Gluten Free
Quick Meals
Jump to Video
Blackberry basil vegetarian nachos. This gluten-free snack is amazingly delicious, protein packed, kid friendly, healthy, and ready in 20 minutes or less. Perfect for snacking, a light meal, or even a fun appetizer for ANY occasion!
You should know by now that all my recipes are made with gluten free ingredients. But just in case you ever forget, here you go. Gluten free Blackberry Basil Nachos! Vegetarian friendly, or carnivore friendly if you want to pump up the protein even more.
Okay, now that my little “promo” for this nachos recipe is out of the way, let me tell how and why I made this dish. Yes, I am going to ramble and let you in on a little confession. Get ready.
I have been slacking. Slacking on getting in good recovery meals. I know, shame on me. I think the summer heat has zapped some brain cells. That and the crazy schedule we’ve been trying to maintain lately.
Breakfast, yes.. we can do that. Even on the go!
Dinner, no prob.. we got the crock pot on auto pilot, haha! But somewhere between mid morning and mid afternoon, we scurry. Which is not good when we both train or teach mid morning. We definitely eat our fair share of healthy bites samples, but some days, our post workout lunch/meal is just a smoothie or an array of random snacks. Time is definitely not on our side during those hours.
Well… sadly we were feeling quite sluggish. That shouldn’t be the case when you haven’t changed the intensity or the duration of your training in a while. In fact, we were both trying to train smarter, not harder.
Which lead me to re-evaluate our meal timing and really DIGESTING and absorbing our food. We needed more REAL FOOD based recovery meals. Foods high in antioxidants, protein, and glycogen.
Now, don’t get me wrong. You can cram a whole lot of REAL FOOD into a smoothie. But what I noticed (for us both) was that we needed more CHEWABLE food to go with it. Foods that fight oxidative stress and can calm down the inflammatory response after workouts or from high heat/environment exposure. Does that make sense?
Plus, when you are able to sit and properly chew your food, your parasympathetic nervous system can benefit —> REST and DIGEST.
Hence this nachos recipe!
It’s real food, real simple and real fast, so that we can sit and eat and be on our merry way. Properly refueled!
And oh my, these gluten free, vegetarian nachos are so good!
- Blackberries – anti-oxidant rich fruit. Good source of fiber, high in Vitamin C.
- Basil – refreshing herb. Great for immunity dues to its anti-bacterial properties. Plus it’s loaded with Vitamin K. Which we don’t get anough of these days!
- Aged Cheddar, Provolone, or Muenster cheese (or other low lactose or non dairy cheese of choice) – high in protein, B Vitamins, and calcium
- Non GMO Gluten Free tortillas – gluten free carb for restoring glycogen in muscles.
- Optional toppings – Chicken, Tempeh, or Beef would make it more substantial and higher in protein/iron.
Gluten Free Blackberry Basil Nachos
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 3 1x
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
A healthy tasty appetizer that’s gluten free! Gluten Free Blackberry Basil Nachos
Ingredients
- 2–3 eight inch gluten free tortillas
- non stick cooking spray or foil
- 2/3 cup blackberries
- 2 oz Mozzarella, hard cheddar, provolone, or other aged cheese (see notes for vegans)
- fresh basil (chopped)
- dash of black pepper and sea salt
- additional toppings – chicken, tofu, beef, salsa, etc.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Lay out your tortillas and slice them into wedges with a knife or pizza cutter. Place tortillas on a baking sheet with foil underneath or use non stick cooking spray
- in a separate bowl, gently smash your blackberries. Not much, but just enough to extract a little juice. Toss semi smashed berries in bowl with basil. about 1 tbsp chopped fresh and a little sea salt and black pepper.
- Next, slice your cheese into smaller strips and place on tortilla wedges.
- spoon blackberry mixture on top of each wedge/nacho.
- Add any additional toppings or seasoning.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes. For extra crispy, broil for the last minute.
Notes
Vegans have the option of using or daiya or non dairy cheese.
READY… SET… MAKE SOME NACHOS!
There, now I have no excuses not to make a good quick recovery meal or even a hearty snack for the us both! Even on the Crazy Cotter days. Um, which should hopefully die down soon. But for now, I’ll just keep thinking up crazy concoctions to fuel us through! Sound good?
