Southwestern Potato Casserole

What a wonderful casserole this southwestern potato casserole is! Fortunately, the recipe makes a really big batch (of course you could divide it or cut it in half), because we weren’t shy about eating it. I really liked the crunch that the tortilla chips added.  There’s a little hint of heat, but not much, so don’t worry about taking this to a potluck or family get-together.

Southwestern Potato Casserole

Yummy. And Easy.

The ingredients for this southwestern potato casserole aren’t fancy. And the steps to making it aren’t complicated. But in the end you’ll have a tasty, stick-to-your ribs dish that is packed with a lot of flavor.

Also try my tater tot casserole and my green bean casserole.

Southwestern Potato Casserole
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4 from 1 vote

Southwestern Potato Casserole

What a wonderful casserole this southwestern potato casserole is! 
Course Side
Cuisine Southwestern
Keyword casserole, potatoes, southwestern
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 12
Calories 304kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 F.
  • Place the soup, sour cream, onion, chile powder, Rotel and cheese into a large bowl. Stir.
  • Fold in the hash browns.
  • Spray a 9″ x 13″ baking dish with non-stick spray. Pour in the hash brown mixture and spread out evenly.
  • Sprinkle top of casserole with the chips and butter.
  • Bake for 45 minutes or until hot and bubbly and starting to brown.

Nutrition

Calories: 304kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 617mg | Potassium: 469mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 566IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 213mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Southwestern Cobb Salad

Boy, I love a good salad, and this loaded up southwestern Cobb salad was sure easy to love! Go nuts! Put anything you want onto it! We used our smoked turkey breast for extra yummy goodness!

Southwestern Cobb Salad

Get Inspired

Whenever I’m making Cobb salads for dinner, I start at the grocery store. I walk through the product section and grab whatever looks good. It’s easy to find inspiration for a southwestern Cobb salad. I add a protein or two (cubed chicken, ham or turkey always go well). And I add some crunch (bacon, crumbled chips, croutons). Rinsed canned beans are also a great addition to a Cobb salad. The end result is always fantastic.

I highly recommend that you shred or grate your own cheese at home. Don’t buy the pre-shredded or pre-grated stuff. It has stuff added to it to keep it from sticking together. That ‘stuff’ affects how the cheese melts. Shred it yourself and use the good stuff.

Also check out my awesome smoked chicken Cobb Salad.

Southwestern Cobb Salad
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5 from 1 vote

Southwestern Cobb Salad

Boy, I love a good salad, and this loaded up southwestern Cobb salad was sure easy to love! Go nuts! Put anything you want onto it! 
Course Main
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Author Mike

Ingredients

  • Red leaf lettuce chopped
  • Green leaf lettuce chopped
  • Smoked turkey cut into bite-sized cubes
  • Bacon cooked, drained, and crumbled
  • 1 can black beans rinsed, drained
  • 1 can sweet corn drained
  • Radicchio sliced thin
  • Tomato chopped
  • Red onion soaked in water for 10 minutes, then chopped fine
  • Avocado cubed
  • Extra sharp cheddar cheese shredded
  • Blue tortilla chips lightly crushed

Instructions

  • Line a platter with the lettuce and top with the remaining ingredients.

Nutritional values are approximate.

Southwestern Chili with Corn Chips

Give me a big ole bowl of Southwestern chili and some corn chips and I’m a happy guy. Make it spicy and I’m even happier. There’s a lot of stuff going on in this chili. Lots of great stuff. All things that I love. Despite the long ingredient list this is pretty much a ‘everything into the pot’ kind of recipe. So don’t let it scare you off. The flavors are amazing.

Southwestern Chili with Corn Chips

Not Your Usual Chili

This southwestern chili with corn chips isn’t your typical beef chili. Ya know, the one with beef, a broth. Some onion and tomatoes. Maybe some beans (if you’re outside of Texas, of course). It’s a lot more than that. It’s a mix of textures. Tender. Crunchy. Soft.

Want your chili spicier? Start with the Rotel. Grab the spicy stuff. The really hot stuff. Go find a jalapeno or two. Seed it. Or not. Dice it up. Add it in when you add the bell peppers. Add a pinch of cayenne. Or more than a pinch. Do it up right!

Also try my spicy ground beef chili.

