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    Home

    Search Results for: pizza

    Chocolate Chunk Pizookie (Skillet Cookie or Pizza Cookie!)

    By Heather LAST UPDATED March 25, 2021 · FIRST PUBLISHED February 13, 2019, 1 Comment

    Pizookies are part cookie, part pizza, and totally delicious! We can thank BJ's Restaurant for this genius dessert and now you can use this recipe to make them at home!Pizookie recipe in a cast iron pan with vanilla ice cream on top

    I've been making variations of this chocolate chunk pizookie recipe for years and I figure it's about high-time I share it with you. I honestly don't know why I waited so long.

    It's one of our favorite quick and easy desserts and everyone that I make it for wants the recipe. You might know them as skillet cookies, but we like to call them Pizookies!

    I love this recipe because the cookie dough is made right in the pan you bake it in, so it's mess-free and super easy!

    What is a Pizookie?

    A pizookie is basically a giant cookie baked in a skillet. It's pizza (because of how big and round it is) + cookie. Piz-ookie! But, this isn't just any cookie. The magic of the pizookie lies in the warm, soft center of the pan.

    They are typically under-baked just a bit so you end up with a crunchy, caramelized outside and a soft, warm, gooey center. It's magic.

    BJ's Restaurant has brought the Pizookie into fame. They have lots of different flavors and even though I can make them at home, I still love to share the Pizookie Trio at BJ's with a friend every now and then.

    How To Make A Pizookie In 7 Steps:

    1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
    2. Put a 10 inch cast iron skillet on the stove and turn on medium-low heat. Stir in brown and white sugar and vanilla and remove from heat. Let rest until pan is just warm to the touch, but no longer hot-- about 5 minutes.
    3. Crack an egg into the butter and sugar mixture, and use a fork to whisk it into the mixture.
    4. Place flour, baking soda, and salt on top of the sugar and carefully stir into the mixture until smooth and well-mixed.
    5. Stir in chocolate chunks and chocolate chips.
    6. Bake in the oven for 15-25 minutes or until golden around the edges and still soft in the middle.
    7. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream on top.

    Easy Skillet Cookie or pizookie with vanilla ice cream on top.

    Tips for Making the BEST Chocolate Chunk Pizookie

    • Use a 10" cast iron skillet-- This recipe is written for a 10" skillet, like this one . If you don't have a 10-inch skillet, you can use an 8-inch pan but your pizookie will be thicker and you may need to adjust the cooking time a bit. Cast iron skillets are great for this because they cook the cookie evenly and give a nice, crunchy crust. Non-stick skillets will work for this as well, you'll just have to be careful not to scratch the coating when serving it up.
    • Melt your butter over low heat-- When melting the butter, keep it over medium-low heat so you don't accidentally burn the butter. The heat just needs to be high enough to melt the butter. That's it.
    • Watch your pizookie at the end of cooking-- Part of the magic of the Pizookie lies in its soft, warm center. You want the skillet cookie to be golden brown around the edges and still soft in the middle.

    Different Pizookie Flavors

    If you've ever had a Pizookie at BJ's you know there are lots of flavors to choose from! I've already created a recipe for a White Chocolate Pizookie and here are some other ideas to make this recipe your own!

    • Salted Caramel- Omit the chocolate chunks, add ¼ cup each crushed salted pretzels, white chocolate chips, toffee pieces, and serve with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.
    • Peanut Butter- Add ½ cup peanut butter to the recipe when melting the butter.
    • Cookies and Cream- Reduce flour by ½ cup and add ⅓ cup cocoa powder. Omit chocolate chips and chunks and add 1 cup crushed Oreo cookies instead.
    • Triple Chocolate- Reduce flour by ½ cup and add ⅓ cup cocoa powder. Add ⅓ cup white chocolate chips and serve with chocolate ice cream and chocolate sauce.

    Copycat BJ's Pizookie Recipe in pan with ice cream on top.

    How Do I Serve a Pizookie?

    I think the best way to serve this Chocolate Chunk Pizookie is with a few scoops of vanilla ice cream scooped right on top and 4 or 5 spoons to dig into it with. The ice cream melts right over the warm cookie as you eat it and food always tastes better when it's shared.

    How To Make Individual Pizookies

    If a big 10-inch pizookie is just a little bit too much for you, try out this Individual Pizookie Recipe. It makes just enough for 2 small pizookies and cooks in under a minute! Or you can make cookie dough recipe as written here and divide into small, ½ pint-sized mason jars. Bake for 5-7 minutes or until golden brown on top and still soft in the center.

    📖 Recipe

    Print Recipe
    4.44 from 23 votes

    Chocolate Chunk Pizookie (Skillet Cookie)

    This Chocolate Chunk Pizookie is out-of-this-world delicious and the perfect indulgent dessert to make when you don't have a ton of time or don't want to dirty a bunch of dishes! One pan, half-baked cookies for the win!
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time25 minutes mins
    Total Time35 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Chocolate Chunk Pizookie, Easy Skillet Cookie
    Servings: 5 servings
    Calories: 603kcal
    Author: Heather Cheney

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup Butter 1 stick
    • ½ cups Granulated Sugar
    • ½ cups Light Brown Sugar
    • 1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
    • 1 whole Egg
    • 1 ½ cup All-purpose Flour
    • ½ teaspoons Baking Soda
    • ¼ teaspoons Salt
    • ½ cup Milk Chocolate Bar Cut In Chunks
    • ½ cup Mini Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 
    • Melt butter in a 10 inch cast iron skillet set over medium-low heat. Stir in sugars and vanilla and remove from heat. Let rest until pan is just warm to the touch, but no longer hot. About 5 minutes.
    • Crack an egg onto the butter and sugar mixture, and use a fork to whisk it into the mixture. 
    • Place flour, baking soda, and salt on top and carefully stir into the mixture until smooth and well-mixed. 
    • Stir in chocolate chunks and chips. Place in the oven for 15-25 minutes or until golden around the edges and still soft in the middle. 
    • Serve warm with vanilla ice cream on top. 

    Video

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 603kcal | Carbohydrates: 83g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 51mg | Sodium: 398mg | Potassium: 203mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 50g | Vitamin A: 580IU | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 3.4mg

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    Easy Pizza Sticks

    By Heather LAST UPDATED June 25, 2020 · FIRST PUBLISHED May 21, 2018, Leave a Comment

    These Easy Pizza Sticks are filled with mozzarella cheese and wrapped in tender dough. They have all the flavor of pizza without all the work and come together in just a few minutes. Perfect for kicking that pizza craving straight to the curb! 

    Easy Pizza Sticks recipe

    I've been craving pizza something awful these past few days, and I'm not feeling motivated enough to make my homemade pizzeria style deep dish pizza, my Pizza Dip even my chicken bacon garlic bread pizza, so I thought I'd pull these easy pizza sticks out from my photo archives and share them with you today. If you're in the mood for carby-cheesy goodness without all the work, these babies are for you!

    They are super simple and you can be noshing on them in about 20 minutes if you get to work right now!

    How to Make Pizza Sticks

    We're using premade crescent roll dough to keep things simple and let's face it, delicious. Maybe I'm crazy, but I love myself some tube dough.<--- that sounds less appetizing than I mean for it to be.

    It may not be the most nutritious bread in all the land, but it's so flaky and buttery and is perfect for these pizza sticks!

    Step 1). Unroll the crescent roll dough and separate into sections of two triangles each. Separate the dough into rectangles and pinch the seams together.

    Easy Pizza Sticks-- crescent rolls on baking sheet

    Step 2.) Once the seams are pinched together, line up some pepperoni and place a whole piece of string cheese on top. You can put whatever your favorite pizza toppings are inside these stuffed pizza sticks, so be creative!

    Easy Pizza Sticks stuffed with mozzarella and pepperoni

    Step 3.) Fold the dough over the cheese and then fold the ends up and lightly press down to seal.

    Stuffed Pizza Sticks

    Step 4.) Brush each stuffed pizza stick with olive oil and give them a little sprinkle of garlic salt and Italian seasoning and/or parmesan cheese. Doing this makes them look much more gourmet and impressive.

    Easy Pizza Sticks stuffed with cheese and toppings

    Step 5.) Bake unit they are nice and golden brown and tear into one as soon as you can! There's something about molten cheese that gets me every. single. time.

    Sigh.

    Step 6.) These pizza sticks are great just on their own, but after a quick dunk in a little marinara sauce, they turn into a definite pizza craving stopper. Enjoy!

    Pizza Sticks stuffed with Cheese and Pepperoni

    Can you Freeze Stuffed Pizza Sticks to Bake Later?

    Yes! Not everyone wants to take the time to prepare these when that pizza craving hits! So, to get ahead of the game, prepare the pizza sticks like you were going to bake them and instead of placing in the oven, place the baking sheet in the freezer. Freeze until the pizza sticks are completely frozen and then transfer into a freezer bag. When you're ready to eat some, take the pizza sticks out of the freezer and place on a baking sheet. Allow pizza sticks to thaw for about 15 minutes and then bake as directed in the recipe. Cooking time may be longer.

    Tools I recommend for Making Pizza Sticks

    Baking Sheets-- I love these baking sheets because they are sturdy and last FOREVER! I'm seriously still using the same ones I got for my wedding, 14 years ago. 🙂

    Pastry Brush-- You'll need something to brush the olive oil onto the pizza sticks, and these silicone pastry brushes are my favorite. They are so easy to clean and last forever, too.

    📖 Recipe

    Easy Pizza Sticks | heatherlikesfood.com
    Print Recipe
    4.60 from 5 votes

    Easy Pizza Sticks

     These pizza sticks are one of the quickest and easiest things to make and my kids go crazy for them!
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time12 minutes mins
    Total Time22 minutes mins
    Course: Snack
    Cuisine: Italian
    Keyword: Pizza Sticks
    Servings: 8 pizza sticks
    Calories: 189kcal
    Author: Heather Cheney

    Ingredients

    • 2 tubes Crescent Roll dough 8 count
    • 8 mozzarella string cheese
    • 40-50 slices pepperoni
    • ¼ cup butter melted
    • 3 tablespoons parmesan cheese finely grated
    • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley or 1 teaspoon dried parsley chopped
    • 1 clove garlic minced

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 375 degrees
    • Roll dough out and separate into rectangles with 2 triangles in each. Pinch the seam together.
    • Line each rectangle with 5 or 6 slices of pepperoni and top with a string cheese.
    • Fold the dough over the contents and fold the sides up and over to seal.
    • Place sticks on a lined baking sheet.
    • Combine butter, garlic, parsley, and parmesan cheese and brush over the tops of each stick.
    • Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown on both the top and bottom. Remove from oven and serve hot with marinara sauce for dipping.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1pizza stick | Calories: 189kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 479mg | Potassium: 27mg | Vitamin A: 235IU | Vitamin C: 0.7mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 0.2mg

    The Indulgent Life

    I'm enjoying the last few quiet days of the school year with this cute boy before his sisters are home for the summer. I can't believe he only has one more school year before he'll be going to school himself! Ack! He's getting too big, too quick! He love's cooking with me and we had fun one-morning last week making up a small batch of chocolate chip muffins while still in our pajamas. If only I could pause time and let him stay like this (minus the temper tantrums) forever. 🙂

    Hawaiian Roll Pizza Sliders

    By Heather LAST UPDATED March 25, 2021 · FIRST PUBLISHED June 19, 2017, Leave a Comment

    These Hawaiian Roll Pizza Sliders are always the first thing to go on the Potluck table. You can even make them ahead of time and bake just before serving! Hawaiian Roll Pizza Sliders Recipe

    The bread is what makes these Hawaiian Roll Pizza Sliders so magical. I mean, the herby, garlicky butter doesn’t hurt much either, but I'm going to side with the bread here.

    That said, if you're not a fan of Hawaiian sweet rolls, you can absolutely make these on regular plain white dinner rolls and still have great results.

    If you'd like to make these up ahead of time, I've included the directions in the recipe card.

    Flavor and Topping Ideas For Hawaiian Roll Pizza Sliders:

    • My favorite is, an always will be just mozzarella and pepperoni. It's a classic.
    • Crumbled Italian Sausage (cooked), diced green bell pepper, and onion
    • Black Olives, Mushrooms, and Pepperoni
    • Canadian Bacon and Pineapple
    • Salami, Pepperoni, and Italian Sausage
    • Your favorite pizza topping combination!

    Hawaiian Roll Pizza Sliders Recipe

     

    Hawaiian Roll Pizza Sliders Recipe

    WANT MORE EASY AND FUN PIZZA IDEAS?

    • Four “Out of the Box” Pizza Ideas
    • Easy BLT Margherita Pizza
    • Pizza Tortellini Bake
    • Chicken and Bacon Garlic Bread Pizza
    • Garden Vegetable Appetizer Pizza

    TOOLS I USE TO MAKE HAWAIIAN ROLL PIZZA SLIDERS:

    • Spring Chef Box Grater: Grating cheese is usually a task I pass off to my kids because I hate it, but this grater makes it as enjoyable as it can be. ? I love the four sides and that they include a slicing blade.
    • Pyrex Easy Grab Pans: I love these pyrex pans because of the big handles. It makes them so much easier to pull out of a hot oven and also easier to wrap with foil or plastic wrap.

    📖 Recipe

    These 4 "Out of The Box" easy pizza recipes are perfect for #gameday #entertaining or the upcoming #holidays. Each easy pizza recipe only takes a handful of ingredients, too! #easypizza #pizzarecipe #pizza #mozzarella #pepperoni #easydinner #sliders #tatertots #breadsticks
    Print Recipe
    4.69 from 38 votes

    Pepperoni Pizza Sliders

     These Pizza Sliders are made with Hawaiian Rolls and are so easy! They are perfect to make ahead for parties and will be a hit for the super bowl! Top with Pepperoni or any of your other favorite pizza toppings-- they are totally customizable! 
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time15 minutes mins
    Total Time25 minutes mins
    Course: Snack
    Cuisine: Italian
    Keyword: easy, hawaiian rolls, make ahead, party food
    Servings: 12 sliders
    Calories: 236kcal
    Author: Heather Cheney

    Ingredients

    • 1 package Hawaiian Sweet Rolls 12 Count
    • ½ cup favorite Pizza Sauce
    • 2 cups mozzarella cheese grated
    • 24 pepperoni slices
    • ¼ cup butter melted
    • 1 clove garlic minced
    • 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley or 1 teaspoon dried parsley.
    • 3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
    • Coat a 9x13" baking pan with cooking spray. Cut rolls in half lengthways and place the bottom half in the pan.
    • Top with pizza sauce, mozzarella and pepperoni. Place the tops of the rolls on top.
    • Combine butter, garlic, parsley, and parmesan and pour over the tops of the rolls. 
    • Bake uncovered for about 10 minutes or until golden brown on the top and the cheese is melted. 

    Notes

    This can be made up to 24 hours in advance and baked later if you'd like. Cover the pan with foil and refrigerate until ready to bake. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and bake covered for 10 minutes, uncover and bake an additional 10 minutes or until golden brown and cheese is melted. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1slider | Calories: 236kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 588mg | Potassium: 118mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 600IU | Vitamin C: 1.6mg | Calcium: 223mg | Iron: 0.5mg

    Pizza Tortellini Bake

    By Heather LAST UPDATED March 25, 2021 · FIRST PUBLISHED July 24, 2015, Leave a Comment

    Cheese, pepperoni, and pasta? Yup, you can't really go wrong with this Pizza Tortellini Bake recipe! Pizza Tortellini Bake

    Happy Friday! I'm here today with a super simple recipe that even the pickiest of eaters will like. I mean, really, there's not a whole lot that can go wrong when you put pasta, cheese and your favorite pizza toppings together.