Happy Meatless Monday!
What’s your go to quick recovery meal? We need more! Obviously.
Cheers,
Hi, I’m Lindsay! Gluten Free Nutrition Specialist, food photographer and author of 
Sign up & get 5 FREE RECIPES from my 
Annmarie Licatese says
August 17, 2015 at 5:32 AMThese nachos just blew my mind- seriously, need to make them ASAP!
Susie @ Suzlyfe says
August 17, 2015 at 5:52 AMThis sounds fabulous. Without the cheese, I would do them with jicama, but they would be far less substantial. I bet these flavors would be boss on a sweet potato too!
Blair says
August 17, 2015 at 6:43 AMOh, yum! Love the combo of berries and cheese…and your photos are GORGEOUS!!
RAchel @ Athletic avocado says
August 17, 2015 at 6:50 AMThis combo of blackberry and basil= genius! 🙂
Cotter Crunch says
August 18, 2015 at 7:22 PMit’s like a flavor party in your mouth! LOL!
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables says
August 17, 2015 at 7:18 AMThese are so creative!! I LOVE blackberries so this would be the perfect snack 🙂 (And your photos are gorgeous!)
Cotter Crunch says
August 18, 2015 at 9:06 PMyes, agreed! snacking made easy and SOOOOOO GOOD
Hayley@healthyregardshayley says
August 17, 2015 at 7:28 AMMan these look so good!
Heather@hungryforbalance says
August 17, 2015 at 7:46 AMThose may be the most creative nachos that I have ever seen! I love the blackberries/cheese/basil combo!
Sarah says
August 17, 2015 at 8:23 AMAre you serious?!? This looks and sounds amazing! I think you need to escape the heat and come see me so we can have a party on the deck with these and some delicious cocktails, I’ll bring dessert!
Cotter Crunch says
August 18, 2015 at 9:03 PMi agree! i am on my way. <3
Jody - Fit at 57 says
August 17, 2015 at 8:44 AMThose are so cute & colorful! I love blackberries!!!!!!
Megan @ Skinny fitalicious says
August 17, 2015 at 9:47 AMYou sound exactly like me right now. I’m doing well with breakfast and dinner, but lunch is an array of snacks and smoothies. It’s just so hot. I know it will pass, but I can’t eat too much when it’s this hot outside. This looks stunning friend!
Liz says
August 17, 2015 at 9:57 AMYum! I love berries and basil – such a delicious combo!
Cotter Crunch says
August 18, 2015 at 9:06 PMi know, can’t get enough!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
August 17, 2015 at 10:39 AMWe’ve been slacking more too midday. It is SO HOT and humid here that all I want is a smoothie I can’t turn on the oven – seriously. We have no A/C. I think it’s time I learn to use the toaster oven. I want to make these with cherries for the recovery benefits… and because cherries… mmmm…
Cotter Crunch says
August 18, 2015 at 7:19 PMoh yes, good call! great with cherries and totally would work in toaster oven
Michele @ paleorunningmomma says
August 17, 2015 at 12:01 PMI love blackberries! What an awesome idea, looks too yummy 🙂
Cotter Crunch says
August 18, 2015 at 7:19 PMtotally! p.s I was so thinking you could use plantain chips with this too, yes?
Lisa @ RunWi says
August 17, 2015 at 1:20 PMMy husband and I always say that if we didn’t have kids we would eat appetizers every night for dinner. What is it about little bite sized food that you can eat with your hands? Nothing better then small bites with a big glass of wine! Looks delicious Linds!
Whitney English says
August 17, 2015 at 1:21 PMWhat an awesome idea!! I have such a sweet tooth and these sound like a perfect snack or dessert option 🙂
Ashley @ Fit Mitten Kitchen says
August 17, 2015 at 1:59 PMOh my word these look insanely delicious! Like, woah. I need to make them ASAP… my in-laws are coming this weekend so maybe I shall make for them! PINNED <3
★★★★★
Cotter Crunch says
August 18, 2015 at 7:18 PMlet me know if you do!
Olivia @ livforcake says
August 17, 2015 at 2:28 PMWell these look heavenly. I’ll take a giant platter full, please!
