Feb 06, 2025
Crowd-Pleasing Updated Party Foods with a Healthier Twist that all will enjoy.
I might not be your source for Chicken Wing Recipes… BUT here are some SPECTACULAR Game-Day party suggestions with Less Calories, Carbs, Sodium, Fat & Preservatives – Will help you feel good without sacrificing flavor!
A nice shift from the same old appetizers and heavy, uninspired so called “party pleasers.”
Nachos are Necessary
1. Grilled Chicken Buffalo Nachos (Vegetarian version too)
Better For You Nachos:
Ditch the FRIED CHICKEN WINGS OR NACHOS loaded with ground beef and smothered in cheese…
- Organic Blue Corn Tortillas – or your favorite type
- YES to Veggies! Yellow Peppers, Tomatoes and Scallions
- Freshly-grilled chicken cubes in your favorite hot sauce
- Lingering “Buffalo” flavors
- Dotted blue cheese on top of the nachos
- Cheese Sauce – gluten free option (which I make)
2. Skinny-Ish Nachos
I achieved this by making a low fat Cheese Sauce – layering with a plethora of vegetables and finishing with 2 grated cheeses (just enough.)
Karen’s Spiced Pickled Jalapeños with Garlic recipe
I LOVE the tang and mild heat of these pickled jalapeños on the Nachos!
- Loaded with Colorful Veggies and Lightened Up with a Homemade Cheese Sauce
- Hard to resist – will be the hit of any party!
- LAYER with: Roasted Vegetables, Cheddar Cheese, Raw Vegetables then the Monterey Jack Cheese
- Broil until bubbly
- Garnish with Yogurt-Chipotle Drizzle and Fresh Parsley
3. Layered Cheese Nachos with Fresh Cherry Salsa
These nachos is very satisfying and craveable. Fresh Cherry Salsa adds tart-sweet and spicy notes – addicting!!
Crispy, Cheesy, Spicy with a touch of Sweetness
I’m seeing Bing Cherries almost year-round at grocers!!
Who Doesn’t Love Shrimp??
4. Spicy Citrus Chili Shrimp and what to do with them (hint: put a skewer in them)
An easy and pungent marinade transforms Shrimp with intense flavor.
I love the crispy texture of these shrimp! Just a bit of honey in the marinade and they cook up with these wonderful blackened edges with toasted sesame seeds
- An easy and pungent marinade
- Simply grill shrimp with sesame seeds in cast iron skillet
- Serve in a bowl on top of a pool of: Citrus Chili Glaze
- Lighten up version: serve in a bowl over a pool of Asian Orange-Sesame Vinaigrette
5. Skewered Shrimp Scampi Appetizer
Sautéed Shrimp in a Hearty Garlic Herbal Butter Sauce Skewered with a Cube of Sourdough Bread to Soak up the Flavors.
Inventive & Fabulous!
- Give shrimp a quick marinade
- Toast bread cubes in the oven
- Sauté shrimp – make Scampi sauce in the pan
- Using a 4″ skewer, add a bread cube and shrimp on top
- Add warm sauce on a serving platter – add shrimp
6. Homemade Panko Popcorn Spiced Shrimp – they’re baked!
Crispy, Crunchy and Drenched in Homemade Panko Crumbs ~ these delicious morsels are baked on a rack, not deep fried.
I’m craving something crispy & sweet yet savory – these Popcorn Shrimp fit the bill!
Plunge them into this luscious & piquant Lemony Aioli Dip. Makes the perfect appetizer (who can resist these?)
Meatballs are Expected
7. Spinach & Chicken Meatball Appetizer
These pop-in-your-mouth meatball~crostini~marinara bites are made with chicken & spinach. Their gorgeous green color is a hint – there’s something healthy going on…
Forget the fontina fondue if time is an issue, top with a grated Italian cheese and warm through.
- Make meatballs miniature sized: (see recipe) Can make ahead of time
- Make bread rounds, toast
- Make cheese fondue OR grate cheese
- Warm marinara and meatball, add to bread round, top with cheese, and skewer
Everyone Wants Pizza
8. Garlic Garlic Pizza
Karen’s Perfect Pizza Dough is topped with a Roasted Garlic purée, Fresh Mozzarella Cheese, dollops of Ricotta Cheese & Marinara and Chopped Garlic.
NOTHING smells better than from-scratch pizza from your oven!
- Make Karen’s Perfect Pizza Dough
- Bake a head of garlic, cool, then mash cloves
- Roll (or stretch) dough, spread garlic puree, scatter mozzarella
- Dollop with ricotta & marinara, add oregano, chopped garlic and hot pepper flakes
- Bake until bubbly, cut slices & eat!
Serve. A. Vegetable!
9. Mediterranean Stuffed Shishito Peppers
Blistered Shishito Peppers are cut in half and stuffed with a medley of Mediterranean ingredients for an addictive appetizer
- Quick blister shishitos in a heavy skillet. Cool, slice in half horizontally
- Make goat cheese & vegetable filling:
- Add cooked and raw veggies to goat cheese, add fresh herbs
- Place shishitos on a baking pan, add filling to each, broil until warm and bubbly
10. Sesame Blistered Shishito Peppers
An amazing, fun & delicious EASY appetizer and side dish – these charred peppers are addictive and healthy!
