Buffalo Turkey Pretzel Bites
Okay – these are the ULTIMATE party snacks….or hey – its the ultimate snack if you are sitting at home by yourself watching a movie. Whatever the environment baby if you want an indulgent snack this is it.
BUFFALO TURKEY PRETZEL BITES
25 Pretzel Bites
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 20 mins
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion (peeled, finely diced)
1 carrot (peeled, finely diced)
1 rib celery (peeled, finely diced)
1/2 pound ground turkey (50% white meat, 50% dark meat)
1/3 cup hot sauce (TK – FRANK’S RED HOT)
1 (9-ounce) bag store-bought soft pretzel bites (thawed) TK – SUPERPRETZEL
1 cup mozzarella (cut into 1/4-inch cubes)
1/2 cup blue cheese (crumbled)
1/4 cup scallions (sliced thinly on a bias)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large saute pan over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil. Add the onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 2-3 minutes. Add the carrot and celery, cooking for another 2 minutes. Stir in the ground turkey, breaking up the meat into small pieces with potato masher or wooden spoon. Continue browning until turkey is cooked through, about 5-6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and stir in the hot sauce, stirring together until mixture is thoroughly coated. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
Meanwhile, slice 1/8-inch off the tops of each pretzel bite. Using your fingers, or the end of a spoon, create a hole through the tops and press down the insides of each pretzel bite, forming a pocket of space. Place 1 mozzarella square into the bottom of each pretzel bite, then fill 3/4 full with the turkey mixture. Top each bite with blue cheese crumbles. Remove the filled bites to prepared sheet tray and place on the center rack in the preheated oven and bake until the cheese has melted, about 5-6 minutes.
Remove from the oven, allow to cool slightly, garnish with scallions and serve.
Tip: Get creative! Try Mexican themed pretzel bites with spiced ground beef, salsa and cheddar!
