Crockpot Ranch Chicken Tacos

Sure, you could fry some hamburger or ground turkey in a skillet. Or... you could pop these few ingredients into the crockpot and have something a little tastier that you might get at your local Mexican restaurant...

It's good, you won't be disappointed. So try it. Enjoy!

CROCKPOT RANCH CHICKEN TACOS

Servings: 1

Nutritional Information:

WW Points Plus: 1+/oz of chicken, 1+ for 1/4 serving of sauce, 2+ for tortilla(s), 2+ for cheese, 2+ for avocado = about 5-9+ (depending on what you put in your taco)

Note: Nutritional information below is for the sauce only (1/4 serving)

Ingredients:

• Boneless/skinless chicken breasts
• 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 packet Ranch mix
• 1/2 packet (I only used 1 TBSP since I don't like "spicy") low-sodium taco seasoning
• Your favorite taco/taco salad toppings!

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and pour into a crock pot with a few chicken breasts.
2. Let cook on low for about 3 1/2 hours.
3. In the last 15 minutes or so of cooking, use a spoon or fork to pull apart the chicken. 
4. Allow it to cook a little longer and enjoy!

Ranch Alfredo Pasta Bake

Alright, this dish is an official Cooking Cadenza creation, with no outside recipe even so much as a guideline. Instead, this culinary experiment was born solely in my kitchen with me making pasta as usual and then heating (somewhat) random ingredients over a stovetop pan. I already can think of a few adaptations (texture/nutrition wise) I would include should I make this in the future (which I more than likely will), but it was fabulous as is (far better than my Baked Turkey Penne could have ever hoped to be). I mean, unless you're lactose intolerant, who doesn't love pasta with a special homemade alfredo sauce?

RANCH ALFREDO PASTA BAKE

Servings: 4-6

Nutritional Information:

WW Points Plus: 10+ for 1/4 serving (listed below), 7+ for 1/6 serving

Ingredients:

• 8 oz Whole Wheat Penne Pasta
• 2 TBSP Light Margarine
• 2 TBSP Fat Free Cream Cheese
• 3 TBSP Parmesan cheese
• 1 TBSP Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix
• 5 TBSP Milk
• Secret extra ingredient: 2 packets Stevia (or 2 tsp sugar)
• 1 cup WW Italian Blend Cheese
• 1/2 lb pulled chicken (or boneless skinless chicken chunks)

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to package directions and preheat oven to 350° F.
2. In a small stove top pan, combine margarine, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, ranch mix, milk, and Stevia, stirring them together.
3. Coat pasta as much as possible with the stovetop mixture.
4. In a small casserole dish, coat the bottom part of the pan with some of the Italian shredded cheese. Layer some of the pasta/alfredo sauce on top of the cheese and add chicken pieces.
5. Continue layering ingredients (cheese/pasta/chicken), until you have reached the top of the pan. Place remaining cheese/sprinkle some additional Parmesan cheese on top of the dish.
6. Cook pasta for about 15-20 minutes or until cheese begins to melt.
7. Enjoy!

Parmesan Ranch Chicken

This is officially the best recipe I have made yet since starting Cooking Cadenza. There will most certainly be an encore of this dish happening sometime in the future. Enjoy!

PARMESAN RANCH CHICKEN

Servings: about 12 tenders total (from 3 chicken breasts)

Nutritional Information:
WW Points Plus: 5+ for 2 tenders, 8+ for 3 tenders, 11+ for 4 tenders

Ingredients:

• ¾ c Panko breadcrumbs
• ¾ c Weight Watchers Italian Blend cheese
• ½ packet hidden valley ranch dressing mix
• 3 chicken breasts (each split into four tenders)
• 3 TBSP Egg Beaters

Substitutions: use cornflakes for Panko, different types of cheese, real egg/butter instead of egg beaters

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. Remove gristle from chicken and cut chicken breasts into fourths.
3. Combine Panko, cheese, and ranch dressing mix and place aside.
4. Dip chicken halves in egg and then dip into the ranch mixture.
5. Cook chicken for about 20 minutes.
6. Top with cheese and let it sit for a while until it begins to melt (alternatively, parmesan cheese may be included in the Panko/ranch mixture).
7. Enjoy!