When we arrived home from a late morning hike with Sadie, I got to work in the kitchen while Ryan worked around the house. I was recently sent coupons to try the new all natural Dole chopped salad kits and encouraged to create my “best dunkable recipe” using the salad kits in honor of the kickoff of March Madness! (Stay tuned for a giveaway at the bottom of this post!)
Yesterday I picked up the BBQ ranch chopped salad kit at the grocery store and on today’s hike with Ryan, I wasn’t sure how I would transform my salad into a dunkable recipe until Ryan suggested making zucchini boats! I loved the idea and tried my best to keep my recipe healthy by incorporating avocados into the mix rather than mayonnaise when I made the BBQ chicken salad that I used to fill the boats.
Avocado BBQ Chicken Salad Zucchini Boats
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Avocado BBQ Chicken Salad Zucchini Boats
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 10 Zucchini Boats 1x
- Category: lunch, recipes
- Cuisine: lunch
Description
Such a yummy lunch that is packed with vegetables, protein and flavor!
Ingredients
- 1 bag Dole All Natural BBQ Ranch Chopped Salad Kit
- 2 cups pulled chicken
- 1 cup raw sweet corn (approximately two ears)
- 2 avocados, thoroughly mashed with pits removed
- 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
- Juice of 1/2 lime
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 tablespoons BBQ sauce
- 5 zucchini, sliced in half with centers removed
Instructions
- Open Dole salad kit and place all ingredients except for the BBQ ranch salad dressing into a large bowl.
- Add chicken and raw sweet corn to the salad.
- In a small bowl, combine mashed avocados, pepper, salt, lime juice and olive oil and stir.
- Add avocado mixture to chicken salad mixture and thoroughly combine.
- Add BBQ sauce to the salad and stir until properly combined.
- Scoop chicken salad into zucchini boats and serve with the BBQ ranch dressing if you wish. You may wish to simply drizzle the BBQ ranch dressing on top of the zucchini boats or you may need to add additional BBQ ranch dressing for dipping.
- Enjoy!
This recipe was crunchy, flavorful and filling! Since it makes a large amount, I am already looking forward to leftovers tomorrow!
Dole gave me permission to share two more delicious-looking dunkable recipe with you guys just in case you’re on the lookout for something delicious to make for an upcoming March Madness party!
Ingredients
- 1/2 pkg (12-oz) DOLE® Chopped Asian Blend
- 3 medium DOLE Green Onions, trimmed and thinly sliced, include one-inch of the darker green leaves
- 1/4 cup DOLE Carrots, julienne sliced
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro leaves
- 1 tablespoon Asian sweet chili sauce
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 medium ripe avocado, seeded
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- 6 (8-inch) spring roll wrappers
- 12 fresh basil leaves
- Dipping Sauce (recipe below)
Dipping Sauce:
Whisk together 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, 2 teaspoons sesame oil, 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger and 1 teaspoon roasted sesame seeds.
Directions
- Combine salad blend, onions, carrots, rice vinegar, cilantro, sweet chili sauce, ginger and salt. Toss well and set aside.
- Mash avocado with lime juice and set aside.
- Soak two spring roll wrappers at a time in warm water 15 to 20 seconds or until just softened. Remove from water and gently pat dry with a paper towel.
- Place wrappers on work surface. Spread avocado mixture (1×6-inch rectangle) along the edge closest to you, leaving a one-inch border on both sides. Top avocado mixture with 1/3 cup salad mixture and two basil leaves. Roll it up like a burrito: fold side over the filling and roll up the spring roll. Repeat this step until all spring rolls are made.
- Serve spring rolls with dipping sauce.
- Tip: If you are not serving them right away, cover them with a damp towel and wrap them tightly in plastic wrap. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
Ingredients:
- 1 pkg. (8 oz.) low-fat cream cheese or Neufchatel cheese, softened
- 2 cups DOLE® Chopped Asian Blend, coarsely chopped, divided
- 1/4 cup diced DOLE Red Onion
- 2 tablespoons chopped pickled jalapeno, to taste
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons lime juice
- 1-1/4 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup flaxseeds
- Offer a variety of accompaniments such as:
- Roasted vegetables – sweet potato slices, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower
- Raw vegetables – baby carrots, broccoli, radishes, red pepper or snap peas
- Baked crackers – lentil, seaweed or other whole grain crackers
Directions
- Beat cream cheese in mixing bowl, until light and fluffy. Slowly add in 1 cup salad blend, onion, jalapeno, cilantro, olive oil, lime juice, cumin and salt, until blended.
- Mold mixture into a ball and roll in remaining salad blend. Sprinkle with flaxseeds.
- Transfer ball to serving plate and surround with assorted raw or roasted vegetables and crackers.
- Tip: Make ahead and refrigerate until just before game time. Use a variety of colorful vegetables and grain-based baked crackers to convert your toughest chip-and-dip armchair competitor.
Dole Giveaway
And now it’s time for a giveaway! I think the salad lovers out there will like this one!
