Entrees Archives - Southern Couture

Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole Perfect for Weeknight Dinner

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. I pinky promise. #MuellersMatchmaker #CollectiveBias

You are going to want to save this recipe for a cheesy chicken and broccoli casserole perfect for weeknight dinner and when having guests over.

Trying to come up with what to cook for dinner every night during the week can become so exhausting and frustrating at times. With so much going on during our daily lives, many times we feel it is so much easier to just run through the drive-thru and be done. Yes, I have done that many, many times. I am guilty too. I have always loved cooking, but I love finding new recipes to try instead of the same ol’ thing. but I have found a solution that takes all the guesswork out of dinner and gives you the recipe customized for your family or situation.

Let’s take what used to be a “chore” of making dinner into a fun adventure. I’m going to show you how now! It all starts with the Mueller’s®…

Pasta Matchmaker Quiz!!!

Click the link above and you will find a short series of questions for you to answer based of your family and specific preferences. The quiz will then generate one out of 30 different recipes for you to make for dinner that night. *If you are having guests over and need some inspiration on what to make, then use this quiz and select the number of people for a recipe that makes it easy to be the hostess.

I took the quiz and received this cheesy chicken and broccoli casserole. I was behind excited because these are all ingredients that I just love and really are comfort food for me. The recipe calls for Mueller’s® Elbows pasta. The great thing about Mueller’s® too is that you can be so versatile with any of these recipes and change the pasta for a different kind that you may prefer better. Change the vegetable even. Have fun when you’re cooking and make it to your preference too.

INGREDIENTS: (Recipe credit: Mueller’s®)

16 ounces Mueller’s® Elbows
16 ounces Frozen broccoli
2 Tbsp butter
1/4 cup All-purpose flour
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste
2 cups Milk
3 cups Shredded cheddar cheese
2 cups cooked chicken, diced
Nonstick cooking spray

*Recipe card below.

First head over to Kroger where you will find a large assortment of Mueller’s® pasta and any other ingredients you will need.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Cook pasta according to package directions; after 6 minutes of boiling, add broccoli to pasta and continue cooking per package directions; drain and set aside.

Return hot, empty pan to medium heat and add butter. Once butter has melted, whisk in flour until blended well. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Add milk and cook, whisking constantly, until mixture simmers.

Remove from heat, and stir in 2 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, stirring until melted and smooth.

Add chicken pasta, and broccoli, and stir gently to mix.

Place in baking dish. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes or until internal temperature is 165 degrees F.

Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese and bake, uncovered, for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Now serve and enjoy!!

This casserole was absolutely gobbled up and great for leftovers. You will definitely be wanting seconds and thirds.

But now it’s time for you to get dinner on the table for your family or guests. Take the stress out now, and take the Pasta Matchmaker Quiz. Then head to Kroger for your ingredients. You will want to be sure to pay attention to the dates below for the Mueller’s® Challenge. Once you take the quiz and prepare the recipe with your own spin on it, then submit it for a chance to win prizes.

Challenge #1: January 1 – January 21

Challenge #2: January 22 – February 4

Challenge #3: February 5 – February 18

Challenge #4: February 19 – March 4

Challenge #5: March 5 – March 18

Challenge #6: March 19 – April 1

I can now say that “I AM A PASTA MATCHMAKER.” and would definitely use this quiz again and again for dinner ideas. Half the battle is finding the recipe or dinner idea and now you don’t even have to worry about that.

Now go take the quiz now and don’t forget to enter your recipe for a chance to win prizes. Let me know in the comments below what recipe you get and how it turns out. I would love to know plus it gives me another dinner idea. Check out what others are making as well for more ideas you can keep for another night.

Save Print

Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole Perfect for Weeknight Dinner

Author: Recipe from Mueller's

Recipe type: Casserole/Entree

Prep time: 20 mins

Cook time: 25 mins

Total time: 45 mins

Serves: 8 servings

You are going to want to save this recipe for a cheesy chicken and broccoli casserole perfect for weeknight dinner and when having guests over.

