Joy Bauer Shared These Fiber-Packed Loaded Bell Pepper Nachos Perfect for Game Day
No surprise, they're delicious.
Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
The arrival of fall means cooler air, plenty of pumpkins and a whole lotta sports on TV. Whether you're kicking back with Monday Night Football, cheering on your favorite soccer club or tuning into Major League Baseball, one thing is certain: you're going to need some snacks.
Related: 18 Game Day Snacks That Are So Good, They Might Not Even Last Until Halftime
Of course, we're fond of the classics, like spinach-artichoke dip, as well as some veggie-forward, outside-of-the-box candidates, like our Sriracha-Buffalo Cauliflower Bites. If you're in the market for a recipe that feels like classic game-day comfort food with a little healthy twist, Joy Bauer might have the perfect recipe for you.
The dietitian and Today show contributor shared her lower-carb, high-veggie twist on loaded nachos this week, and they're likely to be a hit at your next watch party. These super-simple sheet-pan nachos come together in 30 minutes, so you won't even miss a minute of the game if you pop them into the oven at halftime.
Related: The Ultimate Budget-Friendly Game Day Menu
I've long been a fan of this easy dinner that feels fun and fresh, and prepping it is super easy. Just wash your bell peppers and trim away the stem, seeds and white pith as you cut the peppers into chip-sized segments. You can usually get at least four big chips out of your pepper, or you can even opt to halve mini sweet peppers to make your nacho bites even more adorable. Once your peppers are prepped, put together your favorite nacho toppings, like meat, beans, corn and jalapeños, and layer them on top of your peppers. Sprinkle everything with the cheese of your choice and bake the nachos at 375°F until the cheese is melty.
If nachos will always require crispy, crunchy tortilla chips in your book, think of these deliciously loaded bites as mini stuffed peppers. Bauer fills hers with ground turkey, black beans, corn and jalapeños before topping them up with a sprinkle of shredded cheese.
Related: The Best Game-Day Snack for Your Zodiac Sign, According to an Astrologer
But the best part of of these pepper-chos is just how customizable they are. I tend to make mine vegetarian, with a creamy, spicy layer of black beans on the bottom and a spoonful of fajita veggies or cauliflower rice on top before adding a sprinkle of cheese. If your family loves some extra heat, you can level up the flavor with a scattering of sliced serrano peppers or an extra hit of your favorite chili powders.
Bauer keeps things super simple by seasoning her turkey-black bean filling with a packet of taco seasoning. Folks who keep a full spice cabinet can easily tweak that flavor profile to suit their tastes—just start with the basics, like we do in our seven-ingredient taco seasoning, and adjust from there. If concerns about your heart health has you limiting the amount of sodium you eat each day, making a spice blend yourself can help you keep an eye on the sodium level.
Related: 6 Foods With More Vitamin C Than an Orange
Another perk of using bell pepper "chips" to scoop up your nacho toppings is the big boost of nutrients. After all, one medium bell pepper contains more than 100% of your daily needs of vitamin C. Since cold and flu season is also upon us, it's a pretty good time to load up on vitamin C, which works hard to support your immune system.
However you customize these nachos, consider adding on a platter of them the next time you work up your game day menu. Just make sure you make enough to go around—we have a feeling these loaded veggies will be very popular.
Read the original article on Eating Well.
