I am a huge fan of making an easy recipe like this Zucchini Pizza Dish on the weekend and meal prepping it for my week! This recipe is delicious, and I looked forward to it all week! And it’s great to have a healthy option ready for lunch or dinner, so I don’t go for the unhealthy stuff!!

This dish comes in under 400 calories and 39 grams of protein!! That’s a great ratio, folks! You do not need to feel guilty about eating this one!! And if you haven’t tried ground chicken, let me introduce you to my new favorite low-calorie protein! And if I’m really honest, I like it a whole lot better than ground turkey!!

What do you need to make this Zucchini Pizza Dish recipe?

• ground chicken – You can do either 99% lean or 93% lean. I love both!
• zucchini – I chop mine into about 1 in chunks
• onion – I chop mine pretty chunky in this recipe too…much like it would be on a pizza!
• creole seasoning – You can also use seasoned salt…or salt and pepper
• Italian diced tomatoes – if you just have regular, just sprinkle in a little dried Italian seasoning.
• cottage cheese – I like to blend mine in this recipe
• shredded mozzarella cheese – you can even use some shredded parmesan too
• turkey pepperoni – this adds a little more protein and give it more of that pizza vibe
• FULL RECIPE BELOW

Other Low-Calorie and High-Protein Meal Ideas you might like:

• Skinny Turkey Lasagna
• Skinny Pepper Nachos
• Skinny Turkey Meatball Soup
• Skinny Stuffed Peppers
• Skinny Meatza Pizza
• Taco Spaghetti Squash

Connect with Diary of a Recipe Collector!  Follow us on social media, so you never miss a recipe!

Email Subscription | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

Follow on Instagram for More Recipes and Fun!!

Zucchini Pizza Dish

Zucchini Pizza Dish is an easy low calorie, high protein, and low carb meal prep idea perfect when you are trying to eat healthy!!

Print

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground chicken
• 1 zucchini, but into about 1 in pieces
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 1/2 tsp creole seasoning or seasoned salt
• 15 oz can Italian diced tomatoes
• 3/4 cup cottage cheese, blended
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella, divided
• 6 turkey pepperoni

Instructions

1. In a skillet, brown ground chicken. Season with 1 tsp creole seasoning or seasoned salt.
2. Add in zucchini and onion and remaining 1/2 tsp creole seasoning. Saute with ground chicken for about 7 -10 minutes or until vegetables are soft.
3. Stir in diced tomatoes and blended cottage cheese. Cook for about 3 minutes and add in 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella and stir.
4. Pour into oven safe dish and top with remaining shredded cheese and turkey pepperoni.
5. Place under broiler for a few minutes until cheese is melted.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. This helps us keep our blog running efficiently and allows us to create more recipes for you.

• 
  The Pioneer Woman 9 Inch Stoneware Pie Dish (1)
• 
  Rachael Ray Cucina Hard Porcelain Enamel Nonstick Skillet, Frying Pan Set, 9.25-Inch and 11-Inch, Agave Blue

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 360Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 146mgSodium: 1059mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 3gSugar: 6gProtein: 39g

DID YOU TRY THIS RECIPE?

I WANT TO SEE! Follow JAREN_DIARYRECIPECOLLECTOR on Instagram, snap a photo, and tag @jaren_diaryrecipecollector and #diaryofarecipecollector. I would love to know what good stuff you are making!

You can find more MAIN DISH RECIPES HERE. You can find ALL RECIPES HERE. For more ideas, follow me on FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM, AND TWITTER. Get FREE recipes delivered to you by email: SIGN UP HERE!

The post Zucchini Pizza Dish appeared first on Diary of A Recipe Collector.

I love anything with Mexican flavors, and this Instant Pot Mexican Chicken and Rice did not disappoint!  It was super easy to whip up.  I divided it into servings for lunches for my week.  It was also great for a quick dinner idea too!

Pin this recipe for later here!!

What ingredients do I need to make this Instant Pot Mexican Chicken and Rice?

