Winning Game Day Recipes

Photo: Toby Scott/Ryland, Peters & Small

Whether you’re hosting a Super Bowl party or any get-together, chicken wings are always a hit. So elevate your game with these recipes that go beyond the classic wings, including sweet and spicy or Greek options as well as a boneless baked “wing” aka chicken tenders from the new book “Wings: 75 Tasty Recipes for Fried, Baked & Grilled Chicken” by Carol Hilker. Plus, cheesy dips are always perfect party fare—especially with these creative and easy recipes from Wisconsin Cheese. Your snacks will score points, even if your favored team might not.

Sweet and Spicy Wings

Makes 4 to 6 Servings

Honey and hot sauce—it doesn’t get more Deep South than that. A little bit of sugar and a little bit of spice go a long way in this timeless dish. –C.H.

4 pounds chicken wings, halved at the joint, tips discarded
1½ cups Louisiana-style hot sauce
¾ cup (1½ sticks) butter
1 cup honey
Pinch of garlic salt
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Blue Cheese Dipping Sauce, to serve (see recipe below)

1. Heat the oven to 350°F. Grease the base of a large casserole or roasting dish.
2. Place the chicken in the dish and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake, uncovered, for 50 to 60 minutes in the oven, turning the chicken over halfway through.
3. Combine the hot sauce, butter, honey, garlic salt, cayenne pepper, and a pinch of freshly ground black pepper in a medium saucepan. Place over low-medium heat and melt the butter, stirring well. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to the boil, continuing to stir, then reduce the heat to low-medium and cook for 40 to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. The sauce will thicken to a syrupy consistency and will reduce by half.
4. When the chicken is cooked and the juices run clear when the thickest part is pierced to the bone, remove from the oven and drain off any cooking juices. Pour half the sauce into the dish and toss the chicken. Return to the oven for 5 minutes (or place under a preheated grill/broiler). To serve, pour the remaining sauce over.

Blue Cheese Dipping Sauce

Makes 4 to 6 Servings

1 cup crumbled blue cheese
¾ cup mayonnaise
½ cup sour cream

Place the ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk until combined. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Photo: Toby Scott/Ryland, Peters & Small

Greek Olive and Feta Wings

Makes 4 to 6 Servings

These chicken wings have a refreshing Mediterranean appeal. Using a mixture of breadcrumbs, Greek olives, and feta, this combination of ingredients makes a wonderfully satisfying dish. –C.H.

½ cup Greek olives, pitted and diced, plus a few whole olives to garnish
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
¼ teaspoon salt
4 pounds chicken wings, halved at the joints, tips removed
3 cups panko breadcrumbs
½ cup crumbled feta cheese
Mint-Cream Dipping Sauce, to serve (see recipe below)

1. Combine the olives, lemon juice, oil, honey, oregano, garlic, and salt in a large resealable bag. Add the chicken wings, seal the bag, and toss to coat. Refrigerate overnight or for at least 4 hours.
2. Heat the oven to 400°F. Line 2 to 3 baking sheets with foil.
3. Pour the panko crumbs into a medium bowl.
4. Remove the wings from marinade, roll in the panko crumbs, and arrange on the baking sheets. Discard the remaining marinade. Bake the wings for 35 to 40 minutes until golden and the juices run clear when the thickest part is pierced to the bone.
5. Garnish with the whole olives and the crumbled feta. Serve with Mint-Cream Dipping Sauce.

Mint-Cream Dipping Sauce

Makes 4 to 6 Servings

1 cup plain Greek yogurt
Juice of 1 lime
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 cup fresh mint leaves, finely chopped, plus extra to garnish
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon ground coriander
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt, to taste

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl until smooth and creamy.

Photo: Toby Scott/Ryland, Peters & Small

Boneless Baked Chicken Fillets

Makes 4 to 6 Servings

This is for those who don’t like to deal with chicken bones—or those of you who eat pizza with a knife and fork! These “wings” are bone-free, baked until crispy, and served with a honey-chipotle sauce, although almost any sauce and marinade from the book would work well. –C.H.

4 pounds chicken fillets/tenders
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
¾ cup (1½ sticks) butter, melted
¾ cup hot pepper sauce, such as Frank’s Red Hot Sauce
Honey-Chipotle Dipping Sauce, to serve (see recipe below)

1. Line 2 to 3 baking sheets with foil, and lightly grease with cooking spray or vegetable oil.
2. Put the flour, cayenne pepper, garlic, and salt in a resealable plastic bag and shake to mix. Add the chicken, seal the bag, and toss until well coated with the flour mixture. Place the chicken on the lined baking sheets. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
3. Heat the oven to 400°F.
4. Whisk together the melted butter and hot sauce in a small bowl. Dip the chicken into the butter mixture, then place back on the baking sheets. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, until the chicken is crispy on the outside and the juices run clear when the thickest part is pierced to the bone. Turn the wings over halfway during cooking so they cook evenly. Serve with Honey-Chipotle Dipping Sauce.  

