Category Archives: Side Dish

Granola Honey Sweet Potato Fries

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Granola Honey Sweet Potato Fries! Pre-race carb loading (or every day munching) at it’s finest – all the good stuff, so easy! Based on a single-serve recipe on page 215 my Cooking for One for Dummies cookbook that can be ordered now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your other fine book retailer online or in person.

Looking for a quick and easy granola sweet potato recipe? Simple ingredients come together in minutes in an air fryer (or conventional oven) to make the tastiest, crunchiest, salty-sweet (swalty) fries around!! You’ll love recipe for one (or two)!

Baked or air-fryer sweet potato fries are one of my go-to side dishes the night before a big workout or race. Those healthy carbs from the sweet potato and honey give me energy and the prep method doesn’t make me feel heavy and gross with added oils I don’t need.

Looking for a quick and easy granola sweet potato recipe? Simple ingredients come together in minutes in an air fryer (or conventional oven) to make the tastiest, crunchiest, salty-sweet (swalty) fries around!! You’ll love recipe for one (or two)!
Ridiculously simple ingredients: sweet potato, olive oil, honey, salt, and granola!

I was inspired to add honey and coarse sea salt to my fries after eating a similar dish at a steak house years ago before a 50 miles race!!! So yummy, and I know helped me make it through many of those miles in the first half.

Looking for a quick and easy granola sweet potato recipe? Simple ingredients come together in minutes in an air fryer (or conventional oven) to make the tastiest, crunchiest, salty-sweet (swalty) fries around!! You’ll love recipe for one (or two)!
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Adding granola was just an “ah-ha” moment, when I was curious about adding a little extra texture and crunch. A box of salty-sweet granola made with oats, ancient grains, pecans and cinnamon was sitting out, so I sprinkled some on and it was like magic. You can use any granola you want, I just happed to have THIS ONE on hand.

Looking for a quick and easy granola sweet potato recipe? Simple ingredients come together in minutes in an air fryer (or conventional oven) to make the tastiest, crunchiest, salty-sweet (swalty) fries around!! You’ll love recipe for one (or two)!

BTW, I used a Crinkle Cut Potato Tool, but you can also just use a knife!

Sometimes I’m the only one in the family who wants a sweet potato for one, so I came up with this single-serve sweet potato fry recipe.  With 368 Calories, 11g fat, 64g carb, 8g fiber, 5g protein, it’s pretty generous sized and can be split with a friend if not as hungry as I usually am!!

Looking for more impressive yet easy sweet potato recipes? Try my Mashed Rosemary Sweet Potatoes with Caramelized Onions! Delicious!

Mashed Rosemary Sweet Potatoes with Caramelized Onions
5 from 1 vote
Let cool a couple minutes. Sprinkle with salt and drizzle with honey, toss gently. Sprinkle with granola!
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Granola Honey Sweet Potato Fries for Air Fryer (or Oven)
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
12 mins
Total Time
17 mins
 

Looking for a quick and easy granola sweet potato recipe? Simple ingredients come together in minutes in an air fryer (or conventional oven) tomake the tastiest, crunchiest, salty-sweet (swalty) fries around!! You’ll love recipe for one (or two)!

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
Keyword: granola, honey, sweet potato
Servings: 1
Ingredients
  • 10 ounce sweet potato approx
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoon honey
  • ¼ teaspoon Himalayan Sea salt
  • 2 tablespoon salty-sweet granola of choice
Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400F or Air fryer to 360F.

  2. Wash, dry and cut sweet potato into 1/3” thick fry-sized pieces. Place wedges in pile on baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil; toss to coat. Spread out in even layer on pan or transfer to Air fryer basket.

  3. Bake for 25 min in oven or 12 min in air fryer, flipping half way. Will be done when turning crispy brown around edges and soft in center.

  4. Let cool a couple minutes. Sprinkle with salt and drizzle with honey, toss gently. Sprinkle with granola!

Recipe Notes

Mushroom Pizza Stuffed Zucchini Boats

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Make waves with these delicious, nutritious Mushroom Pizza Stuffed Zucchini Boats. Easy, cheesy and a smart way to optimize zucchini season!