    But first, I wanted to point out a little feature here on the blog. If you scroll down to the bottom of the post you'll see a little row of icons for sharing. All of those icons are great for sharing posts from Heather Likes Food with your friends and family, but I want to talk specifically about the orange "Yum" icon.

    Pizza Tortellini Bake

    If you click on that yum, you'll be directed to a site called Yummly. This page explains really well what Yummly is all about, but to give you the jist, it's a great place to find and save recipes! When you click on the "Yum" at the bottom of posts here on HLF, that recipe will be saved to your own Yummly account and you'll be able to view it later. Think of it kind of as a Pinterest just for recipes. Also, the more a recipe is "Yum"-ed from HLF, the more likely it is to show up in the searches on Yummly and I know you want the world to know about this site, right? Riiiiight. You can see all the recipes that have already been pinned from HLF here on my page.

    Now, onto the pasta! Here are the players...
    Pizza Tortellini Bake

    You'll toss a package of frozen cheese tortellini with a couple of cups of your favorite pizza toppings in an 8x8" pan. I used pepperoni, bell pepper and mushrooms but basically anything will work here with the exception of pineapple. I can't be held responsible if you decide to try it, BTW.

    Pizza Tortellini Bake

    You'll then cover the whole shebang with 2 cups of your favorite tomato based pasta sauce and ½ C of water. You don't have to stir it as it will make it's way down as it cooks.

    Pizza Tortellini Bake

    Cover the dish with some shredded mozzarella and this part it totally optional, but I think it's fun to top it like you would a pizza with the same toppings you used inside.

    Pizza Tortellini Bake

    You'll then cover the dish with some foil (if it's really full, make sure to spray the bottom side of the foil with some non-stick cooking spray so the cheese doesn't stick) and put it in the oven.

    Pizza Tortellini Bake

    After about 20-25 minutes you see that the sauce inside is bubbling and you'll want to remove the foil. Continue cooking an additional 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and browned the amount you'd like.

    More Pizza Inspired Recipes You Might Like

    • Supreme Pepperoni Pizza Dip
    • Out of The Box Easy Pizza Recipes
    • Slow Cooker Pizza Chicken

    📖 Recipe

    Pizza Tortellini Bake
    Print Recipe
    4.78 from 9 votes

    Pizza Tortellini Bake

    Cheese pepperoni and pasta... yup, you can't really go wrong with the recipe!
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time45 minutes mins
    Total Time1 hour hr
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Italian
    Keyword: easy tortellini recipe, one pan pasta dinner, pasta with pizza toppings
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 670kcal
    Author: Heather Cheney

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ pounds frozen cheese filled tortellini
    • 2 cups favorite pizza toppings chopped + additional for decorating
    • 2 cups favorite tomato pasta sauce
    • ½ cup water
    • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

    Instructions

    • In a greased 8x8" pan, toss frozen tortellini with pizza toppings. Pour pasta sauce and water over the top of the pasta, do not stir.
    • Sprinkle cheese and additional pizza toppings over the top if desired. Cover pan with foil
    • Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted and browned.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 670kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 112mg | Sodium: 1818mg | Potassium: 403mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 605IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 368mg | Iron: 4.5mg

    Pizza Tortellini Bake

    Pizza Tortellini Bake

    Garden Vegetable Appetizer Pizza

    By Heather LAST UPDATED July 17, 2019 · FIRST PUBLISHED December 8, 2014, Leave a Comment

    Garden Vegetable Appetizer Pizza -- crisp, fresh, creamy and full of flavor, this cold pizza is always the first to be gone when I serve it at parties!Garden Vegetable Appetizer Pizza | heatherlikesfood.com

    Ever been to that party where quantity was clearly more important than quality when it came to the food? I know we all have at some point and I totally get why it happens. But with this vegetable appetizer pizza recipe, you can host or contribute to the spread at a party with confidence that your offerings will satisfy both the quantity and quality requirements. I promise.

    Garden Vegetable Appetizer Pizza | heatherlikesfood.com

    This Vegetable Appetizer Pizza is one of my go-to's for baby showers, birthday parties, and holiday get-togethers because you can throw it together super quickly, it feeds the masses (seriously) and it's just plain pretty.

    Garden Vegetable Appetizer Pizza | heatherlikesfood.com

    See? Pretty, right?!

    Garden Vegetable Appetizer Pizza | heatherlikesfood.com

    Garden Vegetable Appetizer Pizza | heatherlikesfood.com

    📖 Recipe

    Garden Vegetable Appetizer Pizza | heatherlikesfood.com
    Print Recipe
    4 from 4 votes

    Garden Vegetable Appetizer Pizza

    Garden Vegetable Appetizer Pizza -- crisp, fresh, creamy and full of flavor, this cold pizza is always the first to be gone when I serve it at parties!
    Prep Time20 minutes mins
    Cook Time10 minutes mins
    Total Time30 minutes mins
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: cold crescent roll appetizer, crescent roll pizza, crescent roll pizza dough
    Servings: 48 squares
    Calories: 75kcal
    Author: Heather Cheney

    Ingredients

    • 2 tubes refrigerated crescent roll dough
    • 16 ounces cream cheese softened
    • ⅔ cup mayonnaise
    • 1.4 ounces knorr vegetable soup mix 1 packet
    • 4-6 cups chopped fresh veggies broccoli, bell pepper, carrot, tomato, black olive, celery, cucumber
    • 1 cup cheddar cheese grated (optional)
    • Fresh parsley for garnish

    Instructions

    • Roll both tubes of crescent dough out onto a baking sheet, pinching the seams together as needed to create one large crust. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely.
    • Combine cream cheese and mayonnaise, stirring until smooth,and add vegetable soup mix. Spread cream cheese mixture evenly onto cooled crust. Top with cheddar cheese (if using) and assorted vegetable. Chill, cut into squares, and serve.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1square | Calories: 75kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 138mg | Potassium: 53mg | Vitamin A: 925IU | Vitamin C: 1.6mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 0.2mg

    Chicken and Bacon Garlic Bread Pizza

    By Heather LAST UPDATED July 17, 2019 · FIRST PUBLISHED May 12, 2014, Leave a Comment

    Chicken and Bacon Garlic Bread Pizza - When life hands you an extra loaf of garlic bread because your amazing hubby thought that your little family of 4 would be able to eat 2 whole loaves with your Mother's Day meal on Sunday, what do you do? Make garlic bread pizza! Or at least that's what I did.

    Splitting Chicken and Bacon Garlic Bread Pizza on a wooden board.

    Starting Your Chicken and Bacon Garlic Bread Pizza

    You can start with either a pre-made loaf of garlic bread from the grocery store bakery or make your own garlic butter and smather it on a loaf of french bread.

    Pre made garlic bread load on white napkins.

     Once your loaf is nicely buttered, don't put in the oven just yet but top with shredded mozzarella cheese, cooked chicken, and crumbled bacon. You can actually go all sorts of directions with this and top with tomato sauce and other traditional pizza toppings. I like the simplicity of the garlic butter with the chicken and bacon here so I opted to go sans the sauce. For bacon, I like to keep a bag of the precooked bacon crumbles from Costco in my fridge to throw into salads, eggs, etc.

    Garlic bread with with shredded mozzarella cheese, cooked chicken, and crumbled bacon on a baking sheet with parchment paper.

     Tomatoes and some fresh chives finish it off. Sliced green onions would also be great on this but I have a ridiculous amount of chives growing in my garden right now and they're making their way into just about everything lately.

    Delicious Garlic Bread Pizza with mozzarella, tomatoes and chicken.

    Follow me on Pinterest

    Bake at 350 for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and then broil for a minute or two until it's bubbly and lightly browned.

    Split apart Garlic Bread Pizza with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella on a wooden board.

    Easy Chicken and Bacon Garlic Bread Pizza being split apart on a wooden board.

    📖 Recipe

    Simple Garlic Bread Pizza with mozzarella and tomatoes on a wooden board.
    Print Recipe
    4.17 from 6 votes

    Chicken and Bacon Garlic Bread Pizza

    Have a loaf of store-bought garlic bread to use? Make this pizza and you'll be happy you did!
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time12 minutes mins
    Total Time22 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: french bread pizza, Garlic Butter, store bought french bread
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 446kcal
    Author: Heather Cheney

    Ingredients

    • 1 loaf of garlic bread unbaked
    • 1 ½ C mozzarella cheese grated
    • 1 C cooked chicken diced
    • 3-4 tablespoon crumbled and cooked bacon
    • ½ C fresh tomatoes diced
    • 2 tablespoon fresh chives chopped

    Instructions

    • Top buttered side of garlic bread with cheese, chicken, bacon, tomato and chives.
    • Bake at 350 for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Turn oven to broil and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes or until lightly browned.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 446kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 871mg | Potassium: 242mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 596IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 266mg | Iron: 4mg

    Pizzeria-Style Homemade Deep Dish Pizza Dough

    By Heather LAST UPDATED May 21, 2020 · FIRST PUBLISHED July 15, 2012, 2 Comments

    This homemade deep dish pizza dough is a super easy recipe that reminds me of Pizza Hut's deep dish pizza crust. Deep dish pizza in a cast iron skillet

    Happy Monday I'm so excited to share this Deep Dish Pizza with you! But first, I hope you all survived the weekend well and are ready for another week of doing whatever it is you do! We're down to only kid in the house right now because Grandma is doing her annual summer spoiling session with our other. I'm positive she (my almost 6 yr. old) is going to come home thinking that the world revolves around her—won't that be fun?

    Really, she's thought that her whole life so not a whole lot will change besides having me around to try to bring her back down to earth. Maybe I need to stop trying… her confidence will make her uber successful someday and then she can thank me for being such a great mom by giving me an early retirement and an island vacation home with a cabana boy that looks like Robert Downey Jr..

    Suddenly I'm rethinking everything I thought I knew about parenting.

    (Now, watch how I seamlessly segue into what this post is really about)

    Deep Dish Pizza!

    You like pizza right? Everybody likes pizza! Even celebrity-look-alike cabana boys like pizza. (Which is why he and I will get along so well!) When it comes to pizza everyone has their idea of what the crust should be like—how thick, how dense, crispy, etc. For me, I love a good deep dish pizza crust that is thick, but still light and airy. This pizza fits the bill perfectly.

    The deep dish pizza dough starts out simply- water, yeast, sugar, non-fat dry milk, flour, salt and olive oil. Combine the first 4 ingredients, wait until its bubbly and add the remaining flour, oil and salt. Knead the dough for about 5 minutes until it's smooth, cover with plastic wrap and let rise for about an hour or until it's doubled in size. While it's raising make the sauce by combining a can of tomato sauce with a little bit of oregano, basil, garlic salt, and sugar. Stir until combined and you're done!

    What Pan Should I Use For Deep Dish Pizza?

    You'll need 3, 8-10" pans for this recipe. I've used both cake pans and cast iron skillets in the past and have good results with both, but I prefer the cast iron because it produces a bit of a crisper crust. Of course, you can use whatever size pans you have, just divide your dough up accordingly. You want the dough to be about ¼" thick and to cover the bottom of the pan completely.

    How do I get a crisp crust on my deep dish pizza?

    Now, here's the secret to getting a really nice, crisp bottom crust: oil. Calm down, the dough doesn't have to bathe in it, but you'll need at least 2 tablespoon per 8 inch pan, a bit more for larger pans. Oil is an excellent conductor of heat and will give you that nice crisp bottom that great deep dish pizza is known for. I use equal amounts of canola oil and olive oil.

    olive and canola oil in a cake pan Once the dough has doubled in size, turn it out onto a floured surface.

    pizza dough sprinkled with flour on an orange countertop

    Divide your dough into 3 even rounds (I made a double batch for the pictures). Using a rolling pin, roll each round to about a ¼" thick to the diameter of the pan and place on top of oil.

    pizza dough split into portions on an orange countertop

    Spread a couple of spoonfuls of sauce over each pizza—just a couple!  You will have sauce left over so pop it in the freezer for the next time you make pizza or add it to spaghetti sauce later in the week. Too much sauce will cause it to be soggy and  will make it hard to taste anything but the sauce. Leave about a 1" edge around the pizza unscathed by sauce.

    pizza dough in pans topped with sauce

    Top with about 2 oz of mozzarella cheese and any other toppings you'd like. With deep dish I try to stay away from toppings that give off a lot of water while being cooked like thick-cut mushrooms or peppers (thin sliced is okay), tomatoes and zucchini. These tend to make the pizza soggy and heavy. Once the pizza is all topped and ready to go, brush the exposed edges of the dough with olive oil and sprinkle with a mixture of parmesan cheese (from the shaker), dried oregano, and basil. Doing this gives it another dimension of flavor and makes it look pretty J.

    unbaked pizza topped with cheese, pepperoni and olives

    Crank up your oven as hot as it will go (usually 475- 500°) and bake until the cheese is bubbling and outer crust is browned.

    baked deep dish pizza in a cast iron pan

    Sound good? I thought so.

    📖 Recipe

    baked deep dish pizza in a cast iron pan
    Print Recipe
    4.60 from 5 votes

    Pizzeria-style deep dish pizza

    This homemade pizza dough is a super easy recipe that reminds me of Pizza Hut's deep dish pizza crust. Forget take-out and make it better at home!
    Prep Time1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time15 minutes mins
    Total Time1 hour hr 25 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American, Italian
    Keyword: copycat, pizza hut, thick crust
    Servings: 4 Servings
    Calories: 757kcal
    Author: Heather Cheney

    Ingredients

    Crust

    • 1 ⅓ C warm water
    • ¼ C non-fat dry milk
    • 1 tablespoon sugar
    • 2 ¼ teaspoon 1 packet instant yeast
    • 2 tablespoon olive oil
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 3 C all-purpose flour
    • ¼ C olive oil for the pans
    • ¼ C canola oil for the pans

    Sauce

    • 1 8 oz can tomato sauce
    • 1 teaspoon dry oregano
    • ½ teaspoon dry basil
    • ½ teaspoon garlic salt
    • 1 teaspoon sugar

    Herb topping

    • ⅓ C parmesan cheese from the shaker
    • 1 teaspoon dry basil
    • 1 teaspoon dry oregano

    Instructions

    • Mix yeast, sugar, dry milk, and water in a large bowl or mixer. Allow to sit for 5 minutes or until mixture starts to get bubbly.
    • Add 2 tablespoon olive oil, salt, and flour and mix until combined. Continue to knead for about 5 minutes or until dough is smooth.
    • Cover bowl with plastic wrap and allow dough to rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
    • Combine tomato sauce with herbs and garlic salt and set aside.
    • In a separate bowl, combine Parmesan cheese with herbs for topping and set aside.
    • Once the dough has risen, remove from bowl and divide into 3 equal portions.
    • Prepare pans by adding about a tablespoon of both olive oil and canola oil to the bottom of each pan, making sure the bottom is covered. Add more oil if necessary.
    • Using a rolling pin, roll each round of dough until it’s about ¼? thick and will cover the bottom of the pan completely.
    • Place the dough on top of the oil and spread a couple of spoonfuls of sauce over each one to within 1" of the edge.
    • Top each pizza with about 2 oz of mozzarella cheese and any other desired toppings.
    • Brush the outer edges of the crust with olive oil and sprinkle with the herb and cheese mixture.
    • Bake at 475-500° until the cheese is bubbling and outer crust is browned, about 12-15 minutes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 757kcal | Carbohydrates: 84g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 670mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 10g

    Supreme Pepperoni Pizza Dip

    By Heather LAST UPDATED March 22, 2021 · FIRST PUBLISHED February 3, 2012, 3 Comments

    This Pepperoni Pizza dip has all your favorite pizza flavors wrapped up in a warm, cheesy, melty, dip. Make some breadsticks or dip slices of toasted baguette into it for the ultimate dipping experience. Baked Pizza Dip in pie dish with a white and red towel and toasted bread slices

    Making this pepperoni pizza dip reconfirmed my love for mozzarella and pepperoni. It's the perfect pair, really. And when you mix it with some cream cheese, sour cream and other pizza toppings you're in for a mighty fine treat.

