cheese

11.18.19

BBQ Chicken Pizza

Posted on by Lexi's Clean Kitchen , Views: 3631

Whip this BBQ Chicken Pizza up any night of the week. I guarantee it will be on your table faster than if you called for take-out. This BBQ Chicken Pizza recipe is a classic, using either store-bought or homemade ingredients. 

A whole bbq chicken pizzaEasy BBQ Chicken Pizza Recipe

Is there anything better than a classic BBQ Chicken Pizza hot out of the oven? Between the ridiculously easy gluten-free pizza crust, the homemade bbq sauce, bbq chicken and that cheddar and onion melty goodness? This recipe is going to be on repeat. While we (obviously) have recipes for each of the components to make up this BBQ Chicken Pizza, we also know that you can just as easily buy some of them store-bought for an easy weeknight dinner.

Here is what you need to make it:

Patting out gluten free pizza dough
Let’s Talk About the Best Gluten-Free Homemade Pizza Crust

If you haven’t tried my Gluten Free Pizza Crust before, you have been missing out. It has been made and loved by so many of you! I have to admit, it’s a favorite of mine too. This crust comes together quickly, in 1-bowl, and in under 10 minutes. No kneading, proofing or fussing is required! This pizza crust uses a blend of coconut flour, tapioca flour and ground flaxseed. It’s light and chewy and is a crowd pleaser. It’s easy to make ANY night of the week and perfect for any topping you’d like! We obviously recommend you use this crust because it’s so delicious and so simple! But it’s easy to use a store-bought one, if you need. Follow the packaging instructions for baking for that if you do use store-bought.

Spreading bbq sauce on pizza crust

How to Make Homemade BBQ Chicken Pizza

  1. Start with the crust! If using my homemade pizza dough you can make the crust and bake it immediately. But it must be baked up prior to putting on the pizza toppings.
  2. Next top the parbaked pizza with the toppings. We have suggested amounts, but go ahead and make the pizza to your liking. Just make sure not to overload it because too much toppings won’t bake up properly.
  3. Finally, bake it all off! If you want ultra crispy and melty cheese, stick it under your broiler.
  4. Garnish the pizza with an extra drizzle of bbq sauce and cilantro and serve immediately.

Cutting into easy barbecue chicken pizza

Easy Swaps

We love homemade as much as possible, so we went ahead and gave you recipes for the Gluten Free Pizza Crust, the BBQ Sauce and BBQ Chicken. However, if you are using this recipe as more of a guide, go ahead and grab whatever you need store-bought. There are a lot of cleaner alternatives out there for homemade products now, especially when it comes to pizza crust and bbq sauce. If you didn’t want to make the BBQ chicken, go ahead and pick up a rotisserie chicken and use that here. Just toss it in a little BBQ sauce before putting on the pizza so it won’t dry out in the oven.

Slice of gluten-free bbq chicken pizza

If you like this pizza recipe, check out these others:

BBQ Chicken Pizza

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Prep Time 00:10 Cook Time 00:27 Total Time 00:37 Serves 2

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
  2. Make pizza dough, and parbake according to these instructions (or whatever the package instructions state if store-bought).
  3. Spread bbq sauce over the pizza. Top with cheese, bbq chicken and red onion. Bake in the preheated oven for 7-10 minutes, or until cheese is melted the desired amount.
  4. Top pizza with extra bbq sauce and cilantro leaves. Serve immediately.
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There may be affiliate links in this post! By clicking on them, or purchasing recommended items I may receive a small compensation, at no cost to you! However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use in my own home! Thank you for supporting Lexi's Clean Kitchen when you shop! See my privacy policy for more information about this, the information we save, and more!
04.30.19

Savory Breakfast Sausage Oatmeal

Posted on by Lexi's Clean Kitchen , Views: 11869

Savory oatmeal with breakfast sausage is a great start to the day, filled with fiber and protein and so delicious. It’s gluten-free, optionally dairy-free and a great make-ahead breakfast idea.

