Author: Mike

Buttery Garlic Fried Chicken using the Vortex

If you’re craving garlic flavor, you’ve come to the right place. My buttery garlic fried chicken made using the Vortex brings the garlic punch and then some. And crunchy skin? Craving that too? Got you covered there, too. This is some great chicken. Everyone will think you slaved for hours and had to deep-fry the chicken, but nope. No deep fryer here! No big huge bucket of oil required! Just a charcoal grill, some charcoal, a Vortex and a small number of ingredients and in no time you’ve got crazy good, amazing chicken!

Buttery Garlic Fried Chicken using the Vortex

Fantastically Crunchy, Fantastically Juicy

I’ve found that just about any recipe for deep-fried chicken can be adapted for use on the Vortex. This buttery garlic fried chicken using the Vortex is another great example. The key is to not have overly-thick batter. My experience has been that thick, pancake batter-like batter cooks unevenly and doesn’t end up with the crunch you are wanting. You’ll find that this recipe produces fantastic crunch while keeping the chicken moist, tender and super tasty. There’s no question that this chicken packs in both the butter and garlic flavors either.

VORTEX (IN)DIRECT HEAT for Charcoal Grills, Medium Size - For Weber Kettle 22 26.75 WSM Smokey Mountain XL Kamado XL Big Green Egg
VORTEX (IN)DIRECT HEAT for Charcoal Grills, Medium Size – For Weber Kettle 22 26.75 WSM Smokey Mountain XL Kamado XL Big Green Egg

Also try my Korean fried chicken and my spicy honey fried chicken made using the Vortex.

Buttery Garlic Fried Chicken using the Vortex
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5 from 1 vote

Buttery Garlic Fried Chicken using the Vortex

If you’re craving garlic flavor, you’ve come to the right place. My buttery garlic fried chicken made using the Vortex brings the garlic punch and then some. And crunchy skin? Craving that too? Got you covered there, too.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword fried chicken, garlicky, Vortex
Prep Time 1 day 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 546kcal
Author Inspired by a recipe from Forks ‘n Flipflops

Equipment

Ingredients

For the chicken

For the dredge

For the garlic butter

Instructions

For the chicken

  • Place the chicken in a large bowl or resealable container.
  • Combine the oil, garlic powder, minced garlic, salt and pepper.
  • Add to the chicken and toss gently to coat.
  • Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or up to 24 hours (preferred).

For the dredge

  • Fire up your grill with a Vortex full of charcoal. While it gets hot, prepare the chicken.
  • In a pie plate or shallow bowl, whisk together the flour, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
  • In another pie plate or shallow bowl, lightly beat the egg whites.
  • Remove chicken from marinade. Dip pieces into the egg whites and shake off excess.
  • Transfer chicken to flour to coat.
  • Return chicken to the egg whites and coat again. Shake off excess.
  • Transfer chicken to flour again and coat. Shake off excess and transfer to a wire rack or plate and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  • Transfer the chicken to the grill around the Vortex.
  • Cook for 45 minutes or until chicken reads at least 165 F.
  • Spoon half of the garlic butter from below over tops of chicken and cook another 5 minutes.
  • Serve plated with remaining garlic butter spooned over top of chicken.

For the garlic butter

  • Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
  • Add the garlic and saute for 1 minute.
  • Add remaining butter and stir until melted.
  • Add the parsley, salt and pepper. Stir.
  • Reduce heat to low and keep warm until ready to use.

Notes

I love this recipe using bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs but you can substitute your favorite cuts.

Nutrition

Calories: 546kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 248mg | Sodium: 2511mg | Potassium: 277mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1261IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 81mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Genuine Medium BBQ Vortex GIFT PACK for wsm Kettle 22 26.75 Big Green Egg kamado - 3 PC
Genuine Medium BBQ Vortex GIFT PACK for wsm Kettle 22 26.75 Big Green Egg kamado – 3 PC

Blackened Chicken Fingers

Come here, my little bites of yumminess! These blackened chicken fingers are scary good. Scary as in there’s no way I was able to control myself around them. Pick up one, dunk it in my favorite dipping sauce, devour. Repeat.

If you’re a fan of the spicy like I am, I highly recommend adding more of the blackened seasoning. And for even more of that great flavor, dust the chicken fingers with a bit more of the seasoning right after they come out of the fryer.