Ingredients

16 ounces Mueller’s® Elbows
16 ounces Frozen broccoli
2 Tbsp butter
¼ cup All-purpose flour
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste
2 cups Milk
3 cups Shredded cheddar cheese
2 cups cooked chicken, diced
Nonstick cooking spray

Instructions

First head over to Kroger where you will find a large assortment of Mueller’s® pasta and any other ingredients you will need.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Cook pasta according to package directions; after 6 minutes of boiling, add broccoli to pasta and continue cooking per package directions; drain and set aside.
Return hot, empty pan to medium heat and add butter. Once butter has melted, whisk in flour until blended well. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Add milk and cook, whisking constantly, until mixture simmers.
Remove from heat, and stir in 2½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, stirring until melted and smooth.
Add chicken pasta, and broccoli, and stir gently to mix.
Place in baking dish. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes or until internal temperature is 165 degrees F.
Sprinkle with remaining ½ cup cheese and bake, uncovered, for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Now serve and enjoy!!

January 25, 2017/2 Comments/by Bethany

Entrees, Recipes

Slow Cooker Pork Roast 3 Ways

Let dinner cook its self with this recipe for a slow cooker pork roast 3 ways. You will have dinner solved for half the week.

The best things in life are usually those that are simple. Not everything has to be complex and difficult which is why I absolutely adore this recipe or should I say recipes today that will make dinner so much easier for you.

Slow Cooker Pork Roast 3 Ways

It all starts with a pork roast made using a slow cooker. You just put it in that morning and let it go all day. Then it’s ready when you are ready for dinner.

I also have found that this pork roast goes a long way which makes it perfect for entertaining guests and also to have dinner for 3 different nights with minimal work.

Below you will find 3 different ways to use this pork roast recipe and have dinner for 3 different nights. I love leftovers and this is the perfect way to mix it up and not eat the same thing over and over.

First let’s start with the slow cooker pork roast recipe.

Ingredients:

1- 3 lb. pork roast *I use 3 lbs. for Mark and I which is the perfect amount for 3 dinners.
Salt
Pepper
1 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons cumin
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 large yellow onion, diced

Directions:

Season the pork roast on all sides generously with salt and pepper.
Place in a pan on high heat and brown all sides.
In a separate bowl, combine the ketchup, chili powder, light brown sugar, chili powder, cumin, and garlic cloves.
Place the pork roast and diced onions in the slow cooker and top with the sauce mixture until the pork roast is completely covered.
Cook on low for 8 hours. *I usually cook mine on low for 8 hours and then on high for about an hour or 2 before dinner.
Shred the pork removing any excess fat. Pour some of the remaining excess juices and onions from the slow cooker on top of the pork for a sauce.

Dinner #1: Shredded Pork Tacos

Heat tortilla shells in a skillet and then add the shredded pork. I usually top ours with guacamole, my homemade restaurant style salsa recipe, and a sprig of cilantro.

Serve with chips and salsa and you are good to go.

Dinner #2: BBQ Pork Sandwiches

Combine some shredded pork in a bowl with your favorite BBQ sauce. Top a sesame seed bun with the shredded pork and top with a couple pickle chips. I also love to top mine with slaw.

Serve with french fries or potato chips.

Dinner #3: BBQ Pork Tacos

Why not enjoy a BBQ sandwich on a taco too? Combine shredded pork and BBQ sauce in a bowl and then place inside a warmed tortilla shell. Top with shredded cheddar cheese and pickle chips.

Serve with slaw or baked beans.

Now you have 3 dinners just waiting on you from one slow cooker and about 10 minutes of work to get the slow cooker going. I love knowing that my pork roast is in the slow cooker and I don’t have to think about or worry about what I’m fixing for dinner.

Let me know in the comments below which of the 3 is your favorite and if you found this recipe helpful.

Also if you have not already, please join me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. I would love to hear from you with any comments, suggestions, or ideas you may have.

P.S. Please share this post with others if you enjoyed it and found it helpful. We love when you pass on goodness to others.