    How to Make Pizza Dip

    1. It all starts with your pizza dip base that consists of cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, and shredded cheese. Give it a good stir.
    2. Stir in some canned tomatoes and sliced olives.
    3. Saute your favorite pizza toppings- I used bell peppers, pepperoni and garlic- until tender and stir into the cheese mixture.
    4. Spread cheese mixture into a baking dish and top with your favorite pizza sauce. I like to make my own by following this recipe.
    5. Follow up the pizza sauce with more shredded cheese and decorate with toppings, just like you would a pizza.
    6. Bake and enjoy!

    pepperoni pizza dip on a toasted baguette slice

    Cooking Tips For Making the BEST Baked Pizza Dip

    • Use your Favorite Toppings-- The best part about this pizza dip, well one of the best parts aside from the melty cheese is that you can customize it to fit your pizza profile. I made this pizza dip with bell pepper, olives, and pepperoni, but any combination of toppings can be used. The key is to cook your raw ingredients first (bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, sausage, whatever) and then add them to the cheese mixture.
    • Use freshly grated cheese when you can-- Pre-grated cheese that you buy at the grocery store is coated in food starches that keep it from caking. This is all fine and good, but cheese that doesn't have these starches on them will melt better and give you a creamier end result.
    • Make ahead--  This pizza dip is one of our favorite party foods because we can make it ahead of time and just pop in the oven when we're ready to eat.

    What Should I Serve With Pizza Dip?

    I typically serve my pizza dip with baguette slices that I brush with garlic oil (¼ C olive oil + 1 clove minced garlic) and toast them in the oven until golden brown. Homemade breadsticks would be fabulous as well!

    Need More Crazy Delicious Dip Recipes?

    Try this Sour Cream and Onion Dip for a cool, creamy dip that's perfect with chips! If you want a little spice, this  White Queso Blanco Dip is one of my favorites. If you want something totally drool-worthy, this Ultimate California Cheesesteak Dip is crazy delicious and totally out of the ordinary!

    📖 Recipe

    Baked Pizza Dip in pie dish with a white and red towel and toasted bread slices
    Print Recipe
    4.60 from 5 votes

    Supreme Pepperoni Pizza Dip

    This Pepperoni Pizza dip has all your favorite pizza flavors wrapped up in a warm, cheesy, melty, dip. Make some breadsticks or dip slices of toasted baguette into it for the ultimate dipping experience. 
    Prep Time20 minutes mins
    Cook Time20 minutes mins
    Total Time40 minutes mins
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: Italian
    Keyword: Baked Pizza Dip
    Servings: 10 servings
    Calories: 194kcal
    Author: Heather Cheney

    Ingredients

    • 4 oz. cream cheese softened
    • ¼ cup sour cream
    • ¼ cup mayonnaise
    • 2 cups Pizza Blend Cheese usually has mozzarella, provolone, parmesan, maybe more
    • ¾ cup favorite pizza sauce
    • 2 cloves garlic
    • 8 ounces can petite diced tomatoes drained (½ can)
    • ¾ cup bell pepper chopped
    • 25 slices pepperoni
    • ½ cup sliced olives

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350°
    • In a medium mixing bowl combine cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, 1 cup pizza cheese, drained tomatoes and olives, reserving some olives for the top. Set aside.
    • Chop 15 slices of pepperoni, bell pepper, and garlic and cook in a small saute pan until the peppers are tender and pepperoni starts to get crispy. Remove from the heat and add to the cheese mixture. Spread cheese mixture into the bottom of a 9" pie plate.
    • On top of the cheese mixture, spread the pizza sauce into an even layer and top with remaining 1 C of cheese, 10 pepperoni and reserved olives. Bake until bubbly and the cheese is melted and browned, about 20 minutes. Serve with crusty bread or garlic baguette slices.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 194kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 305mg | Potassium: 122mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 618IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 1mg

    Instant Pot Pasta Al Forno

    By Heather LAST UPDATED March 11, 2021 · FIRST PUBLISHED November 11, 2020, Leave a Comment

    Instant Pot Pasta Al Forno may be a play on words, but we’re not playing around with the flavor! This meaty, cheesy, and creamy comfort food is perfect for the whole family. Made with simple ingredients and done in under 30 minutes!

    A spoon scooping out a serving of pasta al forno

    Herby and satisfying Italian flavors come together in the Instant Pot to create this new family favorite. Traditionally made in the oven, my Instant Pot Pasta Al Forno will save you tons of time and doesn’t skimp on the flavor. Chewy noodles, creamy sauce, and heavenly sausage create a simple yet intricate meal that’s perfect for weeknight dinners or leftovers.

    This luxurious comfort food is made from simple ingredients like rigatoni pasta, Italian sausage, fresh basil, and a creamy white sauce. It’s finished with a layer of melted cheese on top for that stretchy and gooey picture-perfect scoop. This drool-worthy easy dinner is complete with a dash of fresh basil, garlic bread, and caesar salad on the side.

    Overhead shot of ingredients for Pasta al Forno

    What is pasta al forno?

    Al forno translates to “oven baked” in Italian, meaning any type of baked pasta dish, pizza, or even bread can fall under the “al forno” category.

    Classic baked pasta dishes are held together with sauce, meat, and cheese. While my Instant Pot version isn’t technically “al forno”, it’s a great solution when you’re craving a baked ziti or something similar but need it made much faster.

    Why This Recipe Works

    The sausage is a real flavor-booster in this recipe. It adds to the sauce and the pasta noodles soak in all of its natural juices. The white bechamel-like sauce is made on the stovetop while the rest of the dish cooks in the Instant Pot. After it’s stirred in at the end, the completed dish ends up being super creamy and you never have to worry about the two separating.

    Milk being poured into a pan of rouxHow to make pasta al forno in the Instant Pot

    Forget about the oven and pull out the Instant Pot! You still get all of the infused flavors as you would in a traditional pasta al forno, except the cooking time and effort is cut way down. Here’s how to make this recipe:

    Step 1:

    Using “Saute” mode on the Instant Pot, brown and crumble the sausage until it’s cooked through. Next, add the tomatoes, garlic, basil, salt, and water and stir to combine. 

    Step 2:

    Pour the pasta into the sauce. Don’t stir! Make sure they’re submerged without moving the pasta around too much. Lock on the lid and seal the venting valve. Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes. 

    Step 3:

    Make the creamy white sauce by melting the butter in a saucepan on the stove. Once it’s melted, stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly stir in the milk until there are no lumps. Once the sauce has thickened, remove it from the heat and stir in the salt and nutmeg.

    Step 4:

    Release the venting valve for a quick pressure release once the pasta is done cooking. Remove the lid when the pin drops.

    Step 5:

    Gently combine the white sauce with the pasta. Spread the shredded cheese over the pasta and place the lid back on until it’s melted.

    Can I bake this instead?

    Of course! If you don’t have an Instant Pot, just follow my instructions to make baked pasta al forno instead.

    Heather's Tips for Recipe Success

    • Submerge the pasta in the water the best you can. It’s ok if a few noodles are sticking out. Whatever you do, DO NOT stir the pasta.
    • Use at least 2% milk for the white sauce. The more fat, the better because it allows the sauce to thicken and be as creamy as possible. You can use low-fat milk if that’s all you have, but the finished meal will be grainy and not very creamy. 

    Plate of baked pasta with basil on top

    Storing leftovers

    Store the leftover pasta in an airtight container after it’s cooled down significantly. Place it in the fridge and eat within 3 days.

    Reheat the leftovers for a few minutes in the microwave (stirring once or twice in between) or place it in a baking dish and heat in a 325ºF oven until warmed through.

    Closeup of a forkful of pasta

    More comforting pasta recipes

    Warm yourself up with any of these tasty and comforting pasta recipes:

    • Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
    • Instant Pot Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo
    • Pizza Tortellini Bake
    • One Pan Cheeseburger Macaroni

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    📖 Recipe

    Baked Pasta inside an Instant Pot
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    4.84 from 6 votes

    Instant Pot Pasta Al Forno

    This easy pasta dish has all the flavor of its baked counterpart and takes a fraction of the time to make !
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time25 minutes mins
    Total Time30 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Italian
    Keyword: Bechamel, Instant Pot, Mozzarella, Pasta, Rigatoni
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 769kcal
    Author: Heather Cheney

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ lbs ground Italian sausage
    • 2 14.5-ounce cans petite diced tomatoes
    • 4 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 tablespoon dried basil or 3 tablespoons fresh
    • ¾ teaspoon salt
    • 4 cups water
    • 1 pound dry rigatoni pasta

    For the White Sauce:

    • 4 ounces butter 1 stick
    • ½ cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
    • 2 ½ cups milk 2% or greater
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • dash of ground nutmeg
    • 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded

    Instructions

    • Set Instant Pot on "Saute" mode and heat until hot. Add sausage. Brown and crumble until cooked through.
    • Add tomatoes, garlic, basil, salt and water to the sausage and stir to combine.
    • Pour pasta into the sauce, but do not stir. Instead, gently submerge the pasta into the sauce with the back of a spatula so that most of the pasta is covered as best you can.
    • Lock Instant Pot lid in place making sure the venting valve is sealed.
    • Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes.
    • While the pasta is cooking make the white sauce by melting the butter in a medium-sized saucepan on the stove. When melted, stir the flour into the butter and cook for 1 minute, stirring until smooth.
    • Slowly stir the milk into the pan, stirring until no lumps remain. Cook, stirring frequently, until the sauce is thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in the salt and nutmeg. Set aside.
    • When the cooking time for the pasta is up, carefully release the venting valve to do a quick pressure release. When the pressure pin drops, remove the lid.
    • Gently stir the white sauce into the pasta until evenly combined. Spread the shredded mozzarella over the pasta and replace the lid just until the cheese is melted.
    • Serve hot with garlic bread and a salad.

    Notes

    • Submerge the pasta in the water the best you can. It’s ok if a few noodles are sticking out. Whatever you do, DO NOT stir the pasta.
    • Use at least 2% milk for the white sauce. The more fat, the better because it allows the sauce to thicken and be as creamy as possible. You can use low-fat milk if that’s all you have, but the finished meal will be grainy and not very creamy. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 769kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 48g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Cholesterol: 125mg | Sodium: 1232mg | Potassium: 491mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 667IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 276mg | Iron: 3mg

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    Slow Cooker Monterey Chicken

    By Heather LAST UPDATED March 22, 2021 · FIRST PUBLISHED July 10, 2020, 23 Comments

    This Slow Cooker Monterey Chicken recipe has explosive flavors, using only simple ingredients. The chicken thighs are cooked low and slow in a smokey barbeque sauce and served with a generous helping of melted pepper jack cheese. Set it and forget it until dinner time!

    Saucy chicken over rice topped with avocado, bacon and tomato on a white plate with a forkHave you ever ordered the Monterey Chicken from Chili’s? The restaurant chain made a deliciously seasoned chicken breast, served with a savory barbecue sauce and melted cheese on top. It was so good until they removed it from the menu!

    Homemade Slow Cooker Monterey Chicken is a family-friendly recipe that is even better than the restaurant version. This recipe will save you time, money, and doesn’t skimp on the flavor! 

    I’m using chicken thighs instead of breasts for the most tender and juicy meat possible. When made in the slow cooker, the barbeque sauce and chicken seasoning have hours to get to know each other and infuse into the meat.

    Finish the crockpot Monterey chicken off with an extra layer of melted pepper jack cheese, as well as avocado and crispy bacon! There are no complicated ingredients whatsoever in this recipe.

    Monterey chicken is an easy dinner recipe that is best served with a wide range of delicious sides. Try the chicken over cooked rice with a broccoli salad on the side.

    Why This Recipe Works

    This recipe uses chicken thighs, which retain their moisture much more than chicken breasts. They’re the optimal piece of meat when cooking over a long period of time in a slow cooker. The chicken will soak in the wide range of flavors from varying ingredients. The finished result is an overall easy dish with expertly complimented flavors.chicken thighs, sauce and melted pepper jack cheese in a black slow cooker

    What is Monterey Chicken?

    Monterey chicken is traditionally made using chicken breasts. The meat seasoned with salt and pepper is cooked in a skillet on the stovetop, then slathered in barbeque sauce. It’s finished with a generous helping of melted cheese on top with bacon and green onions.

    It’s a recipe your wallet is going to love. All of the ingredients you need are very common, affordable, and budget-friendly.

    No matter how it’s cooked or served, Monterey chicken can be made quickly and with a variety of ingredients to fit your taste. Just like in my recipe, you can include a mix of barbeque sauce and tomatoes, make it smokey by adding smoked paprika, or add a variety of different toppings. 

    How To Make Monterey Chicken In A Slow Cooker

    Crockpot chicken recipes can be so easy! There are only 5 steps involved when making delicious homemade slow cooker Monterey chicken. Here’s how to do it:

    Seasoned chicken thighs in a black slow cooker on a white board

    Step 1:

    Place the onion, chili powder, barbeque sauce, and dijon mustard into the slow cooker and stir to combine. 

    Step 2:

    Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper on both sides and nestle them into the sauce in the slow cooker. Cover with a lid and cook until the chicken is tender, about 4 to 5 hours on LOW.

    Step 3:

    After 4 or 5 hours, transfer the cooked chicken to a cutting board. Let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Next, shred or cut the meat into bite-sized pieces.

    Step 4: 

    Place the chicken pieces back into the slow cooker, then add in the tomatoes. Stir with the sauce. Sprinkle the cheese over the chicken, cover, and cook on LOW for an additional 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

    Step 5:

    Serve the chicken and sauce over cooked rice, topped with the diced avocado and crispy bacon. 

    What If I Don’t Have A Crockpot?

    You can make Monterey chicken in an oven-safe, nonstick skillet using chicken breasts if you don’t own a slow cooker. To do so, first pound the chicken until it’s mostly flat, then season with salt and pepper. Cook the chicken in the skillet until cooked through and golden brown on both sides.

    Preheat your oven to 400ºF. In the skillet, add your sauce and cheese on top of the chicken. Place the skillet in the heated oven until the sauce is hot and the cheese is melted (about 5 minutes).

    How To Make Keto Monterey Chicken

    Making Monterey chicken keto is easy! The chicken and cheese are already keto-friendly. Just make sure to use a barbeque sauce and dijon mustard with no added sugar.

    Monterey chicken with rice is not keto, so enjoy the dish on its own or with steamed veggies. 

    Chicken, rice and toppings on a white plate with a fork and cutting board with toppings in the background

    Heather's Tips for Recipe Success:

    • Use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts. Chicken thighs will retain their moisture and become more tender when cooked for hours in a slow cooker. Chicken breasts are more likely to dry out when cooked for this long.
    • Low and slow is the best method for this recipe. The chicken will be the most tender and juicy when cooked on low for 4 to 5 hours in a crockpot.
    • Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before cutting into bite-sized pieces. If the meat doesn’t have a chance to rest for 5 to 10 minutes, its natural juices could leak out and you won’t get to enjoy a moist and tender chicken.

    More Slow Cooker Recipes You’ll Love

    Put your slow cooker to good use and try these other delicious family-friendly recipes:

    • Meatloaf and Potatoes with Garlic Butter
    • Italian Beef Sandwiches
    • BBQ Ribs
    • Pizza Chicken

    Let's Make This Recipe Together!


