This is my compromise.
I love nachos, but nachos don’t always love me—or my thighs.
For some reason, salads do love me. The feeling isn’t mutual, but hey: balance.
I toasted my own tortilla chips because we didn’t have any store-bought ones on hand. Corn tortillas work best when you want a sturdy, crispy chip.
Whenever I make something with BBQ flavors, I reach for smoked cheese. I’m partial to smoked cheddar and smoked gouda—especially on nights when mindless TV and a loved-forgetfully-large chunk of cheese is an appealing combination.
Trust me: smoked cheese makes this salad sing.
This salad (or nachos, depending on how you look at it) is a sneaky way to get some greens in. I layered chopped arugula and spinach over the chips; the crunchy chips, sweet caramelized onion and smoky cheese made the greens much easier to enjoy. It was delicious, and I kind of wanted it for breakfast—if only I weren’t so lazy.
BBQ Chicken Nacho Salad
serves 1
1–2 whole wheat tortillas (depending on how many chips you want)
3–4 ounces grilled chicken, marinated or tossed in BBQ sauce or seasoning
1/4 onion, thinly sliced and caramelized
1/4 teaspoon BBQ seasoning
1 1/2 cups mixed greens (spring mix, arugula, spinach), chopped
1/2 ounce smoked cheddar, shredded or thinly sliced
1/2 ounce smoked gouda, shredded or thinly sliced
1–2 tablespoons BBQ sauce
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
Cut tortillas into triangles, toss lightly with olive oil, salt and pepper, and bake for 10–15 minutes or until golden and crisp.
Once chips are ready, arrange them on a plate and top with the chopped greens, grilled chicken and caramelized onions. Sprinkle with BBQ seasoning, add the smoked cheeses and finish with a drizzle of BBQ sauce.
Would you eat this with a fork or scoop it up with the chips?
Something exciting: I was invited to judge a dessert contest on OurKitchen Stories, a site dedicated to preserving family recipes and food traditions—which is something I care about deeply. The contest, presented by Shop ’n Save, featured some incredible entries. Choosing winners was tough.
Winner: White Chocolate Mousse Parfaits
Runner-up: Peanut Butter Cupcakes
Runner-up: Piña Colada Punch
Which of these do you think I should try first?