June 8, 2016/2 Comments/by Bethany

Entrees, Recipes

Mexican Inspired Sausage Chili Bread Bowl

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. I pinky promise! #YesYouCAN #CollectiveBias

Do you ever start getting those mid-winter blues of wishing and dreaming for more sunshine and warm air? This Mexican Inspired Sausage Chili Bread Bowl recipe should help to keep your hands and heart warm as you snuggle up under a blanket with a big ol’ bowl.

Valentine’s Day has now passed and we all dream of summer vacation without a doubt. For some of us the warmer temps come sooner, but for others the snow seems like it will never stop falling. Keep your family satisfied and happy as can be with a dinner that is comforting and easy for you to prepare at the same time.

Mexican Inspired Sausage Chili Bread Bowl

Ingredients:

2 14.5 oz can Hunt’s canned stewed tomatoes
1 8 oz can Hunt’s tomato paste
1 lb Ground sausage
1 can Chili beans
Medium onion, diced
Medium green bell pepper, diced
Small jalapeno pepper, diced
1 T Chili powder
1 T Garlic powder
1 tsp Cumin
Black pepper, to taste
Salt, to taste
1 can water
Hot sauce, to taste
Shredded cheddar cheese, for topping
Red onion, diced for topping
Cilantro, for garnish
Large roll to hold chili

When I am needing a meal idea for something that is easy to prepare but yet still delicious, I love to make it easier on myself by getting canned goods. I can take the canned goods and add some fresh produce to make it even better.

Hunt’s canned tomatoes are a favorite of mine making my job so much easier.

You can find them at Walmart along with the onion, bell pepper, and jalapeno pepper that I picked up in the fresh produce section.

Brown sausage in a large pot over medium heat until fully cooked. But wait for it….

The Easiest Way to Cook Ground Meat

No more standing over the stove with your wrist about to fall off because you are cutting and chopping, and pressing the meat trying to get it into tiny pieces. All you need is your POTATO MASHER. Yes, a potato masher!

Season your meat with salt and pepper and then start mashing it with the potato masher. I know you are probably thinking, “You are mashing all the juices out of it.” I would never recommend you do this when fixing a hamburger for example, but you are already cooking the meat down into small pieces in its own juices. The meat will still be tender; trust me.

Continue mashing until the meat is broken down into small pieces. The potato masher helps to separate the meat doing the work for you. A spatula just doesn’t cut it anymore.

NOW, back to the chili.

Once the sausage is fully cooked, drain any excess fat and add the canned tomatoes, tomato paste, chili beans, onion, bell pepper, jalapeno pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, salt, and pepper.

Add a can of water little at a time if needed to add more liquid. *You may not need the whole can.

Bring the pot to a boil and then reduce to low and cover. Let simmer for about one hour.

Once the chili has thickened and you are ready to serve, cut your bread with a slice off the top and dig out the inside. Be sure to not thin it out too much that the chili starts to leak. *Don’t throw out the delicious insides either. Are you crazy? Those are perfect for soaking up, or “sopping up” as my Maw Maw says, the juices.

Pour some chili into each bowl and top with the hot sauce, cheddar cheese, red onion, and cilantro. Your one-pot dinner is complete and ready to enjoy. All you need now is a warm blanket, your favorite show on TV, and you are all set to relax after a long day.

Let me know in the comments below what ways you love to enjoy food and keep warm during the winter months. Be sure to check out more heart warming recipes HERE too.

Also if you have not already, please join me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. I would love to hear from you with any comments, suggestions, or ideas you may have.

P.S. Please share this post with others if you enjoyed it and found it helpful. We love when you pass on goodness to others.

February 16, 2016/4 Comments/by Bethany

Entrees, Recipes Side Dish

Host a Trial Run Christmas Dinner

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertisers. All opinions are mine alone. I pinky promise! #ForTheLoveOfHam #CollectiveBias

Christmas dinner at your house?! What?! Don’t panic! Not yet anyways. Having a beautiful spread on your dinner table doesn’t have to be complicated, scary, intimidating, or any other terrifying word you can think of. I have the perfect idea to help calm your nerves this year and get you prepared in no time.