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    📖 Recipe

    Saucy chicken over rice topped with avocado, bacon and tomato on a white plate with a fork
    Print Recipe
    4.48 from 17 votes

    Slow Cooker Monterey Chicken

    A slow cooked version of saucy bbq flavored chicken topped with avocado, bacon, tomatoes, and lots of melted pepper jack cheese.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time5 hours hrs
    Total Time5 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Monterey Chicken
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 594kcal
    Author: Heather Cheney

    Equipment

    • Slow Cooker

    Ingredients

    • 1 red onion halved and sliced
    • 1 tablespoon chili powder
    • ½ cup barbeque sauce
    • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
    • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs trimmed of excess fat
    • Salt and Pepper
    • 2 fresh tomatoes diced
    • 1 ½ cups shredded pepper jack cheese
    • 4-6 cups cooked rice
    • 1 avocado pitted and cut into chunks
    • 4 slices bacon cooked until crisp and chopped

    Instructions

    • Place onion, chili powder, barbeque sauce, and dijon mustard into slow cooker and stir to combine.
    • Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper and nestle into the sauce in the slow cooker.
    • Cover and cook until chicken is tender-- about 4-5 hours on low.
    • Transfer chicken to a cutting board and shred into bite-sized pieces.
    • Put Chicken back into the slow cooker, add in the tomatoes, and stir with the sauce. Sprinkle the cheese over the chicken, cover and cook on low for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
    • Serve chicken and sauce over cooked rice, topped with the diced avocado and crisp bacon.

    Notes

    • Use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts. Chicken thighs will retain their moisture and become more tender when cooked for hours in a slow cooker. Chicken breasts are more likely to dry out when cooked for this long.
    • Low and slow is the best method for this recipe. The chicken will be the most tender and juicy when cooked on low for 4 to 5 hours in a crockpot.
    • Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before cutting into bite-sized pieces. If the meat doesn’t have a chance to rest for 5 to 10 minutes, its natural juices could leak out and you won’t get to enjoy a moist and tender chicken.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 594kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 178mg | Sodium: 683mg | Potassium: 779mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 923IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 257mg | Iron: 2mg

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    How to Roast Garlic

    By Heather LAST UPDATED March 11, 2021 · FIRST PUBLISHED April 4, 2019, 5 Comments

     Today I'm showing you the simplest, most fool-proof way of how to roast garlic. Just season, wrap and bake for soft and savory cloves of roasted garlic that are great served with just about anything. Bulb of raw garlic being drizzled with olive oil ready to roast

    So you have an extra head of garlic lying around in your kitchen and want to do something with it besides adding it to spaghetti, making garlic bread or growing a nice little plant in your fruit basket?

    Roasting garlic is a great way to use up your extra garlic and is the perfect addition to many recipes, adding tons of flavor and a savory depth that isn't found from regular garlic. It's sweet, having lost the harshness that its raw form possesses and is also very soft and spreadable.

    What Do You Eat Roasted Garlic With?

    Roasted garlic is great used as a spread on bread instead of butter and used as a pizza topping. It's also great tossed into all kinds of pasta, minced and stirred into soups, mashed potatoes, salad dressings, gravies, and just about anything else that you would put regular garlic in and then some.

    How to Roast Garlic

    First, you'll need a head of garlic, a few teaspoons of olive oil, salt, pepper, and a sheet of aluminum foil.

    A head of raw garlic on a white cutting board

    Then, you'll cut the top of the garlic bulb with a sharp knife just low enough to take off the tops of the cloves, so they are exposed.A bulb of raw garlic cut and ready to roast

    Third, you'll lay the head of garlic on a sheet of foil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and drizzle with a little bit of olive oil making sure it's well coated.

    A bulb of garlic getting ready for roasting with olive oil

    Wrap the foil up and around the garlic and twist tight- you want to create a steam pocket inside the foil so make sure it's sealed.

    A foil pouch for roasting garlic

    Then, you'll place the garlic in a 425° oven and cook for 35-45 minutes or until garlic is caramelized on top and soft.

    Roasted Garlic in the oven wrapped in aluminum foil

    Last, you'll remove it from oven and let cool for 10 minutes before handling. The garlic cloves can be squeezed out of the skin or taken out with a cocktail fork.

    I Roasted Some Garlic Cloves, Now What?

    How to Store Roasted Garlic

    Once removed from the garlic husk, store garlic cloves in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

    Can Roasted Garlic Be Frozen?

    Yes! Remove the roasted cloves from the husk and place in an airtight container. Cloves can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Just defrost before using!Finished Roasted Garlic in aluminum foil with olive oil, salt, and pepper

    Want Recipes To Make with Roasted Garlic?

    Any of these recipes would be great with the addition of. Just substitute the roasted garlic straight across for the amount of garlic called for in the recipe.

    • Cheddar Garlic Corn Spoon Bread
    • The Best Cheesy Garlic Bread
    • Ultimate Garlic Bread
    • Maple Garlic Baked Salmon
    • Lemon-Garlic Aioli

    📖 Recipe

    A head of garlic with olive oil and salt and pepper getting ready to be roasted
    Print Recipe
    4.80 from 10 votes

    How To Roast Garlic

    It's a simple process and turns out the most beautiful, sweet roasted garlic. 
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time45 minutes mins
    Resting Time10 minutes mins
    Total Time50 minutes mins
    Course: Condiment
    Cuisine: Italian
    Keyword: How to Roast Garlic
    Servings: 1 Head of Garlic
    Calories: 165kcal
    Author: Heather Cheney

    Ingredients

    • 1 head Garlic
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 pinch black pepper

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit
    • Cut the top of the garlic bulb with a sharp knife just low enough to take off the tops of the cloves so they are exposed.
    • Place garlic on a piece of aluminum foil and drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper. 
    • Wrap the foil up and around the garlic and twist tight- you want to create a steam pocket inside the foil.
    • Place in the oven and cook for 35-45 minutes or until garlic is soft and the top is browned.
    • Let cool for 10 minutes, unwrap and either squeeze the cooked garlic cloves out of the husks or remove with a small fork. 
    • Store garlic cloves in an airtight container for 1 week in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer. 

    Notes

    This recipe was originally published in August of 2014. I've since updated the text of the post and answered some questions, but the recipe remains the same. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 165kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 295mg | Potassium: 112mg | Vitamin C: 8.7mg | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 0.5mg

    White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Pizookie (Skillet Cookie)

    By Heather LAST UPDATED March 11, 2021 · FIRST PUBLISHED March 26, 2019, 1 Comment

    This White Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Pizookie has all the flavor of the classic cookie wrapped up in an easy-to-make skillet cookie that is just slightly underbaked and perfect to share with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

    A White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Pizookie in a cast iron skillet with vanilla ice cream on top

    It's no secret that I love myself a good pizookie! I recently posted a chocolate chunk pizookie recipe with a step-by-step video, and I've even made an individual pizzokie recipe for the microwave, too! So, I decided to keep the Pizookie love going by sharing this white chocolate chip macadamia version with you today.

    What Is A Pizookie?

    A pizookie is basically a giant, ever-so-slightly underbaked cookie cooked in a skillet or pizza pan <--- hence the name Piz-ookie. Pizza + Cookie.

    How Do You Serve A White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Pizookie?

    This White Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Pizookie is best served with a few scoops of ice cream plopped right on the top when still warm and eaten straight out of the pan. My recipe makes one, ten-inch pizookie so you'll definitely need to find some help eating it! When making it for my family, I scoop up individual portions of it on a plate and add the ice cream then. But I'll admit, it's super fun to just eat out of the pan for date night!

    White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Pizookie baked in a skillet and on a tabletop

    How to Make A White Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Pizookie

    1. Start with a 10" cast iron skillet. You can use a regular 10" skillet, but the cast iron makes the crust extra crisp and enhances the whole experience. This is the one I have -- it is inexpensive and will last you a lifetime if taken care of!
    2. Preheat your oven and set the skillet on the stovetop over medium-low heat.
    3. Add the butter to the pan, melt it completely and stir in the brown and white sugars and vanilla extract until combined. Remove the pan from the heat.
    4. At this point, you want to let the pan cool off for about five minutes to let it cool down enough so that the warm butter and sugar mixture doesn't cook the egg when added.
    5. When cool, stir in the egg and use a fork to whisk it in.
    6. Add flour, salt, and baking soda to the pan and stir it carefully with a spatula until it is well combined and looks like cookie dough!
    7. Now it's time to add the white chocolate chips and macadamia nuts! Stir them in until they are evenly distributed and lightly tap and form the cookie dough into the pan so that it's even in the pan.
    8. Bake in the oven for about 15-25 minutes or until golden brown on top, and still a little soft in the center.
    9. Serve warm and vanilla ice cream!

    Spoonful of baked pizookie with white chocolate and macadamia nuts. Topped with vanilla ice cream.

    How To Reheat a White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Pizookie

    If you have some white chocolate chip macadamia nut pizookie left over and want to enjoy it warm again, just cover the pan with foil and pop into a 375-degree oven for a few minutes. It won't take very long to heat it and will be toasty and warm, ready to devour again!

    What Kind of White Chocolate Should I Use?

    I prefer to use chopped white chocolate bar instead of white chocolate chips in this recipe. I feel the bars melt better and the variation of size between the pieces of chocolate really adds to the pizookie. You can find white chocolate bars like this in the baking aisle near the other baking chocolate.

    📖 Recipe

    Close up of white chocolate chip macadamia nut pizookie and vanilla ice cream
    Print Recipe
    4.50 from 16 votes

    White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Pizookie

    This pizookie takes all the flavor of the classic white chocolate macadamia nut cookie and turns it into a gooey, warm pizookie with a crisp crust and soft interior. 
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time25 minutes mins
    Total Time35 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Skillet Cookie, White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Pizookie
    Servings: 5 servings
    Calories: 630kcal
    Author: Heather Cheney

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup butter 1 stick
    • ½ cup granulated sugar
    • ½ cup light brown sugar
    • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
    • 1 whole eggs
    • 1 ½ cup All Purpose Flour
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ½ cup white chocolate Chopped bar or chips
    • ½ cup macadamia nuts chopped

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • Melt butter in a 10 inch cast iron skillet set over medium-low heat. Stir in sugars and vanilla and remove from heat. Let rest until pan is just warm to the touch, but no longer hot. About 5 minutes.
    • Crack an egg onto the butter and sugar mixture, and use a fork to whisk it into the mixture.
    • Place flour, baking soda, and salt on top and carefully stir into the mixture until smooth and well-mixed.
    • Stir in white chocolate chunks and macadamia nuts. Place in the oven for 15-25 minutes or until golden around the edges and still soft in the middle.
    • Serve warm with vanilla ice cream on top.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1servings | Calories: 630kcal | Carbohydrates: 79g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 52mg | Sodium: 407mg | Potassium: 156mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 49g | Vitamin A: 565IU | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 2.4mg

    Italian Nachos with Fried Pasta Chips

    By Heather LAST UPDATED March 11, 2021 · FIRST PUBLISHED February 1, 2019, 17 Comments

    These Italian Nachos are just what game day calls for! Fried pasta chips are tender and crisp, topped with rotisserie chicken, peppers, tomatoes, a creamy alfredo sauce and plenty of California Ripe Olives. You might want to sit down for this recipe. 😉 

    --This post is sponsored by California Ripe Olives. I'll be sharing 3 posts featuring California Ripe Olives in 2019 and hope you enjoy them! Here's part 1-- all thoughts and opinions are my own--

    Italian Nachos with olives, cherry peppers, chicken and a homemade alfredo sauce.

    The big game is right around the corner, and I don't know about you but I could care less about the game! I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm in it for the food and I have a feeling I'm not the only one. These Italian Nachos built on fried pasta chips fit right in on the snack table with all the dips, wings, and finger foods. Set up a nacho bar with all the fixings and you have a DIY snack that's a little bit out of the ordinary and packed with crazy amounts of flavor!

    One of the reasons these Italian Nachos are so good, is that I used a combination of California Black Ripe Olives and California Green Ripe Olives as one of the toppings.

    I had the chance to visit with California Ripe Olives a few years ago in California and learned so much about olives that I didn't know! Did you know?

    • The olive undergoes a seven-day storage and curing process that produces the unique California
      Ripe Olive flavor.
    • The consistent curing process, which is proprietary to California Ripe Olives, results in a
      consistent taste in every olive.
    • AND, 95% of olives produced in the United States are California grown, so check the label before buying! It will say grown in California if they are California Ripe Olives.

    Italian Nachos made on fried pasta chips and topped with homemade alfredo sauce

    What To Put on Italian Nachos

    In addition to California Ripe Olives, these Italian nachos get topped with some other pretty spectacular things. I loaded mine up with fresh diced tomatoes, sliced sweet cherry peppers, shredded rotisserie chicken, green onion, fresh parsley, and the best part-- Homemade Alfredo Sauce! Here are some other ideas to make these Italian Nachos your own:

    • Crumbled and cooked Italian sausage
    • Pepperoncini
    • Tomato sauce
    • Ricotta cheese
    • Mozzarella Cheese
    • Olive tapenade
    • Sundried tomatoes
    • Parmesan cheese

    Fried pasta chips on a paper towel ready to make Italian Nachos

    How to Make Fried Pasta Chips

    The fried pasta chips are probably my favorite part about these Italian Nachos! Sure, we would use tortilla chips, but the fried pasta chips really make these nachos something special. I've outlined the whole process in the video below! And don't worry! They aren't as complicated to make as you might think!

    Tips for Making The Best Italian Nachos and Fried Pasta Chips

    • Make sure your oil is hot enough when frying the chips. When deep frying it's important that the oil is between 350-375 degrees Fahrenheit. Too low and you'll end up with greasy food, too high and it will burn. The best way to keep your oil at a good temperature is to invest in a deep-fry or candy thermometer like this one.
    • Salt the Chips-- As a general rule, it's always good to give food a little sprinkling of salt after it comes out of the oil.
    • Make Homemade Alfredo Sauce-- My recipe for Alfredo sauce is simple and easy and 10x better than any sauce you can get out of a jar. Watch the video and try your hand at making it homemade. It will be worth it, promise.
    • Keep the Chips Warm by placing them on a cookie sheet lined with a baking rack like this and keep in a 200-degree oven until serving. The baking rack will keep them from getting soggy on the bottom and the oven will keep them nice and crispy and warm until you're ready to eat!

    Italian Nachos on a blue plate with alfredo sauce, olives and cherry peppers.

    And that's it, friends! I hope you'll give these Italian Nachos a try and find yourselves some California Ripe Olives to top them with! They are the best!

    Need more recipes for the big game?

    • These Hawaiian Roll Pizza Sliders are seriously addicting and you can even make them a day ahead and bake when you're ready!
    • Ruffles Krispy treats are always a treat and definitely satisfy a craving for something sweet and salty.

