Game Day Snacks
In honor of attending my first NFL game a few weeks back, here’s a list of my (relatively) recent recipes that make perfect game day snacks. There’s a wide variety here, and while you will find that many of them are familiar, each comes with a unique take. Whether it’s the three-ingredient queso dip infused with poblano peppers, the vodka sauce meatball sliders, or the balsamic-glazed chicken wings, these recipes are a step above what you’re likely to find in a typical game day spread.
Chicken wings are a quintessential football food, but you can’t always just default to Buffalo sauce. Yes, it’s delicious, but sometimes it’s nice to bring something a little bit more refined to the table. That’s exactly what you will find here, fried chicken wings coated in a sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy balsamic glaze. Garnished with a sprinkle of crushed red pepper, some fresh parsley, and a touch of parmesan cheese, you have a chicken wing suited to any table.
Vodka Sauce Meatball Sub Sliders
Everybody loves a meatball sub — and doubly so if you swap out the traditional marinara for a velvety vodka sauce — but meatball subs are always a bit awkward and messy to eat. Enter the meatball slider. Instead of a sandwich where some bites are just meatball and some are just bread, each of these miniature versions is just a few perfectly-proportioned bites. They’ll have you rethinking meatball subs entirely.
Popcorn popped in beef fat and seasoned with all of the flavors you love in a Frito pie, then mixed in with those beloved corn chips, this is the ultimate shareable derivative of the walking taco. It’s both addictively delicious and easy to make in batches large enough for the whole party.
Shredded Buffalo Chicken Wraps
Buffalo chicken wraps need no introduction, but these rely on a particular formulation of Buffalo sauce that you’ll need to experience to understand. The shredded chicken takes on the sauce beautifully, and is paired not only with lettuce and sliced tomatoes, but also with celery, carrots, crumbled blue cheese, and ranch dressing, for the complete Buffalo chicken experience wrapped up in a neat little handheld sandwich.
Copycat Chik Fil’A Grilled Nuggets
This one is a little off-brand for me. It is a recipe that, when I was tasked with it, I was not very excited to make. The result, however, totally changed my mind — these grilled nuggets are delicious. The trick is in the marinade, which not only infuses the chicken breast pieces with tons of flavor, but also makes use of a technique called velveting to ensure that they are incredibly tender. Paired with an unbeatable dipping sauce, you have a really wonderful game day snack.
All kinds of fried potatoes are a welcome addition to a game day spread, but it is time to say goodbye to plain old fries. Once you have a taste of these patatas bravas, you will understand why. The twin sauces, a smoky sweet tomato-based bravas sauce and a garlicky aioli pair perfectly to give you a next-level fried potato experience. Plus, if you don’t feel like doing the hard work and frying the potatoes yourself, you can always just make the sauces and drizzle them over a bag of frozen fries from the store.
I would be remiss, when making a list like this, not to include salsa blanca. If you haven’t had the chance to stop by our bus and sample it at an event — or try it at one of the Mexican restaurants in the Tidewater area — this salsa is special. Something like a Mexican-spiced ranch dressing, it is the second salsa that you didn’t know you were missing. But, be warned, once you try it, you won’t be able to do without it.
Three-Ingredient Jalapeño Poppers
Bacon may be the go-to meat for jalapeño poppers, but that is about to end. Sure, bacon is nice, but when you add chorizo to the mix, you don’t need anything else. Halved jalapeños are stuffed with a mixture of chorizo and cream cheese and topped with more of the good stuff. That’s all it takes to make the best jalapeño poppers you’ve ever had.
Three-Ingredient Poblano Queso Dip
There was a big push to come up with three-ingredient recipes recently, and this one is a definite favorite. Relying on just white American cheese, milk, and poblano peppers, this queso is not just delicious, it is also visually striking. If, like me, you enjoy little more than dipping crunchy tortilla chips into delicious melty cheese, this is a recipe that you need on your list — and in your game day spread.