Winstead Wandering

Prone to Wander

Low Carb Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza

by

With a truly unique crust and a topping that includes crispy bacon and creamy ranch dressing, this Low Carb Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza is sure to satisfy.

With a truly unique crust and a topping that includes crispy bacon and creamy ranch dressing, this Low Carb Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza is sure to satisfy.

For about the first 10 years of our relationship, J only ate pepperoni pizza. I can’t blame him for loving it; it’s a classic for a reason. But with so many possible options, I knew he was missing out.

I don’t remember the circumstances that led to him first trying chicken bacon ranch pizza, but to say it changed his life would not be overstating things. A whole new world of pizza options was opened to him, and he now has a new go-to order.

With a truly unique crust and a topping that includes crispy bacon and creamy ranch dressing, this Low Carb Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza is sure to satisfy.

All that is great until you start to eat low carb. While there are several different crust alternatives out there, several of which we’ve tried, none were as big a hit with J as this Low Carb Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza.

The secret to this beauty is that the chicken is in the crust. Yup. The base of this pizza is a mixture of ground chicken and shredded cheese. It’s a flavorful alternative to the other dough replacements out there, some of which I find a little too rich. The ranch dressing on top is perfectly creamy, while the pepper jack cheese and crumbled bacon add just the right amount of heat and salt.

With a truly unique crust and a topping that includes crispy bacon and creamy ranch dressing, this Low Carb Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza is sure to satisfy.

[Read more…]

Easy Instant Pot Seasoned Chicken

by

Did you know you can make Easy Instant Pot Seasoned Chicken? It’s great for eating as-is, but it’s also wonderful for using in recipes or freezing for later!

Did you know you can make Easy Instant Pot Seasoned Chicken? It's great for eating as-is, but it's also wonderful for using in recipes or freezing for later!

It took me a long time — like, nearly a year — to really find a groove with my Instant Pot. I just didn’t take the time to figure it out. Even during that time, though, I was still using it regularly to make chicken.

We eat a lot of shredded chicken. While we rarely have it as a main dish, I use it often as a condiment of sorts, an ingredient in our meal, like these Baked Green Chile Chicken Taquitos. You’ll almost always find a container of seasoned shredded chicken in our fridge for use in recipes or just for whipping up a chicken and cheese quesadilla.

You might also like: Honey Balsamic Chicken Marinade

In the last year, all of that chicken has been prepared in the Instant Pot. Here’s the beauty of Easy Instant Pot Seasoned Chicken: it’s easy (I know, I said that already), it’s flavorful, it’s fast, and it’s totally customizable. I love that I don’t have to tend the chicken like I would if it was cooking on the stovetop, and it’s ready much faster than if I baked it. The pressure-cooking of the Instant Pot seals in the flavor, and I swap out spices to develop any profile I’d like.

Did you know you can make Easy Instant Pot Seasoned Chicken? It's great for eating as-is, but it's also wonderful for using in recipes or freezing for later!

[Read more…]

Chicken and Cheese Stuffed Roasted Poblanos

by

For an easy weeknight meal that’s low carb, gluten-free and, most importantly, ridiculously tasty, look no further than Chicken and Cheese Stuffed Roasted Poblanos.

For an easy weeknight meal that's low carb, gluten-free and, most importantly, ridiculously tasty, look no further than Chicken and Cheese Stuffed Roasted Poblanos.

I’ve been eating low carb for a few months now and, I have to say, the only thing that eases the pain of giving up bread is the promise of all the cheese I can eat. I’ve developed some outstanding recipes lately, but I’ve also eaten a lot of iterations of the chicken and cheese combo. One of my favorite way to showcase those two staples is alongside poblano peppers (you might remember Cheesy Chicken Poblano Dip or Pasta in Roasted Poblano Cheddar Cream Sauce). Considering my love for poblanos, stuffing them with a filling mixture of cheese, chicken, spices, and cheese is a natural fit.

Sometimes it feels like eating healthier means spending a ton of extra time in the kitchen, which is why these effortless Chicken and Cheese Stuffed Roasted Poblanos are especially popular in my house. They’re easy enough to throw together for lunch, but hearty enough to make a satisfying supper. Add to that the endless filling possibilities, and you’ve got a recipe that’s likely to snag a regular spot in your dinner rotation.

For an easy weeknight meal that's low carb, gluten-free and, most importantly, ridiculously tasty, look no further than Chicken and Cheese Stuffed Roasted Poblanos.

[Read more…]

One-Pot Creamy Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Pasta

by

Tired of plain old enchiladas? Got leftover sauce? One-Pot Creamy Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Pasta is a surefire way to break out of a rut and please a crowd.

Tired of plain old enchiladas? Got leftover sauce? One-Pot Creamy Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Pasta is a surefire way to break out of a rut and please a crowd.