    📖 Recipe

    Italian Nachos with homemade alfredo sauce and cherry peppers
    Print Recipe
    4.93 from 13 votes

    Italian Nachos with Fried Pasta Chips

    These Italian Nachos are just what game day calls for! Fried pasta chips are tender and crisp, topped with rotisserie chicken, peppers, tomatoes, a creamy alfredo sauce and plenty of California Ripe Olives.
    Prep Time30 minutes mins
    Cook Time20 minutes mins
    Total Time50 minutes mins
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: Italian
    Keyword: Fried Pasta Chips, Italian Nachos
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 681kcal
    Author: Heather Cheney

    Ingredients

    For Fried Pasta Chips:

    • 16 ounces lasagna noodles cooked and drained
    • ½ cup all purpose flour
    • 1 egg
    • ¼ cup heavy cream
    • ¼ cup water
    • 1 ½ cup seasoned breadcrumbs I used garlic and herb flavor
    • Salt
    • Canola or peanut oil for frying

    For Alfredo Sauce:

    • 2 tablespoons salted butter
    • 1 clove garlic minced
    • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
    • ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated
    • Salt and pepper to taste

    For Toppings:

    • California Black and Green Ripe Olives quartered
    • Rotisserie chicken shredded
    • Sweet cherry peppers sliced
    • Fresh tomatoes diced
    • Fresh Italian Parsley chopped
    • Green onion finely sliced

    Instructions

    • Cut cooked lasagna noodles into fifths to make squares for your chips and place in a large bowl.
    • Toss lasagna noodle pieces with flour until well coated.
    • In a small bowl whisk together egg, cream, and water. Pour over lasagna noodles and stir until all noodles are moistened.
    • Add breadcrumbs to the noodles and stir until all noodle pieces are coated with breadcrumbs.
    • Fry breaded noodles in 350 degree Fahrenheit oil until golden brown—about 5-7 minutes, flipping noodles to cook evenly.
    • Place fried chips on paper towels and sprinkle with salt. If not eating right away, place chips on a baking sheet lined with a baking rack and keep warm in a 200-degree oven.
    • Melt butter in a small pan; add garlic and cook, stirring for 1 minute.
    • Pour cream into pan and bring to a simmer. Simmer until sauce is thick enough to cover the back of spoon or spatula. Remove from heat.
    • Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and season to taste with salt and pepper.
    • Assemble nachos by layering pasta chips with Alfredo sauce, California Ripe Olives, shredded chicken, cherry peppers, tomatoes, parsley and green onion.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 681kcal | Carbohydrates: 86g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 602mg | Potassium: 304mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1010IU | Vitamin C: 1.2mg | Calcium: 205mg | Iron: 3.1mg

    Sour Cream and Onion Dip

    By Heather LAST UPDATED March 22, 2021 · FIRST PUBLISHED January 11, 2019, Leave a Comment

    Sour Cream and Onion dip is the ultimate party staple! My version of onion dip is made with fresh caramelized onions, sour cream, chives, and some lemon juice to brighten it up. It's perfect served with crackers, bread or fresh veggies and will be the first thing gone on the party table! Sour Cream Onion Dip with green onions on top in a blue dish
    I know you've all eaten your share of onion dips. It's kind of an obligatory party staple, right? I think it's up there with veggie platters and the infamous cheese ball. Onion dip is easy to make, most everybody likes it, and as long as ⅔rds of your guests indulge in its oniony goodness, nobody notices the effect it, and all the other party food has on your breath. 🙂

    How to Make Sour Cream and Onion Dip

    My version of french onion dip skips out on the seasoning mix speckled with crunchy bits of dried onion and goes straight for the good stuff-- fresh caramelized onions. With the help from some butter and olive oil, the onion goes from harsh and crisp to soft and sweet after a few minutes on the stove. Mix those onions with a bit of cream cheese, sour cream, and a few more ingredients and you have a dip that is rich, creamy, and full of flavor!

    Caramelized onion dip in blue dish with crackers

    Can I make this Sour Cream and Onion Dip Recipe with Greek Yogurt?

    Yes! Greek yogurt is a great substitute for sour cream when you're trying to lighten your diet up. The finished dip may be a bit tangier than the sour cream version, so add the lemon juice to taste.

    What should I serve with this Onion Dip Recipe?

    I love serving it with butter crackers, like pictured, but also think it's great with some salted kettle potato chips or slices of toasted baguette. You really can't go wrong! Do you need some more dip recipes for your party spread? Try this Pizza Dip for a delicious spin on pizza, or this White Queso Blanco Dip for a little spice. If you need something lighter, these Skinny Buffalo Cauliflower Bites are seriously addictive and totally kick a chicken wing craving to the curb.

    How Long Does Sour Cream and Onion Dip Last?

    I'd be surprised if this onion dip recipe lasts more than a few hours at a party, but if you're left with some leftovers spoon into an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 7 days.

    Sweet onion dip with cracker and green onions

    Tips for making the BEST Sour Cream and Onion Dip

    • Caramelizing onions correctly can take time. Don't rush it! The heat causes the large sugar molecules in onions to break down into smaller molecules that cause the browning and sweetening. If you don't apply heat for long enough, that process can't take place! Keep your heat around medium and watch for any scorching on the onions. If this happens, it means your heat is too high and won't allow the onions to caramelize correctly before they are totally burnt.
    • Use a heavy-bottomed pan. Heavy bottomed pans, like cast iron or stainless steel distribute heat much more efficiently and effectively than thin aluminum pans. This efficient, even heat allows all the onions in the pan to heat evenly and do their dreamy little caramelization thing.
    • Use room temperature cream cheese. This ensures it will stir in smoothly to the sour cream.
    • Use a slicer to make uniform onion slices. Using a mandolin type slicer not only makes slicing the onion a breeze, but it also makes uniform onion slices that will help the onions to caramelize at the same rate. I love this affordable little handheld mandolin slicer for jobs like this.

    📖 Recipe

    Sour Cream Onion Dip with green onions on top in a blue dish
    Print Recipe
    4.86 from 7 votes

    Sour Cream and Onion Dip

    Sour Cream and Onion dip is the ultimate party staple! My version of onion dip is made with fresh caramelized onions, sour cream, chives, and some lemon juice to brighten it up. It's perfect served with crackers, bread or fresh veggies and will be the first thing gone on the party table! 
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time20 minutes mins
    Total Time30 minutes mins
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Onion Dip
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 108kcal
    Author: Heather Cheney

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 1 whole large, sweet onion thinly sliced (Vidalia or Walla Walla work well)
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 cup sour cream
    • 2 ounces cream cheese room temperature
    • Juice from ½ of a large lemon
    • ¼ cup finely chopped fresh chives or green onion
    • Black pepper to taste

    Instructions

    • In a heavy-bottomed medium-sized skillet, heat olive oil and butter over medium heat. Once hot, add onions and salt and cook, stirring frequently, until they have turned a dark golden brown and are well caramelized, about 15-20 minutes. You are not looking to “brown” the onions, so if they start to get crispy, turn the heat down and stir often. 
    • Remove onions from heat and allow to cool completely.
    • In a medium-sized bowl, combine sour cream, cream cheese, lemon juice and chives. Fold in cooked and cooled onions and season with salt and pepper to taste. Chill well. 
    • Serve with potato chips, raw veggies, bread cubes, butter crackers or whatever else your little heart desires.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 108kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 203mg | Potassium: 50mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 375IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 0.1mg

    Tools I used for making this Sour Cream and Onion Dip Recipe:

    Peanut Butter Protein Balls

    By Heather LAST UPDATED March 2, 2021 · FIRST PUBLISHED March 1, 2018, 2 Comments

    Need a sweet but healthy snack? These peanut butter protein balls take just a few ingredients and give a little boost of protein when needed. Just mix together, roll in whatever toppings you'd like, and put them in the fridge ready for snack time! Peanut Butter Protein Balls in a brown bowl

    These no bake protein balls have been my saving grace over the last week. I mentioned a few weeks ago that I've been following a ketogenic diet and, you guys, the sugar cravings have been HARD! It's usually a few hours after lunch that I have the burning desire to shovel immense amounts of candy into my face and so far, I've resisted!

    Sure, there's some amount of willpower working its magic here, but I think I can owe a lot of my success to these beautiful little healthy peanut butter balls. Oh, and this keto chicken soup <-- Seriously good, guys.

    These peanut butter balls are sweet, creamy, and filling!

    Easy peanut Butter balls in a brown bowl

    How To Make Peanut Butter Protein Balls

    My protein balls recipe is pretty simple and can be modified in many different ways. The basic recipe includes peanut butter, vanilla protein powder, vanilla extract, and powdered sweetener. I use powdered Swerve (Erythritol), but you could use powdered sugar or even Stevia.

    I decided to roll mine in unsweetened coconut this time and have rolled other batches in mini chocolate chips (the best way, in my opinion), chopped nuts, and even sprinkles.

    Even the type of nut butter you use can be changed up. Almond butter and sun butter work great in this recipe. You may just need to adjust the amount of powdered sweetener or protein powder you use to get the right consistency.

    Can Protein Balls Be Frozen?

    Yes! In fact, my favorite way to eat these is cold out of the fridge so if you keep them in the freezer you can just pull a few out and let them thaw a bit before eating. Just make sure you store them in an airtight container.

    How Long Do Peanut Butter Balls Last?

    Peanut Butter protein balls need to be refrigerated and will last up to 2 weeks in the fridge in an airtight container. If you choose to freeze yours, you can expect them to last about 30 days in the freezer.

    No bake protein balls in a brown bowl

    Is Peanut Butter Protein?

    Yes! There are 8 grams of protein in 2 tablespoons of peanut butter. In this recipe, about ½ of the protein comes from the peanut butter and the other half from the protein powder. Each (2 teaspoons) protein ball has about 4 grams of protein and will fluctuate depending on the type of protein powder you use.

    Here Are Some Other Snacking-On-The-Go Recipes That You Might Dig

    • Apple Cranberry Granola Cups
    • Easy Baked Pizza Sticks
    • Super Moist Banana Muffins
    • Banana Blueberry Bread (Whole Wheat and Filling)
    • Hummus Made with Black Beans and Avocado

    Other Recipes With Peanut Butter You Might Like, Too

    • Reese's Peanut Butter Popcorn
    • Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Bars
    • The BEST Peanut Butter Cookies

    📖 Recipe

    Peanut Butter Protein Balls in a brown bowl
    Print Recipe
    4.69 from 16 votes

    Peanut Butter Protein Balls

    Need a sweet but healthy snack? These peanut butter protein balls take just a few ingredients and give a little boost of protein when needed. Just mix together, roll in whatever toppings you'd like, and put them in the fridge ready for snack time! 
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time0 minutes mins
    Total Time15 minutes mins
    Course: Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: energy bites, healthy, keto
    Servings: 16 balls
    Calories: 54kcal
    Author: Heather Cheney

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup creamy peanut butter
    • ¼ cup vanilla protein powder
    • ¼ cup powdered sweetener Swerve or powdered sugar 
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ¼-1/2 cup toppings to roll balls in chocolate chips, coconut, sprinkles, etc

    Instructions

    • Combine peanut butter, protein powder, sweetener and vanilla in a bowl and mix until smooth and fully combined. 
    • Use a 2 teaspoon cookie scoop to portion all of the dough and roll each ball in between your palms to form a smooth ball.
    • Roll each ball in desired toppings and place on a plate. Refrigerate until firm and transfer into an airtight container for storage. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1ball | Calories: 54kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 41mg | Potassium: 59mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 0.1mg

    It's National Peanut Butter Lovers Day!

    Celebrate with me and some of my blogging friends! We're all sharing a peanut butter recipe today-- see what everyone is making!

    • Peanut Butter Lovers Pancakes-- Crumb
    • Triple Peanut Butter Cake-- Ashlee Marie
    • Peanut Butter Butterfinger Cookies-- Creations by Kara
    • Reese's Peanut Butter Bars-- Pretty Providence
    • Peanut Butter Pie-- Simple Stacie
    • Creamy Peanut Butter Chip Pie-- An Italian In My Kitchen
    • Homemade Nutter Butter Cookies-- The Baker Upstairs
    • Easy Peanut Butter Fudge-- Savory Experiments
    • Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Blondies-- 365 Day of Slowcooking
    • Easy Peanut Butter Granola-- Real Mom Kitchen
    • Peanut Butter Doughnuts with Chunky Peanut Butter Glaze-- Premeditated Leftovers
    • Peanut Butter Cookies-- Namely Marley
    • Peanut Butter Twix Pie-- My Mommy Style
    • Instant Pot Peanut Butter Caramel Cheesecake-- Supergolden Bakes

    Other delicious Peanut Butter Recipes:

    • Lunchroom Peanut butter Bars-- Cupcake Diaries
    • Peanut Butter Smore's Bars-- The Food Charlatan
    • Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Treats-- The Country Cook
    • No-Churn Peanut Butter Ice Cream-- A Thrifty Mom
    • Peanut Butter Cornflake Cookies-- Spend with pennies
    • One Minute Peanut Butter Brownie-- The Typical Mom
    • Peanut Butter Cup Overnight Oats-- Lemon and Zest
    • 3 Ingredient No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies-- The Beaming Baker
    • Fluffernutter Cookies-- Keep It Sweet Desserts
    • Loaded Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Bark-- Wine and Glue

    27 Amazing Peanut Butter Recipes

    Sweet Ham and Swiss Sliders

    By Heather LAST UPDATED July 22, 2019 · FIRST PUBLISHED February 6, 2018, 18 Comments

    These Ham and Swiss Sliders are a perfect party food and can be baked whenever you're ready to eat, so they're always hot and melty for your guests! Sweet Ham and Swiss Sliders are a perfect party food and can be baked whenever you're ready to eat, so they're always hot and melty for your guests!

    Y'all these are INSANE! I originally posted this Sweet Ham and Swiss Sliders recipe about 5 years ago and in that time it has become one of the most-visited recipes on HLF.

    One of the things I love most about these Ham and Swiss Sliders is that they are very kid friendly while being just interesting enough for adults to get excited about too. I mean, who doesn't love a sticky-sweet and savory butter sauce poured over their ham and cheese slider, right?

    Sweet Ham and Swiss Sliders are a perfect party food and can be baked whenever you're ready to eat, so they're always hot and melty for your guests!

    Should I use Hawaiian Rolls for Ham and Swiss Sliders?

    Most recipes for these sliders use sweet Hawaiian Rolls, but I'm a rebel and like to use plain ol' boring white dinner rolls. I do this for a few reasons:

    • They're cheaper. 🙂
    • Hawaiian Rolls can be TOO sweet sometimes.
    • Using plain rolls means I can add a little bit of brown sugar to the glaze which makes the ham and cheese sliders just a little bit caramelized and sticky and I love that!

    Pin This Recipe To Your Sandwich Board

    Sweet Ham and Swiss Sliders are a perfect party food and can be baked whenever you're ready to eat, so they're always hot and melty for your guests!

    How Far Ahead Can I Make These Ham and Swiss Sliders?

    I love this ham and cheese sliders recipe for parties because you can assemble them through the step where you pour on the glaze, cover with foil and put in the fridge until you're ready to bake-- up to 24 hours in advance!

    Pin This Recipe To Your Sandwich Board

    Sweet Ham and Swiss Sliders are a perfect party food and can be baked whenever you're ready to eat, so they're always hot and melty for your guests!

    Other Party and Appetizer Recipes You Might Really Like

    • Garden Vegetable Cold Appetizer Pizza
    • Shredded Beef and Blue Cheese Sliders
    • Sausage and Cheese Appetizer Bites
    • Baked Cheese Ball Dip
    • White Queso Blanco Dip
    • Coconut Lime Cream Cheese Fruit Dip
    • Copycat Wingers Sticky Fingers Recipe

    Tools Used For Ham and Swiss Sliders:

    • Silpat Silicone Baking Mats-- I use these silicone baking mats to line my baking sheet anytime I bake. Practically nothing sticks to them and I feel like my baked goods bake more evenly on them as well.
    • Nordic Ware ½ Sheet Pans-- I LOVE these sheet pans! They last a long time, are commercial-grade and bake evenly!