Host a Trial Run Christmas Dinner

Why not have a trial run dinner and invite your friends and neighbors that wouldn’t normally come on Christmas Day for a special gathering? You can start a new tradition this year. Plus I’m sure their full bellies will thank you afterwards too.

The perfect way to start your Christmas dinner without any stress is to think about a meat that is already fully cooked but just has to be heated. Then you aren’t standing over the oven all day constantly worrying if the ham will be ready. Hormel Cure 81 bone-in ham is the perfect solution. You can even get it in a Cherrywood flavor at Walmart too along with any other groceries for dinner you may need.

I heated mine according to the package directions and also made a glaze for the ham consisting of brown sugar mixture that came with the ham and soda poured over the top a few minutes before being finished.

You can tell someone else really wanted in on the action while I was cooking it. He is my little helper chef.

This ham really just consists of heating it up and then adding a little pizazz with the glaze making it look and taste much more complicated. Your guests will never know the difference. Why not get the same taste without all the extra work? Save that time and energy for wrapping presents. Plus it was absolutely delicious.

Now what’s a ham without some delicious side dishes? No worries. I’ve got you covered there too. I am going to share a recipe for a delicious sweet potato soufflé that you just can’t pass up. The brown sugar crumble on top pairs perfectly with the glaze on the ham too.

Ingredients:

4 medium sized mashed Sweet Potatoes
1 cup Sugar
1/3 stick Butter
1 tsp Vanilla extract
2 Eggs
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 cup Milk

Topping:

1 cup Brown Sugar
1/3 cup All-Purpose Flour
1 cup Pecans, crushed
1/2 stick Butter, melted

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Using a hand mixer, combine the sweet potatoes, sugar, butter, vanilla extract, eggs, salt, and milk.

Spoon into a greased baking dish.

In a separate bowl combine the brown sugar, flour, pecans, and butter.

Sprinkle the sugar mixture on top of the sweet potato mixture.

Bake for about 30-35 minutes.

My family usually requests I make this for both Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. It’s so tasty that I could almost just skip dessert (keyword being almost).

Now just add some dinner rolls and deviled eggs along with the Hormel Cure 81 bone-in ham and you have a delicious dinner that is perfect for any Christmas gathering. Cooking and hosting for the holidays doesn’t have to be stressful or complicated.

Try your own trial run dinner this year with neighbors while being a blessing to them at the same time. It’s never a bad thing to share the love this time of year and always. Plus they can give you their opinion too before the big day!

If you decide to have your own trial run, please let me know how it goes. I would love to know. Plus let me know in the comments below what your go-to recipes are to make Christmas dinner easier for you.

Also if you have not already, please join me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. I would love to hear from you with any comments, suggestions, or ideas you may have.

P.S. Please share this post with others if you enjoyed it and found it helpful. We love when you pass on goodness to others.

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Sweet Potato Souffle

Author: Southern Couture

Recipe type: Side Dish

Prep time: 15 mins

Cook time: 30 mins

Total time: 45 mins

A perfect combination of sweet potatoes with a brown sugar and pecan crumble that will melt in your mouth

Ingredients

4 medium sized mashed Sweet Potatoes
1 cup Sugar
⅓ stick Butter
1 tsp Vanilla extract
2 Eggs
½ tsp Salt
½ cup Milk
Topping:
1 cup Brown Sugar
⅓ cup All-Purpose Flour
1 cup Pecans, crushed
½ stick Butter, melted

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Using a hand mixer, combine the sweet potatoes, sugar, butter, vanilla extract, eggs, salt, and milk. Spoon into a greased baking dish.
In a separate bowl combine the brown sugar, flour, pecans, and butter.
Sprinkle the sugar mixture on top of the sweet potato mixture.
Bake for about 30-35 minutes.

December 8, 2015/3 Comments/by Bethany

Entrees, Recipes

{Ad} Smokin’ Buffalo Burger Topped with Jalapeno Potato Chips

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

Who loves spicy food with a kick? I know I do and so does my husband. Anything with Buffalo flavor is just divine in my opinion so why not take the spicy and bring it to a burger which happens to be another favorite in our house.

