It’d be easy to just grab a fruit container or sandwich plate to bring (or present if you’re hosting), and sure, that could be an easy save if you’re at a loss for ideas or running late. But why not boost the vibe a bit with a tad more effort? Give yourself some planning and prep time, and you could be one of – if not the – most popular people at the party! And if you’re the host, your guests will undoubtedly form a great association with your social gatherings.
Besides, it’s fun to have an excuse to make food for friends and share a pretty flat lay on Instagram!
Snacks and Appetizers
With snacks and appetizers especially, the sky is the limit! You can make your food with a healthy twist with your own dietary preferences in mind, or you can just have a treat night and indulge in the more calorie dense goodies for the occasion.
Football Nacho Tray
Cute and delicious? Check. You can't go wrong with the girls or the guys when you bring a football-themed nacho tray for everyone to enjoy.
Sticky Bourbon Chicken Skewers
These chic bits of protein are an easy crowd-pleaser and can be made gluten-free and paleo (just use gluten-free soy sauce and swap cornstarch for tapioca starch). If you want to skip the bourbon, you can just use chicken broth for the marinade.
Pig Shots
A tasty upgrade from the classic Pigs in a Blanket. These are rich but packed with flavor and protein and are naturally gluten-free.
Bacon-Wrapped Little Smokies
A classic co*cktail bite wrapped in smoky bacon and coated with a brown sugar rub! If you’d prefer to use big chunks of chicken sausage, the choice is yours. This recipe is free of all the major allergens.
Keto Poppers
These Pickle Poppers or Jalapeño Poppers are easy to make, carb-less, and delightfully savory! They’re both also naturally gluten-free.
Potato Balls w/Cheddar Sauce
Delish is the right word for this appetizer! If you’d prefer not to fry, you can pop these guys into the air-fryer (just lightly coat them with some avocado or olive oil cooking spray before turning on the heat). To make them gluten-free, simply use gluten-free Panko breadcrumbs. If you want to skip the cheese sauce or provide a dairy-free option, you could serve these with bits of spicy sausage on toothpicks or a Sloppy Joe dip.
Green Chili Enchilada Dip
Warm, cheesy, spicy, and yummy. Pair with tortilla chips and maybe even a side of guacamole. This dish is naturally gluten-free.
Black Bean Salsa
If you want a gluten and dairy-free, healthier option, try this Black Bean Salsa. It’s super easy and very flavorful, and you could even add little chunks of mango or pineapple to the mix.
Goat Cheese Truffles
One, two, three, drool. These classy and tasty mouthfuls of decadence are sure to please! Plus, they’re gluten-free (and sometimes, those who are lactose-intolerant can eat goat cheese without issues).
Charcuterie Cheeseboard
Everybody’s favorite! The sky is your creativity’s limit with this snack spread. Grab some goodies from Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Aldi’s, or your local farmer’s market, and go ham!
The traditional charcuterie style with fresh berries, dried fruit, nuts, chocolate candies or cookies, crackers and hard or soft cheeses or brie
Greek-style with pita chips, hummus, grapes, dried figs, toothpick chicken skewers
A slider board with mini hamburgers or turkey/ham ‘n cheese sliders on Hawaiian rolls
A fiesta-style mini taco board with chips and guac, salsa, or queso on the side
Desserts
Football Brownie Bites
All you really need is two bites after you've been loading up on nachos and beer anyway, right? Try these cute football-themed brownie bites for the perfect post-game treat.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Bars
The perfect midpoint between buckeyes and rice crispy treats. This recipe is quick to make and finger-friendly to eat.
Oreo Football Truffles
Talk about a fun twist on a delicious treat! This recipe is no-bake and can be made gluten-free (grab GF Oreos or GF Joe-Joe’s from Trader Joe’s).
Football Rice Krispy Treats
Kick off the game with a sporty customization on the American classic. These munchies are gluten-free (and can be made dairy-free using vegan butter).
Or, if you've already got a box of Chex lying around, try this recipe!
Monkey Bread
Pull-apart and gluten-free to boot – everyone loves sticky buns! These donut-like bites actually end up looking like mini footballs. Add chopped pecans and bake with the sugar mixture if you desire.
Millionaire Shortbread Bars
These elevated Twix bars are easy and no-bake! If you want a gluten-free and vegan (dairy-free) version, try this recipe.
co*cktails
Sparkling Blood Orange Margarita
Make a bubbly twist to the favored classic and drink up!
Coconut Cream & Lime Margarita
This refreshing and light marg was one of the top Williams and Sonoma recipes in 2023. Let's find out why.
Raspberry Nojito
Want a fun mocktail? We got you covered. This drink has color and fizz that will make you feel like the life of the party, no alcohol required!
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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
Based on this article, it seems to be focused on food and drink ideas for parties or social gatherings. The article suggests various snacks, appetizers, desserts, and co*cktails that can be prepared for such occasions. It also mentions the importance of presentation and the potential for sharing the food on social media platforms like Instagram.
Now, let's dive into the concepts used in the article:
Snacks and Appetizers
- The article suggests that snacks and appetizers offer a lot of flexibility in terms of options. You can choose to make healthier options or indulge in more calorie-dense treats.
- Some specific snack and appetizer ideas mentioned in the article include football nacho tray, sticky bourbon chicken skewers, pig shots, bacon-wrapped little smokies, keto poppers, potato balls with cheddar sauce, green chili enchilada dip, black bean salsa, goat cheese truffles, charcuterie cheeseboard, charcuterie cups, breakfast board, slider board, and fiesta-style mini taco board.
Desserts
- The article provides ideas for desserts that can be enjoyed after the main course. Some dessert options mentioned include football brownie bites, chocolate peanut butter fudge bars, Oreo football truffles, football rice krispy treats, monkey bread, and millionaire shortbread bars.
co*cktails
- The article suggests a few co*cktail recipes to add a festive touch to your gathering. Some co*cktail options mentioned include sparkling blood orange margarita, coconut cream & lime margarita, and raspberry nojito.
These are the main concepts covered in the article. If you need more information or specific details about any of these concepts, feel free to ask!