And yes, this recipe also makes great blackened chicken nuggets!

Blackened Chicken Fingers

Great Flavor, Everywhere!

I’m a big fan of adding seasonings (and not just salt and pepper) to my flour when I am making fried goodies like these blackened chicken fingers. You’ll often find me adding Old Bay (crazy good on fried chicken!), cayenne pepper, or even any ole mix I find in the pantry.

Emeril's Seasoning Blend, Blackened, 3.1 Ounce
Emeril’s Seasoning Blend, Blackened, 3.1 Ounce

If I’m cooking for a crowd, I’ll break out my big deep fryer. But, if it’s just the two of us, I’ll fire up my Fry Daddy fryer. It’s the perfect size for both of us. It fries everything perfectly. And as an added bonus, it doesn’t use a lot of oil, which saves me money.

I get out my big deep fryer when it’s time to fry a large batch of food. It comes to temperature quickly and it maintains that temperature perfectly. It has a built-in oil filter and storage unit so I can re-use the oil several times.

T-fal Ultimate EZ Clean Stainless Steel Deep Fryer with Basket 3.5 Liter Oil and 2.6 Pound Food Capacity 1700 Watts Oil Filtration, Temp Control, Digital Timer, Dishwasher Safe Parts Stainless Steel
T-fal Ultimate EZ Clean Stainless Steel Deep Fryer with Basket 3.5 Liter Oil and 2.6 Pound Food Capacity 1700 Watts Oil Filtration, Temp Control, Digital Timer, Dishwasher Safe Parts Stainless Steel

Also try my homemade chicken nuggets. Like them spicy? Yeah, make my spicy chicken nuggets too.

Blackened Chicken Fingers
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5 from 1 vote

Blackened Chicken Fingers

Come here, my little bites of yumminess! These blackened chicken fingers are scary good. Scary as in there’s no way I was able to control myself around them. Pick up one, dunk it in my favorite dipping sauce, devour. Repeat.
Course Appetizer or Main
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken fingers, spicy
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings 2
Calories 352kcal
Author Inspired by a recipe from My Bizzy Kitchen

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat a few inches of oil to 350 F in a deep fryer or Dutch oven.
  • Place the chicken strips in a bowl and sprinkle with two teaspoons of the blackened seasoning. Toss to coat.
  • In a medium bowl or pie plate combine the flour and remaining blackened seasoning.
  • In another medium bowl or pie plate, whisk together the egg, milk, and hot sauce.
  • Working in batches, dip the chicken pieces in the flour mixture and coat well. Transfer to the egg mixture and coat. Transfer back to the flour mixture and coat one last time.
  • Fry 5-6 minutes until golden brown and crunchy. The thicker your fingers are the longer they may take. Bigger pieces may take longer than 6 minutes.
  • Transfer to a wire rack-lined baking sheet to drain and cool slightly before serving.

Notes

Best served with Ranch dressing for dipping!

Nutrition

Calories: 352kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 43g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 203mg | Sodium: 1358mg | Potassium: 718mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 214IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

T-fal Ultimate EZ Clean Stainless Steel Deep Fryer with Basket 3.5 Liter Oil and 2.6 Pound Food Capacity 1700 Watts Oil Filtration, Temp Control, Digital Timer, Dishwasher Safe Parts Stainless Steel
T-fal Ultimate EZ Clean Stainless Steel Deep Fryer with Basket 3.5 Liter Oil and 2.6 Pound Food Capacity 1700 Watts Oil Filtration, Temp Control, Digital Timer, Dishwasher Safe Parts Stainless Steel

Bacon-Wrapped Pineapple Poppers

Oh my goodness. I could eat a lot, and I do mean a lot, of these bacon-wrapped pineapple poppers. They are the perfect combination of heat and sweet, smoky and creamy. I could eat them as appetizers. I could eat them for dessert. With little effort, and not much time, you can make a grill-full of these little yummies. Just stand back and watch them disappear! Make extra, you’re going to want them!

Bacon-Wrapped Pineapple Poppers

Make Extra. You’ll Need Them.

