Get suited up, because we’re about to hit the field with some serious #GameTimeGrub! This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, and as always, all opinions and writings are my own. Thank you to my sponsors who allow me to continue producing free printables and recipes! #CollectiveBias
With the big game just days away, I thought we could use a tiny bit more football action on the blog before I get right back to Valentine’s Day treats. The big game has always landed on my birthday weekend and growing up, we would occasionally have a half birthday/half football party to celebrate if we happened to like the teams playing. And by we, I actually mean everyone else in the family. I really couldn’t care less about football, I was basically there just for cake. And the little smokies. And the cheese and crackers. Okay fine, I was just there for the game day grub. (But aren’t we all? Does anyone actually watch that 9 hour game?) So as I was thinking about what to make for this football party, I decided to go all out with the sides. Forget the grill and fancy burgers, these simple sideliners are the real stars of the show. It just goes to show that not much has changed since my 12 year old birthday parties. Still just here for the food.
Between the Crispy Onion Rings, Spicy Sweet Potato Fries, and Crinkle Cut Fries I barely knew where to start. It was like if someone gave you the option between donuts, ice cream, and tacos. You just want to shake them and ask why on earth they would ever make you betray the others.
For this party spread, we’ve got ourselves some knockout baked deliciousness. I created these star stickers to add to the fry boxes and then filled each with the Alexia Spicy Sweet Potato Fries (which are actually spicy, btw!) and Smart Classics Crinkle Cut Fries that I picked up from Walmart. Both are sprinkled with sea salt and oven roasted, so there’s less guilt about indulging than your typical deep-fried fries.
And because it wouldn’t be game day without dips, I created this chipotle ranch dip to add to the team (recipe below). It’s a bowl full of flavor, with not-so-subtle hints of barbecue, lime, and ranch to put your taste buds in game day mode. It reminded me a lot of a dip I’ve had at Buffalo Wild Wings, but I just can’t put my finger on which one of the 200 sauces that could be. Pair it with the Crinkle Cut Fries or Crispy Onion Rings and you’ve got yourself a winning dippable combo.
And because it wouldn’t be a party without cheese, I whipped up some white queso dip to add a little more kick to your plate. Perfect with pretzel bread or Crispy Onion Rings, you may just want to grab yourself a cereal bowl for this one. And while we’re talking about onion rings, have you ever been to Red Robin and ordered the gigantic stacks? Well, let’s just say that RR is one of our family’s favorite restaurants so I decided to create little onion ring kabobs to commemorate these iconic stacks. And the best part about these? You don’t have to share and the skewers double as a weapon in case anyone tries to steal them from you. All I did to make them was add a paper cup to a wooden skewer, add a giant marshmallow under each cup (so it doesn’t slip) and toss on the Alexia Crispy Onion Rings.
And unlike the fried (yet delicious) restaurant rings, these Crispy Onion Rings are panko coated and baked (not fried), so there’s less guilt with the same crispy greatness.
Let’s just sit here for a moment in silence and allow ourselves to soak all of this in.
Okay, enough of the silence. This is a party, isn’t it? When your guests are all footballed out and ready to head back home, send them away with some…field goal post take-out boxes!
Anytime I throw a party, I’m always left with enough leftover chips, treats, and dips to last me a month. So instead of letting it go to waste in the fridge (which always happens to dip), you can ration it out and send it right on out the door.
I figure if they came for the food, you might as well send them home with some food. And depending on the outcome of your guest’s favorite teams, they may need all the comfort food they can get to hold them over until next season.
Chipotle Ranch Dip
It’s a bowl full of flavor, with not-so-subtle hints of barbecue, lime, and ranch to put your taste buds in game day mode. It reminded me a lot of a dip I’ve had at Buffalo Wild Wings, but I just can’t put my finger on which one of the 200 sauces that could be. Pair it with the Crinkle Cut Fries or Crispy Onion Rings and you’ve got yourself a winning dippable combo.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 1oz. packet dry ranch dressing mix
- 3 green onions minced
- 1 clove garlic crushed
- 1/2 tablespoon lime juice
- 2 tablespoons canned green chiles or canned chipotle chile for more heat
- 3 tablespoons sweet & spicy chipotle barbecue sauce
- 3 tablespoons milk
Before you begin! If you make this, will you do me a huge favor and leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe? This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
Instructions
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In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, ranch dressing mix, green onions, garlic, lime juice, green chiles, and barbecue sauce until blended. Add in milk and continue whisking until smooth. If you would like it to be more runny, add more milk until it is the desired consistency.
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Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate.
Last Step! Please leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe! This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
Recipe Notes
Want to make the batch half spicy/half mild? Wait to add the chiles until last, split the mixture into two bowls, and then add 1-2 tablespoons of green chiles to one bowl and 1-2 tablespoons of chipotle chiles to the other bowl!
Adapted from All Recipes
Nutrition
So now that you know what my football party sides table looks like, I’d love you to share your favorite game day treats! Any recipes everyone asks for each year? Leave a comment below sharing your family traditions!
Melissa says
Yum Yum Yum. Beautiful display and everything looks so delish.
sharon says
There are alot of great ideas in this post, but I’m stuck on the onion rings tower! What a super easy idea and so much fun to serve the Alexia rings like that instead of just putting them on the plate ! Love it! #client
Jess @ On Sugar Mountain says
This is absolutely the coolest football party setup ever. <3 I love the mix of bright colors and tasty game day grub! Melissa your blog rocks my socks, so glad I discovered it while looking for new blogs to follow! :D