• olive oil
• onion 
• creole seasoning
• boneless chicken breasts
• long grain rice
• chicken broth
• cumin
• chili powder
• onion powder
• garlic powder
• can chili beans
• shredded cheese
• chopped cilantro

Follow on Instagram for More Recipes and Fun!!

Can I make this on the stove top instead of an instant pot?

You sure can!  Once all the ingredients are added, bring it to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover with lid to let rice cook for about 20 minutes. Remove lid and check the rice. If it needs a few more minutes, cover it again and allow it to cook through more. You can also stir in about a 1/4 cup of water to allow it to steam some more once you cover it.

Connect with Diary of a Recipe Collector!  Follow us on social media, so you never miss a recipe!

Email Subscription | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest 

Want some other Instant Pot Recipe Ideas?  

• Instant Pot Chicken, Bean, and Kale Soup
• Instant Pot Cheeseburger Soup
• Instant Pot White Beans, Sausage, and Rice (Personal Fav!!!)
• Instant Pot Salsa Chicken

Favorite Instant Pot Recipes

You can find more MAIN DISH RECIPES HERE.
You can find ALL RECIPES HERE.
For more ideas, follow me on FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM, AND TWITTER.
Get FREE recipes delivered to you by email: SIGN UP HERE! 

The post Instant Pot Mexican Chicken and Rice appeared first on Diary of A Recipe Collector.

Nothing in life makes me feel more productive than getting all my meals planned for the week.  That includes lunch!  I save so much money when I make my lunches ahead of time!  I have quite a few favorite recipes that I like to make ahead for my lunches.  When I have too many, no worries, I just pop them in the freezer to use later.  I usually have quite the lunch collection to choose from so I don’t get bored with the same old lunch!  And the best part is that these Make Ahead Lunch Recipes are all low calorie!!  

White Bean Chicken Soup
This recipe can be made on the stove top or in the instant pot.  It is low-calorie too!  It’s one of my favorite lunches! 

Easy Sheet Pan Sausage and Veggies over Quinoa
This one is supper easy to prep for the week!

Make-Ahead Chicken Enchilada Stack
This recipe would be perfect divided up into single servings for the week!

Mexican Chicken, Black Bean, and Sweet Potato Soup
This one is another huge favorite!  I make it all the time in my instant pot, but it is great on the stove top too!  

Instant Pot Santa Fe Chicken over Quinoa

Skinny Chicken Vegetable Soup
This one is really calorie friendly!!  Perfect recipe to start the new year!

Easy Tomato Basil Chicken Soup
This one smells amazing!  It’s definitely something to look forward to for lunch!

You can find ALL RECIPES HERE.
For more ideas, follow me on FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM, AND TWITTER.
Get FREE recipes delivered to you by email: SIGN UP HERE!

The post Make Ahead Lunch Recipes appeared first on Diary of A Recipe Collector.

School mode is just about in full force at our house.  I’ve been to three open houses, dropped off supplies, and gotten my own classroom ready to go!  And ready or not, here it is!  Bye summer!  You will be missed!  But we are so ready for fall!!  I start packing school lunches next week, and sometimes my kids get so tired of the usual stuff.  I thought it would be fun to put together a collection of nice homemade treats.  I thought about making some of these on a Sunday and having them ready to go for the school week ahead.  Hope you enjoy it too!

The post Lunch Box Treats appeared first on Diary of A Recipe Collector.

Well hello Thursday!  Where did this week go?  I feel like it just started.  I guess that’s not a bad thing since my hubby and I actually have an exciting outing this weekend!  And I really need a night away…for real!  The week started out a little rough (so I guess that is why it flew by for me).  My son woke up with the always fun strep throat Monday morning.  So he was home with me for two days, and so far everyone else is fever free.  Fingers-crossed cause this momma actually has some grown-up weekend plans…and that is pretty much non-existent these days.

My husband and I have our Mardi Gras crew cocktail party.  I’m so excited to get out!  Can you tell?  My husband is pretty ecstatic too!  I always said when we had kids we would still have date nights.  Well now that never happens for all sorts of different reasons. First, because it’s hard to find a sitter for 4 kids.  Second, my mother is always helping me with my kids, so I feel bad asking her to watch them to go out somewhere.  Third, babysitters for 4 kids = kind of pricey.  Needless to say, we end up staying home a lot.

