Pizza Loaded Potato

By asally04

Entire recipe: 350 calories, 7g fat, 767mg sodium, 50g carbs, 7g fiber, 8g sugars, 21g protein -- PointsPlus® value 9*

Ingredients

• 1 stick light string cheese
• 1 medium-sized potato (about 12 oz.)
• 1/4 cup chopped bell pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup chopped mushrooms
• 1/2 link Applegate Organics Sweet Italian Chicken & Turkey Sausage, chopped into bite-sized pieces
• 1/4 cup pizza sauce

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat broiler. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray.

Break string cheese into thirds and place in a blender or food processor—blend at high speed until shredded. (Or pull into shreds and roughly chop.)

Pierce potato several times with a fork. On a microwave-safe plate, microwave for 5 minutes, or until slightly softened. Flip potato over and microwave for 5 more minutes, or until soft.

Meanwhile, bring a skillet sprayed with nonstick spray to medium-high heat. Add pepper, onion, and mushrooms. Cook and stir until mostly softened and browned, about 4 minutes. Add sausage and cook and stir until browned, about 2 minutes.

Transfer veggie-sausage mixture to a medium microwave-safe bowl and cover to keep warm.

Once cool enough to handle, slice off a 2-inch-wide strip of the potato skin, lengthwise, from top of the potato. Scoop out the insides, transfer them to a medium bowl, and break them up with a fork. Set potato "shell" aside on the baking sheet.

Add half of the potato pulp to the veggie-sausage mixture. Discard the other half (or reserve for another use). To the mixture, add 3 tbsp. sauce and half of the shredded cheese. Mix well. Microwave mixture for 1 minute, or until hot. Scoop mixture into the potato shell.

Evenly top with remaining 1 tbsp. pizza sauce. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Broil until potato is hot and cheese has melted, about 4 minutes. Enjoy!