Whether you and your family are rooting for the same team or not, everyone can agree on the need for snacks to make game day even better.
We’ve compiled a list of affordable football foods with five ingredients or fewer that will score a touchdown with everyone in your household. Best of all, you can make these snacks on a budget since many of these recipes rely on ingredients you probably already have in your home.
1. Bacon-Wrapped Breadsticks
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Use a container of ready-made breadstick dough. Wrap each breadstick with a piece of bacon and sprinkle a bit of garlic powder and Parmesan cheese on each stick. Cook them in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes; check them at 10 minutes to ensure they do not overcook. Serve with a dish of ranch dressing for dipping. Want to add a healthier twist to the snack? Substitute asparagus for the breadsticks, though this may cost a bit more.
2. Fruit Kebobs
Not all snacks need to be heavy or unhealthy. Fruit kebobs are a great sweet treat – even kids love them! Get them in on the action to help make your game day prep easier.
You can use any assortment of fruit, tailoring the kebobs to your taste. For simplicity, use three fruits for your kebobs. Cut up the fruit and place it in three separate containers. You can have your kids thread the kebobs with the fruit, using any combination of flavors they want. For a special treat, put a marshmallow in the middle of each one.
3. No-Fuss Baked Potatoes
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut six potatoes lengthwise so you get strips of about one-inch thickness. Place them in rows on a cookie sheet covered with foil. Bake for 30 minutes, flipping the potatoes halfway through. Remove from oven. Top each one with a sprinkle of cheddar cheese, a few crumbles of bacon, and some sliced chives. Bake for another five minutes. Serve with a dish of sour cream or plain Greek yogurt for dipping.
4. Pizza Roll-Ups
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Get a tube of pre-made crescent dough. Place a tablespoon of marinara sauce near the wide end of each crescent and put two pieces of pepperoni on the marinara sauce. Add a half of a cheese stick on top. Roll up the crescent and put it on a cookie sheet. When you’ve made all of them, put the cookie sheet in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Serve with extra sauce for dipping, if desired.
5. Oven S’mores with a Twist
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a miniature muffin tin with liners. Crush one package of graham crackers and combine with 1/3 cup melted butter. Spoon the mixture into the muffin cups and press the mixture into the bottom and size to form a cup. Break up chocolate bars into squares and place one piece into each cup. Top with three to four mini marshmallows and bake for about six minutes, until the chocolate is melted and the marshmallows are puffy.
6. Baked Jalapeno Poppers
Bring a little heat to your game day spread with easy-baked jalapeno poppers. To make them, you’ll need 12 jalapenos, two ounces of cream cheese, two ounces of shredded cheddar cheese, and 1/4 cup breadcrumbs. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and line a sheet tray with foil. Halve and deseed 12 jalapenos. Fill each half with softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, and breadcrumbs. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes or until jalapenos have softened and the cheese has melted.
No matter what sporting event you may be tuning into, these easy and affordable recipes will fit right in. To find more money-saving tips and resources, check out our blog.