So we are totally going to enjoy every moment of our night out.  And my kids love having a sitter.  They feel like it’s an extra special fun night for them too!  Win-win!

And this Garlic Cream Chicken Calzone was a win-win too!  I made it quick and easy with the help of refrigerated pizza dough.  The garlic cream sauce in it is wonderful!  It’s the same one used on one of my most popular recipes.  Plus I added spinach, and I was totally in love with this recipe.  I got so excited to have some leftover for lunch the next day too!

I grilled my chicken the day I made the calzone, but this recipe would be great if you had some leftover grilled chicken.  Then you would REALLY have a speedy supper idea!  Hope you enjoy it!  See you guys tomorrow with a special Friday post!!!

Garlic Cream Chicken Calzone

Print

Ingredients

• 2 chicken breasts
• 1 tsp creole seasoning
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp all purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp chicken bouillon powder/granules dissolved in 1/4 cup HOT water OR 1/4 cup chicken broth*
• 3/4 cup milk
• salt and pepper
• 3/4 tsp dried basil
• 1 1/2 cups shredded Monterrey Jack cheese
• 1 cup fresh baby spinach
• 1 tube refrigerated pizza dough

Instructions

1. Season chicken with creole seasoning. Grill over medium to medium-high heat for 8 to 9 minutes per side or until cooked. Remove from heat and let it rest while you prepare the cream sauce.
2. In a skillet, melt butter and oil over medium heat. Add garlic. Cook for 2 minutes. Add flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes stirring frequently. Add chicken broth* and stir. Add milk slowly and stir. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add basil. Stir and cook for 2 more minutes over medium heat. It will begin to thicken. Remove from heat.
3. Unroll pizza dough onto sheet pan and spread out to about a 10 x 15 inch rectangle. Spread garlic cream sauce over the entire area of dough. Top with chopped grilled chicken. Top with baby spinach and shredded cheese. Beginning with longer end roll up while being careful to continue to tuck ingredients in as you roll it up. Place on a baking sheet seam side down. Spray with a little cooking oil spray under dough. Bake at 350 for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Let sit about 5 minutes to cool. Slice and serve warm.

Notes

*You could also sub a 1/4 cup white wine for a slightly different flavor in these.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. This helps us keep our blog running efficiently and allows us to create more recipes for you.

• 
  Rachael Ray Cucina Nonstick Bakeware Baking Pan / Cookie Sheet, Baking Sheet, 11-Inch x 17-Inch, Latte Brown, Agave Blue Handle Grips
• 
  11 x 17 Pan Farberware

DID YOU TRY THIS RECIPE?

I WANT TO SEE! Follow JAREN_DIARYRECIPECOLLECTOR on Instagram, snap a photo, and tag @jaren_diaryrecipecollector and #diaryofarecipecollector. I would love to know what good stuff you are making!

Here are some other recipes you might love:

Grilled Chicken & Bacon Pizza with a Garlic Cream Sauce

Grilled Chicken & Bacon Panini

Chicken & Bacon Alfredo

Honey Mustard Chicken & Bacon Skewers

Spinach & Provolone Chicken Pinwheels

The post Garlic Cream Chicken Calzone appeared first on Diary of A Recipe Collector.

Superhero Lunch Box with Free Lunch Box Notes – A fun MARVEL superhero-themed lunch box and you can print fun Superhero Lunch Box Notes for your little superheroes!

Do you have any superheroes in your house?  How about any children who love them?  We do for sure!  My oldest son can tell you so much about all the superheroes.  He is definitely a young MARVEL enthusiast!  From books to games to costumes, he’s got it all.  I’m even thinking about giving both my boys a superhero-themed bedroom in the near future.

Well now at Walmart, you can find these MARVEL Granola Bars in Chocolate Chip and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip.  I knew these would be perfect for my little guy and for a superhero-themed lunch box.  I also made some fun lunch box notes to go with it!