For some reason, burgers and grilling tend to be a “guy” thing. My husband loves to use the grill and is quite good at it that he has become known as the “Grill Master” in my house. I on the other hand not so much. I really don’t even know where to get started with it as sad as that sounds because he has always used the grill.

Now when I want to surprise him with dinner and need the grill, I don’t have to worry anymore. I discovered these Ball Park® Flame Grilled Patties at Publix in the frozen section. They don’t require any grilling and are ready right out of the microwave in about a minute. Plus they are already fully cooked with a flame-grilled taste.

I couldn’t believe that they actually tasted grilled and took no time to make. I knew he would love it and would think I actually grilled them.

To make this dinner even better, I wanted to make a Smokin’ Buffalo Burger that I knew he would love. Plus it’s different from just the same ordinary burger all the time.

Ingredients:

Ball Park® Flame Grilled Patties

Hamburger buns
Hot sauce
Ranch dressing
Lettuce
Tomato
Blue cheese or feta cheese crumbles
Jalapeno flavored potato chips

First start by heating your Ball Park® Patties in the microwave according the instructions on the bag.

Take it out and start assembling your burger. I spread ranch dressing on the buns and then topped the Ball Park® Patties with lettuce, tomato, hot sauce, and feta cheese crumbles.

Now for the best part that really takes this burger over the top is the jalapeno potato chips. Place a few on the top and then hear them crunch as you push the bun down. That is one of my favorite sounds. Weird right?

If your husband is needing a quick meal to take on the road then this burger is absolutely perfect. The fact that you can microwave it shortens the cook time tremendously. Wrap it up in some parchment paper and he has the perfect lunch to go.

Now that you have enjoyed a delicious burger, head over to enter a giveaway for a Publix gift card HERE and keep enjoying these Ball Park® Patties. It takes only a minute to cook them and about the same time to enter the giveaway. Best of luck!

Let me know what flavor of Ball Park® Patties you try as they come in different varieties and even chicken too. I would love to know in the comments below.

Also if you have not already, please join me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. I would love to hear from you with any comments, suggestions, or ideas you may have.

P.S. Please share this post with others if you enjoyed it and found it helpful. We love when you pass on goodness to others.

September 10, 2015/8 Comments/by Bethany

Entrees, Recipes

Gluten Free Pizza and Italian Inspired Salad with Homemade Dressing

Gluten Free Pizza + Italian Inspired Salad

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

If there is one thing I look forward to after a long work week, it would have to be having a Friday night pizza night followed by the viewing of several insanely good movies. There is something about preparing a meal for my family that requires little work but is still well-rounded that makes me happy. Plus it has something to do with cuddling up to my husband on the couch.

Because I love pizza so much and even frozen pizza, I was so excited when I came across the Freschetta Gluten Free Thin & Crispy Four Cheese Pizza at Publix.

I have been a food allergy sufferer for many years and have a sensitive stomach. Well I am not alone apparently. About 15 million other Americans suffer from food allergies too. I was surprised to find that 1 in 13 children are affected as well. Because so many are also noticing that they have problems after eating food with gluten, people are trying to eliminate it from their diet completely.

Well Freschetta’s gluten free pizza is certainly good news for all those people. It’s good to know you can still enjoy a pizza without missing out. Plus they even have the gluten free version in a single serve pizza that would be great to take to work for lunch.

My four cheese pizza was just begging me for more cheese because you can never get enough cheese. So I crumbled some feta cheese on top to make it a 5 cheese pizza.

I wanted to also be sure to get our veggies in somehow, so I made a delicious Italian inspired salad with a homemade dressing. It was such a big hit and was even delicious the next day for lunch with any leftovers.

Ingredients:

Lettuce of your choice- I used spinach and butter lettuce.
Banana peppers
Red onion diced
Croutons
Feta cheese crumbled
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste
Little less than 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 Tbsp Lemon juice
3 Garlic cloves minced

Combine the lettuce, banana peppers, red onion, croutons, and feta cheese in a large bowl until well incorporated together. Set aside to make the dressing.