Honey-Chipotle Dipping Sauce

Makes 4 to 6 Servings

1¼ cups honey
½ cup tomato ketchup
1½ tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon ground chipotle chili powder
¾ teaspoon salt

Combine all the ingredients in a medium saucepan with ½ cup water and bring to a boil over a medium-high heat. Reduce the heat once the mixture comes to the boil and let simmer for 3 to 5 minutes.

Photo: Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin

Bacon Cheeseburger Football Dip

Makes 18 Servings | Recipe courtesy of Wisconsin Cheese

Check out the helpful video for step-by-step tips to prepare this recipe.

3 tubes (11 ounces each) refrigerated French bread dough
1 large egg
1 tablespoon milk
1 package (8 ounces) thick-cut bacon, chopped
½ pound ground beef (90% lean)
1 package (8 ounces) Crystal Farms Original Cream Cheese, cut into small cubes
¼ cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon mustard
½ teaspoon garlic powder
8 ounces Henning Aged Cheddar cheese, shredded (2 cups)
Optional Toppings: shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes and pickles Henning Mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line a 15×10-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
2. Unroll one tube bread dough into a rectangle on prepared pan. Place remaining tubes of dough on top of the rectangle in a football shape. Cut ends at an angle if desired, and secure ends with toothpicks. Trim excess dough from bottom rectangle with a paring knife. Pinch dough at seams for bread bowl.
3. Whisk egg and milk and brush over dough. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until bread is light golden brown.
4. Meanwhile, fry bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings.
5. Cook beef in bacon drippings in the same pan over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Reduce heat to low. Add the cream cheese, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and garlic powder and stir until cheese is smooth.
6. Remove from the heat. Stir in cheddar and half of the bacon. Spoon dip into bread bowl. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until dip is bubbly. Cool slightly.
7. Layer with the toppings as desired and remaining bacon. Cut mozzarella for laces and place on football. To serve, diners pull apart or cut bread to scoop into the dip, or provide a spoon alongside for the dip.

Photo: Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin

10-Minute Nacho Cheese Dip

Makes 6 Servings | Recipe courtesy of Wisconsin Cheese

2 tablespoons butter, cubed
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
½ cup half-and-half cream
½ cup milk
¼ teaspoon each garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika
8 ounces Gile/Carr Cheese Factory Medium or 1 Year Aged Cheddar cheese, shredded (2 cups)
4 ounces Gile/Carr Cheese Factory Mild Colby cheese, shredded (1 cup)
1 can (4 ounces) diced green chilies, undrained
Salt and pepper, to taste
Additional milk, as needed
Tortilla chips, for servin

1. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. Gradually whisk in the cream, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. Bring to a boil and cook and whisk for 2 minutes or until thickened.
2. Reduce heat to low. Gradually whisk in cheddar and colby until melted.
3. Remove from the heat. Stir in green chilies. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add milk, a tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency. Serve with tortilla chips.

PHOTO TERRY BRENNAN, FOOD STYLING LARA MIKLASEVICS

Hungry for More?

Check out my roundup of recipes that could make delicious additions to any Super Bowl or other get-together. Some of them I highlighted for various occasions and seasons, but they would be tasty party fare anytime.

Tasty Bites for Cozy Nights: Gathering to watch a game or cozying up for some binge-watching? Here are recipes for a cheese spread with hot pepper jelly and bacon, jazzed-up deviled eggs, easy Super Loaded Sheet-Pan Nachos, and more to make your night even better.

Dip Into Deliciousness: Easy, shareable dips are the recipe to make any game day get-together or party delicious.
Game-Day Recipes: From tiny taco bites or baked cheese dip to chipotle chili, Sloppy Joes five ways, and more, we’ve got you covered with delicious ideas for your big game viewing party.

5 Deviled Egg Recipes with Flair: Make the most of hard-boiled eggs for a different take on this ever-popular snack.

Broccoli and Cauliflower Tartlets with Cheddar Recipe: Savory party bites are welcome at any get-together, and these little pies are easy to pull off with prepared puff pastry. Plus, a roundup of 10+ appetizer recipes from dips to meatballs and more.

Indian Spinach Dip and Chipotle Bean Dip Recipes: Add a healthy twist to the chip-and-dip combo.

Avocado Hummus Recipe: Guacamole and hummus team up to make one creamy, healthy dip.

Pairing Snacks and Wine: Wine makes a great match with chips, popcorn, and all your favorite snacks any night of the week.

Chocolate Hummus Recipe: Take a dip into a surprising, protein-rich sweet companion for fruit and more.

Lemon Blueberry Sheet Cake Recipe: This easy-to-make lemon sheet cake studded with blueberries and topped with a cloud of cream cheese frosting is sure to delight.

Cakey or Fudgy Brownies Recipe: Elements of science combine to create your perfect treat.

Meatballs: If turkey meatballs with Thai flavoring, bacon-beef meatballs, or Korean pork kimchi meatballs sound tempting, check out easy links to these recipes by meat expert Bruce Aidells that I have highlighted:
• Thai Turkey Meatballs
• Beef and Bacon Meatballs
• Korean Pork Kimchi Meatballs

Recipes and photos from “Wings: 75 Tasty Recipes for Fried, Baked & Grilled Chicken” by Carol Hilker ©2024 used with permission from Ryland, Peters & Small.