Bowl of savory oatmealSavory Oatmeal with Breakfast Sausage

Oatmeal is often thought of as a sweet food. But have you ever thought of making it savory? We love this savory breakfast oatmeal made with breakfast sausage, cheddar and green onions. You can even put an egg on it, if you’d like! It’s prepared almost the same way as regular oatmeal, but with added savory flavor like red and green onions, extra salt and garlic powder. We use ground breakfast sausage (from our Butcherbox) but you can use chopped up fully cooked breakfast sausage (either pork or chicken) if you prefer.

What is Needed for this Breakfast Sausage Oatmeal?

  • Water or Stock (veggie or chicken)
  • Rolled Oats
  • Salt
  • Garlic Powder
  • Maple Syrup (it doesn’t taste sweet, it just helps balance the flavor)
  • Ground Breakfast Sausage
  • Red Onion
  • Green Onion
  • Cheddar Cheese (or nutritional yeast, for dairy-free)
  • Cooked sunny side up or poached eggs (optional)

Toppings for savory oatmeal recipe

Are oats gluten free?

Oats are naturally gluten-free, but they can sometimes be processed in a facility where wheat products are also processed so there can be cross-contamination. If you are sensitive to gluten be sure to purchase oats that are labelled gluten-free!

How to Make Old Fashioned Rolled Oats?

We are recommend to make old fashioned rolled oats with two methods: stove top or instant pot! The stove top is the quickest method, and is included in the recipe below, with oatmeal ready in about 15 minutes. If this still feels like too much than you can make ahead of time and simply reheat it! The other method is in the instant pot which is the easiest method. It requires no stirring and you can accomplish other things while it’s cooking!

Check out this post for everything you need to know about cooking oatmeal, including how to cook it in the Instant Pot.

Bowl full with savory oatmeal breakfast

If you like this breakfast recipe, check out these others:

Savory Breakfast Sausage Oatmeal

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Prep Time 00:05 Cook Time 00:10 Inactive Time 00:00 Total Time 00:15 Serves 4

Ingredients

  • 4 cups water or stock (veggie or chicken)
  • 2 cups (old fashioned) rolled oats
  • 1/2 red onion, diced very fine
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon oil
  • 1 lb. ground breakfast sausage
  • 3 green onions, sliced and divided
  • 1/2 cup cheddar cheese
  • cooked sunny side up or poached eggs (optional)

Directions

  1. In a pot over medium heat bring water/stock to a boil.
  2. Add oats, red onion, salt and garlic powder, stir to combine and and lower the heat. Cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring often, until the oatmeal is creamy and tender. Stir in maple syrup, if using.
  3. Meanwhile heat a skillet over medium-high heat. When hot add oil and ground breakfast sausage. Cook until the sausage is brown. Remove sausage to a plate lined with paper towel (or a clean kitchen towel) and let excess fat drain.
  4. Divide oatmeal into 4 bowls and top with sausage, green onions, cheese and eggs, if desired. If cooking for meal prep do not add cheese until after it has be re-heated.

Recipe Notes

  1. Can omit cheese and add in 1 tablespoons of nutritional yeast into the oatmeal if looking for a "cheesy" taste.
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There may be affiliate links in this post! By clicking on them, or purchasing recommended items I may receive a small compensation, at no cost to you! However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use in my own home! Thank you for supporting Lexi's Clean Kitchen when you shop! See my privacy policy for more information about this, the information we save, and more!
04.22.19

Chicken “Pizza” Sheet Pan Dinner

Posted on by Lexi's Clean Kitchen , Views: 16444

This simple chicken sheet pan dinner is packed with veggies and flavored to taste like pizza for a unique weeknight dinner! It’s easily customizable to add your favorite “pizza” toppings, is gluten-free and easily made low-carb for a meal everyone can enjoy. This recipe comes to us today from the new book by Cassy Joy Garcia, “Cook Once, Eat All Week”!

