4th of July – FoodWatcher

Strawberry Rice Krispie Treats

Rice Krispie Treats are a nostalgic dessert. Classic Rice Krispie Treats are my forever favorite, but I also like trying new recipes like: Oreo Rice Krispie Treats, Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats, Biscoff Rice Krispie Treats, and Cinnamon Toast Crun…

Grilled Chicken Pasta Salad with Gorgonzola Vinaigrette.

This grilled chicken pasta salad is loaded with cherry tomatoes, crispy pancetta, green onions and a delicious gorgonzola vinaigrette! It’s super satisfying, easy and delicious served warm or cold. We’re kicking off the summer season with a perfect pasta salad! This grilled chicken pasta salad is filled with so many delicious things – cherry tomatoes, […]

The post Grilled Chicken Pasta Salad with Gorgonzola Vinaigrette. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

This grilled chicken pasta salad is loaded with cherry tomatoes, crispy pancetta, green onions and a delicious gorgonzola vinaigrette! It’s super satisfying, easy and delicious served warm or cold.

We’re kicking off the summer season with a perfect pasta salad!

grilled chicken pasta salad with gorgonzola vinaigrette

This grilled chicken pasta salad is filled with so many delicious things – cherry tomatoes, crunchy pancetta, lots of fresh herbs and the best gorgonzola vinaigrette that makes everything delicious.

grilled chicken

It’s no secret that we are huuuuuge fans of grilled chicken pasta salads over here. My lemon artichoke chicken pasta salad is a huge favorite – of yours and ours!

I love them for multiple reasons. First, they are delicious served warm or cold. Second, they can pass for a full meal, like a pasta dish instead of a pasta salad. You know? Third, the leftovers are always fantastic and it makes for an excellent lunch the next day! And finally, they are so customizable – you really can add almost anything you wish. It can even be a clean-out-the-fridge dish!

gorgonzola vinaigrette

We use this mostly as a party side dish – a good old chilled pasta salad. And boy is it incredible. The chicken is grilled to perfect with that charred, smoky flavor. The tomatoes are juicy and sweet, the bacon is crunchy and salty, the green onions give you that little zing that you need and the gorgonzola vinaigrette?

OH MY GOSH. It’s wonderful.

grilled chicken pasta salad with gorgonzola vinaigrette

I first shared my blue cheese vinaigrette recipe in Everyday Dinners. It’s one of my favorite vinaigrettes of all time. I also shared it here with our favorite grilled steak salad. I love how the dressing becomes slightly creamy from the cheese, but also remains tangy and briney. Plus, it’s like eating marinated cheese which is one of the best things ever!

The dressing works double duty to not only coat the pasta salad, but to also add cheese. Of course you can always add more cheese if you wish, but I find that this dressing mixed in gives the perfect amount.

grilled chicken pasta salad with gorgonzola vinaigrette

This is how it comes together!

I marinate the chicken in a simple mixture of olive oil, balsamic vinegar and garlic. This is such a simple marinade but one that is very flavorful. After the chicken marinates, I grill it and cut it up!

The rest of the ingredients are simple. Cooked pasta (any short-cut variety works), some chopped cherry tomatoes, sliced green onions and crunchy bacon or pancetta.

I toss everything together and drizzle it with the gorgonzola vinaigrette! The vinaigrette is made with white wine vinegar, honey, dijon, garlic and fresh herbs like dill and chives. And the crumbled gorgonzola of course.

grilled chicken pasta salad with gorgonzola vinaigrette

Like most pasta salads, this gets better as it sits. So you can totally make it ahead of time which is also a big bonus.

grilled chicken pasta salad with gorgonzola vinaigrette

The mixture of flavors and textures here is what makes this so incredible. A mix of grilled, smoky ingredients with fresh produce and herbs, all tossed with tender pasta and tangy dressing. You can’t ask for more in a pasta salad.

Oh and some grilled vegetables throw in also work. Asparagus! Peppers! Zucchini! Can’t go wrong.

grilled chicken pasta salad with gorgonzola vinaigrette

Hello summer of salads! LOVE. (more…)

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Açaí Bowl

Açaí Bowls (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) are popular smoothie bowls that are served at restaurants, cafés, and smoothie shops. But did you know they are easy to make at home? You only need a few ingredients and a good blender! Açaí b…

Black Bean Salad

One of my favorite things about summer are all of the BBQ’s, parties, potlucks, and picnics. I feel like our neighborhood is a lot more social during the summertime. One of my favorite recipes to make during the summertime is this Black Bean Sala…

Chopped Cucumber Melon Summer Salad.

