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
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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I love any kind of avocado salad!
What is your favorite kind of salad? – A nice chopped salad with lots of veggies and chicken and blue cheese
What teams do you think will be in the Final Four? – Florida, Wichita State, Wisconsin and Kansas
And a fun March Madness trivia question from Ryan: Who offered $1 billion dollars for a perfect bracket? Warren Buffet with Quicken Loans
Deconstructed Turkey Taco Salad 🙂
I LOVE chef salads! But chicken Caesar salads also hold a specific place in my heart 🙂
Love kale salads!
Yum! These look so fresh and delish. Love the idea of a chicken salad served in a zucchini!
I’m a classic chicken Caesar fan!
My favorite type of salad is definitely any type of salad with lots and lots of roasted veggies!! (Roasted vegetable salad from California Pizza Kitchen is my all-time fav!)
Anything with lots of add-ins, since plain old lettuce/spinach is rather rather boring, amiright? 🙂
My favorite salad is one that combines cooked/roasted vegetables (i.e. butternut squash, zucchini, peppers, etc) with fresh spinach, mandarin oranges, etc, for a dose of savory and sweet!
My favorite type of salad is a Chinese chicken salad! Love the wontons and mandarin oranges!
I love chicken Caesar salad!
1. Not the healthiest, but I do love me a chicken Caesar salad 🙂
3. Warren buffet!
My favorite type of salad is definitely greek salad! I can’t get enough of my feta 🙂
I love a big garden salad with lots of ingredients, especially in the summer when veggies are fresh from my garden or CSA share! Adding avocado makes it extra tasty!
My favorite salad is the “clean out the fridge” salad. It’s never the same twice and I’m always shocked by how delicious something is in a salad. Pickled ginger? Scrambled egg whites? Leftover Matzo? All yummy!
3. Warren Buffett!!
I’m hoping Syracuse will be there!
That all looks yummy! So much so that I pinned them all to my “yummy” Pinterest board! Can’t wait to try!
My favorite kind of salad includes; greens, carrots, corn, walnuts, dried cranberries, feta, and salmon!
I love any kind of salad! Of course chicken caeser salads will always own my heart. Especially with extra cheese 😉
gonna be honest, fruit salad is my favorite! not sure who i would pick in the final four but i think Wichita State will go all the way. other reconginazable teams… Syracuse. and most of all my louisville cards! quicken loans offered a billion.
I love salad California fresh style–lots of beans, seeds, sprouts, herbs, fresh veggies, and mixed greens. Just add oil and balsamic!
Wedge salads! Really anything with bacon. No clue on the sports front, but I have heard that billion dollar prize commercial in the background when I’ve had the TV on… can’t name who though because I zoned out when I heard “march madness.” My ears did perk up at a billion dollars though!
Taco salad!
I definitely love a fresh Greek salad- just anything without meat since I’m a vegetarian. The BBQ salad you made looked great though!- I may try it with Salmon!!
My fav salads is with quinoa, black beans, sweet potatoes, avocado, spinach and lots of lime juice!
My favorite kind of salad is a taco salad!
Hi…
Favorite salad-watermelon, feta and arugula.
Final four-Michigan State, Florida, Duke,Syracuse
Mr. Warren Buffet offered that kind of money.
Definitely a beet, goat cheese, pistachio, orange, and honey salad!!
I’m a sucker for pasta salads!
Anything with blue cheese crumbles and red onions!
Kale salad with garlic, lemon, and olive oil dressing!
I love a good ole cranberry, walnut, feta, and spinach salad!
I love a good Mediterranean salad, with lots of feta!
I love Italian style chopped salads!
I really love greek salads and lately I’ve been enjoying lots of Mexican inspired salads with black beans and chili powder…yum!
Is fruit salad a valid option? haha I like salads with ranch dressing.
Looks delicious, especially the dipping sauce. My favorite kind of salad is massaged kale with peppers and most importantly, AVOCADO!
I love my guacamole egg salad and I LOVE mock “tuna” salad made with chickpeas!
I love a spinach salad – with chicken, tomatoes, a little egg, and dried cranberries. Simple but it is my curtain favorite!
Love March Madness – our college teams (NC State) probably won’t make the NCAA Tournament unfortunately, oh well there is always next year!
Your recipe looks amazing, definitely trying it!! My favorite salad is a cobb for sure!
And goooo Gators! Not sure about who else will be there but I’m cheering them onto the Final Four and hopefully championship!! 🙂
I love chicken salad!
Any kind if salad with avocado! yumm!
1. Caesar Salad.
2. Florida Gators, Wichita State, Arizona, and Louisville.
3. Warren Buffett.
I love a good Greek salad! 🙂
I love taco salad.
My favorite is a Cobb Salad! So goooood.
I LOVE chopped salad. So excited Dole takes away all the work with these kits! And Warren Buffet offered the 1 billion for a perfect NCAA bracket!
I looove spinach feta strawberry salads. With raspberry vinaigrette! and pecans or walnuts. Perfection! but these avocado boats look fantastic!