Are you ready to see the Giants and the Patriots face off once again in next week's ultimate Super Bowl rematch? Well, in preparation for today's major game, don't forget to pull out all the stops in the snack department. Here are a few of our all-time favorites — and for more championship chow, check out the rest of our game day eats, too.
 Buffalo Chicken Cheese Dip |
 Gyro Jalapeño Poppers |
 Super Sloppy Joes |
 Spicy Buffalo Wings |
 Carbonara Potato Skins |
 Bacon Guacamole |
Just like the halftime show and cheerleaders, wings are considered to be a great component on game day, but who says they can't be the main event? If you're willing to travel beyond the buffalo, the poultry possibilities are boundless, and prepping a wing buffet is easy to boot. Just fry up enough wing parts to feed your crowd, and toss them in a variety of make-ahead sauces to keep palates piqued and appetites sated. Check out our wing wrap-up for inspiration, but don't be afraid to get creative and experiment with your favorite flavors and ingredients!
We close out our week of worldly wings with a recipe . . . with an accessory. While I love this classic finger food on its own, sometimes a cooling dipping sauce is just what the tailgater ordered to complement a piping hot and/or fiery chicken wing. Think about it: buffalo wings are divine, but when that Frank's RedHot sauce becomes too hot to handle, nothing quenches a mouth inferno quite like some blue cheese dressing.
While this recipe forgoes a spicy wing in favor of a tangy lemon-pepper vinaigrette, it's merely a vehicle for the velvety yogurt dipping sauce. Creamy feta and soothing cucumber serve to heighten the cooling sensation, making it a great addition to a wing buffet side by side with its hotter cousins. Get the recipe.
Fried chicken wings are an international phenomenon, and while we Americans perhaps can lay claim to wings as a central component of our national cuisine, more countries than you'd imagine are churning out crisp-fried poultry goodness and adding their own local flair. At izakayas (casual drinking establishments), Japan's working weary relax over sake, cold beer, and comforting late night nibbles, including sashimi, edamame, and yakitori (grilled chicken). More recently, they have added fried chicken wings to the mix, dressing them in light but delectable sauces made from Japanese kitchen staples.
This recipe blends soy sauce, sake, mirin (sweet cooking wine), garlic, and ginger with a splash of tangy vinegar to finish. Just before serving, sprinkle on some sesame seeds and — if you can find it — a blend of Japanese spices containing tingly sansho pepper, ground red pepper flakes, and dried orange peel. It pairs just as nicely with Sapporo as it does with an all-American ice-cold Bud. Read on for the recipe.
Buffalo wings may be the king of game-day chicken parts, but barbecue wings sure give poultry royalty a run for its money. There's a reason this American classic is a food-festival mainstay: often containing a plethora of ingredients, it goes hand in hand with any meat, and there are about as many versions of barbecue sauce as there are people making them, resulting in an endless taste test for barbecue lovers.
I love slow-smoked brisket slathered in a sauce smoldering with heat, but when I dress up chicken, nothing beats a zesty-sweet honey barbecue. This recipe packs a flavor punch with mustard, hot sauce, soy sauce, ketchup, and cider vinegar tempered with soothing honey and orange juice. It's quite a long list of ingredients, but I'll bet you already have most of them in your pantry and refrigerator, and the sauce comes together quickly on the stove while you prep your other pregame eats. And for those of you cringing from memories of KFC's gloppy, gluey sauce, rest assured that you will be licking your fingers for all the right reasons. Read on to get the recipe.
We last took you to Mexico for a bright and tangy take on one of America's favorite game-day foods, but our next culinary adventure sends us across the Pacific to South Korea for some sweet and spicy finger-licking. If you've been lucky enough to dine at the KyoChon or BonChon chicken restaurants, then you know that Koreans love fried chicken. One of the most popular varieties is yangnyeom dak, a crisp, twice-fried wing or thigh tossed in a fiery sauce that reminds me of the classic buffalo wing with an Asian twist.
Just as buffalo wings marry a zesty tang with mouth-numbing heat, Korean wings combine the acidity of rice vinegar with the peppery punch of fermented red-pepper paste and red-pepper powder (found at many Asian grocery stores). Mix in sweet honey and fragrant sesame oil, and you have a crowd-pleasing and conversation-starting app that will make your game-day get-together a hit.
Wings are a game day mainstay, but before you grab that bottle of Frank's RedHot, consider a version or two that journey beyond buffalo. This week, we tread the less-beaten path through wing-dom with a look at five recipes that shed new light on our favorite chicken part.
Today, our wings get a south of the border kick with tomatillo-based salsa verde. Taking a page from the popular Mexican dish chile verde, which tempers the bright tang of this tomato relative with smoky braised pork, I simmered the salsa in some chicken broth for some added flavor depth before thickening up the sauce. Serve the wings drizzled with the salsa verde, and for an over-the-top delight, topped with sour cream and crumbled cotija cheese.
Of course, don't shun the buffalo sauce entirely. For a spectacular game day spread, fry up a large batch of wings, serve them with a variety of sauces, and let your guests pick their favorites!
With the NFL play-offs already halfway over, it's time to start thinking ahead if you're planning a gathering for this year's Super Bowl. If you're not sure what dishes will get the crowd cheering, score big points on food by adding these little pieces of culinary excitement to your party lineup. We've got plenty of new twists on old favorites, from gyro jalapeño poppers to chorizo-and-cheese chips. If you're looking for some inspiration for your game-day dishes, look no further than these 10 tasty recipes.
Whenever I cook an already-irresistible snack food, I'm always inclined to think about ways to make it totally over the top — like, say, with buffalo chicken macaroni and cheese. So when it came time for a friend's game day viewing, I couldn't resist combining two of my favorite foods in the entire world: potato skins and bac-o-licious pasta carbonara.
The end product is the kind of stuff dreams are made of: velvety, slightly crisp potatoes with oozy, creamy carbonara sauce. The recipe's designed to feed half a dozen or so people, but I'm pretty sure if left unattended that I could finish off the whole plate myself. For a dish that's a guaranteed crowd-pleaser this Sunday, read more.
When it comes to Super Bowl Sunday, I like to serve a messy, meaty meal such as burgers, sloppy Joes, or my current favorite, these meatball sandwiches. Layers of marinara sauce, melted cheese, and flavorful meatballs come together beautifully in a lightly toasted brioche bun. Although this can be made with store-bought marinara sauce, it tastes even better when you make your own. Assemble the meatballs and sauce up to a day in advance, then warm while you're watching the second quarter. Interested in cooking this finger-licking good dish? Keep reading for the recipe.