We love this cucumber melon salad! Loaded with cantaloupe, cucumbers, pickled onions, feta cheese and pistachios, the entire thing is drizzled with a basil mint vinaigrette. It’s a big bite of summer and perfect for any meal! This refreshing salad is one for the books! Chopped cantaloupe and cucumber come together in this super refreshing, […]

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This refreshing salad is one for the books!

chopped cucumber melon salad

Chopped cantaloupe and cucumber come together in this super refreshing, cooling bowl of goodness. Mixed with fresh herbs, creamy feta cheese, some roasted pistachios and tangy pickled onions, this is ridiculously delish. Oh and the vinaigrette – pure heaven!

cantaloupe and cucumber

Okay now, be honest: who else gets all the 90s and early 2000’s Bath and Body Works feels every time you hear the words “cucumber melon?”

Um, yes, cucumber melon was my life! It was so sweet, refreshing and delicious in all of its fully-loaded-with-alcohol-and-fragrance body mist glory. I mean it was theeeee scent and I wanted it in every single version: body splash, body cream, body wash and more.

Literally just thinking of my tween years is making me sneeze.

cantaloupe and cucumber

This isn’t the first time I’ve had a recipe inspired by a bath product. I’ve made a few others inspired by my favorite candle scents as a kid, which seems weird unless you love gourmet scented things. See white chocolate lavender ice cream and cookies, as well pumpkin chai muffins and more.

chopped cucumber melon salad

Anyway! That is the major place that I found inspiration for this recipe. The other thing is that I just love fruit served in a savory salad. Something that makes it salty and savory and delicious, and adding the cucumber just seemed natural because of its cool, refreshing taste.

The key here is CHOPPING the ingredients. Making this a chopped salad is what takes it over the top. You get a bite of everything on your fork and it pairs really nicely with grilled chicken, steak or even fish. It almost can act like a salsa or relish too, depending on how small you chop the bits.

I mean, I wouldn’t mind scooping it up with a chip either…

chopped cucumber melon salad

Here’s what we’ve got in the lineup!

Chopped cantaloupe. This is my melon of choice but you really could also do watermelon or even honeydew. My family is obsessed with cantaloupe though… I don’t even want to tell you how many we go through in a week.

Chopped cucumber. Again, for that savory, cooling, refreshing melon piece of the puzzle. There is nothing like a cool cucumber in summer when it’s hot out. It’s hydrating!

Pickled onions. Because let’s be honest, can I make anything without them? They live in my fridge every week and I adore their tangy, briney bite. Plus, they are hot pink so that’s a major win in my book.

chopped cucumber melon salad

Feta cheese. This is my favorite option for the salad and I love how crumbly it gets. That means you get a bite in almost every forkful of salad. You could also use goat cheese here. Or skip the cheese entirely.

Pistachios! I adore some crunch and texture in my salad – this is no secret. Pistachios are so buttery and go well with fruit and herbs. I like to use a roasted, salted version for ease. But any other nut that you enjoy can work here too.

Fresh herbs. Particularly fresh mint and basil. These cooling, refreshing herbs are not only gorgeous in the salad but they add summer flavor as well as that sweet and savory component.

A fabulous vinaigrette. Okay, this is where we’re really going to shine! I make a mint basil vinaigrette that is out of this world. It’s vibrant green, herbaceous, fresh and elevates any meal. Don’t skip this part!

chopped cucumber melon salad

The vinaigrette is my favorite part of this salad. The mint and basil so wonderfully scream SUMMER in every way. I love this for dressing, drizzling, dipping, just about everything.

As usual, I use my nutribullet to bring this together and really blend up those herbs, giving it an incredible shade of green that I adore. It just LOOKS like summer.

chopped cucumber melon salad

The crunch is outrageously good and the cheese complements the melon so well. It’s a bowl that is not only beautiful, but easy to throw together too! (more…)

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5-Ingredient Pesto Ravioli

I love a quick and easy weeknight meal and often turn to pasta when we are in a rush to get dinner on the table. A few favorites include: Spaghetti Carbonara, 5-Ingredient Spinach Parmesan Pasta, Stovetop Mac and Cheese, and Cacio e Pepe. I also love m…

Triple Berry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake.