Finished pizza chicken sheet pan dinner

Pizza Flavored Sheet Pan Chicken and Veggies

This sheet pan chicken dinner is just SO FUN! It’s coming to us today from “Cook Once, Eat All Week”, Cassy Joy Garcia’s newest book. When we were flipping through the pages trying to decide which recipe to share (this was hard, because they all looked so good!) we were instantly in love with how unique this sheet pan dinner recipe sounded! It basically has all the flavor and fun of pizza, but made hearty and healthy using protein and veggies!

And of course, like so many sheet pan dinners, it’s so easy to throw together! Her book is all about meal prep made easy (see below for more about this) so we made a few minor modifications from her recipe so it could be made as a stand alone dish. We’re sure you’re going to love this dinner so much you’ll definitely want to grab a copy of her book now to see how she guides you on how to make meal prep easy.

Other Options for this “Pizza” Sheet Pan Dinner:

This sheet pan recipe is chock full of chicken, veggies and fun pizza toppings. Cassy has suggested her favorites, and we’re adding to that and suggesting a few other options you might find fun to substitute in for this dinner depending on what you have in the house:

  • Jalapeños
  • Spinach
  • Sausage
  • Side of Marinara Sauce
  • Red Onions
  • Barbecue Sauce

Copy of "Cook Once, Eat All Week"

I’ve known Cassy for around 4+ years now, and she instantly became one of my closest friends right when I met her. Nothing makes me happier than meeting an Internet/blog friend who becomes an in-real-life best friend! We go to conferences together, we go on girl trips, and she even introduced me to Beautycounter! She is just the best.

Let me tell you about Cassy: She is genuine, beyond kind, and SO hard working. So, when she told me about her new book concept I had no doubt it would be an amazing resource, but when I opened it, I was BLOWN AWAY. Ya’ll, this book is amazing. It reinvents meal prepping and combines it with batch cooking in a way that makes your weekly meals fun and exciting, without spending the entire day in the kitchen over the weekend!  This is one of those books that anyone looking for a REAL solution to help them eat healthy and delicious meals, while also wanting to save time and money, needs in their kitchen!

Here’s the premise of Cook Once, Eat All Week: You have a prep day to get all your main ingredients ready to go – a protein, veggie and a starch – then you can make 3 (or more, depending on your needs) different meals throughout the week with those prepped main ingredients.

  • The book gives you 26 weeks of recipes: 123 recipes, sauces, and spice blends.
  • Each week will look a little different!
  • There’s also a chapter full of bonus 20-minute meals.
  • Optional Instant Pot and slow cooker instructions are included to save even more time!
  • Meal storage and reheating tips.
  • Supports diets including: gluten-free, dairy-free, Paleo, low carb, egg-free, kid-friendly and more.
  • Nutritional facts included!

Plate of chicken breast sheet pan dinner

If you like this sheet pan dinner, check out these others:

Grab a copy of Cook Once, Eat All Week here!

Chicken "Pizza" Sheet Pan Dinner

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Prep Time 00:10 Cook Time 00:20 Inactive Time 00:00 Total Time 00:30 Serves 4

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cubed cooked chicken breasts (see note)
  • ¼ cup ranch dressing
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes
  • 2 cups 1" cauliflower florets, or leftover cubed yellow potatoes (see note)
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 2 ounces sliced pepperoni
  • 1 cup sliced mushrooms
  • 2 tablespoons sliced black olives
  • ½ green bell pepper, sliced 
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, for garnish
  • Optional: We love serving this with a side of warm marinara sauce!

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Toss the cooked chicken with the ranch dressing, then spread the chicken on the lined baking sheet.
  3. Cut the tomatoes in half and sprinkle them on top of the chicken. Follow with the cauliflower (or potatoes) and then the cheese. Season the entire sheet pan with salt and pepper. Layer the pepperoni, mushrooms, black olives, and bell pepper on top of the cheese.
  4. Bake for 20 minutes, until the toppings are browned and the cheese is bubbly and the cauliflower is cooked through. Garnish with the red pepper flakes, additional ranch dressing (if desired) and serve!