You can change up these bacon-wrapped pineapple poppers by simply using a different BBQ sauce. I wouldn’t touch the rest of the recipe, it’s perfect just like it is. Use a sweet BBQ sauce for your non-heat-lovin’ friends. Use a spicy BBQ sauce for your no-pain-no-gain friends. Or something in-between. Add a smoky BBQ sauce to give them that hot-off-the-charcoal grill flavor.

I recommend that you use a grill basket when making this dish. It makes cooking easier and you don’t have to worry about anything falling through the grates. And cleanup is easier too!

Weber Deluxe Grilling Basket
Weber Deluxe Grilling Basket

Also try my grilled okra poppers.

Bacon-Wrapped Pineapple Poppers
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5 from 1 vote

Bacon-Wrapped Pineapple Poppers

Oh my goodness. I could eat a lot, and I do mean a lot, of these bacon-wrapped pineapple poppers. They are the perfect combination of heat and sweet, smoky and creamy. 
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword bacon, pineapple
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Servings 10
Calories 933kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 20 large jalapenos cut in half lengthwise, membranes and seeds removed
  • 8 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 20 ounces crushed pineapple drained
  • 32 ounces bacon 20 pieces, cut in half in the middle to make 40 smaller pieces
  • your favorite BBQ sauce

Instructions

  • Fire up your grill for indirect cooking or low-heat direct cooking. You want a cook temperature around 375 F.
  • Place cream cheese and pineapple into a medium bowl and stir until well blended.
  • Spread cheese mixture into the jalapeno halves, leveling off the tops. You don't want any cheese 'mounds' or you'll have oozing.
  • Wrap bacon around the jalapenos.
  • Transfer to the grill and cook for 30 or so minutes until the bacon is beginning to crisp.
  • Brush the tops with BBQ sauce and cook another 5 minutes.
  • Remove jalapenos from grill to a wire rack and let cool just slightly before serving. The bacon will get crisper as they cool.

Notes

Try to get jalapenos that are all roughly the same size so that they cook consistently.

Nutrition

Calories: 933kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 98g | Saturated Fat: 40g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 210mg | Potassium: 171mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 635IU | Vitamin C: 39mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Weber 6493 21-Inch 3-Sided Grill Brush
Weber 6493 21-Inch 3-Sided Grill Brush

Slow Cooker Creole Sausage Sandwiches

I’m a member of the Sausage Sandwich Lovers Club. Well, I would be if there was such a club. Now normally, that means a grilled brat or kielbasa smothered in a red sauce with plenty of vegetables and cheese. Like my Italian version. These slow cooker Creole sausage sandwiches are a fantastic twist on what I normally make. Very simple flavors that come together over time with just the right ‘bite’. The sausages themselves are crazy good just as they are. Heck, I could eat them without putting them on a sandwich to be truthful.

Slow Cooker Creole Sausage Sandwiches

Mayo For The Win

For me, mayonnaise is an absolute must on these slow cooker Creole sausage sandwiches. You want something creamy, something smooth. It might sound a little weird but for me, mayonnaise is the way to go. Now, if you’re in the mood for a spicier version, just substitute a hot sausage for the Italian. And maybe even add a pinch or two of cayenne or red pepper flakes to the slow cooker.

Crock-Pot 7 Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel (SCV700-S-BR)
Crock-Pot 7 Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel (SCV700-S-BR)

I almost always use Blue Plate mayonnaise in the dishes I make. I think it is the best around. If you can’t find it locally you can pick it up online for a fair price.

Blue Plate Real Mayonnaise, Homestyle Mayo For Chicken Salad to Deviled Eggs, 30 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
Blue Plate Real Mayonnaise, Homestyle Mayo For Chicken Salad to Deviled Eggs, 30 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)

Also try my Italian sausage sandwiches.

