can absolutely use this marinade on chicken thighs, wings, or drumsticks.

How Long to Marinate Chicken

Marinating chicken for even just 15 minutes can add so much flavor to chicken. I have found the sweet spot for this marinade is from 2-6 hours. For the best f

One Pan 10-Minute Sticky Mexican Chicken

This one pan sticky Mexican chicken recipe only needs 6 simple ingredients and you’ll be eating the most flavorful chicken dinner in just 10 minutes! I love the combination of the citrus from the lime, a hint of sweet from the honey to counteract the spicy seasoning. It’s a perfectly balanced chicken recipe!

I love quick and easy chicken recipes! Chicken tends to take over in the quick dinner category which is funny because ground beef is actually faster to cook, but alas, here we are. Ok, so I’ve fallen in love and I need everyone to join me. I love this sticky Mexican chicken recipe and I really think it will be your back pocket recipe as well.

Where This Recipe Came From

This recipe started with a dying lime.

It was breathing it’s last few wispy breaths from the fruit basket I detest and I just knew that it was time for a little cpr. With only 6 ingredients I busted out dinner in just 10 minutes and now I can’t stop using the Mexican chicken in everything from tacos to rice bowls, and salads to soups, plus everything in between.

I really think the key is to use either our homemade taco seasoning or the Kinders brand, which I buy at Costco. I wouldn’t recommend the little taco seasoning packets as they don’t boast as much flavor. But if you must, the recipe will still be delicious.

I’d love to hear how you use the chicken! Reach out and share your recipes and photos on instagram @ohsweetbasil

Ingredients for Sticky Mexican Chicken

Sometimes the best recipes come from the most simple ingredients combined in just the right way. Here are the 6 ingredients you will need:

• Chicken Breasts: cut into bite size pieces, the chicken breasts can also be cooked whole if you prefer (see recipe notes for instructions)
• Taco Seasoning: we like to use our homemade recipe, but you can use store bought (we recommend Kinders)
• Olive Oil: used to cook the chicken and keep it from sticking
• Green Onions: greens only, chopped in 1″ pieces, adds flavor
• Lime Juice: adds a bright citrus flavor
• Honey: adds natural sweetness and balances the seasoning

The measurements for all the ingredients are listed in the recipe card at the end of this post.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• One Pan: the whole recipe is made from start to finish in one pa