It is Super Bowl Sunday, and I am looking forward to the big game. It seems like this year’s game has the makings of a close scoring contest, the best kind. I love a hard fought game with lots of back and forth lead changes. For me, I am leaning toward the Eagles, but either way, I just want a fun game. Super Bowl Sunday means fun food, and I had to be sure I had the ingredients for my favorite football food dishes. I should have posted this last week, but I just ran out of time. Hopefully, you have some of the ingredients you’d need on hand. At least the store is open today.
Chicken wings are my favorite football food, and I have done quite a bit of experimenting with them. I wanted to get a crunchy crust without frying, trying to make these with less fat. My recipe uses Panko and Parmesan cheese, baked in the oven to get that crunch with lots of flavor. The recipe for this and the next two appetizers is on my post Appetizer Meals.
My Baked Spinach Spread is essentially the same recipe I use as a side dish for meals. It works nicely for spreading on crackers for a hot appetizer. Certainly having some hot veggies on the buffet is a good thing. Sometimes I now use chevre goat cheese instead of cream cheese.
I also wanted to make a lower fat version of sausage balls, and found a way to reduce it with low fat versions of the ingredients. See my Sausage Balls recipe, along with the wings and spinach dip on my post Appetizer Meals.
Ham roll ups are a great cold finger food. These can be made up in advance, even a whole day before, and kept in the refrigerator until ready to eat. You can also add whatever you like to the basic recipe. I’ve seen them made with pickles in the center, or shredded veggies in the cream cheese spread. Ham Roll Ups. Served alongside chips and dip will keep hungry guests occupied while the other things bake.
I love Homemade Guacamole, but I don’t like raw white or purple onions. I make mine with milder green onions, fresh tomatoes, and a bit of sour cream to keep the color bright.
While we are on the subject of Mexican appetizers, try this one the next time you have some leftover Chicken Chili. Heat a cup of chili in a flat skillet on medium high heat, stirring often, until most of the liquid evaporates, and bean base is thick. Doing this will keep the chips from becoming soggy.
Dollop onto tortilla chips, top with cheddar jack cheese, and microwave for 30 seconds to one minute, until cheese is melted. Garnish with fresh chopped tomatoes and green onions. Yum! Chicken Nachos!!
I have also made these with a can of refried beans. I think you can put just about anything between chips and melted cheese and it would be good, LOL!! I’ve made them with Leftover Pork roast too.
Fresh ingredients are good on a small slice of toast. Top a slice of toasted artisan bread with tomatoes, fresh basil and mozzarella cheese and you have a quick bruschetta, great served hot or cold.
One more hot idea, here’s a recipe from 2021. I was inspired by the Slow Roasted Ham that I had made earlier in the week. Toast thin slices of artisan bread. Mix a tablespoon of horseradish sauce into 2 ounces of cream cheese.
Spread the horseradish cream cheese on the toast, and top with a thin slice of warm ham. Garnish with green onions. Yum!
Do you have a favorite dish for an appetizer or finger food for game day or entertaining?
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Williams-Sonoma Food Made Fast: Small Plates
Small Plates: Appetizers as Meals
Tapas: 40 Delicious Traditional Spanish Recipes (Contemporary Cooking)
From My Carolina Home 
Who cares about the game when there’s a spread like this to choose from! Such terrific ideas, thanks for sharing all the delicious recipes.
All that finger food looks yummy! One of my favorites in “Rueben Dip” that my husband introduced me to. Corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and Thousand Island Dressing all mixed up in a crock pot and served with a package of those tiny pumpernickel slices.
Today I am heading to DM for a Puppy Bowl Party that one of my favorite rescue’s is hosting. There will be Puppy Bowl puppies there are well as alumni so plenty of fun play time. I’ve donated a quilt that they are raffling and there with be other items there to bid on or buy raffle tickets for. Lots of food, friends and fun at the local “paws and pints” and I should be home in plenty of time to see the big game!
To heck with the game – I just want to come over and eat!!!!!
Yumm, you are making me hungry already this morning!
Your recipes all look yummy! We were talking about making chicken wings, but ended deciding on chili in the crockpot. Have a fun football day, Carole!
Yes, I want to come to your house and eat and watch the game! I’m pulling for the Chiefs to win but either way it should be a good game. Enjoy your day!
Always a good day when there’s food like this! We made some pumpkin pie bars to share at our neighborhood party.
It’s probably too late to run to the store but I want to make EVERYTHING on this list! We used to make “Lizard Tongues” for everything, party, car rides, with the pickle in the middle.
Thank you for sharing your recipes — always delicious! Since we live just outside of St. Louis MO, we’re rooting for the Chiefs. Miss having our own football team but we cheer for the closest team now. All the food your readers shared sound good too! We could have a Tailgate Hop!
Your food looks great! We’re having BBQ.
Fly Eagles Fly!
Football and food are a great combo! Thanks for sharing, Carole!
Goodness Carole you have all the good ideas. Think I’ll make it all up then sit down and scoff!! :))
Awesome! Thank you so much.
It was such an amazing game – best Super Bowl in years. Your small bites all look and sound delirious.
I’m not the huge football fan you are, but I do like a gathering with great appetizers and small bites! These all look terrific and I bet you had the best time!
Looks like quite a feast. I can never eat enough good guacamole. A restaurant near us makes a fabulous one, and I can’t eat chips, but I have found that there are a few crackers or baked items that I can eat and guac is good on those, too. Of course, I don’t mind eating a plain old avocado, either! Grew up doing that, and love them.