Southwestern Chili with Corn Chips
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4 from 1 vote

Southwestern Chili with Corn Chips

Give me a big ole bowl (or plate) of Southwestern chili and some corn chips and I’m a happy guy. Make it spicy and I’m even happier.
Course Main
Cuisine Southwestern
Keyword chili, corn chips, southwestern
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 503kcal

Ingredients

Serving suggestion

  • Corn chips
  • Green onions sliced
  • sharp cheddar cheese shredded
  • Sour cream

Instructions

  • Heat a Dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat. Crumble the beef into the pot and cook until done. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate. Remove all but 1 tablespoon of the drippings.
  • Add the onion and peppers and cook until starting to soften.
  • Add the garlic and cook another minute.
  • Add the tomato paste, chili powders, oregano, paprika, cumin and pepper flakes.Stir.
  • Stir in the masa and 1/2 cup of water. The mixture will begin to thicken.
  • Add the tomatoes, corn, kidney beans and beef. Stir. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer and continue simmering for at least 15 minutes.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Serve with desired toppings.

Nutrition

Calories: 503kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 559mg | Potassium: 1475mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 1814IU | Vitamin C: 42mg | Calcium: 111mg | Iron: 8mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Crispy Corn Fritters

Whoa, these crispy corn fritters were good. I had some sweet corn in the freezer left from our favorite corn farm, My Dad’s Sweet Corn in Tipton, Indiana. Their corn is so sweet and delicious. It made these fritters into something special!

Crispy Corn Fritters

Served With A Kicked-Up Sauce

I served these crispy corn fritters with our favorite Southwestern sauce. The sauce has just the right amount of kick to compliment that great corn sweetness. A little sweet, a little heat. When you get the combination just right you have a great dish!

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.

Fresh corn is best for making these fritters, but you can use canned or even frozen. Just make sure that the corn is thawed if frozen, well drained, and patted dry before using.

This recipe is based on a recipe from Food Blogga.

Crispy Corn Fritters
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5 from 1 vote

Crispy Corn Fritters

Fresh corn is best for making these fritters, but you can use canned or even frozen. Just make sure that the corn is thawed if frozen, well drained, and patted dry before using.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword deep-fried, fritters
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 14
Calories 63kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil plus more for frying
  • 1 cup sweet corn kernels you can substitute a drained can of corn, about 2 cups, but you’ll want to double the rest of the recipe
  • 2 green onions sliced thin
  • 1 small red bell pepper diced
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
  • 1 cup Bisquick
  • 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning
  • 1 lime zested
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup Southwestern sauce

Instructions

  • Heat the 2 teaspoons of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add the corn and cook, stirring, about 2 minutes or until the corn turns golden brown.
  • Add the green onion and bell peppers and saute 3-5 minutes or until the vegetables just start to soften.
  • Remove from heat and stir in the parsley.
  • Combine the Bisquick, Creole seasoning and lime zest in a large bowl.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the milk and egg. Pour into the Bisquick mixture and stir.
  • Pour the vegetables into the Bisquick mixture and combine.
  • Heat a deep fryer with oil to 375 F. Or you can use a Dutch oven with about 2″ of oil added.
  • Working in batches, drop heaping tablespoons of the batter into the oil. Fry about 1 minute, then flip and cook another 30 seconds-1 minute or until golden brown. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate.
  • Serve with Southwester sauce for dipping and/or drizzle the fritters with the sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 63kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 139mg | Potassium: 70mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 364IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Southwestern Pigs in a Blanket

Your standard pigs-in-a-blanket are mighty good, but I felt that they needed a little ‘help’. So along came this great southwestern pigs in a blanket variation that gets devoured even faster! Get your big platter out, you’re going to need it! This lovely morsels kick up the classic by adding bell peppers and a nice spicy cheese. There’s nothing boring about them!

Southwestern Pigs in a Blanket

Go Dipping!

I served these southwestern pigs in a blanket with an easy-to-make Southwestern sauce. You could use good old Ranch dressing instead. A good, thick spicy BBQ sauce would also make for a great dipping sauce. Heck, set out a few different sauces and get ready to watch these yummy bites disappear in no time! Who wouldn’t enjoy a pigs in a blanket bar?

Also try my BBQ pigs in a blanket.

Southwestern Pigs in a Blanket
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4 from 1 vote

Southwestern Pigs in a Blanket

Your standard pigs-in-a-blanket are mighty good, but I felt that they needed a little ‘help’. So along came this great southwestern pigs in a blanket variation that gets devoured even faster! Get your big platter out, you’re going to need it!
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword crescent rolls, sausage
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 32
Calories 21kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 375 F.
  • Unroll the dough from the tubes and separate into 16 triangles. Cut each triangle lengthwise in half.
  • Add a small piece of cheese and top with some of the peppers.
  • Place the sausage at the end of each little triangle and roll up in the dough.
  • Place onto a baking sheet and bake 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Serve with Southwestern sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 21kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 29mg | Potassium: 13mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 121IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Southwestern Sauce

This is my go-to sauce for anything Southwestern. I use it on grilled stuffed Fritos. I use it as a dip for chips. I’ve dunked pigs-in-a-blanket into it. Chicken nuggets often find their way into this sauce. I drizzle it over tacos or enchiladas. And I use it in place of mayonnaise or remoulade on my sandwiches and po boys. Like I said, it’s a great sauce for anything!

