Chicken, bacon, and ranch flavors fill these pull-apart dough balls. Continue reading
Chicken, bacon, and ranch flavors fill these pull-apart dough balls. Continue reading
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!
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.
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.

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.