Who doesn’t love single-serve appetizers… they feel like goodies made exclusively for you! These individual appetizers and dessert ideas are the perfect way to offer something for everyone at your next game day get-together or family gathering.
Convert Recipes to Smaller Portions
With a little creativity, making your own game day appetizers and desserts could be as simple as trimming down your favorite recipes to more manageable proportions. For instance, our Bourbon BBQ Chicken Wings are designed to serve 12, but you could easily chop the recipe in half or even by a quarter. Pro tip: Rewrite the ingredient list so you can follow along while cooking.
Get Creative with Your Presentation
With single-serve appetizers, prep can make all the difference and take some old standbys to the next level. Up your nacho game with Chipotle Chick’n Chips with Avocado Crema. Instead of the sheet-pan route, craft your nachos individually for easier cleanup and a better nacho. Top each chip with a smoky dollop of shredded Gardein® Chick’n Scallopini, seasoned with lime and canned chipotles, a bit of cheese, and a drizzle of fresh crema. Now, everyone gets the perfect blast of flavor in every bite.
Do a little exploring. You’ll probably find that you have perfect serveware for individual appetizers right at home. Those crème brulee ramekins in the back of the kitchen cabinet are great for little individual dishes of chips and guac. Fill up one ramekin with zesty RO*TEL® Rockin' Guacamole made from RO*TEL Original and another with Frontera® tortilla chips, and you’re good to go.
Those ramekins work for other meals, too. Fill them up with Air Fryer Fried Pickles made with zesty Vlasic® pickle spears for a deliciously crispy take on your favorite game day appetizers from the neighborhood sports bar. Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks with a side of Marinara Sauce made with Hunt's® San Marzano Style Whole Peeled Tomatoes will hit the spot, too. Now the only thing missing is the game on the big-screen TV.
Reusing empty jars from the grocery store is another great (eco-friendly) way to present your finger foods. Short, stout jars with wide openings (like jam jars or old salsa jars) are perfect for individual appetizers or individually portioned desserts like No Bake Mini Cheesecakes, topped with fresh berries and a mint sprig for a refreshing gluten-free treat.
Stick to it
Turn up the fun factor on your food with these fork-free, easy game day recipes. Try Mongolian BBQ Glazed Meatballs (made with mouthwatering P.F. Chang's® Home Menu Sauces) on skewers. Greek Style Marinated Beefless Bites, made with juicy Gardein Beefless Tips, make for a great vegetarian kabob option, and the cilantro cream dipping sauce is sure to be a hit.
For dessert, get the whole family involved with cakesicles! You’ll make the base with your favorite Duncan Hines® Cake Mix, but the decorating stage is really where it’s at. Let the kiddos garnish each cakesicle with sprinkles, a chocolatey drizzle, or bits of candy. Add some orange-colored frosting, and they'll make the perfect basketball food for game day watch parties.
