By Family Features| Contributor
Transforming your game day gathering into a spectacular celebration begins with an impressive selection of food. With a lineup ranging from exciting appetizers to standout main dishes and a diverse array of sides, essentials like salsa and hummus can shine brightly on your menu when it comes to game day eats.
A significant advantage of hosting a game day party at home is the kitchen appliances at your disposal that you won’t find at the stadium, such as an oven or an air fryer. Fortunately, this doesn’t mean you’ll miss any of the action or have to spend the entire game in the kitchen; these recipes are also convenient for tailgates.
Featuring bold and lively flavors, Fresh Cravings Salsa provides a homemade alternative to the more bland jarred salsas. Crafted with premium components including ripe tomatoes, fresh vegetables, zesty peppers, and spices, these salsas are the perfect complement to game day recipes by celebrity chef and host George Duran, known for “Take This Dish and Twist It” and shows like Food Network’s “Ham on the Street” and TLC’s “Ultimate Cake Off.”
Start your menu with delectable Jalapeno Bacon and Salsa Biscuit Bites for an appetizer that combines classic tailgate flavors. Then elevate a traditional favorite with a Tex-Mex twist by preparing an Enchilada Lasagna—a great dish for serving a crowd of enthusiastic fans.
To complete your menu, this Layered Mediterranean Hummus Salad pairs well with various main courses. The crisp cucumbers, savory olives, juicy cherry tomatoes, and other fresh vegetables are perfectly complemented by the rich taste of Fresh Cravings Hummus, made from a handful of high-quality ingredients such as chickpeas, tahini, and Chilean extra-virgin olive oil, resulting in a smooth, creamy texture.
Layered Mediterranean Hummus Salad
Recipe by chef George Duran
Servings: 4-6
2 containers (10 ounces each) Fresh Cravings Hummus, any flavor
1 cup sliced cucumbers
1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and roughly chopped
1/2 cup canned garbanzo beans, drained
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
3/4 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
1/4 red onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Extra-virgin olive oil
Zaatar, for sprinkling (optional)
Pita bread or tortilla chips
In a large, flat serving dish, spread the hummus evenly across the bottom.
Layer the cucumbers, olives, garbanzo beans, feta, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and parsley over the hummus. Drizzle lemon juice on top.
Add a drizzle of olive oil and sprinkle with zaatar, if desired. Serve immediately with pita bread or tortilla chips.
Enchilada Lasagna
Recipe by Chef George Duran
Servings: 4-6
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
1 deli roasted chicken, shredded (skin and bones removed)
2 tablespoons taco seasoning
1 cup chicken stock
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 cups shredded Tex-Mex cheese blend
16 ounces Fresh Cravings Chunky Salsa, plus more for serving
1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Nonstick cooking spray
6 flour tortillas (9 inches each)
1 cup crushed tortilla chips
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Preheat your oven to 350 °F.
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onions and sauté until soft, about 4-5 minutes.
Stir in the shredded chicken and taco seasoning, then add chicken stock and bring to a simmer for about 5 minutes.
Incorporate the cream cheese, Tex-Mex cheese, salsa, and cilantro. Cook until the cream cheese melts, then simmer for another 3-4 minutes until the mix thickens slightly.
Spray a square baking dish with nonstick spray. Layer two tortillas in the bottom of the dish, trimming to fit as necessary.
Spread half of the chicken mixture over the tortillas, then repeat the process with the remaining tortillas. Combine the crushed tortilla chips with the cheddar cheese and sprinkle on top. Bake for 30 minutes or until the top is bubbly and lightly browned.
Allow to cool for 10 minutes, then top with additional salsa before serving.
Jalapeno Bacon and Salsa Biscuit Bites
Recipe by chef George Duran
Yield: 16 biscuit bites
1 tube of biscuit dough (8 biscuits total)
7 ounces grated mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup chopped jarred jalapenos
8 slices of cooked bacon, chopped
1 cup Fresh Cravings Restaurant Style Salsa
Nonstick cooking spray
Preheat your air fryer to 350-360 °F.
Halve each biscuit by carefully pulling apart the center. Flatten each piece into a round shape and set aside.
In a mixing bowl, combine mozzarella, jalapenos, bacon, and salsa.
Spoon a generous amount of the mixture into each flattened biscuit, pinching closed tightly to form a ball shape. Place a small dollop of the mixture on top of each.
Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick spray and cook the biscuit bites in batches for 6-9 minutes, or until they are golden brown.
Serve while warm.
Note: If you don’t have an air fryer, you can bake the biscuit bites in the oven at 400 °F for 8-10 minutes, or until golden.
For more winning recipes perfect for homegating and tailgating, visit FreshCravings.com.
