Recipe for Chicken and Black Bean Bell Pepper Nachos

Who says you can’t have nachos and lose weight? These cheesy, satisfying nachos are high in protein and fiber, and low in carbs. With chicken, low-fat cheese, and bell peppers, they have less than half the calories and fat as full-fat beef nachos on tortilla chips. 

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If you don’t like bell peppers, just serve the toppings on any roasted vegetable. Good options include snow peas and thinly sliced jicama, carrots, and radishes. Or, just use the recipe as a dip for raw vegetables like celery and cucumber sticks and cauliflower florets. To make the recipe faster and easier, use leftover rotisserie chicken or cooked lean ground turkey. 

Here are other options.

• Use fat-free refried beans instead of black beans.
• Use crispy baked tofu instead of chicken for a plant-based version.
• Season your chicken with low-sodium taco seasoning as a shortcut compared to adding cumin and chili powder.

This recipe makes 4 servings if you’re having it as a substantial snack. Otherwise, half the recipe makes a filling main course. 

Recipe for Chicken and Black Bean Bell Pepper Nachos

Makes 2-4 servings

Ingredients

• 4 red, yellow, or green bell peppers, cut into strips
• 1 cup of black beans
• 2 ounces of shredded low-fat mozzarella cheese
• ½ teaspoon of cumin
• ½ teaspoon of chili powder
• Optional: ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes
• 6 ounces of cooked lean ground turkey, cooked skinless chicken breast, shredded or cubed, or leftover rotisserie chicken
• Additional optional toppings: sliced olives, salsa or pico de gallo, avocado slices, plain yogurt or fat-free sour cream, chopped cilantro, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and spray a baking sheet.
2. In a bowl, mix together the beans, cheese, and spices.
3. Bake the bell peppers for 5 minutes.
4. Top them with the bean mixture and the chicken or turkey. Bake for another 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and everything is hot.
5. Serve with any desired toppings.

Nutrition information per serving (for 4 servings): calories: 220 kcal; total fat: 7 g; total carbohydrates: 25 g; sugar: 4 g; fiber: 7 g; protein: 16 g; sodium: 350 mg; cholesterol: 55 mg

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Reviewed by Heather Tonkins, Lark Health Coach