It doesn’t matter if you’re hosting a huge party, having a small get-together with a few close friends, or watching the game by yourself. Food and football just go together, and it all culminates this year on February 12, when the Big Game ends the season with all the fanfare, halftime shenanigans, and commercials that capture the attention of even non-football fans.
Sliders, wings, jalapeno poppers, and fried pickles are all game day favorites, but if you’re having a large crowd or no crowd at all, these might not be very practical to make, especially if you’re trying to prepare everything in a small apartment kitchen. If you need some options, perhaps some of these dishes will fit your celebration better.
Hosting a Large Crowd
While frying up batches of pickles might sound easy enough, this is a time-consuming and messy endeavor. If you’re hosting a large crowd, it means a lot of time in your kitchen, standing over an oil-filled cast-iron skillet (not to mention the clean-up…breading pickles for frying can make a big mess). Making large batches of wings is equally time-consuming and messy. Remember: pickles and wings are small, so you’ll need to make a lot of them to have enough to go around. So, unless you plan to order these, which could be expensive, here are some dishes that are great for feeding a large crowd.
Pigs in a Blanket
These are a party favorite, and they are quick and inexpensive to make. You’ll just need some refrigerated biscuit dough and tiny sausages. Cut the dough into small strips and wrap each sausage with a strip, then pop them into the oven until they are a nice, golden brown. You can serve them as-is or with some honey mustard for dipping. To dress these up a little more, sprinkle the tops with some sesame seeds or “everything bagel” seasoning.
Chili
A big bowl of chili is always a welcome dish, especially on a cold afternoon. If you have a slow cooker, you can make your chili in the morning and let it cook all day while you prepare everything else needed for your football party. Make sure you have plenty of tortilla chips or cornbread to serve with the chili, along with toppings like cheddar cheese and sour cream.
Mac and Cheese
While it isn’t exactly the first thing you think of when planning a football party menu, mac and cheese is sure to be a fan favorite. It isn’t difficult to make a big batch of this from scratch, and it’s inexpensive as well. It just takes some elbow macaroni, milk, and cheese. Find a recipe you like online and give it a try!
Crockpot Meatballs
These are super easy and always a big hit. All you need are some frozen meatballs, BBQ sauce, and grape jelly. Combine everything in a slow cooker and add a dash of hot sauce if you want to spice these up. Crockpot meatballs are great on their own, or you can make a big batch of mashed potatoes or rice to make it more of a meal.
Game Day Food for One or Two
If you plan to watch the game with your significant other, roommate, close friend, or just your cat, you can still make it a special event! Make your cozy evening of football-viewing extra special by preparing food you wouldn't normally make. While it’s often difficult to scale recipes down, these suggestions can easily be adjusted to feed one or two.
Charcuterie Board
A charcuterie board is quick and easy. Just take a tray, cutting board, or a platter and fill it with a variety of fruit, veggies, cheeses, nuts, pre-cooked meats like salami or ham, and crackers, chips, or small slices of bread. Add a bowl or two for sauces and dips like queso or hummus. There’s no wrong way to make a charcuterie board, and you can fill it with anything you like.
Bruschetta
It sounds fancy, but bruschetta is very easy to make. Slice a loaf of French bread or a baguette into thin, slightly diagonal slices. Drizzle a little olive oil over the top of each slice and bake them until the edges get crispy. Meanwhile, make a topping. This usually consists of tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, and fresh basil, but you can get creative and use whatever you want, from sliced avocado to brie to strawberries. Top the toasted slices of bread with your topping and serve.
Personal Pizza
Pizza is a game day favorite, but if you don’t want to order a whole pizza for one or two people, make personal pizzas at home! Make pizza dough from scratch, use frozen biscuit dough, or try using pita bread. Top your dough with tomato sauce, cheese, and whatever toppings you want. Pop your personal pizzas in the oven until the crust is golden brown.
Nachos
Nachos are fun to share and easy to make, and you can adjust the amount to fit how many you need to serve. Spread some tortilla chips on a baking sheet and preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Chop up some onion and sauté over medium heat until soft, then add ground beef. Toss in some taco seasoning, water, and beans (either black beans or refried beans). Once everything is combined and cooked, spoon the mixture on top of your chips. Top it with cheese and bake until the cheese is melted. Before serving, add your favorite toppings like guacamole, sour cream, jalapeno, diced tomatoes, and sliced olives.
Lighter Game Day Option
If you’re trying to stick to your “eat healthier” New Year’s resolution, you can still enjoy delicious treats on game day.
If you’re making chili, meatballs, nachos, or pizza, try swapping out the ground beef for ground turkey. You’ll hardly notice the difference! Or leave the meat out completely and make vegetarian chili, nachos, or pizza.
Tofu is a healthy and versatile option, as well. To make great tasting tofu, use your air fryer. Press as much liquid as you can from your tofu (by using a tofu press or by placing it on a plate, wrapping it in paper towels, and placing something heavy on top). When your tofu is about half its original size, cut it into small cubes and coat it with a little bit of corn starch (this is optional, but it makes the tofu crispier). Tofu will absorb the flavor of your dish, so it isn’t necessary to season it unless you want to eat it straight out of the air fryer. If this is your plan, then toss it with some sesame oil, garlic powder, salt, pepper, paprika, and onion powder before cooking.
Instead of buffalo wings, try cauliflower bites. Toss some cauliflower in buffalo sauce and place it in the air fryer until crispy. Serve your cauliflower bites with some blue cheese dressing for dipping.
Chickpeas are also great since you can prepare them in a variety of ways. You can blend them together with olive oil, garlic, and tahini to make hummus. Serve this with pita squares. Or dry the chickpeas completely between paper towels and coat them with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper. Cook them in the air fryer or bake them in the oven for a great snack. Mash uncooked chickpeas in a bowl with some buffalo sauce, mayo, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Put this on a small bun, along with lettuce, tomato, and a little ranch dressing for quick chickpea sliders.
Whether you’re hosting a large get-together or watching the game on your own, don’t fumble when it comes to the food! It’s an important part of the game day festivities, so find some recipes that are quick, inexpensive, and easy to make in your apartment kitchen.