I use a dressing bottle that has a metal whisk in the middle to mix all my ingredients together. I love this thing. It works wonders because I can store it in the refrigerator and then remix it the next time I am having a salad.

Whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic. Add salt and pepper to taste. Now all you need to do is pour it over the top of the salad, give it a good toss, and then sprinkle a little more salt and pepper on top.

Let the movie night and relaxation begin. Enjoy a little cuddle time, or maybe a lot.

Also, get a digital coupon HERE through September 6 for $1.50 off 2 Freschetta’s Gluten Free Pizzas.

Are you thinking up some delicious way to enjoy your pizza already? Let me know in the comments below. Check out more delicious ideas for dinner HERE as well if you are looking for something new.

Also if you have not already, please join me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. I would love to hear from you with any comments, suggestions, or ideas you may have.

P.S. Please share this post with others if you enjoyed it and found it helpful. We love when you pass on goodness to others.

August 27, 2015/2 Comments/by Bethany

Entrees, Recipes

Scrumptious Sloppy Joes

Comfort foods are a must for certain days. There is nothing else that seems to help but to just indulge and enjoy something really yummy! There is only one problem. Usually my comfort food consist of ice cream, pizza, biscuits & gravy, etc. which is so fattening it’s not funny. So I knew I needed a good alternative which brought me to these sloppy joes.

Now first let me say they aren’t the healthiest recipe out there by no means. I still use certain ingredients that would be a no-no to some people, but they are better than using the pre-package sauce or seasoning mix you would normally buy in the grocery store that are loaded down in sodium. I use ground turkey instead of ground beef as well. The other great thing is that I know exactly what is going into each one.

Sloppy joes are a comfort food for me because they are a quick and easy go-to dinner that can be made even after a long and hard day with very little effort which is always nice. The picture below shows mine with cheddar and sour cream chips, but we also have them with some sweet potato fries that you can just throw in the oven while your sloppy joes are simmering.

Now let’s dig in!

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground turkey
Small onion diced
½ large bell pepper diced
I cup ketchup
1 tbsp. brown sugar
1 tbsp. tomato paste
1 tbsp. yellow mustard
Dash of hot sauce
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
Garlic powder, to taste
2/3 cup water
Sandwich buns

First heat your skillet on medium high. Brown the ground turkey. Before being almost completely done, add in the onion and bell pepper until soft.

Add ketchup, tomato paste, yellow mustard, hot sauce, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder stirring to combine.

Add in the water and stir again. Reduce the heat to low and let simmer for about 20-30 minutes until the sauce has thickened.

Serve on sandwich buns with potato chips or sweet potato fries. We enjoy the sesame seed or Hawaiian hamburger buns.

Now you have a simple but tasty dinner ready to go. Plus what kids don’t love sloppy joes. You could also add some diced carrot with the onion and bell peppers to sneak those vegetables in for the more picky eaters.

Also don’t you love that red porcelain mason jar? I found it on clearance at TJ Maxx for $2.00 and just couldn’t pass it up.

I hope you enjoy even the little things in life like a good comfort food.

I also shared a recipe recently for my blackened tilapia tacos with avocado cream sauce. Another healthy and delicious meal that is easy to make for a quick dinner.

Also if you have not already, please join me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. I would love to hear from you with any comments, suggestions, or ideas you may have.

April 22, 2015/21 Comments/by Bethany

Entrees, Recipes Dinner

Blackened Tilapia Tacos with Avocado Cream Sauce

Now that the sun is shining and the weather is finally warming up, it is now time for bathing suits, shorts, beach trips, and pool parties. Because bathing suit season is so close upon us, I know for me that means wanting to shed a few extra pounds I may have put on during all the yummy holiday eating.

Cooking healthier can get boring sometimes with the same recipes and go-to meals if you aren’t careful. For me and Mark that means sitting down each week searching for new healthy recipes and making a grocery list. If I don’t plan ahead, then it is so easy to be tempted to get fast food.

If you are looking for something different but is still delicious to change things up a bit, then I have the perfect recipe for you. These blackened tilapia tacos can also be changed up a bit if you don’t like seafood. I have also made the recipe the same but used chicken. Mark really loves the chicken maybe even better than the tilapia, but I love the tilapia!