Recipe Notes

  1. This recipe is an excerpt from "Cook Once, Eat All Week" by Cassy Joy
    Garcia, which is a meal prep book. This recipe is intended to be cooked after a meal prep day, but we've adapted it slightly to be used as a solo stand alone recipe. This recipe is reprinted with permission.
  2. In "Cook Once, Eat All Week" Cassy uses cubed turkey breasts instead of chicken for this meal, but we felt it easier to use chicken if you haven't completed the whole meal prep as her book indicates.
  3. We substituted the option to use cauliflower florets to keep it low carb, and because most people don't have cooked potatoes. Make sure to cut the cauliflower florets on the smaller side, around 1", so they cook in the indicated amount of time. But feel free to opt for the original use of cubed potatoes if you have them.
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There may be affiliate links in this post! By clicking on them, or purchasing recommended items I may receive a small compensation, at no cost to you! However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use in my own home! Thank you for supporting Lexi's Clean Kitchen when you shop! See my privacy policy for more information about this, the information we save, and more!
02.25.19

Slow Cooker French Onion Soup (Gluten-Free)

Posted on by Lexi , Views: 52151

This gluten-free and healthy Slow Cooker French Onion Soup is comfort food at it’s finest. It’s made using simple ingredients you likely already have in your pantry, is largely hands-off cooking, is an economical meal and is so rich and flavorful. It can be eaten as is as a light soup, or more traditionally topped with melted cheese and either store-bought or homemade bread.

Slow Cooker French Onion SoupSlow Cooker French Onion Soup

French Onion Soup is such a classic comfort food, it’s hard not to love. If you’ve only eaten it at restaurants you might think it’s difficult to make because it’s SO rich and flavorful, but truly it isn’t that hard at all! And we’ve made it even easier by throwing the whole thing in the slow cooker for easy, hands-off cooking! This Slow Cooker French Onion Soup is a great example of taking really basic pantry items like onions, broth and a few other simple ingredients and turning it into something amazing by slow and low cooking. Recipes using pantry staples are a great to have in your back pocket on days when you don’t have time to run to the grocery store but still want to be able to cook up a great meal for your family.

Crock Pot French Onion Soup

What is French Onion Soup Made Of

Traditionally French onion soup is made by slowly caramelizing onions on the stove top, which can require lots of babysitting and stirring to make sure the onions don’t burn. The onions are then coated in flour and simmered for longer with broth. This Slow Cooker French Onion Soup recipe however takes all the amazing flavors of this bistro classic and tosses them all in the slow cooker to make while you are busy doing other things! The first step is to cook all the onions for about 6 hours, which doesn’t require any stirring. This step can have some wiggle room if you are about and about because it’s hard to burn onions in the slow cooker, so if you aren’t home during the end of the 6 hours of cook time, the onions will likely be fine for 2-3 hours after. Next you simmer the onions in the broth for the remainder 2 hours of cooking time. Classic French onion soup is topped with a large crouton-like piece of bread and cheese. We’ve given directions on how to do this, but truly you can leave this off and this soup is still really flavorful!

What is the best onion to use for French onion soup

This Slow Cooker French Onion Soup recipes uses two kinds of onions. Yellow onion are more sweet with a really bright flavor and red onions have more depth with a touch of bitterness. Together they make a really nuanced and flavorful french onion soup!

Healthy Slow Cooker French Onion Soup

Can you cook French Onion Soup in the Instant Pot?

The short answer is: yes! We’ve included the directions for cooking this soup in the Instant Pot in the notes section of this recipe. However we have to say that it is a little bit more hands on cooking than the slow cooker version.