I started off making some Cheese & Pretzel Muscle Builders and Grape & Pretzel Muscle Builders.  Next I made a Flash Grilled Cheese.  My little guy is going to be so impressed that mommy knows who Flash is and that he has his shield in the form of a grilled cheese!  #coolmom

Then I made a quick Captain America Snack mix with graham crackers, red & blue candies, and mini marshmallows and a fun Hulk-Smash Yogurt with lime-flavored yogurt and sprinkles.

Tips to prepare this lunch quicker:
-Prepare the Captain America Snack Mix in advance and place in baggies.

-I portion out the yogurt into the bento containers and freeze it.  That morning, I take out the container and add the rest of the lunch items to it.  If not using a bento container, you can freeze yogurt in individual cups with lids.

-Prepare the pretzels separate from the cheese and grapes in little storage bags.  When it’s time to get the lunch box in the morning, just grab the pretzels bag and the grape and cheese cube bag and pack it in the lunch box.  Your little superhero can build his muscle builders while he or she eats!!  Now they have an excuse to play with their food!

But I think what he will be most excited about will be these MARVEL Granola Bars.  Each one has a different character with a message.  There are 6 different wrappers: Captain America, Hulk, Spider Man, Iron Man, Black Widow, and Thor.  Plus, these granola bars are not your average size granola bar.  They are 40% bigger.  On the package you can find 4 collector cards – Hulk, Iron Man, Hawk Eye, and Spider Man.  We can cut them out and collect them all!

Don’t forget to cut out a cute little superhero lunch box note!  I secretly like to include these to encourage my little guy to read!  I know if it has a superhero’s message, he will surely want to figure out what it says.

Have fun creating a Superhero Lunch Box for your children, and don’t forget to print your own Lunch Box Notes below.

Be sure to check out how to make your child’s lunch SUPER and visit the MARVEL hub for a TON of great ideas!  I’d also love to know which MARVEL hero would be your child’s number one pick in their lunch box!

Click here to print the Superhero Lunch Box Notes.

The post Superhero Lunch Box with FREE Lunch Box Notes appeared first on Diary of A Recipe Collector.

Hey everyone!  It’s September!!!  The start of all things FALL begins!  I’ll be breaking out the fall decor this weekend!  It’s my most favorite season to decorate my house.  Now my husband…he’s probably cringing right about now thinking about helping me drag tubs of decor out of the attic…

But I LOVE it!  Another thing I love is back to school stuff, as I’ve mentioned a lot lately.  Just the other day, I partnered with Wet Ones Singles and shared this Lunch Calendar Printable with you guys.  Today I’m back to share a great lunch idea with you.  Ham & Cheese Macaroni Muffin Cups are an awesome make-ahead and freezer-friendly lunch idea for your children…and even you too!

The muffin version of mac and cheese makes these so lunch-friendly!  I popped them in the microwave for 1 minute and 30 seconds and quickly sealed them up the thermos.  They were still warm and yummy in time for lunch!

To go along with these Ham & Cheese Macaroni Muffins, I made some fruit kabobs with grapes and strawberries.  Because who doesn’t love food on a stick?  I also added some yogurt with sprinkles.  I freeze the yogurt, and it is thawed by lunch time.  I don’t have to worry about it spoiling that way.

Don’t forget how convenient these Wet Ones Singles are for lunch boxes too.  Since who knows how many surfaces your children have touched before heading off to the lunchroom, you can feel better about them having clean hands to eat, and they kill 99.99% of germs.  Unlike a hand sanitizer, they don’t dry out skin since they have aloe in them.  They are also hypoallergenic.  So your children can be ready to chow down on these Ham & Cheese Macaroni Muffin Cups with clean hands!  #WishIHadAWetOnes

These Ham & Cheese Macaroni Muffin Cups are super easy.  And those crispy edges…those are my favorite part!  You can add more ham if you’d like too.  I only added a cup to this recipe, but if you like more meat, go ahead and add some more.  After I let them cool, I placed them in a freezer bag and froze them.  In the morning, just take out and heat how ever many you need.

