Vanessa, also known as Chefdruck, is a foodie, writer and mom living in Chicago with her husband and four children. Whether you're planning a holiday dinner party or small impromptu get together with friends, Vanessa has easy menu ideas and helpful tips to minimize your time in the kitchen so you have more time to spend with your friends and family. Vanessa's personal blog can be found at chefdruck.com

Prep Time: 5 minutes • Cook Time: 5 mins • Level: Easy
When my husband invites friends and family over for the Big Game, I throw myself into the food preparation. I know nothing about football and want to make sure I have plenty to talk about with the ladies. I'd much rather spend my time with my girlfriends in the kitchen, swapping recipes than trying one more time to understand the difference between a first down and a touchdown. I do pop my head out for commercials though, those I understand!
At home tailgating is all about finger foods, quick little bites that people just pop in their mouths. My favorite dip to serve is this creamy buffalo chicken dip (recipe below). It has a bit of a kick that is nicely balanced by the tangy creaminess of blue cheese. I love that it combines all the tastes of buffalo chicken, with none of the mess.
I love making the colors of my table pop so I marry the pale orange of the buffalo dip with the green of this 5-on-5 avocado dip and the rainbow of this Fiesta Cracker Spread. I then round out the appetizer buffet with a crudite platter and some Crispix Cheez-It snack mix for nibblers.
I keep the desserts hidden until the half-time show. I don't want my fun desserts to get lost in the excitement of the latest play. Everyone is forced to get off the couch to try the Touchdown Fondue. It's hard to resist combining chocolate with all those fun dips. But for those that don't like chocolate or the messiness of fondue, I also offer Rice Krispies Treats Pizza and Butterscotch Pecan Sandies Pie.
With a spread like that, I always get my crowd cheering, long before the game is over.
You can rate and comment on all of our recipes. We want to know which recipes are your favorites.
Find a Recipe and Get Started
Snackpicks Newsletter Sign Up
Find out about new features, coupons and special offers.
Sign Up Now
Be the First to Comment on this Post