If you like this slow cooker SOUP recipe, try these other favorites:

Want to try other crock pot comfort food favorites? Try these:

Watch the video:

Slow Cooker French Onion Soup
Serves 8
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Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
8 hr
Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
8 hr
Ingredients
  1. 3 tablespoons grass-fed butter
  2. 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil or avocado oil
  3. 4 white onions, sliced
  4. 2 red onions, sliced
  5. 1 tablespoon coconut sugar
  6. 3 cloves of garlic, minced
  7. 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  8. 2 teaspoons dried thyme or 2 fresh thyme sprigs
  9. 2 bay leaves
  10. 1 teaspoon salt, more to taste
  11. 1 teaspoon black pepper, more to taste
  12. 7 cups beef broth
  13. 1/2 teaspoon fish sauce
  14. 1 tablespoon arrowroot flour
  15. Optional: chili flakes
  16. Options: 1/4 cup shredded Gruyere cheese
  17. Optional: 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  18. Optional: 1 batch bread (see recipe here)
Instructions
  1. Place butter and oil in the bottom of your slow cooker insert.
  2. Add in sliced onions, coconut sugar, garlic, balsamic vinegar, half the salt and pepper, thyme and bay leaves. Toss to coat and cook on low for 6 hours.
  3. After 6 hours, add in beef broth, fish sauce, arrowroot flour, and the remaining salt and pepper.
  4. Let cook for the remaining 2 hours. Remove bay leaves and thyme sprigs if using fresh thyme. Taste and add salt and pepper as desired.
  5. Heat the oven to 350°F. Divide the soup between oven-safe bowls. Top each with a slice (or two) of toasted bread and sprinkle cheese in a thick layer over the bread and up to the edge of the bowl. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes until cheese is bubbling. Broil on high for 1 minute.
Lexi's Clean Kitchen https://lexiscleankitchen.com/
01.30.19

How to Make Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi

Posted on by Lexi , Views: 83818

The infamous Trader Joe’s Gnocchi package directions results in soggy gnocchi that nobody wants, so we’re going step-by-step for you on How to Make Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi! It’s a quick weeknight meal on a budget and is a great gluten-free alternative to a classic gnocchi. What has become an almost cult classic, is so good, and we’ve cracked the code on our favorite way to prepare it.

Best way to cook Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi

How to Make Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi

If you haven’t heard of the Trader Joe’s cult favorite Cauliflower Gnocchi, let us tell you a little bit about it! It’s inexpensive, sold for under $3, and made gluten-free with a hearty dose of veggie. Traditionally gnocchi is made with cooked potatoes that are bound together with egg and wheat flour. The TJ version is made with cauliflower and cassava flour, and a few other ingredients. To be clear, it’s not necessarily low-carb but it’s a healthier take with a classic flavor. The package directions produce a finished product that is a bit suspect so we’re going to go through step-by-step on How to Make Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi into a quick weeknight Italian dinner!

How do you cook cauliflower gnocchi?

There are a few different ways to cook cauliflower gnocchi. But there is one way not to cook it, and that is do not cook it according to the package directions. We are looking for gnocchi that isn’t mushy and has a nice crispy coating so we’re using cooking methods that do just that!

  1. In the skillet: This is by far the easiest and simplest method (and our favorite)! The main directions in our recipe include the step-by-step for skillet cooking because it is our preferred method for the best tasting gnocchi. It also makes the meal a one-pan dinner which is always a plus.
  2. In the air fryer: This is a simple way to crispy up the gnocchi, but the downside is that this cooking gadget isn’t that common and it still means you have to use other pots and pans to make a complete meal.
  3. In the oven: We offer directions for cooking the gnocchi on a sheet pan, but in all honestly it is our least favorite method. In order to achieve crispy gnocchi it has to have a long cook time, and just isn’t very efficient. But will lend itself to crispy gnocchi if left in there long enough.

Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi recipes

What do you serve with Cauliflower Gnocchi:

We serve this recipe with store-bought tomato sauce, spinach and cheese. It makes it a complete meal that is made in one pan and ready in under 30 minutes. Alternatively you could use a homemade tomato sauce, homemade meat sauce, a pesto, a pumpkin sauce or really any sauce that tastes good with gnocchi!

The TJ’s cauliflower gnocchi is also a hit when served alone as an appetizer with a dipping sauce!

Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi cooking tips

Tips on getting your hands on Cauliflower Gnocchi

Admittedly there is a Cauliflower Gnocchi craze going on, coupled with a delay in getting shipments in to some stores. So we had trouble getting our hands on cauliflower gnocchi for a few weeks. Hopefully they’ll be producing more of this product now that they know it’s a hit. Follow these tips to get your hands on Cauliflower Gnocchi:

  • Call ahead and ask them to set some aside for you.
  • Find out when they get the shipments in, typically late at night before closing or first thing in the morning, so call ahead or plan to be at the store then.
  • Buy in bulk. They are stored in the freezer so if you buy a bunch at a time (who bought 10 bags at once? Ahem… not Lexi….) you won’t have to worry for a few weeks/months when they’ll be getting in another shipment.

Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi how to cook

So jump on the Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi train and get to the store to get yours and make sure to post it to Instagram. Because with this one, if you didn’t post it to Instagram, did it even happen?

Watch the video:

If you like this weeknight Italian dinner, check out these others:

How to Make Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi

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Prep Time 00:05 Cook Time 00:15 Total Time 00:20 Serves 2-4

Ingredients

  • 2 - 12 ounce bags Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi
  • 2 tablespoons oil or butter
  • 1 heaping cup baby spinach
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon italian seasoning
  • Pinch red pepper flakes
  • ½ cup marinara sauce of choice
  • ⅓ cup mozzarella cheese

Directions

  1. Ignore the package instructions.
  2. Defrost the gnocchi: You can either let thaw out on the counter for an hour or you can microwave the gnocchi on a plate for 2-4 minutes. Once thawed you want to pat dry any condensation. 
  3. In a large non-stick or well-seasoned cast iron skillet heat 2 tablespoon oil until it’s hot add the gnocchi in an even layer. Let the gnocchi sit undisturbed for 3 minutes. Flip the gnocchi and repeat until they are a light brown and crispy.
  4. Add in spinach and stir until it is all wilted.
  5. Add in garlic powder, Italian seasoning, a pinch of red pepper flakes and marinara sauce and toss until combined.
  6. Sprinkle with cheese and cover for 3-5 amount of minutes, or until the cheese and sauce is hot and bubbly.
  7. Serve immediately.

Recipe Notes

  1. Air-fryer instructions to cook the gnocchi:
    1. Pre-heat Air-fryer to 400ºF
    2. Partially defrost the gnocchi, about 2 minutes in the microwave, making sure to break apart any gnocchi stuck together.
    3. Spray the air-fryer basket with avocado spray.
    4. Lay 1/2 the gnocchi from one bag inside the basket and spray it once more.
    5. Cook for 12 minutes, flipping halfway through.
    6. Repeat with the remaining bag.
  2. Oven Directions:
    1. Preheat oven to 425ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper
    2. Place defrosted gnocchi on the baking sheet and spray with avocado oil spray or cooking spray of choice. Toss to coat.
    3. Bake for 20 minutes, flip, and bake for an additional 20 minutes until the gnocchi is golden brown and crispy on the outside.
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There may be affiliate links in this post! By clicking on them, or purchasing recommended items I may receive a small compensation, at no cost to you! However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use in my own home! Thank you for supporting Lexi's Clean Kitchen when you shop! See my privacy policy for more information about this, the information we save, and more!

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How to Make Trader Joe's Cauliflower GnocchiWhat is your favorite way to make Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi?

01.27.19

Jalapeño Popper Dip (Options for Dairy and Dairy-Free)

Posted on by Lexi's Clean Kitchen , Views: 19282

This Jalapeño Popper Dip is the perfect appetizer to serve for Game Day and can conveniently be prepared ahead of time and baked up right before serving! It has all the classic flavor of Jalapeño Poppers without having to individually make them. This gluten-free and keto dip has two options to make: as a creamy dairy version or or you can substitute in cashew cream for a dairy-free and delicious alternative that’s also paleo friendly.

keto jalepeno popper dipJalapeño Popper Dip

With the BIG GAME coming up soon it’s the perfect time to discuss all the best game day eats! This Jalapeño Popper Dip is an obvious contender because it has all the elements of jalepeño poppers but made easier as convenient dip. It’s warm and comforting and a bit spicy! We’ve included both a dairy version with all the cheesy goodness as well as a dairy-free version which is remarkably similar, made using our new favorite ingredient: cashew cream! We liked them both the same, so don’t make us choose which one is better!