This triple berry coffee cake is a decadent and delicious summer breakfast! Fresh berries, a cream cheese layer and a perfect streusel topping are the stars of the show. This is a huge hit with everyone! I’ve got your long weekend breakfast coming right up! This red, white and blue coffee cake is studded with […]

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I’ve got your long weekend breakfast coming right up!

triple berry cream cheese coffee cake

This red, white and blue coffee cake is studded with three different kinds of berries, a layer of cream cheese (or I like to call it cheesecake!) and a streusel that is divine. It’s a lovely little breakfast, brunch or even dessert and festive for summer while we’re at it.

That’s always a big win.

Plus, who doesn’t want to eat cake for breakfast!!!

Cue all the exclamation points.

triple berry cream cheese coffee cake batter

I’m adding this to the list of my recipes for memorial day weekend – things you can make for your gatherings this weekend. And if you want them to be red, white and blue, even better.

I’ll let you in on a secret here too: you can pretty much use any fruit for this. Almost any!

triple berry cream cheese coffee cake batter

I use one of our favorite coffee cake recipes for this – my blueberry peach coffee cake. It’s the perfect texture and consistency, the crumb on top is divine! So crumbly and crunchy and delicious. The cake itself is tender and light and the berries add the perfect pop for the season.

It’s also a pretty foolproof and versatile recipe. I’ve made it with all sorts of berries, the peaches, apples and more.

triple berry cream cheese coffee cake

The base of the coffee cake is simple. I like to add a big pinch of cinnamon for that extra warmth. Then I stir in the fresh berries. You can also use frozen berries! But the fresh ones right now are super. It will just depend what season you are when you make this.

triple berry cream cheese coffee cake

The cream cheese layer is my favorite. I like to call it “cheesecake.” It tastes SO MUCH like cheesecake to me. It’s a simple whip of softened cream cheese with a few spoonfuls of sugar. It’s cloud-like and whipped and wonderful. And it bakes up perfectly right on top of the batter!

Now, the final layer is the crumb. When you make this, it should have the consistency of sand. Then you sprinkle it all over the cream cheese layer. It bakes into the perfect streusel – so cinnamon-y and crunchy and fabulous.

triple berry cream cheese coffee cake

You can make this ahead of time (it’s even better!), of course. It’s wonderful for a brunch gathering or holiday breakfast. Also excellent for an afternoon treat.

And can serve it with fresh berries and whipped cream if you’d like. The coffee cake alone is enough – the cream cheese layer is EVERYTHING. But a few little extras to fancy it up won’t hurt. (more…)

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Our Favorite Caesar Pasta Salad.

This is our favorite caesar pasta salad! Made with my homemade greek yogurt caesar dressing, it’s a simple dish that can be a great starter salad, side dish or main base for chicken, steak, seafood or chickpeas. Super flavorful and easy too! Our love for caesar salad knows no bounds! And this version, an extra […]

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Our love for caesar salad knows no bounds!

our favorite caesar pasta salad

And this version, an extra summery, satisfying classic caesar with the addition of tender pasta and toasty sourdough bread crumbs is at the top of the list.

romaine with caesar dressing

It’s the perfect caesar, with crisp romaine lettuce, my homemade greek yogurt caesar dressing, lots of parmesan, golden sourdough crumbs and a whole bunch of cooked pasta tossed in for the ultimate seasonal side dish. You have got to make this!

cooked pasta

Yes, it’s true. I share a LOT of caesar salad meal ideas, from kale salad, to slaw, to chicken wraps, to broccoli and brussels, to pizza, to asparagus and sandwiches and so much more. It’s one of my family’s favorite flavor combinations and I’ve found that in general, it’s pretty loved by everyone else too! It’s universal over here in my tiny food universe.

our favorite caesar pasta salad

And it’s also ridiculously easy. There isn’t a salad much simpler – this only requires a chop of romaine, a grate of parmesan, maybe some toasting of breadcrumbs and a whirl of dressing in a mini blender or bowl. Caesar salad is very kid-friendly in our house, probably because there are no other crunchy vegetables or new ingredients. Nothing that stands out and screams “I’m new here and you have to try me!” for those little hands and eyes and mouths.

