I'm here to teach you how to cook better meals for a high protein diet and chew bubble gum. And I'm all out of bubble gum.
Kickoff the Season with Winning Game Day Eats
Hey chef, This is Mason, from Kinda Healthy Recipes. It's that time of year again – Time to dust off our jerseys, pretend to care about our partners’ fantasy football lineups, and be the real game-day MVPs. Yes, football season is here! Whether you're a die-hard fan or just enjoy the occasional touchdown dance, there's something undeniably awesome about gathering with friends, cheering for your favorite team, and sharing a laugh or two over an expertly crafted poster insulting an entire state’s culture. But you know what makes football even more fantastic? The food! From stuffed peppers and poppers to loaded nachos that can tackle any appetite, we've got your game-day cravings covered. Let's dive into this mouthwatering lineup! (Quick pro tip: Remove any foam fingers before cooking.) #1. Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño PoppersExtra porky poppers with creamy chorizo stuffed inside bacon-wrapped jalapeño peppers. You can make them in a smoker, the oven, or use an air fryer.
#2. Grilled Chicken WrapsI don’t cook with chicken breast that often these days but when I do, it’s hard to beat birds on the grill. This recipe wraps Mediterranean-style grilled chicken breast and tomatoes with feta cheese inside tortillas before they’re grilled ‘til crispy. It’s a great recipe to mix and match flavors and veggies. You could make great Tex-Mex chicken with peppers and onions, BBQ chicken with red onion and havarti, buffalo and gorgonzola or bleu cheese, or any of your favorites inside these wraps. Use a higher protein tortilla like Mission Carb Balance to make the macros fit your goals.
#3. BBQ Chicken SlidersWho doesn’t love a slider? You can use all kinds of proteins for sliders, but pulled BBQ chicken is probably my favorite.
#4. Easy Buffalo Chicken Stuffed PeppersStuffed peppers may not be the first dish that comes to mind when you think of game-day snacks and appetizers, but it’s one of my favorites. With these, you essentially get a creamy, cheesy dip inside a tender crisp pepper that you can eat with a knife and fork or serve with chips for a build-your-own-nachos experience. These are also even better on the smoker if you have one.
#5 Savory Mini MuffinsChicken wings are great, but these little protein poppers are so much easier to make. And like wings, they come in a variety of flavors like buffalo, cheeseburger, pizza, and taco.
#6. Baked TaquitosServe these with a fresh salsa and guacamole spread, and you’ll have one of the spiciest game days in town. (Keep reading to find some salsa awesomeness)
#7 ChiliChili is one of my favorite sweater-weather foods for game days and meal prep alike. For the former, it’s great on its own with a fixin’s bar. But I like to take things to the next level with chili-stuffed baked potatoes, loaded nachos, chili cheese dogs (with macro-friendly chicken sausages), lean smash burgers, or loaded fries and tots. The possibilities are endless. My three-pepper bison chili (you can use any protein) is great for using in other dishes since it’s bean-free. And if you’re good with beans and/or have picky eaters in the house, Vanessa’s favorite picky eater chili is always a solid choice.
#8. Healthy Cast Iron PizzaLearning how to make cast iron pizza is one of the most useful kitchen skills you can pick up, in my opinion. Whether you use a low-fat Greek yogurt crust like this recipe calls for or a classic yeasted pizza dough, you’re in for a treat.
#9. Dips & SalsasObviously. First, if you really want to go all-in, consider making your own tortilla chips. It’s easy and saves a ton of calories. Check out my low-calorie tortilla chips recipe and see for yourself. Now, the salsas & dips:
#10 Loaded NachosWouldn’t be a game day list without ‘em.
There you have it - I hope this selection makes your game day a little bit better. Also, if you try any of these recipes, please send me a message. I’d love to hear how it went. Happy cooking and bone apple tea. Mason PS: If you enjoy these recipes, I'd love it if you could forward them to a friend or colleague. It only takes 10 seconds and helps me a lot. Every bit of support means the world to me! |
Kinda Healthy Recipes
I'm here to teach you how to cook better meals for a high protein diet and chew bubble gum. And I'm all out of bubble gum.
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