Our Make Ahead Appetizer Recipes are perfect for celebrating Super Bowl, game day, your next get together or holiday party. These appetizer recipes are easy to make ahead. Just prep them a day or two ahead, they all travel well and are some of our biggest crowd pleasers!
We’ve got you covered with four great party appetizers and Super Bowl food ideas! In this video we’re sharing two of our favorite hot dips – Big Mac Casserole Dip and Buffalo Chicken Dip, an easy Pizza Pull Apart Bread, and our family’s Firecracker recipe. Here’s timecode links to each make ahead appetizer recipe:
00:00 Make Ahead Party Appetizers
00:26 Big Mac Casserole Hot Dip Recipe
03:09 Pizza Pull Apart Bread Recipe
05:42 Buffalo Chicken Hot Dip Recipe
07:05 Easy Firecracker Recipe – Seasoned Saltines
Make Ahead Appetizer Recipe Ingredients & Directions
Big Mac Casserole Hot Dip Recipe
1 lb ground beef
seasoned salt
1 cup onions, diced
2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 eggs
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1 tablespoon onions, minced
1 teaspoon white vinegar (I added 1 add’l teaspoon later)
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons Catalina dressing (or French dressing)
1 tablespoon sweet relish (I added 2 add’l tablepoons later)
1/2 cup mayo
shredded cheese & pickle chips, chips or slider buns
Cook the ground beef over medium high heat, breaking the beef into 1/4 inch pieces. Add the diced onions, stir and cook about 2 minutes until softened. Remove any excess fat.
Add the cream cheese, worcestershire sauce and garlic powder. Stir together, melting cream cheese. Remove from heat. Mix together the eggs and cream. Pour over the ground beef mixture, stirring to incorporate. Pour into an oven safe dish. Add 1/2 cup shredded cheese.
To make the special sauce, mix the remaining ingredients together. Pour over the top of the cheese and spread it around the top. Add another layer of shredded cheese. If making ahead, cover and refrigerate.
Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 20-25 minutes. Top with shredded lettuce and pickle chips. Serve with chips or slider buns.
Pizza Pull Apart Bread Recipe
1 sturdy loaf of bread (ciabatta, sourdough, country bread)
8 tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon garlic powder
16 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded
pizza sauce
15 or more slices of pepperoni
any of your favorite pizza toppings
Italian seasoning
Cut the loaf in a crisscross pattern, slicing almost all the way down to the bottom crust. Mix 8 tablespoons melted butter and 1 teaspoon garlic powder. Place the bread on a sheet pan lined in foil. Spoon the garlic butter over the bread, between the slices of bread. Add the pizza sauce between the bread slices.
Start tucking the cheese into the bread slices. Save about 1/2 cup of the mozzarella for later. Layer in the pepperoni, plus any of your favorite pizza toppings. Spoon the rest of the garlic butter over the top, then sprinkle about a teaspoon of Italian seasoning over the top.
Pop into a preheated 350 degree oven and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the loaf, add the 1/2 cup of cheese and put back into the oven, uncovered, for another 10 minutes.
Buffalo Chicken Hot Dip Recipe
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 cup colby jack cheese, shredded
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup ranch dressing
1/4 – 1/2 cup Franks Red Hot sauce
2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or cut into chunks
Mix together the shredded cheese, cream cheese and ranch dressing. Stir in 1/4 cup Franks Red Hot sauce (plus another 1/4 cup for a spicer hot dip). Add chicken and stir. For the make ahead appetizer recipe, cover and refrigerate. When you’re ready to serve this hot dip, bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 20 – 25 minutes until hot and bubbly. Serve with toasted baguettes, celery or slider buns.
Our homemade ranch dressing recipe is in our original buffalo chicken dip recipe video:
Easy Firecracker Recipe – Seasoned Saltines
1/2 cup melted butter
1 package Ranch dressing mix
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
1 – 2 sleeves Saltine crackers
In a large gallon size ziplock bag, mix together the butter, ranch dressing and seasonings. Add one or two sleeves of saltine crackers, seal the bag and toss to coat the crackers. Place a wire rack over a sheet pan, and spread the crackers out in a single layer. Bake for 30 – 40 minutes in a low 200 degree oven.
Our Firecracker recipe is a family favorite, and these salty, spicy snacks are perfect for serving near the drinks at your next Super Bowl, Game Day or holiday party.
For our favorite Super Bowl appetizers and more Super Bowl Food Ideas:
5 Best Chili Recipes for Crock Pot and Stove Top: https://youtu.be/o7CVVFHDiBY
Easy Air Fryer Wings: https://youtu.be/dw2M43nNDX0
Spinach Artichoke Hot Dip: https://youtu.be/hAFT0bNvfSg
Credit: YouTube/Cooking Up Love