I’m not gonna lie; my Homemade Green Enchilada Sauce is pretty stinking awesome. The Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas I make with the sauce are pretty great, too, but that doesn’t always mean I want to make enchiladas twice to make use of all the sauce. Instead, I like to mix things up by making this hearty-but-not-too-heavy One-Pot Creamy Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Pasta.

Did I mention it’s a one-pot meal? Yup. Y’all, that means even the pasta is cooked right in the skillet where you cooked the chicken. In just about a half hour you’ve got a crowd-pleasing meal and only one dirty pot.

Tired of plain old enchiladas? Got leftover sauce? One-Pot Creamy Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Pasta is a surefire way to break out of a rut and please a crowd.

[Read more…]

Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas

by

With plenty of chicken, gooey melted cheese, and the best homemade sauce, Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas are a perfect take on a favorite weeknight meal.

With plenty of chicken, gooey melted cheese, and the best homemade sauce, Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas are a perfect take on a favorite weeknight meal.

A whole lot of my favorite dinner recipes include shredded chicken. Actually, I use it so often that I’ll typically prepare a bunch at once by baking it in the oven or cooking it in my Instant Pot. I use generic seasonings, like garlic and onion powder, and I use my KitchenAid mixer to shred the chicken while it’s hot. Then I have cooked chicken to use in Bacon Cheddar Ranch Chicken Roll-Up, Baked Chicken Taquitos, or these Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas.

I much prefer green enchiladas to red, and I especially prefer them when made with my Homemade Green Enchilada Sauce. Once the sauce is made, these little guys are super quick to prepare, especially if you’ve made your chicken in advance. It’s a perfect recipe to make earlier in the day and refrigerate until dinnertime. Serve with your favorite sides and you’ve got a meal.

With plenty of chicken, gooey melted cheese, and the best homemade sauce, Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas are a perfect take on a favorite weeknight meal.

[Read more…]

Dr Pepper Barbecue Sauce Grilled Chicken + Tailgating Tips

by

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GrillGatingHero #Grillgating

Dr Pepper® Barbecue Sauce Grilled Chicken is a fun, unique twist on a favorite game day dish. This sweet and tangy sauce is guaranteed to be the MVP of your tailgate.

Dr Pepper Barbecue Sauce Grilled Chicken is a fun, unique twist on a favorite game day dish. This sweet and tangy sauce is guaranteed to be the MVP of your tailgate.

I love just about everything about fall, but I especially love that it brings college football season. This is The South, so you know we value our football as much as we value our food. In fact, I’d say the two are synonymous for a lot fans. Any self-respecting southern college football fan has been to, and likely hosted, a tailgate. It really isn’t too hard, but it’s important to strike that balance between having enough fun, football-worthy food and doing so much that you don’t get a chance to enjoy your own party.

Dr Pepper Barbecue Sauce Grilled Chicken is a fun, unique twist on a favorite game day dish. This sweet and tangy sauce is guaranteed to be the MVP of your tailgate.

Today I’m spilling all my best tried-and-true tailgating tips, including my recipe for – gasp! – Dr Pepper® Barbecue Sauce Grilled Chicken. You might be tempted to scroll right to the bottom for that gem, but I promise you there’s plenty of goodness up here, too.

Tailgating Tips and Tricks

Don’t underestimate the power of simple sides

A few more time-consuming sides, like Brown Sugar Bacon-Wrapped Sausages or Cheesy Mexican Corn Dip, are great. Don’t forget to rely on the classics like carrots and Hidden Valley® Ranch or sliced cheese and RITZ® crackers. They’re both classics for a reason, and your guests won’t care that they required minimal prep time.

Dr Pepper Barbecue Sauce Grilled Chicken is a fun, unique twist on a favorite game day dish. This sweet and tangy sauce is guaranteed to be the MVP of your tailgate.

MVP Tip: Top RITZ crackers with shredded Dr Pepper Barbecue Sauce Grilled Chicken (recipe below) and a drizzle of extra sauce. The combination of the salted cracker and the sweet and tangy sauce is a certain touchdown.

[Read more…]

Homemade Chicken Strips with Horseradish Dipping Sauce

by

You’ll never want the restaurant version again after trying these Homemade Chicken Strips with Horseradish Dipping Sauce. They’re tender, flavorful, and a guaranteed hit.

You'll never want the restaurant version again after trying these Homemade Chicken Strips with Horseradish Dipping Sauce. They're tender, flavorful, and a guaranteed hit.

These Homemade Chicken Strips with Horseradish Dipping Sauce are something of a legend in my family. They’re the birthday meal of choice for nearly all of my siblings and, now, for our spouses and our kids, too. My mom typically serves them alongside home fries and loaded candy bar cake, but it’s perfectly acceptable to fill up on on chicken.