Slow Cooker Creole Sausage Sandwiches
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5 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Creole Sausage Sandwiches

These slow cooker Creole sausage sandwiches are a fantastic twist on what I normally make. Very simple flavors that come together over time with just the right ‘bite’. 
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword creamy, crockpot, sandwich, sausage, slow cooker
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 15 minutes
Servings 12 servings
Calories 567kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 12 Italian sausages
  • 1 small red bell pepper cut into thin strips
  • 1 small orange bell pepper cut into thin strips
  • 1 small yellow bell pepper cut into thin strips
  • 1 large sweet onion halved, cut into thin strips
  • 1 ½ cups beef stock
  • 2 teaspoons Creole seasoning
  • 12 hot dog buns or Hoagie buns
  • 4 tablespoons mayonnaise or a bit more

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add the sausages and brown on all sides.
  • Remove to a slow cooker lightly sprayed with non-stick spray.
  • Add remaining ingredients except buns and mayo.
  • Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until the sausages have reached at least 165 F.
  • Divide mayonnaise between the buns. Don’t be shy, the mayonnaise really makes these dogs even better!
  • Top each bun with a sausage of some of the pepper/onion mixture and enjoy!

Notes

Use hot Italian sausages for a nice spicy sandwich!

Nutrition

Calories: 567kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 87mg | Sodium: 1123mg | Potassium: 472mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 541IU | Vitamin C: 31mg | Calcium: 104mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Reynolds Kitchens Slow Cooker Liners, Regular (Fits 3-8 Quarts), 6 Count
Reynolds Kitchens Slow Cooker Liners, Regular (Fits 3-8 Quarts), 6 Count

Slow Cooker Creamy Hash Brown Potatoes

I’m usually a crispy-hash-browns kind of guy. I like the potatoes to get that nice little crust on them.  And don’t tell anyone this, I like to put butter on them instead of ketchup. Well, this time I decided to go another route with frozen cubed hash brown potatoes. These slow cooker creamy hash brown potatoes are rich and tasty. They are the perfect breakfast side, whether breakfast is in the morning or for dinner. I’m a big fan of breakfast for dinner. I feel like I’m cheating when I have breakfast for dinner. Like I’m being bad and not getting caught.

Slow Cooker Creamy Hash Brown Potatoes

These Are Not Wimpy Potatoes

For a little kick to your slow cooker creamy hash brown potatoes add diced roasted jalapenos, or use a pepper jack cheese instead of the Colby jack. You can also substitute cayenne pepper for the paprika. It’ll still add the (needed) color and a little spiciness.

Crock-Pot 7 Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel (SCV700-S-BR)
Crock-Pot 7 Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel (SCV700-S-BR)

Also try making hash brown potatoes using a Cuisinart Griddler. You’ll also love my slow cooker buttermilk grits.

Slow Cooker Creamy Hash Brown Potatoes
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5 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Creamy Hash Brown Potatoes

These slow cooker creamy hash brown potatoes are rich and tasty. They are the perfect breakfast side, whether breakfast is in the morning or for dinner.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword crockpot, potatoes, slow cooker
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 35 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 366kcal
Author Inspired by a recipe from Spicy Southern Kitchen

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Spray your slow cooker with non-stick spray.
  • Place potatoes into slow cooker.
  • Combine the soup, cheese, sour cream, salt, pepper and paprika.
  • Pour over the potatoes.
  • Cover and cook on low for 4 hours, stirring a few times.
  • Stir in the cream cheese. Add butter or milk and stir if the mixture is too thick.
  • Cover and continue cooking another 30 minutes.

Notes

You can use cheddar instead of the Colby jack.

Nutrition

Calories: 366kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 673mg | Potassium: 448mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 788IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 307mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Reynolds Kitchens Slow Cooker Liners, Regular (Fits 3-8 Quarts), 6 Count
Reynolds Kitchens Slow Cooker Liners, Regular (Fits 3-8 Quarts), 6 Count

Slow Cooker Guinness Corned Beef

Bored of that same-ole, same-ole crockpot corned beef recipe? Well, here ya go! You’re not going to be disappointed with this slow cooker Guinness corned beef. Oh yeah, it’s tender and moist. And, boy oh boy is it ever packed with great flavor. The stout beer adds a tremendous deep flavor to each and every bite. The mustard adds a nice little kick, almost unexpected. And onion. I’m a big fan of onion, and I never hesitate to add it to a dish, be in the slow cooker or a steak marinade. It adds a great flavor to the meat for sure.

Slow Cooker Guinness Corned Beef

Oh, What A Great Sandwich This Makes!