Go here to print the Lunch Calendar. 

Other Lunch Ideas:

Chicken Enchilada Stromboli

Roasted Red Pepper & Turkey Wrap

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Wet Ones®. The opinions and text are all mine.

The post Ham & Cheese Macaroni Muffin Cups appeared first on Diary of A Recipe Collector.

Happy post  Halloween everyone!  Welcome to November!  Tis the holiday season!  In my opinion, the next 2 months are the most exciting of the year!!  I went to Walmart this morning at 7:30 am because all the stars aligned, and I got everyone dressed including myself and baby fed and out the door by 7:10!!  How in the world did that happen???  Anyway, at Walmart, all the stockers were taking down the Halloween goods and bringing out the big stuff for Christmas.  It did make me slightly happy.

All I ask is that the stores do give Thanksgiving its own special day please.  I mean our Thanksgiving meal has barely even finished and the stores are already opening now.  That really BUGS me!  I’m fine with midnight, but come on, let us enjoy our Thanksgiving day please!

Here are some pictures from our fun Halloween Friday night:

So onto this delicious little lunch or supper.  It is super easy to make!  I just use refrigerated pizza crust and often times I will buy the pre-cooked grilled chicken found in the deli or the meat section of the grocery store.  You could even use a rotisserie chicken.  These are really easy to customize too!  Put whatever you like in them.

They are easy to roll up and bake up really quickly.

Chicken Enchilada Stromboli

Yield: 4

Print

Ingredients

• 3 cups diced cooked chicken ( I used pre-cooked grilled chicken)
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1 roma tomato, chopped
• 2 tbsp diced green chiles
• 1 cup shredded colby jack cheese
• 2 tbsp sliced black olives
• 1/2 cup mayo
• juice of 1/2 a lime
• 1 can refrigerated pizza dough

Instructions

1. Mix together chicken, cumin, tomato, green chiles, cheese, olives, mayo, and lime juice.
2. Spread dough out onto a sheet pan. Cut it into 4 rectangles.
3. Place about 2-3 tbsp of chicken mixture onto the corner of one of the dough rectangles. Begin rolling by tucking in the corners over the filling and continuing to roll.
4. Place seam side down on pan. Repeat with remaining dough rectangles.
5. Bake at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. This helps us keep our blog running efficiently and allows us to create more recipes for you.

• 
  Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Commercial Baker's Half Sheet (2 Pack), Silver
• 
  Silicone Baking Mat

DID YOU TRY THIS RECIPE?

I WANT TO SEE! Follow JAREN_DIARYRECIPECOLLECTOR on Instagram, snap a photo, and tag @jaren_diaryrecipecollector and #diaryofarecipecollector. I would love to know what good stuff you are making!

Other recipes you might enjoy:

Hot-Pressed Santa Fe Wraps

Taco Calzones

Southwest Wraps

Pepperoni & Cheese Stuffed Bread

Ultimate Chicken Salad Rollups

And don’t forget about two giveaways going on right now:

Jumpstart your Holiday Shopping—$300 Paypal or Amazon Cash

Santa Paypal Cash Giveaway-Two Winners–$500 Each

The post Chicken Enchilada Stromboli appeared first on Diary of A Recipe Collector.

 So since the first day I made this little lunch for myself, I’ve wanted to eat it almost everyday.  I held myself back and ate other stuff because I so did not want to burn out on this.  They are so good and I feel good about eating it too!

They start out with a whole wheat pita, hummus, turkey, and pepperjack.  Then you just top them with lettuce, tomatoes, and onions.  Seriously, it can’t get much easier.

You can even make them ahead and just heat them up in the toaster oven.  I usually just eat half and save the other half for the next day.

I’m currently about 8 lbs. away from my pre-pregnancy weight…the final, hardest stretch!  Isn’t it funny how easily you gain it during pregnancy, but it doesn’t come off quite so easily?

But this little guy is worth every pound…our unexpected, happy surprise!

