Whether you’ve been watching football all season or you’re just in it for the snacks, the Super Bowl is a great reason to get together and celebrate. We’ve gathered recipes from our collection, from pigskin classics to innovative flavors, to guarantee a winning game-day menu, no matter which team takes home the trophy.
Appetizers
Cheddar Chile Spread
This recipe was one of James Beard’s favorite hors d’oeuvre, featuring sharp cheddar cheese, garlic, and chopped peppers. The tangy spread can be served with crackers, bread, or anything else you can picture covered in cheesy, spicy goodness.
Cracked Shrimp with Comeback Sauce (pictured above)
Top Chef alum Carla Hall shares her recipe for fried shrimp with some tips on how to make them totally irresistible. Tenderizing the shrimp before battering and frying results in a crunchy outer coating and juicy shrimp within. Her creamy, zippy “Comeback” sauce is the perfect partner for these crispy crustaceans.
Classic and Not-So-Classic Wings
Buffalo Wings
It is hard to imagine football without Buffalo wings, which is why serving them at your party is a great game plan. James Beard America’s Classics Award winner Anchor Bar in Buffalo, NY is said to be the birthplace of this recipe, now seen in sports bars and pubs around the country.
Chicken Wing Tacos with Salsa Macha (pictured above)
If the classic Buffalo wing isn’t your thing, we have a creative twist from chef Alex Stupak of Empellón. Though he readily admits he’s not a football fan, Stupak definitely knows what makes a good game-day snack. These tacos are a magnificent marriage of a traditional Mexican salsa macha and everyone’s favorite tailgate mainstay.
Chicken Wings with Lemon and Caraway (pictured at top)
Carrie and Rupert Blease of Lord Stanley in San Francisco offer this distinctive alternative to the average chicken wing. Cooked confit with toasted caraway seeds and then pan fried, these crispy wings are served with a bright, sweet-and-sour lemon curd dip.
Duck Wings with Asian Chili Sauce
If you want to really impress your guests, you can take a crack at these duck wings with Asian chili sauce created by Beard Award winner Keith Luce. Duck wings are cured in a sugar and spice mixture, baked, and then tossed in a vinegary chili sauce to balance the fattiness of the duck.
Desserts
Whoopie Pie Macarons (pictured above)
In the state of Maine, whoopie pies are a classic treat, and chef Josh Berry was eager to re-create them at his restaurant Union in Portland. These macarons are a miniature tribute to the chocolate and marshmallow cream classic, making it easier and more appropriate to eat many of them in one sitting.
Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
JBF Chefs Boot Camp alum Jennifer Hill Booker is based in Atlanta, the host of this year’s championship game. Channel Booker’s celebratory Southern style with her recipe for red velvet cake, a moist and delicious cream cheese frosting–covered confection that's the perfect way close out the night.
Hungry for more? View our entire recipe collection.
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Erin Silva is media intern at the Beard Foundation. Find her on Instagram.
