The Big Game is just days away! The biggest football showdown of the year means it’s time to get together with your best buddies and throw the ultimate game day party. Like millions of other people, you’ll probably watching from the television which means you’re going to want to have some pretty amazing fare to snack on while the action is happening. In fact, to some, the Big Game is more about the food than football. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, especially when you have plenty of delicious appetizers, wings, dips and all the other good stuff in front of you. We’ve rounded up ten of our favorite game day worthy recipes you can bring to your upcoming gathering. From spicy chicken wings to kicked up deviled eggs and even vegetarian nachos for those trying to err on the healthier side, here are our twists on some party favorites that are certainly to score a touchdown this upcoming weekend. For other tasty ideas to add to your spread, check out our Big Game Menu.
Chicken wings are a quintessential game day favorite and an easy and delicious way to feed a crowd. While everyone has a different level of heat they can withstand, these Honey Serrano Wings are definitely for those who like it hot! First, they’re roasted in the oven and then tossed in a sticky, sweet and spicy honey sauce that’s kicked up a few notches with serrano chiles. You can make these wings ahead of time and then bring them to your game day gathering or grill them fresh and then coat with sauce.
We’ve always been big fans of hummus because they make not only a delicious afternoon snack but also a crowd pleasing appetizer at parties. Pair them up with sliced pita bread, pita chips or raw vegetables for a great finger food alternative to the usual party dip. This week’s recipe is our refreshing take on a classic hummus made with our Peeled and Steamed Garbanzo Beans and Fire Roasted Red Bell Peppers. The result is a vibrant creamy dip blended with the perfect combination of sweet and smokey flavors.
Deviled eggs, meet your new best friend, Hatch chiles. Deviled eggs are the perfect finger food for parties and always a popular item, no matter how you dress them. Ever noticed how quickly they disappear at a gathering? Hard boiled eggs mashed with mayo, mustard, relish and a dash from our Hatch Chile Powder Shakers is all you need for this amped up party classic. The powder has the same scrumptious and unique heat and flavor as Hatch Chiles and is available in both mild and medium.
No football game is complete without nachos on hand and this nacho recipe is sure to score big. This is our quick, easy and (slightly more) healthy take on nachos which are layered with plenty of toppings including corn, chiles, tomatoes and cheese and then baked onto a sheet pan. Once finished in the oven, take the sheet right out of the oven while it’s still hot and bubbly and serve it in front of the television for everyone to enjoy family style. This recipe is vegetarian but you can easily customize it to suit everyone’s tastes.
Mexican Corn on the Cob (Street Corn)
Few things can rival the tastiness of grilled corn on the cob. Classic Mexican street corn, also known as elote, is sure to make a splash at your Big Game BBQ party. Fresh corn on the cob is grilled and then slathered in a buttery, creamy sauce, topped with plenty of crumbly cheese and Hatch chile powder and finished with a squeeze of fresh lime juice. This magical combination couldn’t be any more delicious and is truly the best way to top off any party.
These mouthwatering meatballs are made with either ground beef but you can substitute them with ground turkey if you’d like to opt for less calories; the choice is yours. Serve them up in a sweet and spicy sticky glaze made with sweet chile sauce and Sriracha. However, the secret is in the spices–ground cumin and ginger takes the sauce to a whole new level. It’s truly a flavor explosion, in all the best ways possible! These meatballs can be prepared in bulk ahead of time and kept hot inside a crockpot or a food buffet warmer. In the event you make a large batch, you can even freeze them and pull them out for any future parties when needed.
Kabobs are pretty much the quintessential Big Game party food. After all, what more simple yet festive way to wow a hungry crowd after firing up the grill? These colorful kabobs can be made with any of your favorite grilling vegetables but are especially mouthwatering with Melissa’s boiler onions, organic bell peppers, Dutch Yellow® Potatoes, baby purple potatoes and baby heirloom tomatoes. All you need to do is thread the vegetables, along with some beef, onto skewers and place them over a hot grill for around 15 minutes, making sure to turn them often.
All Big Game parties should have a dip or two, wouldn’t you agree? If you’re really looking to impress your guests this year, look no further than this Skillet Bread Artichoke Dip. Artichoke dip is one of those party classics that no matter what you do with it, never fumbles. This version takes all that gooey, melted cheesy goodness and encases it in a freshly baked pull-apart bread. Once ready to serve, simply pull a piece of the bread off and dig in! While you can use the canned stuff, Melissa’s Steamed Artichoke Hearts are a wonderful ingredient for this game day favorite.
Twice Fried Dutch Yellow® Potato Salad
The only thing better than fried Dutch Yellow® Potatoes? Twice fried Dutch Yellow® Potatoes! As you can already tell, this is not your average potato salad. Our bestselling buttery little spuds are first fried until golden brown, then smashed and then fried again. This makes the DYPs® incredibly fork tender on the inside and irresistibly crispy on the outside. Mix them together with smokey, crunchy bacon bits and diced sweet pickles for a flavor explosion. Word of warning: this potato salad will probably be highly requested at next year’s Big Game party.
Say hello to the buffalo chicken wing’s cooler, slimmed down cousin: Buffalo Cauliflower Bites! Bite-sized, spicy morsels of organic cauliflower that are packed with tons of flavor, these are closest thing anyone will get to this tailgating classic. And it’s vegetarian too! Serve them with your favorite ranch or blue cheese dip and we’ll promise you that you’ll be munching on these all football season long!