Quick, easy, delicious and nutritious, these cheesy, saucy stuffed zucchini will remind you of a mushroom pizza - -but without the crust, so lower calorie, lower carb and gluten-free. A great way to use up a bumper crop of squash!

Even if you don’t grow your own zucchini (I don’t, but my neighbors do, lol) this green squash is a great way to add extra fiber, vitamins, minerals, and volume to your meals. Exceptionally versatile if you are gluten-free or a lower carb kinda person, plus it seems to be a perennial in the produce department and inexpensive, to boot!

Check out this short video tutorial!

If air-frying, you only need 15 minutes, prep to plate, for this cheesy stuffed zucchini recipe. Takes a little longer in regular oven, but still not time-consuming, especially if you give zucchini boats a 1 minute microwave “par cook” before stuffing and baking.

Quick, easy, delicious and nutritious, these cheesy, saucy stuffed zucchini boats will remind you of a mushroom pizza - -but without the crust, so lower calorie, lower carb and gluten-free. A great way to use up a bumper crop of squash!

I love easy recipes that pack a nice punch of protein. These mushroom pizza zucchini boats help you meet your protein goals on nights when you are going no-meat or just don’t have the time to prepare beef, chicken or pork. It’s a blend of cottage cheese and mozzarella cheese for the protein win!

A serving (of TWO halves) has 25g protein, 20g net carb, 12g fat and 293 calories. This is A LOT of food that will ya up! Alternatively, you can just serve one piece as a scrumptious side dish!

Quick, easy, delicious and nutritious, these cheesy, saucy stuffed zucchini boats will remind you of a mushroom pizza - -but without the crust, so lower calorie, lower carb and gluten-free. A great way to use up a bumper crop of squash!
Quick, easy, delicious and nutritious, these cheesy, saucy stuffed zucchini boats will remind you of a mushroom pizza - -but without the crust, so lower calorie, lower carb and gluten-free. A great way to use up a bumper crop of squash!
5 from 5 votes
Quick, easy, delicious and nutritious, these cheesy, saucy stuffed zucchini boats will remind you of a mushroom pizza - -but without the crust, so lower calorie, lower carb and gluten-free. A great way to use up a bumper crop of squash!
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Mushroom Pizza Stuffed Zucchini Boats
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 

Quick, easy, delicious and nutritious, these cheesy, saucy stuffed zucchini will remind you of a mushroom pizza – -but without the crust, so lower calorie, lower carb and gluten-free.

Course: dinner, side
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: gluten free, low carb, pizza, zucchini
Servings: 1 serving (or serves 2 as a side)
Calories: 293 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 approximate 10- to 12-ounce zucchini ends cut off and sliced lengthwise
  • 1/3 cup bottle marinara or tomato-based pasta sauce divided
  • ¼ cup 2% cottage cheese
  • ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • ½ teaspoon garlic salt
  • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 2 to 3 white mushrooms sliced
  • 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
  • Optional fresh herbs
Instructions
  1. Preheat air fryer to 390F degrees (or oven to 375F)
  2. Cut ends off zucchini and slice lengthwise. Use small spoon to scoop out seeds and some flesh in center, leaving about 1/3” of flesh around outside so that it keeps shape during cooking.
  3. Place zucchini halves on microwave safe plate and “par” cook for 60 seconds in microwave on high.
  4. Transfer lightly cooked zucchini halves to air fryer tray.
  5. Spread the inside of each zucchini with 1 tablespoon sauce.
  6. In small bowl, mix together cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, garlic salt and Italian seasoning.
  7. Spoon cheese mixture into zucchini halves, pat down with spoon.
  8. Add just few little dollops of sauce to top, if desired.
  9. Arrange sliced mushrooms on top.
  10. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
  11. Air fry for 6 to 8 minutes (or oven for 15 to 20 minutes) until cheese lightly browning and hot and zucchini softened (but not soggy)
  12. Spoon bean mixture evenly into the two zucchini boats.
  13. Sprinkle with chopped Italian herbs and serve with additional warmed sauce, if desired.
Recipe Notes

No-Crust Tomato Pie – Lower Carb, Gluten-free

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Crustless Tomato Pie is a low-carb spin on one of my favorite southern dishes. Such a yummy way to use up a bumper crop of sweet, ripe tomatoes.

