For some people, the Super Bowl is a time to support their favorite football team and scream at the TV when the refs don't call a flag on the play. For others (me, included), the fun of the Super Bowl lies in the food. In honor of the upcoming Super Bowl on Sunday, I'm here to give you a few ideas of delicious and easy appetizers that are sure to impress a crowd.
Spinach & Artichoke Dip
Spinach & artichoke dip is a classic. It's super easy to make in big batches, which makes it the perfect appetizer for the Super Bowl. Now, I've tried a lot of varieties of spinach & artichoke dip in my time, but the recipe that I used here has to be the best I've ever had. It was rich, creamy, and beyond simple to make.
One of my favorite things about this recipe is that you can actually taste the spinach and artichoke. The addition of a little bit of garlic and mayo in this recipe adds a depth of flavor that you're not going to find with most dips. A few tips, though: make sure to finely chop your spinach and artichoke, or else the texture is going to be more lumpy than creamy. Also, don't skimp on the seasoning or the mixing together of the ingredients. The salt and pepper enhance all of the other flavors, and proper mixing makes sure that there aren't pockets of cream cheese without any spinach or artichoke. Bring this app and even the most hardcore football fans are going to crowd around the kitchen.
Baked Chicken Wings
Chicken wings are a staple for any sporting event. For these, I don't have a specific recipe to share because they are so versatile and easy. All it requires is you to buy wings at the store (I bought all drums, but feel free to pick up flats too), mix together your favorite seasonings with some oil to create a paste, rub it on the wings, and bake at 400° F for about 40-45 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the wings reads 165° F.
For one batch of wings, I seasoned them with some cayenne, paprika, salt, pepper, onion, and garlic powder. After they were finished baking, I tossed them in a little bit of honey barbecue sauce. The sweet and spicy paired very well together.
For my second batch, I used a pre-made lemon pepper seasoning that did not disappoint. Serve these with some ranch or blue cheese and you're going to have to put your football pads on to fight for the last wing.
Loaded Fries
These are definitely the easiest of the three (and that's saying something). Again, there's no recipe because you can literally put whatever you want on these. Start by buying a bag of frozen fries from your local grocery store (spice it up with some crinkle cut or waffle fries). Bake the fries according to the directions on the bag, pull them out of the oven, and top them with whatever toppings you love. I kept it simple with cheddar cheese, bacon bits, and ranch, but you could do chili, veggies, or buffalo chicken. The world is your oyster with these. Whatever you top your fries with, you better call a ref to keep your friends from tackling these!
Super Yummy Super Bowl Snacks
I hope these delicious and easy appetizers make it onto your snack roster, but if not, check out some more ideas that have great reviews!