One PBF reader will win the following:
- Five free Dole salad coupons
- Two Eating Well cookbooks
- Tote bag
- Chopping block
To enter this giveaway, answer one (or all) of the following questions:
- What is your favorite kind of salad?
- What teams do you think will be in the Final Four?
- And a fun March Madness trivia question from Ryan: Who offered $1 billion dollars for a perfect bracket?
I will randomly select a winner on Monday morning.
Good luck!
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My favorite salad is a southwest style salad loaded with avocado, corn, tortilla strips, black beans, etc. So delicious!
BBQ Ranch? Yes, please!
I love salads that have a base of either spinach or kale and that have lots of different veggies in them. I also love any salad that has beets and goat cheese in them! YUM!!!
I love that kale power salad mix in the bag that has poppy seed dressing, pepitas and cranberries. Yum!
I love any salad!
Honestly can’t pick one favorite salad, I think it just depends on what my mood is!
Favorite salad: Wedge salad with a great blue cheese dressing and bacon crumbles! YUM! 🙂
I’m not a huge fan of basketball, but I love salads! A Classic Caesar is always good. Lately I’ve been enjoying chopped bbq chicken salads, so this dole pack would be great for me!
My favorite kind of salad would be one with a mexican/southwest flare that included corn, avocado (of course), lime juice, and some grilled shrimp.
I discovered the Dole salad blends when I had to live out of a hotel for a week while traveling for work. I bought a couple bags and some deli turkey to add for some protein. They worked perfect for having a fresh, healthy, and filling meal! Much better than getting take-out every night.
i think my favourite salad would be from Traverse City Michigan. Grilled chicken breast, candied nuts, creamy goat cheese, Traverse city dried cherries, with TC cherry vinaigrette…. dreamy! Second to that is a similar salad but with warm duck and blueberry vinaigrette.
greek salads!
wedge salads are my faaave and Warren Buffet is the man with all the money.
A really good taco salad is my favorite!
I love chicken salads! Can’t wait to try your recipe!
Spinach salad is always my go-to and never disappoints!! Quicken Loans and Warren Buffet are the are giving it away big money style!!
my favorite salad is the fuji apple chicken salad from panera!
Greek salad – feta is my love language 🙂
What is your favorite kind of salad? Greek…tons of feta and olives please!
What teams do you think will be in the Final Four? MIchigan State. Lousiville. Gators. Arizona.
(or so says my boss .. March Madness in my house is the fact that the cat is in heat. )
And a fun March Madness trivia question from Ryan: Who offered $1 billion dollars for a perfect bracket? Warren Buffet of course. Who else could afford it??????
I love greek salads with gyro meat and dressed with tzatziki sauce!
I love caesar salads!!
1. BBQ ranch salad
3. Warren Buffett!
I love salads but my favorite is spring mix with lots of veggies, fruit, nuts and avocado takes it over the top!
I love pretty much every kind of salad, but I can never pass up a cobb salad. Yum!
I love salads with grilled chicken, goat cheese, and sunflower seeds!
I’m really hoping the gators make it to the final four! We need to be good in at least one sport this year 😉
Sorry Ryan I don’t know anything about basketball and march madness 🙂
But I do LOVE salad!!!! I really am loving greek salads right now and I use a mix of arugula and kale!!
Lately I’ve been obsessed with a spinach salad with roasted chickpeas, feta cheese, and balsamic vinaigrette. So so tasty!
I love Cobb salads!!
Ok I want these zucchini boats ASAP!!! I’m excited for march madness because D’s Iowa State team made it and he gets so fired up watching them, it’s greatly amusing for me
My favorite salad is usually one that involves spinach and goat cheese in really any way at all – obsessed. I still haven’t filled out my bracket but I am rooting for UVa to make the Final Four for sure! And the answer to Ryan’s trivia question is Quicken Loans :).
I love all salads, but I think Cesar is the best. As far as the final four goes….not sure what teams just yet, but hopefully KU is one of them – RCJH – Warren Buffet is offering the money 🙂
Chicken Waldorf Salads are the best!
And Warren Buffet!
What is your favorite kind of salad?
– Anything “chopped” because I like to get a lot of different things in one bite, rather than having one full of a large lettuce leaf or something, LOL.
What teams do you think will be in the Final Four?
– Michigan State, Kentucky, Duke and Ohio!
And a fun March Madness trivia question from Ryan: Who offered $1 billion dollars for a perfect bracket?
– Warren Buffet!
I love a good chicken salad and Greek salad.
I know Michigan State is going to WIN!
Warren Buffet offered up that cash!
Strawberry spinach salad with almonds and goat cheese. YUM!
my strawberry poppyseed spinach salad with candied walnuts is the best!
I love me a good Greek salad 🙂
Just made this salad last night with a few little tweaks! Soooo yummy and very filling!
We just had the BBQ ranch boats last night and they were great! I was full and completely satisfied after just one zucchini half! The best part was, I was coming home late from an appointment and sent a link to the recipe to my husband, hoping he could get things started. He hates cooking, but this was so easy (and quick) that it was completely ready by the time I got home. He even requested that we try the spring rolls next 🙂