Appetizer Week: BBQ Chicken Bacon Ranch Puffs

Barbeque.  Chicken.  Bacon.  Ranch.  Cheddar.  Stop me if you're seeing something you don't like.  These little puffballs combine some of my favorite flavors into one bite-sized, poppable morsel.  Okay, maybe two bites.  The original recipe for these comes from Our Best Bites, a fabulous site run by two very creative and talented ladies.  I took their Chicken-Bacon Stuffed Pizza Rolls and threw in a bit of spicy smoky barbeque sauce and a sprinkle of cilantro to come up with this variation.  You could certainly use a mild barbeque sauce and original ranch dressing mix if you're not a big spicy foods fan!

Join us tomorrow as we continue to celebrate Appetizer Week and prep for our Super Bowl parties!  


BBQ Chicken Bacon Ranch Puffs (makes 24)
Adapted from Our Best Bites

1 can Pillsbury® refrigerated pizza dough
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
8 slices cooked, crumbled bacon
¾ cup shredded cooked chicken
2 Tbl. Spicy barbeque sauce
1-2 Tbl. chopped cilantro
1 pkg. Hidden Valley® Spicy Ranch dressing mix
2 Tbl. parmesan cheese
1 Tbl. olive oil or butter

Preheat oven according to pizza dough directions (usually 400-425°F).  Spray a 24-well mini muffin tin with non-stick spray, taking care to cover inside surfaces well. 

Unroll pizza dough onto a lightly floured work surface.  Pat dough to approximately 8" x 12".  Cut into twenty-four 2" squares with knife or pizza cutter.   

In a medium bowl, combine cheese, bacon, chicken, barbeque sauce, cilantro, and 1 teaspoon of the dry dressing mix.  Spoon mixture onto the pizza dough squares, forming little mounds (make sure to leave a border on all sides).  Carefully bring corners of dough together, forming a little packet.  Pinch seams well, and form into a little ball.  Try to form the dough as tightly as you can around the mixture.  Mine were somewhat loose (I was tired, hungry, and in a hurry), hence the BIG air pocket in the tops of mine.  Place one ball into each greased muffin cup, seam side down.

Combine 1 teaspoon  ranch dressing mix with Parmesan cheese in a small bowl (reserve remaining ranch dressing mix for another use).  Lightly brush tops of puffs with olive oil or melted butter, then sprinkle with Parmesan mixture.

Bake in preheated 400° or 425°F oven for 10-15 minutes, or until lightly golden brown. 


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