In addition to being tender and perfectly seasoned, these little nuggets of magic are so special to me because they’re representative of home. They’re my family’s version of the fatted calf and, let me tell you, know one at your house will be asking, “Where’s the beef?” when these Homemade Chicken Strips with Horseradish Dipping Sauce are on the menu.

You'll never want the restaurant version again after trying these Homemade Chicken Strips with Horseradish Dipping Sauce. They're tender, flavorful, and a guaranteed hit.

[Read more…]

Thai Chicken Quinoa Salad with Soy Lime Dressing

by

Thai Chicken Quinoa Salad with Soy Lime Dressing is full of flavor and packed with fresh veggies. It’s the perfect healthy lunch recipe!

Thai Chicken Quinoa Salad with Soy Lime Dressing is full of flavor and packed with fresh veggies. It's the perfect healthy lunch recipe!

This dish is a riff on two not-quite-as-healthy recipes I shared last summer: Quinoa Pepper Pilaf and Pasta Salad with Sweet Tea Vinaigrette. Both of those recipes have healthy components, but neither is as packed with super foods as this one. From quinoa to edamame to sweet bell peppers, Thai Chicken Quinoa Salad is basically one big bowl of stuff you should be eating all the time.

Don’t let the long list of ingredients intimidate you. The chicken and the quinoa can both be cooking within minutes, and all the vegetables can be prepared while the chicken bakes and the quinoa simmers. After, just shake up the dressing, toss everything together, and enjoy!

Thai Chicken Quinoa Salad with Soy Lime Dressing is full of flavor and packed with fresh veggies. It's the perfect healthy lunch recipe!

[Read more…]

Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup

by

This easy chicken tortilla soup is packed with flavor and, even though it comes together in less than half an hour, it tastes like it simmered all day long.

This easy chicken tortilla soup is packed with flavor and, even though it comes together in less than half an hour, it tastes like it simmered all day long.

It was 73 degrees on Christmas Day in here in Mississippi. As a normal human being, I was not happy about it. I know wishing for a white Christmas is unrealistic, but I don’t think sweatshirt weather is too much to ask for.

Even though we’ve had the A/C running inside for the last few days, I’ve been doing my best to pretend it feels like winter by whipping up seasonal favorites like this easy chicken tortilla soup.

I’ve been meaning to make a hearty soup like this since last winter. I browsed a few recipes, but nothing seemed quite right, so I bought some of my favorite ingredients and made the whole thing up. I’m so glad I kept track of exactly what went into this recipe because it’s definitely one to make again and again.

This easy chicken tortilla soup is packed with flavor and, even though it comes together in less than half an hour, it tastes like it simmered all day long.

[Read more…]

Copycat Chick-fil-a Nuggets

by

A surprising secret ingredient makes these copycat Chick-fil-a nuggets a tender, mouthwatering substitute for the real thing.

A surprising secret ingredient makes these copycat Chick-fil-a nuggets a tender, mouthwatering substitute for the real thing.

I was 18-years-old the first time I ate at Chick-fil-a. I’d just moved to Mississippi to attend college and my cousin and I were driving home- to her house- after orientation. When she realized I’d never heard of Chick-fil-a, let alone tried it, she decided to remedy that immediately. We went through the drive-thru and got nuggets, waffle fries, and lemonade.

I was hooked. Not nearly as much as J, though, who has a love for Chick-fil-a that rivals his love of oxygen. For the three years we lived in Oregon, our semiannual trips to Mississippi were filled with as many nuggets and waffle fries as we could cram in. I’m convinced the restaurant is one of the main reasons he wanted to move back.

A surprising secret ingredient makes these copycat Chick-fil-a nuggets a tender, mouthwatering substitute for the real thing.

If, like me, you’ve been on Pinterest for any length of time, you’ve seen copycat recipes for these nuggets floating around. I’d never made them before, though, mostly because I was certain they’d fall far short of the high expectations we have for the original. If I’m being completely honest, this copycat version isn’t going to fool anyone. It isn’t identical to the real thing, but it is really darn close. I’d say it’s as close as you can get without visiting Chick-fil-a.

The strange thing about this recipe is that it calls for pickle juice. The recipe I adapted mine from didn’t use pickle juice, but I’d heard rumors that it’s the “secret” to getting them as close to restaurant-quality as possible, and since my pregnant self happened to finish off a jar of pickles a couple weeks ago, I went ahead and marinated the nuggets in a combination of the juice and milk.

It made all the difference. The pickle juice provides an interesting tang, a little bit of a bite to the nugget that, if you didn’t know about the juice, you wouldn’t be able to place, but that makes them so close to the Chick-fil-a version. J hates pickles, but he never guessed the juice was there. Trust me- don’t skip it.

A surprising secret ingredient makes these copycat Chick-fil-a nuggets a tender, mouthwatering substitute for the real thing.

[Read more…]