Baked Turkey-Ranch Meatballs with Spicy Avocado Sauce (Gluten Free)

Baked Turkey-Ranch Meatballs with Spicy Avocado Sauce (Gluten Free)

Oh my goodness! These savory and slightly sweet meatballs paired with the spicy Avocado dipping sauce is out of this world!!! I always make a triple batch when I’m making any type of meatball, so I can freeze some for another busy night. However, after making a triple batch of these yummy meatballs, I didn’t have enough to freeze…my family LOVED them and not only went back for seconds, but thirds 🙂 I served this with a fresh salad, topped with cucumbers, strawberries and a store-bought Honey Poppy Seed dressing…delicious! I hope you enjoy 🙂

The Meatballs:

  • 3 lbs Ground Turkey
  • 2 Large Eggs
  • 1 Cup Gluten Free Seasoned Bread Crumbs
  • 1/8 Cup + 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons (heaping) Ranch Dressing Powder Mix (I use Hidden Valley Ranch)
  • 1/4 Cup Light Brown Sugar (I do not pack this)
  • 2-3 Pinches Ground Black Pepper

The Spicy Avocado Sauce:

  • 1 Large Ripe Avocado (seed removed and sliced into smaller pieces)
  • 2/3 Cup Mayonnaise (I use Hellmann’s Mayonnaise)
  • 2/3 Cup Buttermilk or Buttermilk Substitute (Since Buttermilk is difficult to find right now, you can make your own: pour 1 Tablespoon White Vinegar (or Lemon Juice) in a 1 Cup measuring cup, then add milk of your choice to fill remaining cup (I used Plain Rice Milk))
  • 3-4 tsp Onion Powder
  • 3 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1 tsp Kosher Salt
  • 1 tsp Paprika
  • 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper
  • 1/2 tsp Ground Black Pepper
  • Dried Parsley (for sprinkling on top)

Making the Meatballs:

  1. Gather the meatball ingredients.
  2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  3. Line 2-3 baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the Turkey Meatball ingredients and mix very well, either with a fork or your hands.
  5. Using a 2″ cookie scooper (or spoon), scoop turkey mixture onto the prepared baking sheets (16 meatballs per sheet). You may either form the meatballs using your hands or just drop meatballs directly onto sheet using the cookie scooper.
  6. Bake for 16-18 minutes, or until inside temperature measures 165 degrees (I usually cut the center-most meatball in half to check for any pinkness).

Making the Spicy Avocado Dipping Sauce:

  1. Gather the Avocado ingredients.
  2. While the meatballs are cooking, blend the Avocado ingredients (except for the Parsley) in a blender or food processor until smooth and creamy.
  3. Pour into serving bowl and top with dried Parsley. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
  4. Once the meatballs are cooked, drizzle some Spicy Avocado Sauce over the tops and serve with your favorite veggie! Yum!!!

*Thank you to californiaavocado.com for sharing the Spicy Avocado Ranch Dressing recipe…I made a few minor adjustments 😉

Appetizers, Dinner, Hors d’Oeuvres, Lunch, Main Dish
American



Spicy Roasted Cauliflower (Gluten Free)

Spicy Roasted Cauliflower (Gluten Free)

I’m not a big fan of cauliflower, not because it tastes bad, but because it really doesn’t have much flavor at all. But, THIS recipe sold me on eating more cauliflower…it’s SO Spicy, Flavorful and Easy to make that I just can’t get enough!!! It’s even great cold the next day! Bon appetit! 🙂

  • 1 Head Cauliflower
  • 3/4 Cup Gluten Free All-Purpose Flour, sifted (I prefer King Arthur brand)
  • 1 tsp Paprika
  • 2 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/4 tsp Ground Pepper
  • 3/4 Cup Skim Milk (You can substitute with Rice Milk, Oat Milk, Coconut Milk or Soy Milk)

Spicy Sauce:

  • 1/4 Cup Hot Sauce or Buffalo Sauce (For a less-spicy version, use a mild Buffalo Sauce)
  • 2 Tbsps Canola Oil (You can substitute with Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, etc.)
  • 1 Tbsp Honey
  1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
  2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (or foil sprayed with non-stick cooking spray) and set aside.
  3. Cut up the Cauliflower into bite-size pieces and set aside.
  4. In a large bowl, whisk the GF Flour, Spices and Milk together until thoroughly blended. Add the Cauliflower pieces and stir to completely coat.
  5. Dump the coated Cauliflower pieces onto the prepared baking sheet and spread them out into a single layer.
  6. Bake for 20 minutes, stirring the pieces at the halfway point.
  7. While the Cauliflower is baking, thoroughly combine the Hot Sauce, Oil and Honey.
  8. After the first 20 minutes, brush or spoon the Hot Sauce mixture evenly over the Cauliflower pieces. Continue baking for another 20 minutes.
  9. Serve while hot or warm. The Sauce mixture becomes like a crusty cheese coating…it is SO yummy!

Thank you to Pierce Abernathy @ Tasty for sharing the original recipe…I just made a few minor changes to make it GF, lower in sodium and fat 😉

Appetizers, Dinner, Hors d’Oeuvres, Lunch, Main Dish, Side Dish, Snacks



Paprika Chicken ~ Gluten Free

Juicy & Tender Paprika Chicken ~ Gluten-Free

This is one of my all-time favorites for dinner guests, since it’s a tried and true no-fail recipe for Savory Chicken at its BEST! Butter, lemon, cheese and spices combined with a unique way of baking the chicken breasts ensures tender, delicious chicken every time! Your guests will beg for the recipe :).