Grilled Stuffed Fritos

A Little Sauce With A Mighty Taste

This isn’t quite the sauce where ‘a little dab will do you’. But you don’t need much of this southwestern sauce to spice up whatever you’re using it on. You can make some easy variations on it too. Just swap out the cayenne with some other seasonings. Try Creole or Cajun seasoning. Chipotle powder adds a little heat with a great smokiness! Get creative with it!

This sauce is also fantastic on crispy corn fritters.

Grilled Stuffed Fritos
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4 from 1 vote

Southwestern Sauce

This is my go-to sauce for anything Southwestern.
Course Sauce
Cuisine American, Asian
Keyword sauce, southwestern
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 2 1/2 cups
Calories 678kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients.
  • Refrigerate until ready to use.

Nutrition

Calories: 678kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 65g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 31g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 2139mg | Potassium: 149mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 1204IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Mexi-Cali Dip

I picked up a copy of Race Day Grub at the antique mall the other day. The book is full of great recipes from the racing circuit. Its written by Angela Skinner, the wife of NASCAR driver Mike Skinner, . Everything from appetizers to mains, from drivers and their wives and crews. The book is absolutely full of great food and was well worth the two or three dollars I paid for it! The first thing we made was this outstanding Mexi-Cali dip from the Harvicks.

Mexi-Cali Dip

Happy Harvick Dip?

Kevin “Happy” Harvick has been a favorite driver of mine for years. Now, this dip is a favorite of mine! Look at all that ooey-gooey cheese! This dip tastes of taco, and cheese, and olives and beans. I tell ya, it’d be great scooped onto a hot dog too!

I highly recommend that you shred or grate your own cheese at home. Don’t buy the pre-shredded or pre-grated stuff. It has stuff added to it to keep it from sticking together. That ‘stuff’ affects how the cheese melts. Shred it yourself and use the good stuff.

Mexi-Cali Dip
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5 from 1 vote

Mexi-Cali Dip

This dip is a favorite of mine! Look at all that ooey-gooey cheese! This dip tastes of taco, and cheese, and olives and beans. I tell ya, it’d be great scooped onto a hot dog too!
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword dip, southwestern
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6 -10
Calories 153kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 F.
  • Spray a 8″ x 8″ baking dish with non-stick spray.
  • Combine the cream cheese, green chilies, jalapeno (if using) and taco seasoning in a medium bowl.
  • Pour the mixture into the baking dish and spread out evenly using a spatula.
  • Top with the beans, olives, and the cheese.
  • Bake for 20 minutes until bubbly hot.
  • Serve with thick chips, such as Frito’s Scoops.

Nutrition

Calories: 153kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 239mg | Potassium: 44mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 405IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 272mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Southwestern Hot Dog

Mayonnaise on a hot dog can be a beautiful thing. Though, I can honestly say that it’s not anything I had growing up. I was a ketchup-on-a-hot-dog kid. I didn’t like the tang of mustard. This southwestern hot dog is one of the hot dogs that keeps me believing in keeping an open mind when it comes to topping dogs. Or anything else for that matter.

Southwestern Hot Dog

Mayo On A Hot Dog? What?

Times have changed, and I’ll put just about anything on a hot dog. Including mayonnaise. These southwestern hot dogs are awesome. The ingredients list looks pretty normal. Don’t let the mayo throw you. You gotta go for it. Give it a try. You’ll like it.

If you don’t have (or want to make) fresh pico de gallo, use jarred or substitute salsa instead.

Also try my simple but great spiraled hot dogs.

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4 from 1 vote

Southwestern Hot Dog

Great, flavorful dogs. You won’t be disappointed! Cut into bite-sized pieces and serve as an appetizer too.
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword hot dogs
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 2
Calories 409kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 hot dogs
  • 2 hot dog buns
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup sharp cheddar shredded
  • 2-3 tablespoons pico de gallo or salsa
  • 2-3 tablespoons sour cream
  • Pickled jalapenos sliced, optional

Instructions

  • Grill dogs and toast the buns.
  • Spread the mayonnaise on the buns.
  • Top with the dogs. Then add the remaining ingredients.

Nutrition

Calories: 409kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 777mg | Potassium: 153mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 273IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 200mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.