Most southern tomato pies have a pastry crust, but I personally like mine without! Tomatoes tend to get watery and seep all over a crust and make it unpleasantly soggy, especially you have leftovers. But a crustless tomato tart or pie doesn’t have nearly the same issue.

Watch it – 15-second tutorial!

However, one of the most important preparation steps you’ll want to take for this tomato mozzarella pie is to “sweat” the tomatoes. To do this simple task, just sprinkle your slice tomatoes with a little salt and let them rest on a plate for about 30 minutes. Afterward, drain off any liquid released onto the plant and use paper towels to blot up any excess moisture (this also helps remove some of the salt so that it doesn’t overpower). Sweating tomatoes like this helps keep them from making dishes watery and also makes the tomato flavor more intense – win-win!

Sweat the tomatoes with a little sale for 30 minutes - this helps remove excess moisture so recipe doesn't get soggy and also intensify flavor.
Don’t skip the 30-minute tomato “sweat” session!

To assemble the tomato pie, you just layer tomato slices and half of the egg-cheese mixture, and then repeat those layers again, and finish with a final tomato layer – so 3 layers of tomatoes and two layers of filling. The recipe does call for two eggs in it, but only to serve as a binder to help keep everything together – it’s definitely not eggy like a quiche or frittata.  It’s all about the tomatoes!

Ready to pop in the oven for 30 minutes!

Serve a side dish to dinner or light lunch – it’s even delicious as summery breakfast. My husband says it’s a casserole with tomatoes, but I say it’s a low carb tomato pie since it’s in a pie dish – he does agree it’s delicious. My kids say the low carb tomato casserole slash pie tastes like a pizza! Any way you slice it, we gobble it all up.

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However, if you do want to heat leftovers up the next day, you can microwave a slice for about 45 seconds. Or, if you have an air-fryer, I prefer to set my slice in a small dish and air fry at 390F for about 6 minutes – this returns the cheese to more of the original gooey-crispy state.

Makes 6 servings, each with 178 calories, 9g carb, 12g fat, 13g protein

Disclaimer: My post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission on products purchase, however the price to you remains the same. Thank you!

5 from 6 votes
Crustless Tomato Pie: No crust means the intense flavor of vine-ripe tomatoes shines through in this recipe whether you want to call it a pie, tart or casserole. Simple ingredients, lower carb, gluten-free and sure to delight for breakfast, brunch or as a side dish any night.
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No Crust Tomato Pie – Low Carb and Gluten Free
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
“Sweating” tomatoes
30 mins
Total Time
1 hr 10 mins
 

Crustless Tomato Pie: No crust means the intense flavor ofvine-ripe tomatoes shines through in this recipe whether you want to call it apie, tart or casserole. Simple ingredients, lower carb, gluten-free and sure todelight for breakfast, brunch or as a side dish any night.

Course: Appetizer, Breakfast, brunch, lunch, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Southern
Keyword: brunch, pie, tart, tomato
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 178 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 ½ lbs. tomatoes about 5 to 6 medium
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup chopped sweet onion
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons fresh chopped basil
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella reserve 1/3 cup
  • 2 green onions tops and whites chopped
Instructions
  1. Slice tomatoes and sprinkle with salt. Let sit 30 minutes, then pour off juices and blot excess with paper towels.
  2. While tomatoes are “sweating,” saute onion in butter. Let cool of a bit.

  3. Mix together cooled sauteed onions, eggs, pepper, fresh basil, and 1 2/3 cups of the mozzarella.

  4. Layer pie dish with tomatoes, then dollop and spread ½ of the cheese-egg mixture on top.
  5. Sprinkle with green onions. Layer with tomatoes and remaining cheese mixture.
  6. There should be enough tomatoes left for the top. Arrange these and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
  7. Bake at 375F for 30 to 40 minutes, or until cheese bubbling and starting to brown in places.
  8. Let rest for 15 minutes before cutting into 6 wedges.
Recipe Notes

Makes 6 servings, each with 178 calories, 9g carb, 12g fat, 13g protein

Addictive Honey Ginger Broccoli for Two in Air-Fryer

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When I’m looking for a fast vegetable side dish, this easy broccoli recipe is a winner. A quick roast in the air fryer makes those little buds on the top “tree” part of the stalk deliciously crispy and lightly salty-sweet, while the stalk remains mostly tender. So delicious, it is seriously addictive!

