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Budget-Friendly Game Day Appetizers

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Hosting a Super Bowl party doesn’t have to break the bank. These budget-friendly Game Day appetizers will feed a crowd and save you enough to splurge on fancy beer. šŸ˜‰

From homemade crackers, chicken flautas, and allergy-friendly bagel bites to dips and crock pot appetizers, we’ve got a range of recipes for whatever you’re craving and they’ll fit any budget.

How to Plan for a Game Day Party

When hosting any kind of party, it is important to know about how many people you are expecting. This way, you can plan your food budget to make sure that you don’t spend an arm and a leg feeding everyone.

The trick for calculating appetizers for any party is:

  • 1-2 pieces per person per hour bite size snacks
  • 1-2 ounces of dip per person
  • 1-2 drinks per person per hour (this could be one beer, one glass of wine, one can of soda or one bottle of water)

How to Keep it Budget-Friendly

For parties where you won’t have a sit-down meal, one of the best ideas for keeping food costs low is to make your own veggie and cheese tray.

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Southern Pimento Cheese

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southern pimento cheese spread in a white bowl sitting on a white platter with carrots and celery

Southern Pimento Cheese has been a staple in my house my whole life. My dad grew up in Texas and has been putting his own spin on this simple dish for as long as I can remember.

Some will argue that Pimento (or Pimiento, they’re both acceptable and mean the same thing) Cheese should contain cream cheese, but I disagree. The simple, affordable ingredients really do allow for the flavors of each component to come through.

Ingredients

Sharp Cheddar Cheese: It is really important to shred the cheese yourself. Pre-shredded cheese is coated in a powder to prevent it from clumping, and it really affects the flavor. Take the time to shred it either by using a box grater or a food processor. I call for Sharp Cheddar because you want cheese with a lot of flavor, but Extra Sharp is too overpowering.

Diced Pimientos: These will come in a jar and be in the pickle/olive section of your grocery store. If you can’t find diced, you can get a jar of whole or sliced and chop them yourself.

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Easy Holiday Appetizers on a Budget

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The holidays can be a stressful time between gifts and attending parties. Check out my tips for keeping it simple during this busy holiday season and check out the compilation of appetizer recipes below. These easy holiday appetizers come together quickly, will be a crowd-please, and they are affordable for any budget.

Tips for Easy Appetizer Prep

It’s important to set yourself up for success when you know you’re entering a busy time of year. When planning what to bring to a family gathering or holiday party, think of items that can be made days in advance. You can get the prep out of the way so that it comes together very easily the night of your event.

If you’re headed to a brunch, try my Everything Bagel and Lox Spread. It can be made up to two days in advance. I serve it with “bread sliced” bagels when I’m really trying to impress. šŸ˜‰

Don’t be afraid to take some help from the store. Prepared pie crust or puff pastry is the perfect shortcut for easy appetizers that will still look amazing. Canned beans will blend up easily for a delicious, homemade dip or hummus.

The slow cooker is your best friend. I don’t know how many times I’ve thrown a package of Lil’ Smokies in the slow cooker with a bottle of barbecue sauce and a little grape jelly. It is the easiest appetizer and it is always a hit. Meatballs, chicken wings, spinach dip… These all would work wonderfully in the slow cooker.

For even more tips, check out this article from Taste of Home.

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