Loaded Chicken "NOTchos"

 

I've noticed that over the past few years that more and more friends have redefined their diets in an attempt to live healthier lives. While that's a big "yay!" it can make it interesting to entertain and feed everyone things that fit into their food lifestyle. Vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy intolerant, Paleo, Whole 30 or just "health conscious"... there's always something to consider when preparing dishes for friends.

It can be tricky when your goal is to serve something that the masses will enjoy all while "keeping it clean." Luckily, I'm always up for the challenge!

Many of you will be throwing or attending Super Bowl parties this weekend and you may be finalizing your menus and grocery lists and finding yourself in the same food-prep predicament. Before you write "tortilla chips" on that little piece of paper, consider this: Chip-less nachos.

Or, as I like to call them, "NOTchos." Because they're NOT what you're used to. They're better {for you}!

Who doesn't love a platter piled high with crispy tortilla chips, gooey cheese and all those hearty toppings while they're watching some football? {My husband, that's who. Not a fan of nachos. But we already knew he was weird -- the man hates chocolate.}

The problem is, when you serve up a mountain of naughty nachos to friends who are trying to keep things healthy, not only will you get the stink-eye, but you'll also end up eating most of them on your own. Not good.

These "not-chos" are the perfect solution! A game day favorite, healthied up by using crisp, fresh peppers as the vehicle for all the stuff you want to shove in your face. So smart, right?!

Topped with shredded chicken, black beans and all kinds of good stuff, you won't even think about the fact that you're not eating traditional nachos. I swapped out the sour cream for thick, Greek yogurt and used just a tiny sprinkle of cheese for decadence. The black olives and pickled jalapenos give these a briny zing to keep it interesting.

These are totally customizable and can be made to fit in to any specific diet preference. Leave out the yogurt and cheese for non-dairy eaters. Sub out the chicken for shredded lettuce or chunky salsa for veg-heads. The rest is totally up to you! There's no wrong way to pile on the goodness.

Your game day will be guiltless, and your friends? They may never leave. Serve with caution. ;)

Loaded Chicken "NOTchos"

This recipe is more of a suggestion as you can top these with whatever you'd like! Each pepper makes 8 "NOTchos", so plan accordingly & adjust the topping amounts to suit your serving size.

2-3 red peppers, sliced in half, seeded and diced
Shredded chicken
Black beans
Mexican shredded cheese blend
Plain Greek yogurt
Pickled jalapenos
Sliced black olives

1. Cut red pepper halves in quarters to form 8 little pepper cups. Place on a foil-lined baking pan.

2. Top pepper pieces with a mound of shredded chicken and a scoop of black beans. Sprinkle with cheese.

3. Place in the oven under the broiler for 2-3 minutes or until the cheese is melted. {Keep an eye on them, I tend to forget when things are under the broiler!}

4. Remove from oven and top with a dollop of Greek yogurt, pickled jalapenos and black olives.

Enjoy without guilt!

Buffalo Chicken Phyllo Bites

Did you ever make those paper "footballs" as a kid? You know, the type that you fold up from a long strip of paper until you get a compact little triangle you can flick through the "goal post"? {a.k.a. Your friend's fingers held up like two "L"s facing each other. It's a wonder we never put an eye out.}

That's exactly how these tasty little triangles are assembled, except the paper is replaced with phyllo dough and the "goal" is your mouth. :)

Click for a closer look at assembly!

When I was thinking of football-watching snacks for the Super Bowl, the idea for these convenient bites came to mind as quickly as I lose interest in watching the game. {What? I'm just telling it how it is.} I'm not ashamed to say that Super Bowl is one of those occasions that only interests me because of the company and the food. Sorry, sports fans.

One food that seems to get a lot of playing time during game days is chicken wings. But let's be real here: They are a host's nightmare. All that bright orange sauce. The drips, the dribbles. The bowls of bones left over after they've been eaten. {Fact: Farley dove head-first into the bone bowl last year when we were having friends over for wings. Someone swore they saw him swallow an entire bone whole, but it was never to be seen again...}

Since I'm always trying to find ways to keep things clean and organized, I thought, "What if I serve up the taste of wings without the mess?"

Enter: Buffalo Chicken Phyllo Bites. A {slightly OCD} hostess' dream. 

Shredded chicken, wing sauce and all the finger-lickin' accouterments {blue cheese & celery} are all combined and tucked into a tidy little phyllo package. They're flaky, spicy, fun and there's no need to worry about hungry puppies going after the remnants... because there won't be any!

You may be tempted to bust out one of those cans of crescent rolls for ease of preparation... but can I just be completely honest and tell you that I'm not a huge fan? First of all, who doesn't have an anxiety attack popping one of those things open? It's like a Jack-in-the-box gone awry. Second, there's just something about the light-as-air layers of the phyllo that can't be imitated. It's a tiny bit of extra work, but it's worth it.

So, as you sit there watching your game with stain-free couches and clean fingers... you can thank me. ;)

What's your favorite Super Bowl snack??

Buffalo Chicken Triangles
Makes about 18

30 sheets of phyllo dough {I use Pepperidge Farm, found in the freezer section near puff pastry, etc.}
2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons celery, finely chopped
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons of your favorite buffalo wing sauce {I like Footy's Wing Sauce}
1/2 cup blue cheese or {or less for a less cheesy taste}

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare a baking pan by lining with foil or parchment.

2. In a medium bowl, combine chicken, celery, wing sauce and blue cheese. Mix well.

3. Place one sheet of phyllo dough on a clean surface. Spray the sheet with olive oil spray or brush with melted butter. Top with another sheet of phyllo. Repeat with 4 more sheets.

4. Using a pizza cutter or a sharp knife, cut the layered sheets long ways into equal thirds to make three  long strips. Place a heaping tablespoon of chicken filling on the bottom of each strip.

5. Beginning with one piece, fold the right hand corner to the left edge, forming a triangular shape. Carefully fold that piece upward. Finally, fold from left to the right hand edge, and then upward again. Continue this pattern until the entire filling is securely rolled up into a triangle. {This is the same process as folding paper into a "football" when you were a kid.} There should be no open edges on the triangle and the filling should be tucked inside the phyllo triangle.

6. Place each triangle on prepared baking pan. Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden brown.

Note: Let them cool a bit before taking a bite... they are molten in the middle! Take it from me and the scalded roof of my mouth. :P