Posts tagged: tailgating appetizer
Cheesy Jalapeno Bacon Dip
Y'all know I couldn't leave you hanging right before the big game on Sunday without something delicious to make, right? For the love of all things bacon and cheese, this Cheesy Jalapeno Bacon Dip is the one recipe that HAS to hit your game day spread this weekend. 
Heck, even if you are just watching for the commercials, you still need something to eat that'll warm you from the inside out! This creamy, cheesy dip is spicy and savory, with the perfect salty hit of bacon from Pig of the Month BBQ's Applewood Smoked Maple Bacon. The thick cuts of bacon really stick out in this dip, so it's ideal for all those bacon-lovers in yo life. When I dip, you dip, we dip! Time to DIG IN.
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Cheesy Jalapeno Bacon Dip from Pig of the Month BBQ on Vimeo.
Serves 6-8 INSTRUCTIONS: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, mash together cream cheese, mozzarella cheese, jalapeños, mayonnaise, garlic, salt, pepper, cayenne, butter, and bacon until combined. Add mixture to a medium-sized baking dish. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips or crusty bread. Shop This Post Pig of the Month BBQ Applewood Smoked Maple Bacon
*Recipe, photos and video by Meghan Bassett
Sticky Honey Buffalo Chicken Wings
Tailgating season is back and better than ever, piggy peeps! I don't know about you but I also ready to bring football back into my life. I just drafted my fantasy team and I have big hopes that my home team is going to be putting up some major points throughout the season.
Let's be honest though, as much as we love that ol' game we call football, the tailgating food is where it's AT. It's the thing that gets you through between the end of summer recipes and the official start of the holiday season once November rolls around. That means we have two months to stuff our faces with all the cheese, bacon and meats we can get our hands on.
And I'm starting with wings. Sticky, sweet and spicy wings that make you bust out the wet wipes and get extra messy. This is just the recipe to start off with people! Just look at that sticky sauce covering those baked wings.... ALL. THE. YES. Are you ready to dig in??
INSTRUCTIONS: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, whisk together vegetable oil, 2 Tbsp melted butter, salt, pepper, garlic powder and smoked paprika. Add the wings and toss. Lay wings on lined baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes. Turn the oven to broil on high. Move chicken wings to the top rack and broil for 3 to 4 minutes, until crispy. Flip and broil again on the other side.
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, stir together hot sauce and cornstarch. Add butter, molasses and honey, stirring to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 4 to 5 minutes until the sauce is thickened. Toss wings in a large bowl with the honey buffalo sauce. Serve with ranch or blue cheese dressing.
*Recipe and photos by Meghan Bassett
Brisket Bombs
Ready to drop a bomb on that epic tailgating game this season? BOOM. These Brisket Bombs are here to do all the heavy lifting for ya.
Stuffed with Pig of the Month's INSANE brisket and all the cheddar cheese, these brisket bombs are the best football food you could ever ask for. It's got the carbs and the protein to load you up and balance out the booze, not to mention a ton of gooey cheese. Really, what is a football game without excessive amounts of cheese anyways?
It's a pretty boring event, that's what. You gotta get that cheese, meat and bread in while you tailgate for the big game this season! I mean, if you can't indulge before and during a football game, what the hell is the point of all the delicious, extravagant, decadent food out there in the world? I know that's a wee bit dramatic, but that's how freaking amazing these brisket bombs. They come together in about 15 minutes and they'll have everyone begging for more.
Brisket Bombs from Pig of the Month BBQ on Vimeo.
Don't believe me? I dare you to try these out for the next big game and prove me wrong...
INSTRUCTIONS: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line two baking sheets with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. Separate biscuits. Flatten out each biscuit slightly and place 1 to 2 cubes of cheese in the center. Top with chopped biscuit and wrap the biscuit around the filling. Pinch the seams tightly and place seam-side down on the lined baking sheets. In a small bowl, combine melted butter, garlic powder and onion powder. Brush the tops of the biscuits with the seasoned butter. Bake 10 minutes. Remove from oven and brush the tops of the biscuits again with the seasoned butter. Serve with BBQ sauce.
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*Recipe, photos and video by Meghan Bassett
Pig Overload Fries
Who's ready to get down on some serious pig?? That's exactly what these Pig Overload Fries are here for! When it comes to watching that pigskin fly and rooting for my favorite team, football food is everything I need to make me happy in life. Well, along with a couple of beers of course.
It's only natural to load up all the pork and bacon on these delicious fries, because y'all know I like my fries with a side of meat, plus some extra meat. Then I load it up with some cheddar cheese deliciousness and top it all off with some BBQ sauce. Talk about a hot mess of deliciousness, am I right? Thus the best fries you will ever eat in your LIFE were born.
Seriously, these are the best fries ever. Just look at that gorgeous mess and then tell me that you can resist it... Yea, didn't think so. So go ahead, get messy. Eat it all. Feel no guilt and chug a cold brew. This IS football season, people. Get into it already!
INSTRUCTIONS: Cook French fries according the instructions on the package. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter with paprika and cayenne powder. When melted and just starting to bubble, stir in 1/8 cup flour. Let brown, approximately 30 seconds to 1 minute, and whisk in 1 1/2 cups milk.
Continue to stir the milk mixture until it thickens, approximately 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cheddar cheese until melted.
Place cooked fries in a large serving dish. Top with pulled pork and bacon. Drizzle over cheese sauce and BBQ sauce. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve immediately.