    Pin This Recipe To Your Sandwich Board

    📖 Recipe

    Sweet Ham and Swiss Sliders are a perfect party food and can be baked whenever you're ready to eat, so they're always hot and melty for your gue
    Print Recipe
    4.67 from 15 votes

    Sweet Ham and Swiss Sliders

    Sweet Ham and Swiss Sliders are a perfect party food and can be baked whenever you're ready to eat, so they're always hot and melty for your guests!
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time20 minutes mins
    Total Time30 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: hawaiian rolls, make ahead, sweet butter sauce
    Servings: 12 sliders
    Calories: 331kcal
    Author: Heather Cheney

    Ingredients

    • 12 White Dinner Rolls cut in half
    • 24 slices Honey Ham
    • 8 slices Swiss Cheese cut in half
    • ¼ cup Mayonnaise
    • 1 ½ Tablespoon Dijon Mustard
    • 8 Tablespoons butter melted
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
    • 1 Tablespoon poppy seeds
    • ¼ cup brown sugar

    Instructions

    • On a rimmed baking sheet place bottom half of dinner rolls and top with 2 folded slices of ham and 1 slice of swiss cheese. Spread about 1 teaspoon of mayonnaise on each top-half of roll and place on top of ham and cheese. You want the rolls to be snug together, kissing just a bit so the sauce can soak up into all of the nooks and crannies.
    • In a small bowl combine the mustard, melted butter, onion powder, Worcestershire sauce, poppy seeds, and brown sugar. Mix until combined and evenly pour over the assembled rolls. Cover with foil and refrigerate until ready to bake.
    • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.Bake covered with foil for 10 minutes, remove the foil and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes or until the tops are browned, and cheese is good and melted.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1slider | Calories: 331kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 827mg | Potassium: 186mg | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 390IU | Calcium: 171mg | Iron: 0.7mg

    Copycat Wingers Sticky Fingers Recipe

    By Heather LAST UPDATED March 22, 2021 · FIRST PUBLISHED January 29, 2018, 4 Comments

    If you've ever been to Wingers, you know their Sticky Fingers are amazing! This copycat wingers sticky fingers recipe is sweet and spicy makes amazing chicken strips that are perfect for throwing into salads, wraps, or just eating on their own! Wingers Sticky Fingers Recipe-- Chicken Strips on a plate

    Wingers Sticky Fingers

    When I was pregnant with my first daughter, I was super sick. When the morning sickness (more like the morn, noon, and night sickness) set in, I was in the middle of finishing up my last term of cooking school and had to be in a steamy little kitchen just about all day, every day.

    I had the kitchen mapped out- I knew the exact location of every trash can should I need to retreat and I'm pretty sure I scared every single one of my classmates with my mood swings at some point.

    Despite how sick I was, I had some weird cravings. Not like fried chicken feet with Nutella weird, but I craved super strong flavors. Things like garlic stuffed green olives, cheesy pizza with sausage, and Winger's Sticky fingers were at the top of my list for consumption.

    Most of the time eating these things made me sicker after the fact from heartburn, but it was so miraculous that I actually felt like eating something that I welcomed it.

    Wingers Sticky Fingers Recipe--Chicken Strips dipped in ranch dressing

    I really wish I would have found this Wingers Sticky Fingers recipe, er, eleven years ago when we were spending way too much on appeasing my cravings. If you've been to Winger's, you know how good these are! If you haven't tried them, it doesn't matter because now YOU can make them and they taste just as amazing as getting them from the restaurant (IMHO).

    Tips for making this Wingers Sticky Fingers Recipe

    • The sauce is ridiculously easy to make, just make sure you use Frank's Red hot original sauce. Using this will make all the difference. I think it's fairly easy to find in most grocery stores and I've linked to it below.
    • For the chicken, I use frozen, breaded chicken fingers straight out of the freezer case at the grocery store and either bake or fry them depending on how naughty I'm feeling. Deep frying them definitely give them that little extra push to make them just like Wingers'.

    With the Super Bowl right around the corner, these would be great- and easy- to serve with some celery sticks and ranch or blue cheese dressing! For the record, this sauce is also great on burgers, wings, ribs, or by the spoonful. I won't judge.

    Other Chicken Recipes You Might Like

    • Chicken lo mein recipe
    • Pesto Parmesan Chicken
    • Easy Chicken Cacciatore
    • Smothered Chicken Breast
    • Honey Dijon Chicken Thighs
    • garlic chicken thighs
    • Ranch Chicken Marinade
    • Simple Grilled Chicken Recipe
    • Chicken Keto Soup
    • Barbecue Chicken
    • Sweet Chili Sauce Chicken
    • Oven Fried Chicken Breast
    • Chicken Ricotta
    • Chicken Curry with Coconut Milk

    Tools used for this Wingers Sticky Fingers Recipe

    • Franks Hot Sauce: I've tried a few different brands of hot sauce for the wingers sticky fingers sauce, and this one definitely takes the cake.
    • Nordicware ½ Sheet Pans: I LOVE these sheet pans! They last a long time, are commercial-grade and bake evenly!
    • OXO Stainless Steel Tongs: These tongs take a beating in my kitchen. They go from the grill for flipping meats to the salad bowl for tossing with very little complaint. They are built like a tank and have silicone grips that make them super easy to use, even with my very small hands.

    **This Post was originally published on Heather Likes Food in January of 2012**

    📖 Recipe

    Wingers Sticky Finger Chicken Strips on a plate
    Print Recipe
    5 from 6 votes

    Winger’s Sticky Fingers Copy Cat Recipe

    If you've ever been to Wingers you know their Sticky Fingers are amazing! This copycat wingers sticky fingers recipe is sweet and spicy makes amazing chicken strips that are perfect for throwing into salads, wraps, or just eating on their own! 
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time25 minutes mins
    Total Time30 minutes mins
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: copycat, franks hot sauce, sweet and spicy
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 331kcal
    Author: Heather Cheney

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ cup brown sugar
    • ⅓ cup Frank’s Red Hot Original Sauce
    • 1 tablespoon water
    • 1 tablespoon corn syrup

    Instructions

    • In a small sauce pan combine all ingredients and heat over medium heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Bake or fry chicken and dip or pour sauce over the chicken strips until they are well coated.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 331kcal | Carbohydrates: 85g | Sodium: 555mg | Potassium: 138mg | Sugar: 84g | Vitamin A: 30IU | Vitamin C: 14.9mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 0.7mg

    Slow Cooker Meatloaf and Potatoes with Garlic Butter

    By Heather LAST UPDATED March 22, 2021 · FIRST PUBLISHED January 17, 2018, 2 Comments

    This Slow Cooker Meatloaf and Potatoes recipe is one of my go-to slow cooker meals! The meatloaf comes out tender and juicy, and the garlic butter potatoes turn creamy and are full of flavor. Just mix, throw in the slow cooker and forget about it until dinner time! Slow Cooker Meatloaf and Garlic Butter Potatoes Recipe

    This slow cooker meatloaf with garlic butter potatoes is something else. I love that I can have this typically baked meal without very much effort. Just put it in the slow cooker in the morning/early afternoon and forget about it until dinner time.

    Meatloaf gets a bad wrap, wouldn't you say? I mean, the quote from A Christmas Story just about sums up a lot of people's feelings on it-- "Meatloaf smeatloaf double beet-loaf". I just love that movie.

    But I'm here to tell you meatloaf can be an absolutely marvelous thing!

    I've tried a few other recipes for slow cooker meatloaf and haven't been 100% happy with the results. But this recipe makes the best slow cooker meatloaf I've tried. It's tender thanks to the addition of saltine crackers and milk and stays juicy through the cooking period.

    How do you make meatloaf in the slow cooker?

    It's about the simplest thing in the world-- just mix up the ingredients for the meatloaf in a bowl and shape into a loaf on a piece of foil. The foil gets gathered together and formed into a little dish to keep the juices from running out into the slow cooker and keeps your meatloaf moist! It also makes room for some garlic butter potatoes!

    Pin This Recipe To Your Slow Cooker Board

    Slow Cooker Meatloaf and Garlic Butter Potatoes Recipe

    Tips for cooking Slow Cooker Meatloaf and Potatoes:

    • This is a basic meatloaf recipe that you can add all sorts of flavors too! We love adding some bacon and cheese to our meatloaf mix to turn it into a bacon cheeseburger meatloaf topped with french fried onions. Or you can add caramelized onions and gruyere cheese to turn it into a french onion meatloaf.
    • You can flavor the potatoes as well. Bacon, cheese, more veggies, ranch dressing mix and more can be added to up the flavor profile.
    • In my experience, all slow cookers cook differently-- some are hot and cook quickly while others run cooler and take longer to cook recipes. My slow cooker meatloaf and potatoes are almost always ready at the 6-hour mark when cooking on low.

    Pin This Recipe To Your Slow Cooker Board

    Best Slow Cooker Meatloaf and Garlic Butter Potatoes Recipe

    Want more easy slow cooker recipes?

    • Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs
    • Super Creamy Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
    • Smoky Slow Cooker Pulled Pork With Pineapple Slaw
    • Slow Cooker Blackberry BBQ Pulled Pork
    • Slow Cooker Pizza Chicken

    Tools used in making this Slow Cooker Meatloaf and Potatoes:

    • Ninja 3-in-1 Cooking System: I've owned this slow cooker for about 6 years (when they were first introduced) and I still love it. The stovetop feature allows me to sear and cook meats before allowing them to slow cook (less dishes) and there's a bake feature as well.
    • Get It Right Silicone Spatulas: I have waaaaay too many of these spatulas floating around in my kitchen but I just love them! They are heat-resistance and can be used for both baking and cooking so they are basically my go-to kitchen tool. I love that they come in lots of vibrant colors and are easy to clean. Most of the spatulas I have are at least 4 years old and still look new!

    Pin This Recipe To Your Slow Cooker Board

    📖 Recipe

    Slow Cooker Meatloaf and Potatoes Recipe
    Print Recipe
    4.45 from 47 votes

    Slow Cooker Meatloaf and Garlic Butter Potatoes

    This Slow Cooker Meatloaf and potatoes recipe is one of my go-to slow cooker meals! The meatloaf comes out tender and juicy, and the garlic butter potatoes turn creamy and are full of flavor. Just mix, throw in the slow cooker and forget about it until dinner time!
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time6 hours hrs
    Total Time6 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: crock pot, saltine meatloaf, Slow Cooker
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 662kcal
    Author: Heather Cheney

    Ingredients

    For the Meatloaf

    • 1 pound ground beef
    • 1 egg lightly beaten
    • ½ cup milk
    • ½ cup crushed saltine crackers
    • ⅓ cup onions finely chopped
    • ¾ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon rubbed sage
    • ½ teaspoon dried dill weed

    For the Potatoes

    • 1 ½ pounds baby potatoes
    • 2 tablespoons butter melted
    • 1 clove garlic minced
    • ¼ teaspoon salt

    For The Sauce

    • ⅔ cup ketchup
    • ⅓ cup brown sugar
    • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

    Instructions

    • Spray a large piece of foil with cooking spray. Set aside.
    • Combine all the ingredients for the meatloaf in a medium-sized bowl. Mix until just combined (don't overwork the meat) and form into a rustic loaf on the prepared foil. Bring the sides of the foil up and around the loaf, making a "dish" for it to cook in. Make sure the walls are high enough to keep the cooking juices in.
    • Place the meatloaf in it's foil dish in one side of the slow cooker.
    • Place potatoes next to the meatloaf in the empty side of the slow cooker. Drizzle potatoes with the melted butter, and lightly stir the garlic and salt into the potatoes. 
    • Set slow cooker to cook for 6-8 hours on low. Cooking time will depend on your particular slow cooker as they all cook differently. The meatloaf is done when it's internal temperature reaches 170 degrees and the potatoes are fork tender. 
    • 30 minutes before you are ready to eat, combine the ketchup brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl.  Spoon sauce over the meatloaf, cover and continue cooking in the slow cooker until sauce is hot-- about 30 minutes.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1Serving | Calories: 662kcal | Carbohydrates: 68g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 139mg | Sodium: 1170mg | Potassium: 1273mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 490IU | Vitamin C: 36.4mg | Calcium: 109mg | Iron: 4.6mg

    Microwave Chocolate Chip Pizookie Recipe

    By Heather LAST UPDATED October 3, 2019 · FIRST PUBLISHED December 17, 2017, 4 Comments

    Today I'm sharing my shortcut microwave individual pizookie recipe for when you have a mad pizookie craving, but don't want to turn the oven on! Come on, I know I'm not the only one. How to Make a Pizookie for 2 people in the microwave

    Chocolate Chip Individual Pizookie Recipe

     A few weeks back I went to BJ's with some friends and finally had my first pizookie.

    What is a pizookie?

    It's basically a cookie that's baked in a little mini pizza pan and served piping hot with ice cream and usually some sort of topping-- it's heavenly! I know pizookies are served at other places too, but if you are headed to BJ's soon, the new salted caramel one has been beckoning me back there ever since I tried it. So good!

    The best chocolate chip pizookie recipe made in the microwave

    To curb my cravings and since I don't have pizookie pans or will power, I decided to make up a quick batch of chocolate chip cookie dough in a very small quantity and quickly bake it in the microwave, just like my original coffee cake in a mug and pumpkin coffee cake.

    This way I wouldn't have dozens of cookies staring me down every time I walked into the kitchen, and I could get it into my face much faster than I could if I had to wait for the oven to heat up, etc.

    BUT, if you want a full-on Pizookie experience you have to try my chocolate chunk Pizookie! It's large and it's in charge!

    But wait, can you microwave cookie dough?

    Yes, yes you can. The result of this pizookie recipe is different and more cake-y than if you were to bake it in the oven and it doesn't get crispy but that's okay when it comes to pizookies.

    The result here was a quick, hot, gooey microwave chocolate chip cookie pizookie perfection!

    How to Make a Pizookie

    This pizookie recipe makes two fairly big cookies and is just enough not to make me want another, especially when topped with ice cream and hot fudge. It starts by mixing up the cookie dough in a small bowl just like regular cookies but since it's such a small amount, mixing it by hand is pretty easy.

    How to make a pizookie step by step

    I used some small ceramic saucers I had laying around, and they worked perfectly for "baking" the cookies in. Use what you have! Ramekins, small bowls, deep plates or even a mug would work.

    Chocolate chip cookie dough ready for the microwave

    Use your fingers to press the dough out into an even layer in your vessel of choice. At this point, I try to touch it as little as possible so that I actually end up with some dough to bake. Is anyone else a chronic food picker when cooking?

    My pizookie recipe recipe to go into the microwave

    When "baking" in the microwave it's important to keep a close eye on things, or they can get bad pretty fast.

    REALLY fast. Do you like the texture of erasers? No? Then watch carefully!

    The key to a good pizookie is that it's just sightly under-baked. Each microwave will cook differently as will different cooking dishes and depth of the cookie, so there will likely be some trial and error. Mine was perfectly cooked at about the 50-second mark.
    A baked pizookie just out of the microwave

    This Pizookie recipe won't be golden brown like it would be if baked in the oven, but it will be cooked-- promise! No one will notice anyway when a big scoop of vanilla ice cream starts melting over the top and you're digging in.

    Chocolate Chip Pizookie Recipe with ice cream and hot fudge

    📖 Recipe

    Microwave Chocolate Chip Pizookie {For Two} | heatherlikesfood.com
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    4.44 from 32 votes

    Microwave Chocolate Chip Pizookie {For Two}

    Today I'm sharing my shortcut microwave pizookie recipe for when you're having a mad pizookie craving, but don't want to turn the oven on! Come on, I know I'm not the only one. 
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time10 minutes mins
    Total Time20 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Easy Chicken Cacciatore, microwave dessert, quick
    Servings: 2 servings
    Calories: 480kcal
    Author: Heather Cheney

    Ingredients

    • 3 tablespoons butter softened
    • ¼ cup brown sugar
    • 1 egg yolk
    • ¼ teaspoon vanilla
    • 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
    • pinch of salt
    • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
    • ¼ cup chocolate chips

    Instructions

    • In a small bowl mix together butter and brown sugar, add egg yolk and vanilla and stir until well combined.
    • Stir in flour, salt, and baking powder, mixing until no dry spots remain. Fold in chocolate chips.
    • Divide the dough in half and press into 2 small dishes (saucers, ramekins, mugs, etc.).
    • Cook one at a time in the microwave for 30-60 seconds. Microwaves vary so check after 30 seconds to see where you're at and cook in 10-second intervals from there. It goes pretty quickly.
    • Top with vanilla ice cream and hot fudge if desired.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 480kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 146mg | Sodium: 178mg | Potassium: 111mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 40g | Vitamin A: 705IU | Calcium: 87mg | Iron: 1.8mg

    Better Than Costco Mac and Cheese

    By Heather LAST UPDATED November 5, 2019 · FIRST PUBLISHED October 10, 2017, 3 Comments

    Costco Mac and Cheese-- quick, easy and just as good (or better) than the deli version. You can go ahead and throw that membership card out. 🙂 Costco Mac and Cheese-- quick, easy and just as good (or better) than the deli version. You can go ahead and throw that membership card out. :) 

    Could this Costco Mac and Cheese recipe be the easiest, creamiest, most flavorful mac and cheese ever?  Maybe. I was planning on posting this recipe as a Costco Mac and Cheese copycat but once I made it again to take pictures I decided it was, in fact, BETTER than Costco's version and I'd be doing it a disservice by calling it a mere copycat.