Any time I made slow cooker Guinness corned beef it’s going to end up in one place and one place only: between two slices of nice marbled rye bread as a sandwich. I could probably get more creative with it by why would I? Usually that means a Reuben. I love a good Reuben sandwich. There’s no such thing as too many Reuben’s in my world. Sometimes, I go the Swiss-and-corned-beef route, with plenty of mustard. I like to put the sandwich under a broil, open-faced, for a few minutes to get the cheese nice and melted.

Crock-Pot 7 Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel (SCV700-S-BR)
Crock-Pot 7 Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel (SCV700-S-BR)

Also try my slow cooker chopped corned beef Reuben.

Slow Cooker Guinness Corned Beef
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5 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Guinness Corned Beef

Bored of that same-ole, same-ole crockpot corned beef recipe? Well, here ya go! You’re not going to be disappointed with this slow cooker Guinness corned beef. 
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword corned beef, crockpot, slow cooker
Cook Time 10 hours
Total Time 10 hours
Servings 8
Calories 504kcal
Author Based on a recipe from Closet Cooking

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Remove the corned beef from the packaging and rinse with cold water.
  • Transfer to a slow cooker fat-side up.
  • Add the pickling spice packet contents, onion, garlic, Guinness, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and pepper.
  • Cook on low 8-10 hours or until tender.
  • Remove from the slow cooker and let rest 15 minutes before slicing.

Notes

For the best results, make no substitutions.

Nutrition

Calories: 504kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 122mg | Sodium: 2828mg | Potassium: 738mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 5IU | Vitamin C: 63mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Reynolds Kitchens Slow Cooker Liners, Regular (Fits 3-8 Quarts), 6 Count
Reynolds Kitchens Slow Cooker Liners, Regular (Fits 3-8 Quarts), 6 Count

Slow Cooker Creamy Bacon Chicken

On a bun. As a dip. In a wrap. On a cracker. It doesn’t matter how you serve this slow cooker creamy bacon chicken, you’re going to love it. Tender, moist chicken. Creamy cheese. Bacon. Ranch dressing flavors. Bacon. Oh, I said that already. I love bacon. There’s no reason that you couldn’t add a bit more bacon to the crockpot. Kinda slip an extra piece or two in for that extra bacon-y flavor.

Slow Cooker Creamy Bacon Chicken

Creamy Deliciousness

Slow cooker creamy bacon chicken is mighty darned good as it is. Now, you know me (or well, maybe you don’t) but I like a little kick to my food. I would not be afraid to use jalapeno cream cheese instead of the plain stuff. And I wouldn’t be afraid to add a few squirts of Sriracha or my favorite hot sauce, either. Heck, throw in some diced roasted jalapenos too. You can always make two versions. One nice and mellow and one nice and spicy.

Shredded vs Cubed

If you want your chicken to have a bit more texture than the shredded version in the recipe, just cut into small cubes instead. Same great taste with a little bit different bite.

Crock-Pot 7 Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel (SCV700-S-BR)
Crock-Pot 7 Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel (SCV700-S-BR)

Also try my slow cooker teriyaki chicken.

Slow Cooker Creamy Bacon Chicken
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4 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Creamy Bacon Chicken

On a bun. As a dip. It doesn’t matter how you serve this slow cooker creamy bacon chicken, you’re going to love it. 
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken, crockpot, slow cooker
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 15 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 332kcal
Author Based on a recipe from Cookies and Cups

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place chicken into your slow cooker.
  • Top with the cheese and dressing seasoning.
  • Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or until the chicken is tender.
  • Remove the chicken and shred with a fork.
  • Return the meat to the slow cooker. Stir in the bacon.
  • Serve as a dip or on buns with extra sharp cheddar cheese as sandwiches.

Notes

Great on crackers or slider buns!

Nutrition

Calories: 332kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 122mg | Sodium: 452mg | Potassium: 635mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 64IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Reynolds Kitchens Slow Cooker Liners, Regular (Fits 3-8 Quarts), 6 Count
Reynolds Kitchens Slow Cooker Liners, Regular (Fits 3-8 Quarts), 6 Count

Oh Boy Po Boy

This is not the first time I’ve said it: The messier a sandwich looks, the better it’ll be. Just one glance and you know that this Oh Boy Po Boy is nothing but crazy good. And mighty messy. Like ‘get a bib’ messy. Blackened boneless chicken thighs, tender and as juicy as you can get. Roasted red bell peppers. Caramelized onions. And yes, cheese sauce. And lots of it. Oh heck of a lot of cheese sauce. More if you want more, it’s your sandwich. Heck, serve it with more cheese sauce on the side for dipping. No one is going to judge you.

