Loaded Italian Fries

Think disco fries…but give it Italian vibes! They look like an app but eat like a meal! I added chicken, mozzarella, pesto, tomatoes, and balsamic glaze on seasoned fries.

Loaded Italian Fries
Ingredients: (serves ~2-3 as an app or 1 as a meal)
1 1/2 cups frozen fries
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning + salt + chili flakes
2 teaspoons pesto
2/3 cup roasted chicken
2/3 cup mozzarella
2 small tomatoes
balsamic glaze to drizzle

Directions:
Air-fry or bake the fries according to the package.
While the fries crisp, chop the tomatoes, shred the chicken, and mix up the seasoning.
Right when the fries come out, toss in the dried seasoning.
Layer some of the fries, cheese, chicken, pesto, and tomatoes then broil for a minute to melt.

Then top with remaining and melt again!
Out of the oven, drizzle with balsamic.
Enjoy!

This was so good. It’s a perfect way to use some small amounts and end up with a satisfying meal that feels festive. Melting the base layer is critical to having consistency throughout…like nachos, you don’t want only the first few to have stuff on them!

Chicken Parmesan Dip

This dip was hot, cheesy, with juicy chicken in a fun format. We ate it as dinner with some caesar salad and bread dippers.

Chicken Parm Dip
Ingredients (serves 4-6)

~1 1/2 cups breaded chicken (or ~4 tenders)
1 1/4 cup tomato sauce
2/3 cup whipped cream cheese
~1 cup shredded mozzarella
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Directions:
Cook the chicken according to the package – mine went in the air fryer for 15 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350-degrees and spray a baking dish with non-stick spray.
Mix 1 cup of the tomato sauce with the cream cheese and stir well. Spread onto the bottom of the baking dish. Chop the chicken and place that on top.

Add remaining plain tomato sauce, then sprinkle with mozzarella.

Bake for 15 minutes. Top with parmesan and Italian Seasoning and broil for another 5 minutes.
Serve with bread to dip/scoop.
Enjoy!

This was a win: 1 kid liked it and ate it as dip – the 2nd ate but didn’t seem like they’d request it. I’ll take it. I loved the pink sauce layer and bites of chicken with the bread.

Nutella Dessert Cheeseball

This couldn’t be cuter for your Superbowl spread, right?! It’s sweet and easy to prep ahead of time too!

Nutella Dessert Cheeseball
Ingredients:
serves 6
1, 8oz package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup Nutella
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3 tablespoons chocolate sprinkles
either a tube of vanilla frosting, or slice of provolone/white cheese for laces

Directions:
Add cream cheese, nutella, powdered sugar, chocolate chips, and vanilla to a bowl.

Beat with a hand mixer until fully combined.
Spoon onto a piece of plastic wrap and ball up. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.

To serve, unwrap and form into an oval and either roll in sprinkles, or spoon sprinkles over the top.
Decorate with laces – mine was a long strip of provolone with cross strips.
Serve with graham crackers or vanilla wafer cookies, or pretzels.
Enjoy!


If this dessert/sweet-treat isn’t on your menu, I’ve also made a savory cheeseball coated in crumbled bacon, with BBQ sauce, and caramelized onions which is awesome too.

The Three Bite Rule - Football Cheeseball

Italian Layered Dip

This easy dip is all you need to know for the next gathering. I make a similar one with Mediterranean flavors and a hummus base. This time it gets an Italian flavors and no cooking required!

Italian Layered Dip
Ingredients:

1 pkg Boursin cheese
4 tablespoons pesto
2 teaspoons balsamic glaze
1-2 cups bruschetta mix
baguette (or crackers)

Directions:
Slice and toast the baguette.
On a large plate, spread the boursin onto the bottom of the plate.
Spoon on some drops of pesto and drizzle with balsamic glaze.

Spoon the bruschetta on top.
Serve with bread to dip.
Enjoy!

This is flavor packed and takes no advance prep! Make this and thank me later.

Nacho Average Nachos

These were such a fun way to vary taco night. We had different chips, different cheeses, and beans. I topped them with pickled onions and then we had salsa, guacamole, sour cream, and elote street corn.

Nacho Average Nachos
Ingredients: (for 4)

flavored tortilla chips (mine were some local ones at my grocery store El Nacho – Hot Honey, Mango, & Lime)
Refried black beans
1/4 cup white queso dip
1/2 cup shredded cheddar
1/2 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
pickled onions
salsa

Directions:
Warm the black beans and add a splash of water to make it spoonable.
Preheat the oven to 400-degrees.
Spread a layer of chips and top with shredded cheeses, queso, spoonfuls of beans.

Put into the oven for just 2-3 minutes to melt.
Remove from the oven, and build another layer. Add it back to the oven to melt and crisp.
Repeat for another layer and top with salsa and extra cheese.

Add pickled onions and any toppings you choose!
Enjoy!

These were really good. 3 out of 4 of us ate them. We had street corn, some tiny quesadillas, and more chips so there was something for everyone – always the goal. Later I thought about a spicy ranch drizzle which would be fun! I’d also for for chopped tomatoes.

These chips are amazing. They were a touch sweet but not spicy to us. Sometimes we get the tortilla chips made in house at the grocery store. The layers getting a quick chance to melt is the key to good nachos so there aren’t all naked chips at the bottom!