    Pshh.

    Nobody wants to be called a copycat, after all.

    My favorite part about this recipe is how stinking easy it is. I'm a huge fan of slow-cooked roux-based cheese sauces that typically top most homemade mac and cheese recipes but I don't always have the time or patience for that! This "Better Than Costco Mac and Cheese" uses jarred alfredo sauce as the sauce base and it doesn't even need to heated up before baking! Just cook your pasta, pour on the sauce, stir in some cheese and bake to ooey, gooey perfection.

    [brid autoplay="true" video="484767" player="19763" title="Better Than Costco Mac and Cheese" duration="63" description="Better Than Costco Mac and Cheese Recipe" uploaddate="2019-10-30 15:19:50" thumbnailurl="https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/15101/thumb/484767_t_1572449098.png"]

    Pin This Recipe To Your Pasta Board!

    Costco Mac and Cheese-- quick, easy and just as good (or better) than the deli version. You can go ahead and throw that membership card out. :) 

    Pin This Recipe To Your Pasta Board!

    Tips for Costco Mac and Cheese:

    • Use a "Four Cheese" or other mild-tasting alfredo sauce. When testing this recipe I once used a "Garlic Alfredo" and while delicious, it was a bit too garlicky to pass off as Mac and Cheese, in my opinion.
    • Choosing Cheese-- After studying the Costco Mac and Cheese label, I settled on using sharp cheddar, Jarlsberg, and parmesan cheeses to try to recreate to the flavor. The ingredient list on Costco's actually lists Gruyere instead of Jarlsberg but both are in the Swiss Cheese family and Jarlsberg is typically a little bit cheaper and melts BEAUTIFULLY so I went with it and loved the results. But the bottom line is, use the cheese you have/love. 🙂
    • Choosing Pasta-- any pasta shape can be used for this recipe. I like the cavatapi because it has lots of surface area to grab hold of the cheese sauce, but if you have penne, use it! Have elbow? Use it!

    Want More Easy Pasta Recipes?

    • Cheesy Broccoli Pasta
    • Frozen Ravioli Lasagna in One Pan!
    • One Pan Cheeseburger Macaroni
    • Pizza Tortellini Bake

    Tools Used for Costco Mac and Cheese:

    • Pyrex Easy Grab Pans: I love these pyrex pans because of the big handles. It makes them so much easier to pull out of a hot oven and also easier to wrap with foil or plastic wrap.
    • Cheese Box Grater: Grating cheese is usually a task I pass off to my kids because I hate it, but this grater makes it as enjoyable as it can be. 🙂 I love the four sides and that they include a slicing blade.

    📖 Recipe

    Creamy, cheesy, and super easy, this mac and cheese recipe will make your Costco Mac and Cheese loving heart happy. I have a feeling you won't need your Costco card after trying this.
    Print Recipe
    4.50 from 28 votes

    Better Than Costco Mac and Cheese

     Costco Mac and Cheese-- quick, easy and just as good (or better) than the deli version. You can go ahead and throw that membership card out. 🙂 
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time30 minutes mins
    Total Time40 minutes mins
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: easy, jarred alfredo sauce, quick
    Servings: 6 Servings
    Calories: 520kcal
    Author: Heather Cheney

    Ingredients

    • 8 ounces Cavatapi Pasta
    • 15 ounces Jarred Prepared Alfredo Sauce
    • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
    • 8 ounces Sharp Cheddar shredded and divided
    • 4 ounces Jarlsberg Cheese shredded
    • ½ cup parmesan cheese shredded

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
    • Cook pasta according to package directions to "Al Dente" doneness. Drain and place in a large bowl.
    • Pour alfredo sauce and dijon mustard over the cooked pasta and stir. Add in ¾ of the sharp cheddar and all of the Jarlsberg and parmesan cheese. Stir until well combined.
    • Spray an 8"x 8" baking pan with non-stick cooking spray and spoon pasta into the dish. 
    • Sprinkle remaining sharp cheddar over the pasta. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbly. 
    •  

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 520kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Cholesterol: 105mg | Sodium: 977mg | Potassium: 129mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 580IU | Calcium: 514mg | Iron: 0.8mg

    The Only Basic Quiche Recipe You'll Ever Need

    By Heather LAST UPDATED March 11, 2021 · FIRST PUBLISHED June 19, 2017, 2 Comments

    This is the best basic quiche recipe there is, and it can be totally tailored to your taste by switching out the mix-ins. BUT, it's the egg custard that is the shining star here-- creamy, dreamy, and delicious!  A piece of the best basic quiche recipe on a white plate

    If you're a fan of quiche, you're going to want to keep reading. This recipe is an amazing basic quiche recipe that is nothing short of phenomenal and you can stir in any of your favorite toppings to make it your own. But first, I need to give you a little background.

    This is a sponsored conversation on behalf of California Olive Committee, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

    A few weeks ago I had the chance to travel to the gorgeous Napa Valley and meet up with the people of California Ripe Olives. We ate more olives than I care to admit and had a fabulous time learning about California Ripe Olives from the olive growers themselves!

    Like, did you know that olives straight off the tree are far too bitter to eat?

     

    This is the quiche recipe of all quiche recipes and can be tailored to your taste by switching out the mix-ins. BUT, it's the egg custard that is the shining star here-- creamy, dreamy, and delcious!

    Olives in a bowl

    Or that the "ripening" method used for California olives today was invented by a housewife in late 1800 named Freda Ehmann? It is a seven-day process that starts by putting the olives into a curing solution to filter the natural bitterness out. The olives then go through a series of cold-water rinses, which remove every trace of curing solution.

    Ever wonder why black olives are that gorgeous black color? Throughout the multi-day curing process, pure air is constantly bubbled through the olives, and it causes them to oxidize! It's fascinating!

    We spent our weekend at The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Napa, and it totally made me itch to go back to cooking school. The new wave of students were preparing for their first day while we were there and it brought back so many fun memories of my time at cooking school. I've helped the hubs through almost ten years of school; maybe I can coerce him into moving to Napa once he's done? Ha!

    Culinary institute of america, napa sign

    The building the school is housed is gorgeous and is a converted wine cellar from the late 1800's.

    CIA Napa building

    Not a bad view, eh?

    roling napa hills and vineyard

    We spent our time learning about olives but also got to cook with them in one of the CIA kitchens. We were put into teams, and here I am with my teammates, Leigh Anne from Your Home Based Mom and Kellie from The Suburban Soapbox. Our other teammate, Karista from Karista's Kitchen, was behind the camera and they are basically some of the sweetest, best bloggers there are.

    Cooking at CIA with bloggers

    Our challenge was to come up with a dish that included olives-- which wasn't very hard to do since they go with everything. We came up with a pan-seared pork tenderloin over goat cheese polenta, served with a green olive and kumquat relish and roasted asparagus garnished with toasted pine nuts. It's kind of hard to see the pork in the photo below, but  IT. WAS. SO. GOOD.

    Polenta topped with olives and asparagus

    Once I was home, I broke open a can of California Ripe Green Olives and got to cooking, because there's never enough olives, in my opinion, and I made a quiche. Not just any quiche, though. It was the be all, end all of quiches. I'm not joking-- the way that this recipe came into existence is pretty amazing.

    California Ripe Olives Can

    The Story of the Best Quiche Recipe

    So, I flew to California a day early to spend some time with a friend in San Fransisco and decided to eat all the San Fran food we could in our 26.5 hours together. I'm planning on putting together a post on all the food we ate soon, so stay tuned! But, BUT, one of our favorite things we ate was the quiche at b. Patisserie. It was creamy and rich, and alllmoosst had the consistency of a creme brulee. It was unlike any other quiche I had ever tried, and I LOVED it.

    Basic Quiche Recipe in pie pan with a bowl of olives

    Pin This Recipe For Later

    Fast forward a few days later, I'm sitting on the plane with my new friend Karista and in some totally random round-out about way while talking Culinary School; she starts telling me about how one of her instructors at school taught her to make a quiche. She continued about how amazing it was, and it sounded just like the one I had eaten from b. Patisserie! Mind blown.

    Here's the trick to this basic quiche recipe

    In a typical quiche recipe, I would usually add six maybe even up to 8 eggs to make the custard-- it's an "egg pie," after all. But the quiche Karista makes, and I now have a hunch that b. Patisserie does as well, uses a ratio of ½ C heavy cream to 1 egg for their egg mixture. It seems like a lot of cream per egg, but it's what makes all the difference!

    The egg mixture is so creamy and light, but still firm. It's not slimy and doesn't taste undercooked at all. It's just creamy, dreamy perfection.

    Best basic quiche recipe slice on white plate

    Making the best quiche recipe your own

    The beauty of this basic quiche recipe is that the egg custard is definitely the shining star, but you can add whatever you'd like to it, in the right amount. The trick is not to overload it with mix-ins-- you only want about 1 to 1 ½ cups total of other ingredients, or you'll have a hard time with it keeping it's shape since the egg is so soft.

    I opted for chopped California Ripe Green Olives, along with caramelized onions, diced ham, and a little bit of sharp white cheddar. The olives added just the right amount of salt, and bite paired with the ham, onions, and cheese.

    Best basic quiche recipe

    Pin This Recipe For Later

    I truly enjoyed my time in Napa with the California Olive Committee, and if you've never gotten your hands on a can of them, they are amazing. You'll know it's theirs by finding the“Product of the U.S.A.” on the back of the can! You can also keep up to date with them on their Facebook page-- Facebook.com/CaliforniaRipeOlives.

    Want more olive recipes?

    • Baked Feta with Olives and Tomatoes
    • Hawaiian Roll Pizza Sliders
    • Easy Beef Enchilada Skillet

    📖 Recipe

    This is the quiche recipe of all quiche recipes and can be taylored to your taste by switching out the mix-ins. BUT, it's the egg custard that is the shining star here-- creamy, dreamy, and delcious!
    Print Recipe
    4.58 from 14 votes

    The Best Basic Quiche Recipe

     Just like the name states, you'll never need another quiche recipe again! This creates a creamy and rich egg custard and you can switch up the mix-ins however you like. 
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time1 hour hr
    Cooling Time15 minutes mins
    Total Time1 hour hr 25 minutes mins
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: French
    Keyword: best quiche, cream filling, homemade crust
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 219kcal
    Author: Heather Cheney

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ cup heavy cream
    • 3 large eggs
    • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ¼ cup California Ripe Green Olives chopped
    • ¼ cup sharp white cheddar grated
    • ¼ cup diced ham
    • ¼ cup caramelized onions *see notes*

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    • Combine eggs, cream, salt and pepper in a medium-sized bowl and whisk until well combined. 
    • Layer olives, cheese, ham, and onions into the pie crust and pour egg mixture over the top. 
    • Place pie pan on a baking sheet and bake for 60 minutes or until the center of the quiche is just set-- it will jiggle like jello right in the center and when you insert a knife into the center it will come out with just moisture on the blade. 
    • Remove from oven and allow to cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing. 
    •  

    Notes

    To customize this quiche recipe, you can mix and match your mix-ins! You can use up to 1 ½ cups of ingredients and get good results. For the recipe above I knew I wanted to use 4 ingredients, so I just split them up into ¼ cup quantities to make 1 cup total. 
    It's best to cook vegetables that have a high water content (onions, peppers, greens, mushrooms, etc.) before adding to the quiche. Not only does it keep the quiche from getting soggy, it gives great flavor! That's why I use caramelized onions in the above recipe instead of just plain onions. 
    Some of my favorite mix ins:
    • Browned Breakfast sausage
    • Crumbled Bacon
    • Roasted Red Peppers
    • Fresh, diced tomatoes
    • Steamed Broccoli (finely chopped)
    • Any kind of cheese
    • Sauteed Kale, spinach or Mushrooms 
    • Potatoes, diced and cooked

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 219kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 132mg | Sodium: 271mg | Potassium: 70mg | Vitamin A: 835IU | Vitamin C: 0.7mg | Calcium: 94mg | Iron: 0.4mg

     

     

     

     

    Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas

    By Heather LAST UPDATED July 17, 2019 · FIRST PUBLISHED January 20, 2017, 8 Comments

    These Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas are saucy, creamy, and the perfect way to use up that left-over shredded chicken! My recipe uses no cream soups and is just about as easy to make!  Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas on a blue plate

    Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas

    I'm sure most everybody has tried some variation of this recipe at least once, but I'm not sure that the ones you tried were as good as these! I grew up eating my Mom's version which I LOVE, but her recipe, like many, uses cream of chicken soup as a base for the sauce.

    Now I'm not proclaiming to be the picture-child of healthy eating, but sometimes I prefer to not have all my food come out of a can, just sayin'. Soo this is a revved-up version of a classic recipe that probably was found on the back of a Campbell's can at some point in history.

    Want to make green chile sour cream chicken enchiladas but don't want to go through the work of rolling up tortillas? I've got you. Try this Sour Cream Chicken Enchilada Skillet-- all the flavor without all the work! Or try this Easy Beef Enchilada Skillet or this Chicken Black Bean Enchilada Skillet-- same concept, different flavors.

    How to Make Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas with Corn Tortillas

    Don't let the fact that the sauce is made from real ingredients scare you! Real food=Scary? Hmmm. Shouldn't it be the other way around?

    Anyway, it's simple and you can do it!  You're basically making your own cream of chicken soup.

    1. You'll start with a basic roux (Roux is fancy speak for equal parts fat and flour) and let it cook for a minute and then stir in some chicken broth.
    2. That's it, well kind of. You'll have to read the recipe to find out the rest!

    How to Cook Shredded Chicken for the Enchiladas

    The recipe calls for  2 cups cooked, shredded chicken breast. I always roast my chicken breasts in the oven when I need cooked chicken for a recipe as opposed to boiling, microwaving (don't eveeeeeeer do this-please?), or pan frying.

    Why? Because it's easy, almost mess-free ( I loathe cleaning boiled chicken pans) and makes the chicken moist and flavorful. Always season your chicken with salt and pepper before you put it into a recipe, it makes all the difference!

    Just preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and place boneless, skinless chicken breasts on a rimmed baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper, drizzle with olive oil and bake for 25-30 minutes or until cooked through. Chicken breast is done when an instant-read thermometer reads 165 degrees.