The inspiration for this recipe came from a local Mexican restaurant that me and Mark recently discovered. I ordered three tacos with corn tortillas and had a variety of meat to choose from. They were delicious, but it got me to thinking that I could make the same thing at home plus I would know what exactly was in it.

Ingredients:

2 Tilapia fillets
Corn tortillas

Blackened Seasoning:

2 tbsp Paprika
2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Onion powder
1 tsp Garlic powder
1 ½ tsp Cayenne pepper
1 1/2 tbsp Black pepper
½ tsp Oregano

Slaw:

3 oz Prepackaged Broccoli slaw
1 tbsp Lime juice
¼ cup Cilantro
Small onion diced
Salt to taste

Avocado Cream Sauce:

¼ cup Plain Greek yogurt
½ Avocado
1 tbsp Lime juice
¼ cup Cilantro
Salt to taste

Preheat the grill at medium-high about 10 minutes before grilling the tilapia.

Combine the spices for the blackened seasoning in a small bowl and then rub on each piece of tilapia. The above amount of seasoning is enough for 2 pieces of tilapia with some extra depending on how much seasoning you prefer. Set aside until ready to grill.

Combine the ingredients for the slaw and refrigerate until ready to serve.

In a food processor combine all the ingredients for the avocado cream sauce. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Now that your grill is heated, grill the tilapia on each side for approximately 3-4 minutes.

Once the fish is done, I like to warm my corn tortillas in a small pan on the stove by spraying the pan with non-stick olive oil spray between each shell.

Before assembling the taco, I usually will lightly shred the tilapia into small pieces and then place in a shell. Top it with the slaw and avocado cream sauce. I also top mine with a homemade salsa consisting of tomatoes, onions, cilantro, salt, and lime juice.

Two pieces of tilapia makes about 6 tacos which is enough for me and my husband.

I serve with tortilla chips and homemade salsa.

I hope you will enjoy this delicious dinner and not have the regret and guilt that you normally would after eating a Big Mac. If you want to make it even healthier, you could also try making Paleo friendly tortilla shells instead.

5.0 from 1 reviews

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Blackened Tilapia Tacos with Avocado Cream Sauce

Author: Bethany from Southern Couture

Recipe type: Dinner

Prep time: 15 mins

Cook time: 5 mins

Total time: 20 mins

Serves: 6 tacos

A delicious corn tortilla filled with blackened tilapia, a lime infused broccoli slaw, and topped with a cilantro avocado cream sauce

Ingredients

2 Tilapia fillets
Corn tortillas
Blackened Seasoning:
2 tbsp Paprika
2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Onion powder
1 tsp Garlic powder
1 ½ tsp Cayenne pepper
1½ tbsp Black pepper
½ tsp Oregano
Slaw:
3 oz Prepackaged Broccoli slaw
1 tbsp Lime juice
¼ cup Cilantro
Small onion diced
Salt to taste
Avocado Cream Sauce:
¼ cup Plain Greek yogurt
½ Avocado
1 tbsp Lime juice
¼ cup Cilantro
Salt to taste

Instructions

Preheat the grill at medium-high about 10 minutes before grilling the tilapia.
Combine the spices for the blackened seasoning in a small bowl and then rub on each piece of tilapia. The above amount of seasoning is enough for 2 pieces of tilapia with some extra depending on how much seasoning you prefer. Set aside until ready to grill.
Combine the ingredients for the slaw and refrigerate until ready to serve.
In a food processor combine all the ingredients for the avocado cream sauce. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Now that your grill is heated, grill the tilapia on each side for approximately 3-4 minutes.
Once the fish is done, warm the corn tortillas in a small pan on the stove by spraying the pan with non-stick olive oil spray between each shell.
Before assembling the taco, slightly shred the tilapia into small pieces and then place in a shell. Top it with the slaw and avocado cream sauce.
Two pieces of tilapia makes about 6 tacos.
Serve with tortilla chips and homemade salsa.

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April 10, 2015/49 Comments/by Bethany