  • 4 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts

Marinade

  • 1/4 Cup Canola Oil
  • 1/4 Cup lemon juice (Fresh or Bottled)
  • 1/4 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon Pepper

Flour Mixture

  • 1 Cup All-Purpose Gluten-Free Flour (I use Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 GF Flour; You can substitute regular Multi-Purpose Flour)
  • 4 teaspoons Paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon Pepper
  • 2 teaspoons Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • 1/2 Cup Butter (For browning the chicken)
  • 4-8 Sheets Heavy-Duty Aluminum Foil (If using regular foil, use 2 sheets per breast (insulates and keeps from burning))
  • Non-Stick Cooking Spray (I use Pam Coconut Spray)
  1. Gather the Ingredients

Making the Marinade

  1. In a medium-size bowl, combine the oil, lemon juice, the 1/4 cup Grated Parmesan, 1 teaspoon salt, Oregano and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Mix well.
  2. Pour the marinade over the chicken breasts in a baking dish. Poke the chicken with a fork to allow the marinade to penetrate. Flip the chicken over a couple of times in the marinade to thoroughly coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Making the Flour Mixture

  1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and 2 teaspoons Grated Parmesan Cheese. Mix well.

Browning the Chicken

  1. When ready to cook, preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat.
  3. Roll each chicken breast in the flour mixture, coating well.
  4. Place each chicken breast in the melted butter and cook over medium-low heat for about 2 1/2-3 minutes per side – enough to lightly brown.

Making the Cooking Packets

  1. I set up a work station for this step:
    a. Tear off 8 sheets of aluminum foil (enough for 2 per breast – double thickness), making them long enough to fold around the chicken breasts (about 18″). Place this stack beside the skillet.
    b. Place a baking sheet on the other side of the stack of aluminum foil sheets.
  2. Spray the foil with non-stick cooking spray, then transfer a chicken breast to the center of the foil. Join the long ends of the foil together and roll down (*but not all the way) to seal. Crimp the short ends up to ensure a tight seal.
    *Note: You don’t want to wrap the breasts up really tight, instead you want to leave a little space/pocket above the chicken for steaming
  3. Repeat with the remaining chicken breasts. Place all four on the baking sheet.
  4. Bake on the middle rack for 28-35 minutes.

  5. Scrape any leftovers from the sides of the packets onto the top of each chicken breast…oh so yummy! Enjoy with a nice fresh salad 🙂

Main Dish



Sour Cream Chicken

Sour Cream Chicken

Tired of trying to find new ways to bake chicken? Look no more! This recipe for Sour Cream Chicken is SO easy to prepare and the chicken turns out moist and tender every time. The Sour Cream marinade gives it a delicious tangy flavor that’s unique and refreshing. Top it off with bread crumbs and butter for a nice crispy outside. So Yummy!

  • 2 Cups Sour Cream (I use Lite Sour Cream)
  • 1/4 Cup lemon juice (Fresh or bottled)
  • 4 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons Celery Salt
  • 2 teaspoons Paprika
  • 1 clove Garlic, minced (I use store bought minced Garlic in a jar)
  • 2 teaspoons Pepper
  • 3 Large Chicken Breasts (Rinsed, trimmed and cut into halves)
  • 3/4 Cup Bread Crumbs (I used Plain)
  • 1/2 Cup Butter, melted

Prepare the Sour Cream Marinade

  1. Gather ingredients.
  2. In a Large bowl, combine the Sour Cream, Lemon Juice, Worcestershire Sauce and spices. Mix well.
  3. Add the prepared Chicken pieces to the Sour Cream marinade and submerge them, coating each piece well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight.

Prepare Chicken for Baking

  1. Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.
  2. When ready to cook, remove the chicken pieces from the marinade and coat evenly with the bread crumbs. Place the breaded chicken in a large, deep baking dish.
  3. Drizzle the melted butter over each chicken piece.
  4. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes or until inside temperature registers 165 degrees. The outside should be a nice golden brown.
  5. Serve with your favorite vegetable and enjoy :).

1. I used whole boneless Chicken Breasts in this recipe…however, I usually cut each breast in half, as the recipe states.

2. The photo of the Ingredients shows a bottle of Garlic Salt, but I decided not to use this…I only used the minced Garlic in the jar.

Main Dish



Durango Chicken

Durango Chicken

I have been cooking this chicken dish for years and have yet to tire of it. It’s always juicy and tender…and oh, SO easy to make! Perfect for ANY night of the week! It pairs well with just about any side dish (rice, potatoes, pasta, etc.) and your favorite vegetable (salads, broccoli, asparagus, squash, etc.). Enjoy!

  • 4 Chicken Breasts (Trimmed, rinsed and dried)
  • 2 Lemons (Juice of 2 Lemons)
  • 1/2 Cup Butter (Melted)
  • 1 Tablespoon Paprika
  • 1 Tablespoon Oregano
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic Salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon Ground Pepper

Preparation

  1. Gather all ingredients.
  2. Trim, rinse and dry chicken breasts. Place them in a large ziploc baggie and set aside while you prepare the marinade.

Making the marinade

  1. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the Melted Butter, Lemon Juice and Spices. Mix well.
  2. Pour the marinade into the baggie with the chicken and seal well. Gently turn bag over several times to completely coat the chicken breasts with the marinade. Place the baggie in a large baking dish (the one you will be using to bake the chicken) and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (or overnight/the morning of, if you’re making it ahead of time).

Baking the Chicken

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
  2. While the oven is preheating, pull the marinated chicken out of the refrigerator and dump the entire contents into the large baking dish ~ Note: the butter in the marinade will have solidified…I just place these “chunks” of solidified butter onto the chicken breasts, so they will melt into the chicken while baking.
  3. Bake for 40-45 minutes, uncovered.