Spicy Chicken Meatballs and Grilled Cheese Skewers

chicken & grilled cheese skewers - www.iamafoodblog.com

I’m an extremist. I like excess, but I like restraint too. Sometimes, when there’s too much to choose from I get choice paralysis. If I’m not careful, when I’m at the grocery store, I’ll buy a bit of everything and realize that I don’t have ingredients to make any specific thing. It helps if I bring along lists or have a clear idea of what I’m going to make. Sometimes though, I make the best things when I’m restricted.

Take these little spicy chicken meatball and grilled cheese skewers, for example. They’re made with just four ingredients (well, seven if you count oil, salt and pepper). Last year, I participated in the Tabasco 10 challenge where I created 5 recipes with only 10 ingredients. I had a blast, and when Tabasco approached me to create the list of ingredients for this year, I was stoked. I chose: Tabasco (original, jalapeño or chipotle), chicken, eggs, mozzarella, fennel, zucchini, rice, rigatoni, ciabatta, and honey.

It was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be to come up with a list so I’m excited to see what everyone makes! I hope you check out some of the other bloggers participating in #Tabasco10 this year: Fix Feast Flair, Crepes of Wrath, Flourishing Foodie, Brooklyn Supper, Real Food by Dad, Climbing Grier Mountain, Host the Toast, Shared Appetite, The Lemon Bowl, and The Novice Chef.

pictured: baking dish // cutting board

PS – What would you make with these ingredients?!

Spicy Chicken Meatballs and Grilled Cheese Skewersserves 2prep time: 10 minutescook time: 20 minutestotal time: 30 minutes

1/2 lb ground chicken, or two chicken thighs, skin removed chopped up

1/2 teaspoon tabasco

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

oil, for pan-frying

1 small ciabatta loaf, cut lengthwise, or slices of ciabatta

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella

tabasco, to finish, if desired

Mix together the chicken, tabasco, salt and pepper. Form into small meatballs. Heat up a touch of oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat and cook until meatballs are browned and cooked through, flipping as needed, 5-8 minutes.

In another pan, heat up a touch of oil over medium heat. Lay down a slice of ciabatta and top with shredded mozzarella. Top with the remaining slice. Grill until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted, flipping once, about 3-4 minutes per side.

Cut the grilled cheese into tiny cubes and skewer, alternating with chicken. Repeat as needed and enjoy with extra tabasco, if desired!

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