 So go ahead and try this one, and you won’t feel guilty about your lunch at all!  One-half of this pizza is only 217 calories.  Enjoy it with a cup of yogurt or a piece of fruit, and I promise it will be a satisfying lunch for sure!

Skinny Turkey Pepperjack Pizzas

Yield: 2

Print

Ingredients

• 1 whole wheat pita
• 1 1/2 tbsp hummus (I use Roasted Garlic flavor)
• 4 thin slices turkey
• 3 slices pepperjack
• 1/4 shredded lettuce
• 1/4 cup sliced grape tomatoes
• a few slivers of red onion

Instructions

1. Heat broiler.
2. Place pita on a pan and under broiler for 2 minutes. Watch carefully to ensure it doesn't burn.
3. Take out pita, flip it.
4. Spread hummus all over pita.
5. Top with sliced turkey, sliced cheese, tomatoes, and onions.
6. Place it back under broiler for 2 -3 more minutes or until cheese is melted.
7. Remove and top with shredded lettuce.
8. Cut in half and serve.

Notes

*I used Sabra Roasted Garlic Hummus

Nutrition Information:

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 217

DID YOU TRY THIS RECIPE?

I WANT TO SEE! Follow JAREN_DIARYRECIPECOLLECTOR on Instagram, snap a photo, and tag @jaren_diaryrecipecollector and #diaryofarecipecollector. I would love to know what good stuff you are making!

Other recipes you might enjoy:

Roasted Red Pepper and Turkey Wraps

Club Croissants with Roasted Red Onion Mayo

The post Skinny Turkey Pepperjack Pizzas appeared first on Diary of A Recipe Collector.

Well our little man is now 2 months old.  I can’t believe he’s getting so big so quickly.  On one hand it is good because I look forward to easier stages ahead, but on the other hand, I just love those sweet tiny baby features and the sweet little cry…except at 2 am.

So since I have a 2 month old, I’m kind of in weight loss mode.  I’m trying to get off those last few pounds.  I always dread this part.  I’m pretty much doing what I’ve done every time.  I put in my Jillian Michaels Body Revolution video and wish it will be over soon.

And then I eat little things like this for lunch.

I’m a huge Biggest Loser fan, and this little recipe is adapted from the first Biggest Loser cookbook.  It is so easy, and I usually make three or four of them ahead of time in order to have them ready to eat.  They really can’t get easier to make.  Whole wheat tortilla, whipped cream cheese, roasted red bell peppers, and sliced turkey…that’s it!

Here are some other things I eat during the day:

Breakfast:
Scrambled Eggs in a Whole Wheat Pita Pocket
Scrambled Eggs in a Whole Wheat Tortilla Wrap
Boiled Eggs

Lunch:
Turkey and Cheese Whole Wheat Wrap
Turkey, Lettuce, Tomato in a Pita Pocket
Chicken and Cheese Quesadilla

Snacks:
string cheese
yogurt
1/2 pita toasted with hummus

I’m also trying to not be too strict right now either since I am nursing.  I know I just need to patient, and it will come off in a few months…easier said than done, right?

Roasted Red Pepper and Turkey Wrap

Print

Ingredients

• 1 whole wheat tortilla
• 1 tbsp whipped cream cheese
• 5-6 slices turkey
• 3-4 strips of roasted red bell pepper (jarred)

Instructions

1. Spread cream cheese over all of tortilla.
2. Place turkey on top of cream cheese.
3. Top with roasted red bell pepper strips.
4. Roll up and slice in half or wrap in plastic wrap and chill for later.

Notes

*Adapted from The Biggest Loser Cookbook

DID YOU TRY THIS RECIPE?

I WANT TO SEE! Follow JAREN_DIARYRECIPECOLLECTOR on Instagram, snap a photo, and tag @jaren_diaryrecipecollector and #diaryofarecipecollector. I would love to know what good stuff you are making!

Other wraps:
Ultimate Chicken Salad Rollups

Hot-Pressed Santa Fe Wraps

The post Roasted Red Pepper and Turkey Wrap appeared first on Diary of A Recipe Collector.