Varsity, college, and pro football have all officially began their fall 2023 season, and gathering together to cheer on your favorite team with friends is one of the best fall pastimes. The following recipes are perfect finger foods to share during the next game.
Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball by Southern Eats and Goodies
This recipe is very easy to make, and has only a handful of ingredients, making it perfect for someone in a rush to make a tasty side dish. Don’t forget the crackers!
Ingredients:
-2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
-1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
-1 cup finely chopped bacon, divide
-¼ cup thinly sliced green onion, divided
-1 packet ranch seasoning mix
-1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Directions:
-In a large mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, half of the bacon, onion, seasonings, and Worcestershire sauce until completely blended.
-Using plastic wrap, shape the cheese mixture into a ball. Transfer to a serving plate. Press the remaining bacon into the sides (You can chill briefly to make adding bacon easier).
-Refrigerate at least one hour prior to serving.
-Serve with crackers or vegetable dippers.
Pepperoni Pizza Sliders by Pip and Ebby
These yummy sliders offer a great alternative to ordering take out pizza if you’re worried about your local pizza shop’s wait times. While a bit more elaborate than the cheese ball, these pizza sliders are still very simple and fast to make.
Ingredients:
-24 count Hawaiian dinner rolls halved lengthwise
-14 oz pizza sauce
-2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
-6 oz pepperoni slices
-4 tbsp butter melted
-2 tsp Italian seasoning
-2 tbsp Parmesan cheese
-1 tsp garlic powder
-1/2 tsp salt
-1/2 tsp pepper
-3 tbsp flat-leaf parsley finely chopped
Directions:
-Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and coat a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.
-Place the bottom halves of the rolls into the prepared baking dish. Top with an even layer of pizza sauce, followed by the cheese, pepperoni and tops of the rolls.
-In a small bowl, combine the butter, Italian seasoning, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Mix well and brush over the tops of the rolls. Sprinkle the fresh parsley over the top and bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until cheese has completely melted.
-Using a sharp knife, cut down the seams of the rolls and serve immediately!
Notes:
-Replace pepperoni with sausage, bacon or Canadian bacon! Or omit the meat altogether and add extra cheese.
-Other pizza toppings you could squeeze into the sliders: olives, green onions, chopped yellow onion, green peppers, jalapeno peppers or mushrooms.
-Serve immediately after pulling these out of the oven for optimal cheesy enjoyment!
-If the tops of the buns brown too quickly, cover with aluminum foil while baking.