Oh Boy Po Boy

A Few Thoughts…

The chicken can be cooked on the stovetop or on a grill. For the red bell peppers I’ve found myself using jarred deli strips more and more which are always in season, are reasonably priced and contain no preservatives. They make for a great shortcut. I also like to chop the peppers and add them to omelets. Or just put them on burgers on grilled hot dogs. They’re lightly sweet and are great on fattier (I mean juicier) meaty dishes.

You can substitute store-bought blackened seasoning if you want. I like making it home so I can control the salt. Actually, mine contains no salt!

Mezzetta Roasted Red Bell Peppers, 16 Ounce
Mezzetta Roasted Red Bell Peppers, 16 Ounce

Also try my ham and Swiss po boy.

Oh Boy Po Boy
Print Pin
5 from 1 vote

Oh Boy Po Boy

This is not the first time I’ve said it: The messier a sandwich looks, the better it’ll be. Just one glance and you know that this Oh Boy Po Boy is nothing but crazy good. 
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword sandwich
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 1 sandwich
Calories 728kcal
Author As seen on Carnival Eats

Equipment

Ingredients

Blackening seasoning

Instructions

  • Warm bread in the oven.
  • Meanwhile, toss the thighs with a splash of oil and blackening seasoning, to taste. I recommend that you not be shy with the seasoning. Get the chicken well-coated.
  • Heat a medium skillet over high heat and add the chicken.
  • Cook, stirring often, until chicken is done and measures 165 F.
  • Remove from heat, let cool slightly then slice into thin strips. Keep warm.
  • Add the onion to the skillet with a splash of oil and saute for 20-30 minutes or until caramelized. Remove and keep warm.
  • Wipe out the skillet, reduce heat to medium and add the cheese.
  • Melt, stirring occasionally.
  • Assemble sandwich by adding sliced chicken, peppers, onions, cheese.
  • Serve with plenty of napkins.

Blackening seasoning

  • Combine all ingredients.
  • Store extra seasoning in an air-tight container.

Notes

You can also grill the chicken after tossing it with the oil and seasoning.

Nutrition

Calories: 728kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 52g | Fat: 45g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 245mg | Sodium: 1500mg | Potassium: 1099mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 2361IU | Vitamin C: 40mg | Calcium: 540mg | Iron: 10mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)
Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)

Soft Pretzel Bites

Wow. I seriously had no idea how easy it would end up being to make soft pretzel bites at home. I figured no way could the dough get right. No way would it have the same texture, the same flavor. No way could I have been more wrong. These little morsels of yumminess are out-of-this-world great. Add a little warm cheese sauce for dipping and I’ve got a plate of … well, pretzel bites that are going to disappear in a seriously mind-bogglingly-fast amount of time.

What’s easier than making dough in a bread machine? Nothing! Well, if I’m not making it. I can mess even that up. Not this time. The dough is amazing. It’s so light, fluffy. It’s actually fun to play with. And easy to work with too!

Soft Pretzel Bites

Eat ‘Em Like Popcorn

I preferred to butter my soft pretzel bites then return them to the oven. The original recipe called for buttering them after they were fully baked. I found them to be a little ‘wet’ no matter how conservative I would be with the melted butter. So, I brushed them and let them bake a little longer to ‘set’ the butter. I think they were perfect and my wife definitely agreed!

Fleischmann's Yeast, Active, Dry, 0.75-Ounce Packet (Pack of 9)
Fleischmann’s Yeast, Active, Dry, 0.75-Ounce Packet (Pack of 9)

Also try my sourdough pretzel bites.