A quick vegetable side dish in the air fryer that the whole family will love! Slightly salty-sweet, crispy so delicious it's addictive!

This air fryer broccoli recipe only requires a few simple ingredients, takes less that 15 minutes prep to plate, and pairs deliciously with everything from fish, beef, chicken or to pile up in a nourishing grain bowl. My family thinks it’s the best broccoli recipe ever and will often eat it as a snack!

This broccoli recipe is SO EASY!

Choosing Broccoli for this Air Fryer Side Dish

Select broccoli with for tightly closed, dark green florets and firm, thinner stalks. Thick stalks mean the plant is older and can yield a woody texture. Also, skip over heads of broccoli with yellowing or tiny yellow flowers, this also means they are over-mature and not the best for eating. Fresh broccoli will last about 3 to 5 days in the fridge, properly stored.

One shortcut I use on busy nights is to use pre-washed and bagged broccoli florets from the produce department, rather than cutting up the whole thing. Also, in a pinch, you can grab fresh broccoli florets off the salad bar offerings if your grocery store has one. However, I definitely don’t recommend using frozen broccoli for this air fryer broccoli recipe – that just won’t work. You’ll get a soggy, mushy result.

Can I Swap the Ginger Paste?

Another convenience I use in this air fryer broccoli is ginger paste, making my own rather than using the microplane grater on fresh gingerroot (although that’s a very fresh and vibrant option if you have a few extra minutes). Ginger paste is simply finely blended or minced ginger with a bit of oil and usually comes in a toothpaste-like tube or squeeze bottle so it’s easy to portion what you need. I would not recommend using dried ground ginger in this recipe, it just doesn’t lend the same zip! For another flavor option, you can also swap out the ginger for garlic! Or, for picky eaters, simply olive oil, salt and pepper.

What Air Fryer is Best for this Broccoli Recipe for Two?

Because this makes a small-batch of crispy broccoli intended for two people, it will fit in a standard, smaller “drawer” type air-fryer. I’ve also made it in my Instant Pot Duo Crisp (which has an air fryer function). If you are looking to double up the recipe to make more, then I would suggest using a larger toaster-oven style air fryer. I have the Instant Pot Omni Pro XL Air Fryer Toaster Oven, it has a large capacity cooing space, trays pull in and out like a traditional oven; and bakes, broils, air-frys, roasts, toasts and does nearly everything but wash dishes. Seriously, I love that think. However, if you don’t even have an air fryer at all, just bake at 400F degrees in a traditional oven for about 12-14 minutes, turning once with a spatula.

Storing Leftover Honey Ginger Broccoli

Store leftovers (if any!) in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. However, it will lose its crispness to a degree. The best way I have found to reheat is to pop in microwave on “defrost” for up to a minute to take the chill off, and then crisp back up in a pre-heated air fryer for 2 or 3 more minutes, taking care not to burn the already browned parts.  This air-fryer broccoli isn’t suitable for freezer meal prep – it’s best enjoyed immediately.

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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission on purchases generated through links, however price to you remains the same. Proceeds help offset operating costs for The Fit Fork. Thank you!

5 from 5 votes
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Honey Ginger Broccoli (for two) in Air Fryer
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 

A simple, speedy, and super-tasty wat to prepare broccoli in the air fryer that the whole family will love!

Course: side, Side Dish, Snack, Vegetable
Keyword: air fryer, broccoli, paleo
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 120 kcal
Ingredients
  • 6 ounces broccoli florets
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tsp honey
  • 1/2 tsp ginger paste
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • Dash pepper
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat air fryer to 390 F degrees.
  2. Wash, dry and chop broccoli into approximate 1-inch florets. Try to keep florets about the same size to promote even cooking.
  3. In bowl, whisk together olive oil, honey, ginger, salt and pepper
  4. Add florets and toss until well coated.
  5. Spread coated broccoli florets out into single layer in air fryer basket or tray.
  6. Air fry for 7 to 10 minutes, turning once, until “tree” part of broccoli is turning light brown and crispy.
Recipe Notes

Notes:

  • For a short cut, use bagged, pre-washed florets or purchase from the salad bar.
  • Smaller florets will cook faster than large florets.

