I watched a show on TV last week about celebrity diets. Of course I know that extreme diets and crazy fads are, well, extreme and crazy.
But a diet based on cookies – even if it’s promoted by a certain train wreck from the Jersey Shore – does sound a tiny bit appealing.
Although, if I had to choose one food to eat all the time, it would definitely be nachos. I love nachos! And it’s a good choice for a full-time food, because you can mix it up. Beef one day, chicken the next day, black beans, refried beans, all of the above.
[In my fictional world of forced food limits, I want variety, you know?]
The problem with my beloved nachos, though, is the fat factor. They’re not so hot as a diet food, even if I eat them exclusively. (Okay, probably especially if I eat them exclusively.) No matter where I get them, nachos are full of cheese, sour cream and crispy, fried tortillas.
I know, those are all the good parts about nachos, right? Mmmm . . . But let’s face it. They’re full of fat and calories that my it’s-January-time-to-be-healthy body just does not need.
These chicken nachos, made at home, are a quick and easy solution. Not to mention, they’re just as budget-friendly as they are diet-friendly.
Chicken Nachos
2 cups (or handfuls) of Mission tortilla chips
8 oz. shredded chicken
Taco seasoning
½ cup black beans, rinsed
1 cup shredded cheese (lowfat, if you want)
¼ cup red onion
1 small tomato, chopped
1 cup lettuce, shredded or chopped
½ cup sour cream (light or nonfat, of course)
Sliced jalapenos
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place chips on plate or other baking dish. Make sure you use chips thick enough to hold a good scoop of your favorite toppings, like Mission rounds or triangles.
Season chicken and beans with taco seasoning. Spoon onto chips, then sprinkle with cheese. I’ve used cheddar, but I think monterey jack would be really good, too!
Bake for 5-10 minutes until cheese is melted. Garnish with onion, tomato, lettuce (ahem! Veggies!), sour cream and jalapenos. Try not to lick your fingers – and remember to share.
Last Friday night, I made nachos for Mark, Annalyn, Smitty and myself. It took about 15 minutes from start to table, and we were all stuffed afterward! We eat out on Friday nights a lot, and this was a great alternative to stuffing ourselves with greasy restaurant food – and it saved us money. Homemade chicken nachos are SO my new favorite thing!
What restaurant food do you make at home to save calories and dollars? Or, what food would you choose to eat every day for the rest of your life?
This post will be linked to Mouthwatering Monday, Tasty Tuesday, Tuesdays at the Table, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, Works for Me Wednesday, Foodie Friday, Friday Firsts and Food on Fridays. It will also be linked to Ingredient Spotlight at Eat at Home.
This post is sponsored by Mission Foods, one of the largest producers of tortilla products and a dedicated supporter of Share Our Strength and its goal of ending childhood hunger in America through employee volunteerism and nationwide fundraising efforts. However, the experience and opinions are my own. For more information, you can read my Disclosure Policy.
We just eat the restaurants favorite foods at the restaurant. No body does it better….lol….At home it is usually very simple fare. Pork chops, etc. Pasta would have to be my choice for the rest of my life but hubs would have to fend for himself because he doesn’t like past.
We eat a lot of pasta, too – thank goodness for the high fiber or whole wheat kinds to make it a little healthier!
Nachos would be my pick too!! It’s my staple at any mexican restaurant. I just had Moe’s yesterday for lunch :)
The funny thing about my love of nachos is that I love getting it as an appetizer (to SHARE!) at restaurants but don’t normally get them at Mexican restaurants!
Oh! I do believe I have everything to make these right now! Well, no beans, but everything else. This will be perfect after we go out in the snow AGAIN! Thanks!
What food would I eat every day…. that varies… so I guess I don’t have one. LOL…
I hope this warmed you up in between rounds of playing in the snow!
I just decided to start trying to lose weight and you post this? PERFECT! Those nachos look ridiculously yummy! I MUST try them!
What could I eat everyday? Anything pasta related and salad. I LOVE salads!
Well, that love of salad should help with the weight loss, right?
How wonderful would a cookie diet be? Like, really? LOL, however, that’s just not happening. A nacho diet would also make me pretty happy!
I would even be willing to alternate days – cookies one day, nachos the next. Haha!
We too LOVE nachos!! I found this recipe in a cookbook called Perfect Mexican that you MUST try. Only catch…the Gruyere cheese is pricey so we only make these nachos on special occasions which makes them that much more craved for!
1 14oz can refried beans WARMED, 2 tbsp finely chopped jalapeno chlies (you can find these whole in a bottle, I only put on one side of the nachos as I’m not a jalapeno gal :), 7oz can or jar of pimientos( or roasted bell peppers) drained & finely sliced, salt & pepper, 4 oz Gruyere cheese grated, 4 oz Cheddar cheese grated. Pre-heat oven to 400. Spread tortilla chips over the bottom of a large shallow oven proof dish or roasting pan. Cover with warmed refried beans, top with chilies, pimientos, salt & pepper. Mix the cheeses together in a seperate bowl & then sprinkle on top. Bake 5-8 minutes or until cheese is bubbling & melted. ENJOY!!
Kim, that recipe sounds SO good!!! (And why DOES cheese have to be so expensive?!)
We love this copycat “Zaxby’s sauce!”
http://www.myheartsdesireblog.com/2011/01/zaxbys-dipping-sauce_05.html
I have got to make these nachos! Just yesterday I was thinking how bad I was craving chicken nachos!!
Blessings,
Amanda
visiting from Blogfrog
Thanks for stopping by from BlogFrog, Amanda!
Those look quite yummy. But is it any good with all that lowfat stuff? (i.e. cheese & sour cream) And aren’t the chips still fattening and salty? (I’m hoping you tell me I’m mistaken and to eat up — of course, I might do that anyway;)
I didn’t use low-fat cheese, but the sour cream is what I always use. And it’s probably better, actually, to use baked tortilla chips. I think I’d rather do that than low-fat cheese!
I LOVE nachos.
LOVE and we ALWAYS use black beans and cheese and sour cream and jalapenos and sour cream ;-0 and guacamole and yum ;-)
We love nachos! This looks delish and so easy, too!
If I was pregnant right now I would have to go out (in the SNOW!) for these ingredients!!!! I always craved this then ;-) Looks SOOOO yummy!!!!
Blessings!
Melanie
I love the lightness of a chicken nacho. Looks delicious.
Such a simple and delicious recipe! Thanks for sharing! :)
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Chicken nachos are my favorite. If you want to up the flavor even more add some barbecue sauce to the chicken.