Cotter Crunch says
August 18, 2015 at 7:18 PMokie dokie! let’s have a party! you bring dessert
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
August 17, 2015 at 2:45 PMUGH – I have been having a smoothie and some nuts mid day too – sometimes, I throw in a couple of dates – business always seems to get in the way! But Lindsay – how amazing is this combo! Yes – I think I could eat a whole tray of these nachos – hey, it could be my midday meal! 🙂
Cotter Crunch says
August 18, 2015 at 7:18 PMnow you are thinking! let’s get eatin! TRAY fulls! bring your smoothie cupcakes
Helen @ Scrummy Lane says
August 17, 2015 at 2:47 PMThis is an AMAZING idea, Lindsay! Good enough to serve to guests as well as eat as a snack! Beautiful, healthy and, I bet, delicious!
Cotter Crunch says
August 17, 2015 at 3:29 PMtotally! kid guests too! haha
Erin @ Erin's Inside Job says
August 17, 2015 at 3:03 PMYou had me at basil.
Katie says
August 17, 2015 at 9:56 PMI’ll take a plate of those! Yuuuum
Cotter Crunch says
August 18, 2015 at 7:16 PMdone deal!
Kierston says
August 18, 2015 at 5:43 AMThese look amazing. Refreshingly good!
Jess @hellotofit says
August 18, 2015 at 12:02 PMI haven’t been fueling myself properly – mainly due to laziness in snack prep, I’m sure. Ugh! I need to get back on track.
Anywayyyy, berries and cheese are the BOMB!! These look fantastic.
Cotter Crunch says
August 18, 2015 at 7:16 PMi hear ya. lazy summer right? haha
Amanda @ .running with spoons. says
August 18, 2015 at 12:49 PMI really struggle with lunches as well, which is probably why I’m sitting here having a smoothie for mine 😆 And as much as I like them, I know what you mean about needing something to chew on. These look perfect. And I love how the fruit + herb combo makes them seem so fancy.
Cotter Crunch says
August 18, 2015 at 7:17 PMi try to act fancy sometimes, but I am SO NOT! LOL! hence this. P.s I bet your smoothie is FAB
Laura @ This Runner's Recipes says
August 18, 2015 at 1:09 PMOohh, these look so delicious! I love Muenster cheese and blackberries, so it’s genius to combine them. I also really appreciate what you said about recovery meals being meals that you slow down and chew – because recovery isn’t just about calories and refueling, it’s about rest just like you said.
Cotter Crunch says
August 18, 2015 at 7:06 PMyou and me both! we MUST MUENSTER it up! haha
Jolene says
August 18, 2015 at 5:30 PMYUM!! I LOVE blackberries, these look fantastic as always (I LOLd at your intro about writing gluten free, yep, that’s you all through and through! though I would be in the habit too, I am sure! and it helps for those looking for those recipes right?!)
Alicia@ Eco Friendly Homemaking says
August 18, 2015 at 7:42 PMOh my goodness these look so delicious!!
Natalie says
August 19, 2015 at 12:07 AMYou had me at blacberries and muenster cheese – YUM!!
I love the color and how pretty they look! Can’t wait to try 🙂
Shelley says
August 19, 2015 at 4:28 PMJust curious. Has anyone tried these with goat cheese?
Cotter Crunch says
August 19, 2015 at 5:53 PMI almost did that! will have to try it. LOVE goat cheese!
Shelley says
August 19, 2015 at 6:49 PMMy daughter and I immediately thought of goat cheese because the tang would pair so well with the berries.
Cotter Crunch says
August 19, 2015 at 7:34 PMSmart daughter! Smart mama!
ellie | fit for the soul says
August 20, 2015 at 3:05 PMYou never fail to educate me in some way or another, sister!!!!! Oxidative stress…say what??! Gotta read up on that later when I have more time. 🙂
And I have to tell you–your pictures are amazing! You’re improving by leaps and bounds and I’m just like. 0_0 Hahaha!
Cotter Crunch says
August 20, 2015 at 3:48 PMYou are too good to me! Mwah! And I miss you. How are you?
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets says
August 21, 2015 at 6:18 PMI don’t need the additional toppings. I would take this exactly as is.
You’ve combined herbs (love), fruit (love), and cheese (love, love). You are a woman after my heart this week, or last week or whenever you posted it. Playing catch up is always fun, yes? Especially when recipes like this are involved.