Nutrition:

  • 120 cal, 8g fat, 25g carb, 3g fiber, 3g protein per serving

Cheddar Zucchini Chips in Air Fryer | Low Carb

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Cheddar Zucchini Chips in the air fryer are a quick, easy and flavor-packed appetizer to serve with your favorite dip or side dish that pairs with most everything.

A low-carb, gluten-free and keto-friendly way to snack and get more vegetables in your day! These easy air fryer zucchini chips use just a few simple ingredients and are done in minutes – perfect for game day entertaining or a delicious side dish and alternative to fries.

This zucchini snack is is also low-carb, gluten-free, and keto-friendly – plus, it only made with a few wholesome ingredients.

zucchini sliced think for air fryer

For the best, crispy zucchini chips, make sure that the vegetable is cut thiny in about ¼” inch crosswise slices. If you notice excess moisture on the cut zucchini, pat dry with a paper towel. This is how to keep zucchini chips from getting soggy.

The “breading” isn’t the traditional flour or panko – it’s crushed all-cheese snacks (popular brands are Moon Cheese Snack, Just the Cheese and Whisps Cheese Crisps) along with almond meal and dried herbs. These simple ingredients, held on with an egg wash, ensure these remain low carb zucchini chips – with a surprise bonus of more than 10 grams of protein per serving!

This keto cheddar zucchini chip recipe makes four servings – that’s about 10 “chips” give or take. It’s a satisfying way to use up zucchini and each portion comes in at 154 caloires, 3.9g net carb, 10.5g fat, 10.7g protein.

A low-carb, gluten-free and keto-friendly way to snack and get more vegetables in your day! These easy air fryer zucchini chips use just a few simple ingredients and are done in minutes – perfect for game day entertaining or a delicious side dish and alternative to fries. For more low carb recipes and heal inspo to fuel an active lifestyle visit thefitfork.com
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I used my Omni Pro Air Fryer from from Instant Pot to make my favorite zucchini recipe. In just about 6 to 8 minutes, an air fryer gets everything nice and crisp. You CAN use a traditional oven at 400F degrees for about 10 to 12 minutes, carefully flipping the chips halfway through.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commisison from purchase, however the price to you remains the same. Proceeds are used to help operate The Fit Fork – thank you!

5 from 2 votes
A low-carb, gluten-free and keto-friendly way to snack and get more vegetables in your day! These easy air fryer zucchini chips use just a few simple ingredients and are done in minutes – perfect for game day entertaining or a delicious side dish and alternative to fries.
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Cheddar Zucchini Chips in Air Fryer
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
8 mins
Total Time
18 mins
 
A low-carb, gluten-free and keto-friendly way to snack and get more vegetables in your day! These easy air fryer zucchini chips use just a few simple ingredients and are done in minutes – perfect for game day entertaining or a delicious side dish and alternative to fries.
Course: Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack
Keyword: cheddar, gluten free, keto, low carb, zucchini
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 154 kcal
Ingredients
  • ¾ lb. zucchini
  • ½ cup almond flour
  • 3 ounces all-cheese snack Moon Cheese, Whisps, etc.. Or, may substitute a very dry cheese like Parmesan
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • 2 eggs
  • Optional: dipping sauce
Instructions
  1. Cut zucchini into ¼” slices crosswise. Pat dry if excess moisture.
  2. In baggie, crush cheese snack into a coarse powder.
  3. In a bowl, mix “cheddar crumbs” with almond flour and dried parsley.
  4. Whisk eggs in shallow bowl. Dip each slice in egg and then dredge in cheese coating.
  5. Place crumb-coated zucchini slices on basket of air fryer and cook 390F degree air fryer (pre heated) for 6 to 8 minutes.
  6. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may have to make in two batches.
  7. Remove from air fryer and serve with dipping sauce of choice.
  8. Store covered leftovers in fridge. To reheat, place cold zucchini chips in the air fryer basket and reheat for a couple minutes – good as new!
Recipe Notes