This dip can also be made almost entirely ahead of time and then baked right before serving so that you have more time to prepare for guests. All you have to do is prep the dip up until the baking step and right before serving pop it in the oven.

dairy free jalapeño popper dip

To get the cheese-y flavor in our dairy-free version we used cashew cream, mayo and some nutritional yeast! Nutritional yeast is inactive yeast, usually fortified with vitamin B12, that is a favorite amount vegans as it replicates the cheese flavor.

We opted to use pickled jalapeños in this dip because we love them and the acidity that it adds to the dish. We also added some salty bacon to the mix, but if you’d like to make this vegetarian or vegan (cashew cream version only) you can leave it out! We also added in a bit more nutrients in here with the addition of some baby kale. We love the color it lends to the dip and think it fits well, but you can also opt to leave this out if desired.

Serve this up with a spread of tortilla chips, or crackers (we love Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers) and cut up vegetables!

Jalapeno popper dip with bacon

If you like this game day recipe, check out these others:

Jalapeño Popper Dip

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Prep Time 00:15 Cook Time 00:20 Total Time 00:35 Serves 6-8

Ingredients

Dairy Version:

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 cup, plus 2 tablespoons shredded sharp cheddar cheese (divided)
  • 1 cup chopped baby kale (optional)
  • ½ cup pickled jalapenos, drained and chopped (see note)
  • 3 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled, divided
  • 2 green onions, sliced thin, divided

Dairy-Free Version:

  • 1-1/4 cups cashews (for cashew cream, see this post for directions)
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 cup chopped baby kale (optional)
  • ½ cup pickled jalapenos, drained and chopped
  • 3 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled, divided (optional)
  • 2 green onions, sliced thin, divided

Directions

Dairy Version:

  1. Preheat the oven to 400ºF and grease a 3-cup oven-safe baking dish.
  2. In a stand mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat cream cheese on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add in mayo and slowly mix together on low speed until fully combined (do not overmix or the mixture will separate).
  3. Add in garlic powder, salt and pepper, 1/2 cup cheese and kale. Set aside a few pieces of the jalapeno, bacon and green onion and place the remaining inside of the cream cheese mixture and mix on low until fully combined.
  4. Place mixture inside of prepared baking dish and smooth the top. Sprinkle with remaining set aside bacon and jalapeno and cheese.
  5. Bake at 400 until the cheese is bubbly and melted, about 20 minutes.
  6. Top with remaining green onions and serve with tortilla chips, crackers, or vegetable crudite.

Dairy-Free Version:

  1. Make cashew cream (with increased amount of cashews).
  2. Preheat the oven to 400ºF and grease a 3-cup oven-safe baking dish.
  3. In a bowl whisk together cashew cream and mayo, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until combined.
  4. Add the kale to the bowl. Set aside a few pieces of the jalapeno, bacon and green onion and place the remaining and the inside of the cashew cream mixture, and combine.
  5. Place mixture inside of prepared baking dish and smooth the top. Sprinkle with remaining jalapeno and bacon
  6. Bake until heated through (you can check by inserting a butter knife in the center and checking to see if the mixture is hot), about 18 minutes.
  7. Top with remaining green onions and serve with tortilla chips, crackers, or vegetable crudite.

Recipe Notes

  1. MAKE AHEAD: You can make this up to two days ahead without baking, and then bake when ready. You may need to add a couple of extra minutes cook time.
  2. If you like things spicy, you can up the jalepenos to ⅔ cups
  3. If you aren’t including the bacon increase the salt to ½ teaspoon in dairy version.
  4. For dairy-free version check out this post for more information to make cashew cream. You’ll need to increase the amount slightly to get the correct amount for this recipe with a ratio of 1-¼ cups cashews to ½ cup of water.
  5. To double either of these versions to feed a large crowd simply double all of the ingredients and cook for about 10 minutes longer.
  6. To make this vegetarian leave out the bacon.
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