Our Favorite Game Day Appetizers
Here at sandstone, we love to gather around good food and good friends. We'll take any excuse to get together and try out new recipes. With so many events each fall, one of our favorite reasons to gather is the start of football season. And yes, we know that not everyone is there to watch the game. Truthfully, we're only there for the food. So if you're like us and just want to indulge in some tasty dishes, then check out our list of our favorite game day recipes.
We love the traditional chips and salsa. Crispy chips with sweet tomato salsa that has just a hint of spice. It's a combo that we look forward to anytime of the year. But this Hot Corn dip may put your favorite duo to the test. With sweet corn, this hot and creamy dip is a delicious addition to pair with your favorite tortilla chip. Salsa is of course, optional.
We're not ones to shy away from turning a classic into something new. One of our favorite side dishes gets turned into a tasty dish with crispy potato chips for dipping. Loaded with cheese, bacon, and scallions, it has all the classic flavors of a loaded baked potato. Throw in the ingredients and stir for an easy and new dip for your next get together.
For our vegetarian friends, try out these set it and forget it crockpot ranch mushrooms. It takes just 5 minutes to prep and cooks low and slow for 3-4 hours. Try out cremini mushrooms or stick with traditional button mushrooms if you prefer. Either way, it's a great addition to your game day menu.
Gone are the days of overly complicated 10 foot subs. With King's Hawaiian rolls reigning supreme, these mini Italian grinders are packed with flavor and done in under 30 minutes. The tangy dressing and savory glaze really takes these grinders up a notch. You may want to double this recipe to please your game day crowd.
For an elevated game day dish, this warm crab dip in sourdough bread is the one for you. The combination of gruyere cheese, crab, and horseradish baked into cream cheese is what makes this savory dip so good. Substitute your favorite bread if you'd like, but the sourdough pairs wonderfully with the flavors of the dip. Make it for your next game day or try out this holiday season.
It's hard not to indulge in all the good stuff when we're hanging with friends and enjoying the game. Why not indulge with the sweet and spicy deliciousness of bacon wrapped little smokies? If you're making a big batch, you can even assemble these ahead and mix the spices the day before. When you're ready, bake them off in an aluminum foil lined pan for easy clean up and enjoy.
With the start of football season comes the end of summer. It's the perfect time to use the rest of the in-season vegetables like zucchini. Coated in a panko-parmesan mixture, these zucchini crisps live up to their name. Serve with your favorite marinara sauce or ranch dip for maximum flavor.
I don't know a kid that doesn't love Mac and cheese. But this smoked Mac and cheese is so good that it went viral on Tik Tok. It does take a little more skill as you will need to set it in your smoker and complete the cooking process. Of course, you can always finish it in the oven but you won't get that smokey goodness. Either way, you'll love the loaded, cheesy flavors of this Mac and cheese.
One of our favorite appetizers for get togethers are those sweet and tangy barbecue meatballs. Crockpot bourbon meatballs are the same easy to make dish but with a something special from the bourbon. You can use homemade meatballs or make it simple with store-bought, both are equally delicious.
Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers
Put your air fryer to work with these garlic parmesan chicken skewers. Each tender piece of chicken is basted in a delectable butter sauce and cooked to perfection. Though the air fryer is the preferred method for cooking the skewers, you can also bake or grill them. They make a wonderful appetizer or serve them up with some sides for a meal.
Bacon and Balsamic Smoked Brussel Sprouts
We're so glad that Brussel sprouts have made a comeback over the last few years. We've had them roasted, sautéed, and even grilled. This bacon and balsamic version has a smokey and tangy flavor with crispiness achieved by raising the temperature of the smoker the last 20 minutes. It's sure to make anyone a fan of Brussel sprouts with one bite.
We know that buffalo wings are one of the quintessential dishes to have at any game day party. If you're accommodating a wide variety of diets or simply want to try a twist on tradition, these cauliflower buffalo "wings" are a great addition to the menu. The recipe includes a vegan version and also a gluten free version to try. We don't know about you, but we love a good buffalo wing any which way.
We are always up for making your tried and true game day appetizers. But this season, we're ready to make some headlines with some new recipes. Keep it simple with Crockpot Bourbon Meatballs, kick it up with Smoked Mac and Cheese, or take it to the next level with Warm Crab Dip. We hope that you enjoy these recipes and more on your next game day get together.