    Tips for Making the BEST Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas

    • Season your chicken! There's nothing worse than biting into a saucy bite of enchilada to have the fillig be totally tasteless! Avert this possibility by seasoning your chicken well with salt and pepper before shredding and rolling into enchiladas.
    • Add more spice (if you like it spicy)-- as written, the recipe makes a very mild, creamy sauce. If you like your sour cream chicken enchiladas to have a little more pizzazz season accordingly with more chipotle chile powder, the addition of spicier green chiles or even the use of canned diced jalapenos.
    • Warm those tortillas! Corn tortillas don't like to bend without breaking unless they are very warm. I like to warm my tortillas in the microwave, wrapped in a dish towel. It usually takes about 60 seconds for a stack of 12 tortillas to get warm. I then leave them in the towel, taking one tortilla out at a time to keep them warm.
    Green Chile Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas in glass casserole dish

    📖 Recipe

    Southwestern Potato and Corn Chowder | heatherlikesfood.com
    Print Recipe
    4.72 from 7 votes

    Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas

    These Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas are saucy, creamy, and the perfect way to use up that left-over shredded chicken! My recipe uses no cream soups and is just about as easy to make!  
    Prep Time25 minutes mins
    Cook Time25 minutes mins
    Total Time50 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Keyword: Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
    Servings: 12 enchiladas
    Calories: 228kcal
    Author: Heather Cheney

    Ingredients

    • 12 corn tortillas
    • 2 cups chicken breast cooked and shredded
    • 2 cups Monterrey jack cheese grated
    • 3 tablespoons flour
    • 3 tablespoons butter
    • 2 cups chicken broth
    • 1 cup sour cream
    • 4 ounces canned diced green chiles
    • ⅛ teaspoon Chipotle Chili Powder -optional NOT the same as regular chili powder Adding this gives the sauce a little kick and a bit of smoky flavor
    • ½ teaspoon dried oregano

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit
    • Combine the shredded chicken and 1 cup of Monterrey jack cheese in a small mixing bowl.
    • In a medium saucepan melt butter over medium heat and add flour. Stir to combine and let cook, stirring for 1 minute. Add in broth and whisk until it comes to a boil, is smooth and thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in sour cream, green chiles, chipotle chili powder and oregano.
    • In a 9×13" pan, spread about ½-¾ of a cup of the sauce across the bottom of the pan. 
    • Warm the corn tortillas in the microwave until they are pliable and don’t crack when rolled. 
    • Working one at a time, put a portion of the chicken and cheese mixture into the center of the tortilla and roll. Place in the pan and repeat until all the chicken and tortillas are gone. 
    • Pour the remainder of the sauce over the top of the enchiladas making sure that all edges are covered.
    •  Top with the remaining 1 cup of cheese and bake for 25 minutes or until the sauce is bubbly and then under the broiler for 1-3 minutes to brown the cheese and make it look delicious!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1enchilada | Calories: 228kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 362mg | Potassium: 225mg | Fiber: 1g | Vitamin A: 370IU | Vitamin C: 6.4mg | Calcium: 192mg | Iron: 0.9mg

    The Best 11 Things I Ate On My Carnival Cruise

    By Heather LAST UPDATED March 22, 2021 · FIRST PUBLISHED October 18, 2016, 2 Comments

    Here are the top 11 best things that I ate on my Carnival Cruise. You don't want to miss these on your next cruise!!and this at the end

    Going on a Carnival Cruise? Today I'm dishing on the top 11 things I ate on my carnival cruise this summer. I really shouldn't be writing this while hungry....

    Here are the top 11 best things that I ate on my Carnival Cruise. You don't want to miss these on your next cruise!!

    My sweet hubby gladly played the part of my "light bounce" all week on the ship while I took photos of the food we ate.  We'll just say that ship lighting isn't exactly ideal --especially at dinner time-- so keep that in mind as you scroll through the pictures. 

    It's been a few months, but I wanted to jump on and share with you some of the incredible things we ate while on our Carnival Cruise this last summer. We had such a blast on our cruise and we can't wait to sail again. I'm especially feeling like I want to run away and live life as an ocean drifter as I look through these pictures with the rain pounding outside my house.

    Take me away!

    If you've never been on a cruise you should know that there's A LOT of food. At any given time during the day or night you can just sit down for a meal, whether you're hungry or not. It's crazy, it's fun, and I kind of wanted to be rolled down the ramp alla Violet Beauregarde once we docked.

    Here are the top 11 best things that I ate on my Carnival Cruise. You don't want to miss these on your next cruise!!

    Nevertheless, it was worth it.

    So here, in no particular order, are my top picks from our Carnival Cruise.

    1. Cereal Crusted French Toast

    This is served in the dining room during breakfast and brunch and is so fun. I opted for the Frosted Flake version with Fruit Loops being an alternate option.

    Here are the top 11 best things that I ate on my Carnival Cruise. You don't want to miss these on your next cruise!!

    2. Chocolate Melting Cake

    It's like ooey-gooey molten crack. It's chocolatey and rich and served EVERY. SINGLE. NIGHT. at dinner. GET IT.

    Here are the top 11 best things that I ate on my Carnival Cruise. You don't want to miss these on your next cruise!!

    3. Popovers

    These scrumptious viddles about banished everything else I wanted to eat for Sunday Brunch from my belly because I couldn't stop eating them. Do you see how flaky, light and buttery these are?!

    Here are the top 11 best things that I ate on my Carnival Cruise. You don't want to miss these on your next cruise!!

    4. Fried Shrimp

    Admittedly, I'm not a huge shrimp person. *shocker* But, this shrimp was worth eating. Every crunchy, tender, juicy, flavorful bite.

    Here are the top 11 best things that I ate on my Carnival Cruise. You don't want to miss these on your next cruise!!

    5. Spinach and Sausage Pastries

    These were one of my absolute favorite finds on the ship. They were only served twice on the breakfast line in the casual dining hall and were kind of tucked behind some of the more "traditional" breakfast food. But, if you can find them you won't be sorry. They have the best spinach and sausage stuffing and the pastry it's wrapped up in is so flaky and buttery.

    Here are the top 11 best things that I ate on my Carnival Cruise. You don't want to miss these on your next cruise!!

    6. Strawberry Bisque

    This strawberry bisque is served at dinner as an appetizer but I could have had a bowl or 3 for dessert and been completely happy. It's a creamy and cool "soup" with hints of lime and mint, topped with finely diced strawberries.

    Here are the top 11 best things that I ate on my Carnival Cruise. You don't want to miss these on your next cruise!!

    7. Guys Burger Joint

    You can basically order anything from the burger bar and be happy. The burger below has a patty of bacon, yes BACON, nestled on top of the beef. I can't complain about a burger that gives me a bite of crispy bacon with EVERY bite. Can you?

    Here are the top 11 best things that I ate on my Carnival Cruise. You don't want to miss these on your next cruise!!

    8. Loaded French Fries

    This is technically not on the ship's "menu" but you can put it together at Guy's Burger Joint really easily. Once you get your burger, order some fries and ask really nicely if you can have some onion rings. The main dining hall serves regular onion rings, but Guy's has special spicy amazing ones that are supposed to go on the burgers. If the counter workers are feeling generous they might give you couple-- I only got resistance one time. Once you have your fries and onion rings take them over to the burger topping bar and load them up with peppers, caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, and sauces. You can even skip over to the taco topping bars and use the shredded cheeses and salsas there.  Best. Thing. Ever.

    Here are the top 11 best things that I ate on my Carnival Cruise. You don't want to miss these on your next cruise!!

    9. Beet Carpaccio Salad

    This beet salad blew me away. I'm already a huge fan of beets as it is, but this salad was spectacular. Thinly sliced beets, grapefruit, radish, arugula, blue cheese, capers, horseradish, shaved bread slices and a tangy aioli dressing. Not sure if it's something that will stay on the dinner menu long- term, but worth looking for!

    Here are the top 11 best things that I ate on my Carnival Cruise. You don't want to miss these on your next cruise!!

    10. Warm Apricot Date Cake with Vanilla Sauce

    The picture doesn't do this cake any justice whatsoever. It is a warm, lightly spiced cake with bits of apricot and date and when you pour the warm vanilla sauce over the top, it. is. to. die. for.

    Here are the top 11 best things that I ate on my Carnival Cruise. You don't want to miss these on your next cruise!!

    11. Pizza Pirate

    I really hate finishing this round up of delicious food with a picture of my foot, but I didn't get any other pictures of the pizza! I'm a pizza girl for life and there was just something about the pizza from Pizza Pirate that I loved. It could have been that it allowed me to wallow in my misery while I nursed my foot. But it's more likely that it's just good pizza.

    Carnival Inspiration Cruise

    Carnival hosted my husband and I on this cruise in exchange for this honest post. All thoughts and comments are my own! 

    Read more about our trip here...

    Why Getting Hurt On My Carnival Cruise Was The Best Thing Ever

    Carnival Inspiration Cruise

    What To Do In Ensenada Mexico

    What To Do In Ensenada Mexico

     

    Why Getting Hurt on My First Carnival Cruise Was the Best Thing Ever

    By Heather LAST UPDATED July 17, 2019 · FIRST PUBLISHED August 10, 2016, Leave a Comment

    Why Getting Hurt On my Cruise Was the Best Thing Ever

    Carnival Inspiration Cruise

    Convo with the hubs:

    Hey, my mom said she'd watch the kids for us so we can go on vacation. Where do you want to go?

    Um, doesn't matter. No kids is enough of a vacation.

    Ooookay. Well, I'm going somewhere. You should come with me.

    Let's see where we can fly for the cheapest, book a flight and figure it out.

    And that's what we did! Where that single conversation landed us was so perfect and definitely just what we needed. Even if there were times that I didn't agree.

    We've been married for 12 years and it's been a VERY long time since we left the kids for more than a date night, so to say we were excited to get away for four nights is a slight understatement. We adore our kids, but if you're a parent I know you get it.

    Carnival Inspiration Cruise
    Our first night just before heading into the hot tub.

    We ended up taking a Carnival Cruise out of Long Beach California aboard the Carnival Inspiration.

    Carnival Inspiration Cruise

    We had never been on a cruise before and didn't know at all what to expect, except that we were free to play and dance and sit in the hot tub and eat pizza whenever we wanted.We knew if that's all the cruise was, we would be happy campers. Yes, we're seriously easy to please.

    Carnival Inspiration Cruise

    At the first night's show we volunteered to jump on stage and play a game. It turned out that we were "crowned" VIPs and had reserved front row seats to every show and got a back stage tour. Our plastic trophy will forever sit atop our mantle as a reminder. Ha! Nope.

    Carnival Inspiration Cruise
    Breakfast on the deck meant staring wars with the seagulls. They were ruthless.
    Carnival Inspiration Cruise
    This was basically me the whole trip and Ammon felt the need to document. Because, food blogger.

    Our first port of call was Catalina Island. We had planned on just wandering around and playing on the beach while there and didn't book anything beforehand. It's such a cute and colorful place.

    Carnival Inspiration Cruise

    Carnival Inspiration Cruise

    "Pier" Pressure

    Once were on the island and saw all the parasailing boats on the water we caved and booked ourselves a spot on a boat. We still had a few hours to kill though, and what do you do when you've basically had non-stop food in front of your face for the last 16 hours while on the boat? Eat more of it!

    Duh.

    Also, this is not the kind of "Eating It" I referenced in my post title. Keep reading!

    I'm going to be doing a full post on all our food favorites from the ship here soon, so stay tuned. 🙂

    Carnival Inspiration Cruise
    Incredible Chocolate, Coconut and Pistachio Ice Cream from Scoops Homemade Ice Cream. It was so creamy and full of flavor. The best part though, was definitely the waffle bowl.

    Carnival Inspiration Cruise

    This guy was a definitely highlight from the island. His name is Django and if he needed a new home I would have scooped him up and taken him in a heartbeat even if it meant smuggling him into my stateroom. He belongs to the owner of Island Toy Shop  and is quite the rock star on their Facebook Page. Such a sweetie.

    Carnival Inspiration Cruise

    We headed back to the pier, jumped on a boat for parasailing, and It. Was. So. Fun.

    Carnival Inspiration Cruise

    It was totally different than we thought it would be, though. It was smooth and much calmer than we had imagined. Regardless of how scared I look in the next picture.

    Carnival Inspiration Cruise

    Carnival Inspiration Cruise

    Carnival Inspiration Cruise

    They only get you wet if you want to so we asked for our toes to be dipped. It wasn't an exact science though. 😉 So fun.

    Carnival Inspiration Cruise

    Eating It

    After parasailing we had some time to spare before heading back on the boat so we thought we'd go swimming. I headed into the restroom to get changed and Ammon went straight to the beach and jumped in.

    Little did he know I would soon be coming down the stairs to the beach, take my last step onto the sand, roll my ankle and royally wipe out for all to witness.

    Carnival Inspiration Cruise

    I sat there on the rocky sand waiting for someone around me to at least say something to me, or even offer to help me up, but it was crickets.

    It's possible that my super white thunder thighs acted as a sort of kindness repellent, but I don't think so.

    I had successfully split my big toe and scraped the entire length of my shin on my left leg. My right ankle immediately swelled up with a giant knot looking sort of thing on the top of my foot and I suddenly got flashbacks of being 9 months pregnant.

    Convinced I had broken it, I quickly looked for Ammon in the water and eventually got his attention to come rescue me.

    Getting me back to the boat was more of an adventure for Ammon than it was for me, I'm sure. I just kind of sat there in shock knowing my vacation was ruined and I'd be confined to a chair on the boat while he was snorkeling and dancing and eating dinner with Hugh Jackman and Amy Poehler.

    I couldn't walk back to the tender boat so he found a wheel chair rental, got me to the boat, ran the rental back, and somehow made it on the boat before it took off for the cruise ship.

    Carnival Inspiration Cruise
    The pizza on this ship was crazy delicious

    Ammon spent that evening wheeling me around, watching me hobble, being my ice pack re-filler, bandaging up my cuts, listening to me complain, helping me in and out of the hot tub (because I was sure it was therapy for my ankle), and making me feel beautiful during fancy dinner that night even though I felt 3 times my age. Turns out when you're married to someone for 12 years they kind of like you no matter what.

    All was not lost for the fun I'd have on the cruise and I'll share day 3 and 4 here soon. But I think we (maybe just I) needed this experience whether I wanted it or not.

    Ammon is in grad school right now and is really busy. I'm really busy with the kids and work. We don't often have opportunities to really rely 100% on one another in our day to day lives.

    I didn't need this because I needed to lose all faith in humanity as I sat bleeding (barely) on the beach with no concern from others. But, because I had to rely fully on Ammon to help me. To remind me that he's my person. And I'll be forever grateful for that.

    Hugh and Amy ended up calling but Ammon declined their invitation to make eyes at me from across the hot tub.  He also didn't say a word when I requested a stop at the pizza place on the way to our stateroom.

    True Love.

    Carnival graciously hosted us aboard the Inspiration in exchange for my honest experiences here on the blog. All thoughts and opinions here are my own! 

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    Headshot of Heather in an apron

    Hi, I'm Heather! Want to become a rockstar cook? I’m a former chef, caterer, and culinary arts school graduate that just wants to help you make some killer food! I truly believe that with a little know-how anyone can totally rock their kitchen. Stick around for ultimate recipes of your favorite foods, cooking tips, guides, and more!

    More about me →

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    Headshot of Heather in an apron

    Hi, I'm Heather! Want to become a rockstar cook? I’m a former chef, caterer, and culinary arts school graduate that just wants to help you make some killer food! I truly believe that with a little know-how anyone can totally rock their kitchen. Stick around for ultimate recipes of your favorite foods, cooking tips, guides, and more!

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • BBQ chicken cut on a cutting board with a bottle of bbq sauce
      The Best Super Moist Oven Baked BBQ Chicken
    • One Pan Sour Cream Chicken Enchilada Skillet
      One Pan Sour Cream Chicken Enchilada Skillet
    • Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken-- so flavorful you'll forget how easy it is to make! Filled with flavors of ginger, garlic and just a touch of red pepper.
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    • Sloppy Joe on a paper bag
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    • Coffee Cake In A Mug-- the perfect remedy for a sugar craving when you don't want to spend a lot of time or heat up the oven. #coffee #cake #microwave #mug
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    Cooking Method

    • Slow Cooker
    • Grilling

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