Football season is here, and that means food—all those ridiculously tasty treats that you forgo all year long just so you can indulge a little extra while you gather ’round the big screen and take in that oh-so-sacred of American pastimes. Although we all have our tried-and-true favorite snacks, sometimes it’s good to shake things up a bit and try something that might not be on the usual game day menu. Here are a couple of fun and easy recipe ideas:
Frito® Pie
You might have seen it at various stadiums around the country, but this guilty pleasure is surprisingly easy to make at home. Simply fill a bowl with a generous helping of those tasty corn chips, then smother them with chili. Add shredded cheese and sour cream and you have a quick and easy treat that will keep you cheering all game long. It’s also easy to personalize the dish with your favorite toppings, from jalapeños and olives to onions and cilantro.
To mix it up even more, create a chili con queso sauce by adding the chili to melted Velveeta® before smothering your chips!
Potato Chip Nachos
Nachos and football go together like hot dogs and baseball, but just because tradition dictates the necessities of nachos doesn’t mean you can’t mix it up a little and create a new spin on the classic taste.
Instead of traditional tortilla chips, start off your game day nachos with potato chips. If you’re ambitious and have the means, make your own potato crisps instead—it definitely raises the bar on taste—but any brand of potato chips will work. Where you go from there is completely up to you.
One option is to try your favorite traditional nacho toppings on the bed of potato chips. You’ll be amazed at what a completely different taste this one simple change makes.
Another option is to take a trick from the Emerald Isle and create Irish Nachos. For this variation, use a white cheddar cheese sauce and vary the toppings from the original nacho recipe. Try shredded beef instead of ground hamburger and heap on bacon bits, sour cream, scallions, and tomatoes. Or combine the best of both cultures and add jalapeños, guacamole, and olives.
The variations on both of these recipes are nearly endless, so feel free to keep experimenting until you find your new go-to game day favorite—and what better way to serve it than with zak! designs trays and bowls?