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Pig of the Month BBQ Pulled Pork
Pig of the Month BBQ Applewood Smoked Maple Bacon
*Recipe and photos by Meghan Bassett
How to Host the Most EPIC Tailgating Party
Tailgating is a must, no matter what team you are rooting for. Hitting the parking lots and getting amped up for the big game is the only way to ensure your team will bring home the victory. So you want to make sure you are hosting the most epic tailgating party ever, right? You might be a seasoned tailgater, or a complete newbie; regardless we've got the keys to assured tailgating party success right here. Buckle up BBQ peeps, it's time to get down and dirty with tailgating party prep.
Game Day Decorations You don't have to drop $500 on decorations, but making sure you are displaying those team colors loud and proud is the ultimate way to set the mood. Grab tablecloths, napkins, plates, the works. Everyone needs to know that you bleed those colors! Tailgating On the Go? Turn your SUV into table. That's right, just lay down the seats and pop the truck. Add a tablecloth to the floor and a cooler full of drinks. You can even set out your mad food spread right there so even a little rain can't ruin your party scene.
FOOD AND BOOZE Most importantly, don't skimp on the food and the booze, not to mention water for when everyone inevitably drinks too much without hydrating. Check out any of our killer Sauce + Style recipes for inspiration, or just grab a Pig of the Month BBQ feast so we can do the cooking for ya! Just make sure you're making everything handheld - no one wants to sit down with a knife and fork. Get Those Butts a Rest All that standing, boozing and eating means people will need a little rest from time to time. Be sure to grab plenty of collapsable seating for everyone! Chilly Out? Stock up on the blankets! You can even use this as an opportunity to bring in those team colors in another way.
Pump Up the Jams A mix of current jams and upbeat 80s classics are perfect for setting the mood. Don't forget to load up the team's fight song! Say Buh-Bye to Red Cups Those red cups are getting a little old aren't they? Class up your shindig with some mason jars instead. Give Them Something to Do Standing around for hours drinking and eating can get a little boring. Set up a game of cornhole, or just bring a couple balls so people can throw around the pigskin.
Grilling? If you are busting out the big guns and grilling up tasty meats for your peeps, don't forget to haul along extra charcoals and propane. Make sure you also have everything you need to safely cool down the grill and dispose of ashes before heading into the game. Follow these little tidbits of advice and you are going to have a legendary team celebration bash no one will forget. Just be prepared to be asked to host every tailgating party from now until forever.
Sriracha Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Jalapeños
Sriracha Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Jalapeños really bring the heat! This spicy, crispy and creamy appetizer will win over everyone at your next party.
Wrapping things in bacon is kind of a specialty of mine. If anything just isn't quite working for me in the kitchen, I usually head straight for the extra pound of bacon I always have sitting in my refrigerator. You know, just in case there's a bacon-related emergency - which surprisingly happens on a weekly basis for me. You'd be surprised by just how many things can be wrapped in bacon! Potatoes, rolls, scallops, shrimp, meatloaf, yea this list could go on forever. Today I'm bringing you one of my new favorite bacon-wrapped recipes that'll light a fire on your tongue and in your belly.
Sriracha Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Jalapeños are the best combo of crispy, creamy, spicy and extra cheesy. The Sriracha bacon and added Sriracha in the filling make these little guys just the right amount of wicked. You'll feel the heat but you won't be burning your taste buds off with each bite. Pro tip: try slicing a sausage or brat in half and stuffing it with one of these stuffed jalapeños. Next level amazingness right there, I'm just saying.
INSTRUCTIONS: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a baking dish and set aside.
In a medium bowl, beat together cream cheese, cheddar cheese, Monterrey Jack cheese, garlic, Sriracha and salt with an electric mixer until smooth and well-combined.
Add the halved jalapeños to the baking dish and fill each one evenly with the spicy cream cheese filling.
Wrap each stuffed jalapeño half with half a slice of Sriracha bacon, securing with a toothpick. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the bacon is as crispy as desired. Serve immediately.
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Pig of the Month Sriracha Bacon
Recipe & Photos by Meghan Bassett
Bacon-Wrapped Onion Rings
Boring old fried onion rings are sooooooo yesterday. No one needs all that greasy breading. Instead, you need all that greasy, crispy BACON. These bacon-wrapped onion rings are the only way you should be eating your onion rings from now on. Everything is better with bacon, you all know that! These onion rings might look a little intimidating to make, but they are so much easier than dragging out the fryer and going through the batter process normal onion rings require. Instead just wrap these bad boys up and bake until they are crispy and delicious. No possible oil burns and no risk of a grease fire. Which for someone as clumsy as myself is a serious MUST.
The hint of BBQ sauce and smoky flavor of the bacon give new life to onion rings that is downright addictive. Trust me when I say you won't regret diving into a bowl of these savory rings of bacon-wrapped onion rings (aka serious deliciousness) for a second; and if you do, hand them over, I'll finish off the rest for you.
INSTRUCTIONS: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line with foil and place rack on baking sheet.
Brush the onion rings with BBQ sauce, then carefully wrap in bacon. Start by wrapping one end of a bacon slice snuggly around the onion ring so it just slightly overlaps itself. You’ll use about 1 1/2 to 2 slices of bacon per onion ring.
Place the wrapped onion rings bacon-end side down on the rack and bake for 20 minutes. Flip the onion rings and bake another 15 to 20 minutes. Finish the onion rings with a few minutes under the broil if you like crispier bacon. Remove from oven and rest at least 5 minutes. Serve with more BBQ sauce if desired.
Shop This Post Pig of the Month BBQ Applewood Smoked Maple Bacon Recipe & photos by Meghan Bassett
