Chefs Weigh In On Their Favorite Game Day Snacks

Chefs Weigh in On Their Favorite Game Day Snacks

It's football season and it's time to get serious—serious about the snack spread, that is. Watching your favorite college or pro teams is a great excuse to gather a group of friends or family together around shareable eats that are simple to prepare, and in some cases, can be made in advance.

And who better to coach us on stellar snack making than chefs across the country?

Here are a few ideas and recipes to take your game day eats to the next level.

Frito Pie

For a real crowd pleaser, chef Jason Dady who owns restaurants across Texas, including Two Bros. BBQ Market, likes to whip up a Frito pie. His recipe—designed to serve 30 or more people—tops the favorite corn chip with brisket and other toppings you'd find atop nachos. The savory "pie" doesn't take that much time to prepare (unless you smoke your own brisket), so it can be made right before game time.

“Big Tex" Frito Pie Tailgating Recipe

Ingredients:

• 12 lb chopped beef (15 lb whole brisket)
• Kosher salt and black pepper
• 64 oz BBQ sauce
• 8 10.25-oz bags of Frito Corn Chips

Garnishes:

• 3 lb shredded cheddar cheese
• 3 lb cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 lb jalapeño peppers, diced
• 1 lb scallions, chopped
• 1 lb red onion, diced
• 6 cilantro bunches
• 64 oz sour cream
• 32 oz BBQ sauce

Directions:

1. For chopped beef, buy a whole cooked brisket (or smoke your own). Using a large chef knife, chop beef into very small pieces and add to the 64 oz of BBQ sauce. Season as needed with salt and pepper, if needed. Set Aside.
2. To Serve, heat chopped beef in large pan.
3. Using a large 48 inch paella pan, open all bags of Fritos and cover the bottom of the pan. It should be at least 2 inches deep of Fritos, across the entire pan.
4. Add the hot chopped beef, in the center of the Fritos and spread across the entire pan.
5. Garnish next with cheese, tomato, jalapeño, scallions, red onion.
6. Chop the cilantro and sprinkle on top.
7. Using a large spoon, place large dollops of sour cream randomly around the Frito pie.
8. To finish, drizzle with remaining 32 oz of BBQ sauce.

It's All About the Dip

A game watching essential is some sort of chips and dip, easy to consume while watching the next big play. Chef Jason Santos of Abby Lane and Back Bay Harry's in Boston (and avid Patriots fan!) created a dip based on the flavors of another popular game day snack: buffalo chicken. His buffalo chicken dip combines chicken with buffalo sauce, creamy ranch and tons of cheese. Much of the dip can be made in advance so you can dunk chips with the rest of your guests.

Buffalo Chicken Dip (Makes about 4 cups)

Ingredients:

• 4 oz. mascarpone
• 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup ranch dressing
• ½ cup buffalo sauce
• 1 oz. mozzarella, shredded
• 1 oz. provolone, shredded
• 1 lb of chicken breast, cooked & shredded
• 2 tbl. chives, minced
• ¼ cup your favorite blue cheese (chef likes Moody Blue, smoked blue cheese)
• cracked black pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Whisk cream cheese and mascarpone until smooth.
3. Stir in the dressing, hot sauce and cheeses. Mix in the chicken and pour into cast iron pan and bake for 20 minutes or until the chicken mixture is hot and bubbling. Garnish with fresh chopped chives, blue cheese and cracked black pepper.

Fries With a Twist

French Fries are a beloved treat—and they're also an easy thing to make. Just find your favorite bag in the freezer section to pop in the oven for this recipe. Kitchen manager Zach McGrath of Waller Creek Pub House in Austin, Texas, puts a simple twist on his fries with the addition of Asian flavors. He thinks they make up the perfect balance of sweet, spicy and savory.

Asian Fries

Ingredients:

• 1 bag of French Fries
• sriracha
• hoisin sauce
• cilantro
• ½ cup chopped peanuts
• 2 limes
• ½ cup mayo

Directions:

1. Mix ½ cup of mayo with the juice from 2 freshly squeezed limes; add more or less juice based on personal taste.
2. Cook French Fries per instructions on bag.
3. Drizzle fries with Sriracha, hoisin, and lime mayo to your liking.  Top with cilantro and chopped peanuts