Football season is rapidly approaching and through the cheers and tears, one thing is certain: your family and friends will be well fed if they’re snacking at your house. No need to go for Michelin stars here—just basic, delicious game food will do the trick.
Scroll through to get ideas for quick and easy game day snacks.
Friends and family will definitely love these bacon-wrapped smokies. You’ll need a pound of bacon and a pound of miniature smoked sausage links. Cut each strip of bacon in half and wrap around each sausage. Place in a baking pan and sprinkle with ⅓ cup packed brown sugar. Bake at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes.
Photography: Instagram/@1sgburgess
These tasty nachos will be gobbled up before halftime! Spread a package of tortilla chips on a baking sheet. Brown 1 lb. of ground beef in a skillet; mix in a can of drained and rinsed black or pinto beans plus 1 cup of your favorite salsa. Spread over the chips and then top with 3 cups of shredded cheddar or Jack cheese. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Top with sour cream, sliced green onions, sliced jalapenos, guacamole, cilantro or whatever you like.
Photography: Instagram/@budgetbytes
Make some guacamole for your nachos or just as a dip. Mash up two ripe avocados. Mix in two crushed garlic cloves, the juice of half a lime, and ½ teaspoon of salt. Taste and add more salt and lime if necessary. You can also add finely chopped tomatoes and red onion for some extra flavor.
For stuffed pickle poppers, cut whole baby dill pickles in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Stuff with a mixture of cream cheese, cheddar cheese, chopped jalapenos, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Wrap with a slice of ham and secure with a toothpick. Place in a pan and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
Mix up a batch of spicy nuts for the gang. Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a skillet then one can of mixed nuts and 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce. Stir it well for 5 minutes. Place the nuts in a large bowl and sprinkle in ½ teaspoon each of cumin, chili powder, paprika and salt. Add ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper, or more if you like more spiciness.
Update an old standard with this spicy twist on artichoke dip. Mix together a can of drained and chopped artichoke hearts, a 4-ounce can of diced jalapenos, a 4-ounce can of diced green chiles, 1 cup of mayonnaise and 8 ounces each of grated Parmesan cheese and cream cheese. Place in an ovenproof dish and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes, until it's lightly brown and bubbly.
Photography: Instagram/@yellowblissroad