What day is it? Gameday! Don’t get caught unprepared for the biggest sporting (and snacking) event of the season. Try these delicious snacks and drink combos at your next party or tailgate. All the cocktail ingredients can be ordered on Saucey and delivered to your door for free the same day as the big game.
Ketel + Soda w/ Dirty Martini Dip
Anything can be made into a dip, and the dirty martini is no exception. Combine artichoke hearts, lemon juice, olive juice (from the jar), and cream cheese in a food processor until smooth. Before serving, fold in some chopped chives, then top with a mixture of chopped chives, chopped parsley, chopped pitted olives, and olive oil.
This dish can stay on the table for the whole game at room temperature. But such a pungent snack should have a cool, crisp partner to wash it down. Stir with a simple vodka soda with 1 part Ketel One, 2 parts club soda, and lime to garnish.
Tanqueray Southside Fizz w/ Whipped Feta Dip
This dip is like souvlaki in a bowl. First, combine 2 cups of plain Greek yogurt with 1 cup of crumbled feta, two tablespoons EVOO, and one tablespoon lemon juice in a food processor until you get a smooth, whipped consistency. Then, pull the meat off the bones from a hot, ready-made rotisserie chicken and toss it with Greek salad dressing. Scoop the whipped feta into a large bowl, then use the back of the spoon to make a large pocket in the center, which you will fill with the marinated chicken. Garnish with sliced cucumber, diced tomatoes, and parsley, then serve at room temperature with pita bread or pita chips.
A sour drink will bring out the natural flavor of the yogurt and feta, so why not pair with a Southside Fizz? Combine 1 part gin with a splash of lime juice and a trickle of simple syrup, then top with club soda.
OG Moscow Mule w/ Honey Ginger Shrimp
This recipe takes some prep work, but the succulent shrimps you’ll make are worth it. Make the honey-ginger marinade with ¼ cup honey, ½ teaspoon ginger, ¼ teaspoon cayenne, ½ cup fresh orange juice, and 1 tablespoon garlic. Mix together in a bowl, and let two pounds of raw shrimp (deveined, peeled, and with tails removed) soak in the marinade for at least two hours.
Next, drain the excess liquid from the shrimp and saute them in a nonstick pan over medium heat for 2-3 minutes or until done. Do not consume raw or undercooked shellfish. Toss with a tablespoon thinly sliced scallion and serve on a plate with toothpicks.
The ginger in the marinade is kicked up a notch when you pair these shrimps with an Original Moscow Mule. Combine 1/3rd of a can of ginger beer (not ginger ale) with a shot of Smirnoff No. 21 Vodka, and garnish with lime wedges. Serve in copper mugs.
Bulleit Bourbon Old Fashioned w/ Maple Bacon Grilled Cheese
Every kid in America loves grilled cheese, and that is a fact. Every adult also loves grilled cheese, and that is also a fact. But no one is impressed with a platter of Kraft singles on Wonderbread at the tailgate. Dress up the classic grilled cheese by adding thick-cut maple bacon and white cheddar slices. Worried about getting stuck at the stove grilling an endless supply of sandwiches? You can make a whole batch of these maple bacon-grilled cheeses in the oven.
First, heat the oven to 350 degrees and cook the entire package of bacon on a baking sheet until crisp. The bacon can be laid on a paper towel to remain crisp while it cools. Next, butter your bread slices and brown them quickly in a pan. Take your lightly browned bread, load it up with cheese slices and bacon, then cook the sandwiches in the oven on a baking sheet until the cheese melts. You can prep these early and then heat them right before serving, so they’re hot.
And what could go better with a classic American sandwich than a classic American old-fashioned? Use Bulleit bourbon in your old-fashioned to bring out the smokiness of the bacon. Mix one shot of bourbon with 2 bar spoons of simple syrup and 3 dashes of bitters. Serve on the rocks and use the orange rind to garnish.
Gold Rush w/ Air-Fried Sweet and Sour Brussels Sprouts
Ready to finally use that air fryer you got for Christmas? These delicious and nutritious sprouts are prepared in less than 15 minutes. Trim the sprouts and cut lengthwise, then toss in olive oil, salt, and pepper. Set the air fryer to 400 degrees and cook for 12 minutes, until crispy and dark. If you don’t have an air fryer, you can bake the sprouts in your oven at 450 degrees. While the sprouts cook, mix the sauce with teriyaki glaze and rice vinegar. Set the sprouts to the side to cool a little, then toss with the sweet and sour sauce and top with toasted sesame seeds.
This dish calls for a sweet sipper: make the Gold Rush with just a shot of Crown Royal Deluxe Canadian whisky mixed with .75 oz lemon juice and .75 oz honey syrup. To make honey syrup, just combine equal parts honey and water.
Captain and Cola w/ Key Lime Balls
Some of you were definitely reading this post thinking, “where’s the dessert?!?!” and don’t worry, we didn’t forget. And you don’t need to be a baking champion to get these Key Lime Balls right, either. Bake 2 rolls of refrigerated sugar cookie dough according to the package instructions. Once baked and cooled, crush the cookies with your hands like your team will crush their rivals tonight. Using a stand mixer, incorporate the crushed cookies with two tablespoons of key lime juice, one teaspoon lime zest, and 16 ounces of cream cheese. Once well-mixed, roll the concoction into bite-size balls and refrigerate them for at least 2 hours. Melt 11 ounces of white chocolate candy coating, dip the refrigerated balls into it, and let dry on a rack, with foil or paper underneath to catch drips. Add decorations like sprinkles or colored frosting before the white chocolate cools.
If you’re going to have key lime, you have to pair it with rum. Since it’s still winter (ugh), warm yourself up with 1 shot of Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum, and give yourself a little pep with half a can of Coca-Cola. Garnish your Captain and Cola with a lime wedge and mint sprig.
Saucey delivers your cocktail ingredients, plus all the wine and beer your tailgate can drink, to your door– and we proudly do not charge a delivery fee. Because why should you miss one moment of what could be the biggest day of your team’s entire history?