Soft Pretzel Bites
Print Pin
5 from 1 vote

Soft Pretzel Bites

These little morsels of yumminess are out-of-this-world great. Add a little warm cheese sauce for dipping and I’ve got a plate of … well, pretzel bites that are going to disappear in a seriously mind-bogglingly-fast amount of time.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword pretzel bites
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Servings 12
Calories 140kcal
Author Based on a recipe from Joyful Momma’s Kitchen

Equipment

Ingredients

For the dough

For the pretzel bites

Instructions

For the dough

  • Place warm water, flour, brown sugar and yeast into your bread machine in the order listed.
  • Select dough cycle and let process.
  • Flour a flat surface and turn the dough out into a large ball.
  • Roll flat and cut into 8 equally-sized pieces.
  • Roll each piece into a 12" rope about 1" thick.
  • Cut into bite-sized pieces. Depending on how well I rolled my dough I got 6-8 bites out of each.

For the pretzel bites

  • Bring 2 quarts of water and the baking soda to a fast boil.
  • Preheat oven to 425 F.
  • Working small batches, add the dough pieces to the boiling water and boil for 10 seconds.
  • Remove to a baking sheet that has been sprayed with non-stick spray or is lined with s silpat.
  • Bake the bites for 10 minutes or until just turning brown.
  • Lightly brush the bites with butter and sprinkle with salt.
  • Return to the oven to get golden brown.
  • Serve warm.

Notes

Store any leftover bites in an air-tight container.

Nutrition

Calories: 140kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1379mg | Potassium: 55mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Bambüsi Bamboo Bread Slicer with Knife - 3 Slice Thickness, Foldable Compact Cutting Guide with Crumb Tray, Stainless Steel Bread Knife for Homemade Bread, Cake, Bagels 5.5” Wide x 5” Tall
Bambüsi Bamboo Bread Slicer with Knife – 3 Slice Thickness, Foldable Compact Cutting Guide with Crumb Tray, Stainless Steel Bread Knife for Homemade Bread, Cake, Bagels 5.5” Wide x 5” Tall

Rio Grande Dip

I absolutely loved this dip. Almost all of my favorite flavors were in each bite. Italian sausage, onion, refried black beans (if you haven’t tried refried black beans, you should because they are great!), spicy tomato salsa, green chiles, and of course, cheese. Now, I didn’t go crazy with the cheese as I normally would in a dip like this Rio Grande dip. Nope, I love all of the ingredients so much that I wanted each to be represented. No hiding under the cheese!

Rio Grande Dip

A Totally Different Dip Experience

I found it interesting that the original recipe used Italian sausage. That’s what I used, and I loved it. It does seem that for a more southwestern angle, you might want to use Mexican chorizo or just ground beef. But no matter which you use, this Rio Grande dip is a winner.

I like to use my good ole trusty Dutch oven to make this dip and pretty much darned near anything like it on my stovetop. It’s nice and big and sturdy. That extra weight helps it maintain and distribute heat perfectly. As an added bonus, it’s actually pretty easy to clean up too!

Amazon Basics Enameled Cast Iron Covered Round Dutch Oven, 6-Quart, Blue
Amazon Basics Enameled Cast Iron Covered Round Dutch Oven, 6-Quart, Blue

Oh, and I would highly recommend making a double batch. This dip makes an excellent topping for nachos, hot dogs, or even baked potatoes. It’s good stuff!

Also try my pizza dip.

Rio Grande Dip
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5 from 1 vote

Rio Grande Dip

I didn’t go crazy with the cheese as I normally would in a dip like this Rio Grande dip. Nope, I love all of the ingredients so much that I wanted each to be represented. No hiding under the cheese!
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword dip, southwestern
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 16 servings
Calories 97kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • ½ pound Italian sausage I used hot, but you can also substitute Mexican chorizo
  • ½ cup sweet onion finely chopped
  • 2 15 ounce refried black beans
  • 1 ½ cups salsa
  • 1 4 ounce fire-roasted diced green chiles un-drained
  • 1 ½ cups Monterey Jack cheese shredded, plus more for garnish
  • cilantro chopped, for garnish
  • Tortilla or corn chips for serving

Instructions

  • Crumble the sausage into a large skillet or Dutch oven and brown over medium-high heat.
  • Add in the beans, salsa, and chile peppers. Stir. Bring to a simmer.
  • Add in the cheese and reduce heat to low. Stir to melt.
  • Serve with chips, garnished with more cheese and chopped cilantro, if desired.

Notes

Stir before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 97kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 334mg | Potassium: 120mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 199IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)
Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)