Except the pasta. Which is anything but new, because my kids would live on only pasta if they could.

our favorite caesar pasta salad

Let’s also talk about what a fantastic base this is. Whether you’re making it for dinner, as a salad for a dinner party or as a potluck dish to take to a summer BBQ, you can easily make it your own. I can’t tell you how many times I have added grilled chicken or salmon to this. Add in some steak or shrimp or even tofu and of course, I’ve thrown in chickpeas too!

our favorite caesar pasta salad

It’s a great salad for those who don’t like to eat all their food combined in one big bowl. If you find yourself in that routine at dinnertime, where your kids don’t want their foods to touch on their plates, this is another amazing option. The pasta and salad can be served separately and if you’re add in the protein, so can that. It’s perfect!

our favorite caesar pasta salad

And yes, I know, I talk about this dressing ALL THE TIME. I make it so often that it’s such a staple in my fridge. We use it for nightly salads, dipping sauces, even wraps. And it’s one of the only creamy dressings that I really love on salad, so that is saying something. It’s very flavorful with lots of lemon, parmesan and even a touch of anchovy paste, which I encourage you to keep in the recipe because it adds an incredible savoriness. And you squeeze it out of a tube, which means you don’t even have to touch it!

our favorite caesar pasta salad

This is one of those recipes that is really quite simple. It doesn’t require a recipe at all, aside from the dressing. Basically, figure out how many people you need to feed and determine your ingredient amounts from there. You can make it more pasta heavy, more lettuce heavy, serve it as a side dish or a main dish.

But it’s also one of those recipes that I can’t live without. We make this ALL the time. I can’t stress that enough. It’s in the permanent rotation, for both our weeknight meals and our parties. I hesitate to share easy dishes like this sometimes. But it’s one that I think everyone should have in their back pocket. Especially all my fellow caesar lovers! (more…)

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Easy Green Salad

I try to eat a salad with all of my dinners, no matter what is on the menu. My go to salad is this Green Salad. It goes with EVERY meal and is easy to throw together. There is nothing fancy about it, but that is why I love it. It is a great way…

Puff Pastry Hot Dogs with Hot Honey Mustard.

Puff pastry hot dogs are such a fun treat! Hot dogs wrapped in a flakey, buttery warm pastry and dipped in a spicy honey mustard sauce. So super delicious and fun! Hot dogs are here for summer! These hot dogs are wrapped in flakey puff pastry, sprinkled with sesame seeds and baked until golden, puffed, […]

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Puff pastry hot dogs are such a fun treat! Hot dogs wrapped in a flakey, buttery warm pastry and dipped in a spicy honey mustard sauce. So super delicious and fun!

Hot dogs are here for summer!

puff pastry hot dogs with hot honey mustard

These hot dogs are wrapped in flakey puff pastry, sprinkled with sesame seeds and baked until golden, puffed, warm and buttery. They only get better when you dip them in a hot honey mustard sprinkled with chives, and let’s just say this may be my new favorite snacky dinner.

puff pastry hot dogs with hot honey mustard

Because I’m not sure what I love more here: the puff pastry blanketed hot dogs or the spicy honey mustard. Both are ridiculously delicious! Embarrassingly easy, but absolutely wonderful.

hot honey mustard

Every summer when my family went to the Jersey shore, my uncle would make us crescent roll wrapped hot dogs. We devoured them like they were the best thing we had ever eaten – and it was the only time we ever got such a treat. Sometimes he would layer in cheese too.

Either way, they tasted like the epitome of summer to me.

puff pastry hot dogs with hot honey mustard

Over the years, I’ve thought about introducing those crescent wrapped dogs to my kids. The thing is that I never have crescent roll dough on hand. But! I always always always have puff pastry. Always!

If you haven’t noticed, it’s one of my favorite (if not theeee favorite) ingredients to use in the kitchen for cheater’s pizzas and tarts. The options are endless. And it’s so light, flakey, airy and buttery, almost like eating a croissant.

puff pastry hot dogs with hot honey mustard

So one day I sliced my puff pastry into squares and rolled up some hot dogs. A brush of egg wash, a sprinkle of sesame seeds and nice 20 minute nap in a 425 degree oven? These were born.

Oh my GOSH.

We adore my puff pastry cheeseburger pockets and I figured that these had to be a giant hit.

puff pastry hot dogs with hot honey mustard

Normally I’d look at something like this and think of it almost as kid food, or maybe even carnival food. But these are so, so delightful, I would even make these over a classic grilled hot dog most days.

They are super filling. Extremely savory. And ideal for dipping!

Ketchup, my house sauce, relish… or a spicy honey mustard.

puff pastry hot dogs with hot honey mustard

Yes, this hot honey mustard sauce has quickly risen to the top of our list when it comes to condiments. Hot honey, dijon mustard and a dollop of mayo are whisked together to create a smooth, silky honey mustard sauce with a touch of heat.

This dip goes with just about anything. I love it!

P.S. my favorite puff pastry is the wewalka brand or jus roll. I prefer these to a frozen perforated puff pastry so much better. (more…)

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