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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Strawberry spinach salad!
Would love to see Nebraska make it to the final four….
I don’t have a specific type of favorite salad, just ones with lots of veggies (especially peas, which I got in the habit of in college), a bit of protein, and a little sweetness (like dried cranberries, raisins, or apples).
No clue on March Madness questions, but my favorite salad is one that includes goat cheese!!
I love any type of salad with goat cheese! And i think it was warren buffet who offered one billion for a perfect bracket 🙂
All of those recipes look awesome – the BBQ chicken salad in zucchini boats might even make my teenage boys happy!!!
I love all kinds of salads – the more protein in it the better. A lot of days at lunch I put whatever left-over meat we have into my salad – perfect.
I hope the final 4 is Duke, Texas, Kansas and Florida.
Warren Buffet offered $1 billion for a perfect bracket.
I love any type of Mexican flavored salad! And as for basketball…. I’m all about the ACC!!
New reader here! I happened upon your blog via another healthy living blog and fell in love when I saw pictures of Sadie. I had a vizsla growing up (Mia) and LOVE them. I can’t wait until I have a house with a yard, so I can get a vizsla of my own.
My favorite kind of salad is a really good chicken caesar salad, with a good bite to the caesar dressing. I buy the Dole Garlic Caesar salad pretty often and add extra veggies & chicken to it. Yum!
I like Wisconsin, Kentucky, Michigan State, and Duke.
Warren Buffet & Dan Gilbert jointly offered $1 billion for a perfect bracket.
I love any kind of salad but especially BBQ chicken salad. Or chopped salad with three bean salad on top. Yum!
I love a chopped salad with black beans, corn, and LOTS of avocado!
lately, my favorite salad is spinach, goat cheese, cranberries, pecans, and goat cheese!!
I love any kind of taco or spicy salad–the more peppers and jalapenos, the better! Warren Buffet. 🙂
I love using butter lettuce and topping it with tomatoes, avocados, cucumber, and a homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing! So simple and so delicious!
I make a salad with romaine, chopped ham, reduced-fat feta, and sliced almonds that I really like. What really makes it good is the Maple Groves Basil Lime dressing. Tangy and delicious.
I like a Cobb salad minus the bacon.
OMG ok so my favorite salad is caprese! I love the balsamic reduction on it OMG relish!
My favorite salad ever is a Greek salad. I try to recreate a healthier version at home, but I’m a sucker for Marzetti’s Greek Vinaigrette!
I love spinach and berry salads…yum! And warren buffet is giving a million away!
warren buffet! i heard you have better chances to win with your eyes closed randomly guessing….i’m going to give it a shot
I’m currently cheating and really loving Subway’s chopped salads…so good!!! 😉
And I always base my bracket on blue teams who have fuzzy/furry mascots so hope those are the ones that make the Final Four!! 😉
That recipe sounds great! I love salads, especially with creamy avocado and some crunch toppings, like nuts!
I like salad nicoise with salmon instead of tuna.
A wedge salad is my favorite!
I love all salads. A steak salad with tomatoes and blue cheese is one of my favorites, but I’m not picky! My husband and I recently went to the Olive Garden for dinner, and I was reminded of just how delicious their salad is. Gotta love unlimited salad and breadsticks…and leftovers!
I love a good spring mix salad with homemade spicy mustard dressing!!
#3: Warren Buffett!
I love all kinds of salads! My favorite salad right now is a baby kale + baby spinach salad with roasted brussels sprouts, grapes, dried cranberries, candied pecans, goat cheese, and a strawberry balsamic vinaigrette… but put a classic blue cheese wedge salad in front of me and i can’t say no 🙂
I love any salad with kale!!! And as far as march madness, I think North Carolina will be in the final four.
Fav salad is Santa Fe with black beans, salsa, corn, ranch, spinach
Cobb salad…love egg on most salads!
My favorite salad has these components : spring mix/spinach, red onion, green apple, craisins, nuts, and a balsamic vinegar. I had it tonight AND last night! It never gets old.
What is your favorite kind of salad?
spinach, with some sort of fruit, nut, and goat cheese!
What teams do you think will be in the Final Four?
Arizona, Louisville, Syracuse, Florida. done.
And a fun March Madness trivia question from Ryan: Who offered $1 billion dollars for a perfect bracket?
and Warren buffet, who else?
I love any salad with kale & an olive oil/balsamic dressing!
My favorite salad is probably my grandma’s wilted lettuce salad (which is actually not all that healthy, haha) – it consists of leaf lettuce, bacon + bacon grease, onions, vinegar, sugar, and salt. It’s all about the right proportions, and when my grandma makes it, it’s perfect. But I also love healthy salads, too – I’ve been making a chopped kale salad recently that I love.
Anything with Avocado!
My favorite salad usually involves baby spinach and kale and lots of random veggies!
Georgetown is out of the running so I have already given up on the final four, but I will root for the Tar Heels!
I love salad with roasted sweet potatoes on top!
Warren Buffet offered the million and my favorite salad is any that has spinach and lots of cheeseeee 🙂
my favorite salad is spinach, tomatoes, onion, avocado, goat cheese and an over medium egg w/ balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. swoon bait every time.
My favorite kind of salad would be a taco salad. You just can’t get anything better than hot taco meat, veggies, cheese… yum!
I love all salads! I’m a huge fan of beans, corn and lately cilantro on my salads. yum!
My favorite salad is any salad with spinach and goat cheese! I could live off of tht type of salad!!
Final Four Teams: Arizona, Florida, Wichita state, and Michigan state!
I love a great spring salad with honey mustard dressing
I like chopped collard and kale salad
Cobb salads are my favorite.
I love the look of that cream cheese and veggie dip! Ill have to give it a try! My favorite salad right now is an Asian cabbage salad! It has shredded cabbage, carrots, green onions, and almonds with an apple cider vinegar dressing!
Caprese salads are my fave, or a not too heavy caesar!
I love salads with a lot of protein.
I love the Santa Fe Salad from BJ’s Brewhouse. Not the healthiest salad around, but it isabsolutely delicious!