These are QUICK TO COOK – can easily make dozens.
Just pick up by the stem & enjoy.
- Heat a cast iron skillet with neutral oil add shishito peppers and a pinch of sea salt
- Blister them over high heat; 3 minutes
- Add shallots, sesame oil and cook 3 minutes – add sesame seeds and hazelnuts
- PS: Shishitos are now available at Trader Joe’s!
Make a Homemade Salsa
11. Karen’s Winter Kumato Tomato Salsa
The Best Homemade Salsa features Kumato Tomatoes available year-round and prized for their sweet, juicy flavor and firm texture.
Serve with Organic Chips and Guacamole
- Roast half the Kumato Tomatoes with Garlic Cloves in their skins, 500 degree oven
- Whirl the roasted tomatoes and garlic in a small food processor until smooth and creamy
- Add chipotle peppers and adobo sauce, vinegar, lime juice and salt – pulse to combine
- Place salsa base in a bowl
- Fold in remaining ingredients: diced Kumato tomatoes, diced colorful tomatoes, parsley and olive oil
Take A Dip
12. Healthy Roasted Garlic & Onion Dip
Need a dip for the game-day get together that doesn’t break the calorie bank?
A real crowd pleaser – there will not be any leftovers! A Redux recipe – a healthier version of the Lipton Soup Mix.
- Serve with Roasted Sweet Potatoes – OR Delish with Organic Potato Chips
- Roast a head of garlic in the oven, squeeze our the cloves
- Roast scallions, toast dehydrated onions
- Add dip ingredients in a large bowl, mash all together and blend all
- Serve cold
You Gotta Serve Chili
13. Amazing Veggie Chili Without Beans
A Healthy and Hearty Chili Chock Full of Veggies. Chickpeas, Lentils, Butternut Squash and Cremini Mushrooms in a Tomato Based Sauce with Homemade Chili Seasoning.
Dig in and be creative with your toppings!
- Dice and cook veggies in a heavy pot. Add tomato sauce, vegetable broth and lentils.
- Simmer for 30 minutes.
- Prepare Garnishes: grated cheddar, chopped red onion, sliced jalapeño, sour cream & herb sprigs
- Add warm chili to individual bowls
- Top with garnishes or let you guests choose their own
Stuff a Mushroom
14. Stuffed Shiitake Mushrooms with Tomatillo Salsa Topping
Delectable with Mexican Spices – these caps are stuffed with flavor! Lots of colorful Vegetables and Ground turkey OR Plant Based Tempeh.
A healthy approach to stuffed mushrooms ~ serve with a dollop of sour cream and tomatillo salsa.
- Make the Tomatillo Salsa
- Clean mushrooms, brush w EVOO and bake 8 minutes
- Make turkey & veggie filling – season well with chili powder
- Add marinara to filling, top mushrooms
- Top with grated cheese, bake until melty and serve
Something that Sounds Fancy:
15. Goat Cheese and Garlic Pâté with Walnuts and Chives ~ Balsamic-Honey Drizzle
Entertaining just got a little easier with this tempting pâté – the perfect appetizer for a crowd.
Perfect for any party, toast up your favorite bread, and add some crudite – serve extra roasted garlic cloves on the platter.
Can make a few days in advance.
Another Cheesy Spread:
16. Southern Pimento Cheese Recipe ~ THE Spread for Everything!
This spread has so many culinary uses. Great served with good crackers and crudités ~ use also as a sandwich spread, a burger topper or a stuffing for vegetables. The possibilities are really endless.
What makes my recipe Southern style? I would say the level of spiciness, and the lack of cream cheese.
Mediterranean Flair:
17. Mediterranean Slow-Baked Appetizer with Feta, Colorful Peppers, Olives & Garlic
A wonderful and easy appetizer all will enjoy! Spread on toasted bread (pita is great!) and soak up all the amazing flavors.
- Can serve too right from the baking dish (have a presentable one? with bread on the side) If too warm, add a folded kitchen towel underneath
- Yes – you can make a few days in advance, cover tightly, place in the refrigerator
- Toast the bread you like – Top Pita Bread triangles, Baguette slices or Sourdough bread
- I’m using Greek Feta Cheese…a dairy product native to the Mediterranean region.
- I love poblano peppers for their mild heat and kick – you can also use jalapeño pepper or dried chili flakes
- Slow-cooking method works best, just set to 1 1/2 hours – peppers will be soft & luscious! Yes – make this ahead of time too!
Crostini with Crunch:
18. BLT & C Crostini ~ Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato and Cheese
The ultimate Easy Super Bowl Appetizer ~ Girls & Guys alike will devour!
The ultimate healthy appetizer – a crisp garlicky baguette slice covered with oozing brie cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato and a touch of spiked mayo
- Rich and satisfying – these crostini will disappear as quickly as they are served!
- Simply brush the baguette slices with a garlic oil (see recipe) and crisp in the oven for a few minutes.
- Cut the brie into chunks to fit, and place in the oven just to melt.
- When your guests arrive, heat until warm… top & serve.
Add A HOMEMADE Dessert:
19. Karen’s Best Blondies – They’re Gluten Free
A “Blonde Brownie” with a rich caramel- butterscotch like flavor dotted with chocolate chips.
Baked in a pan – you cut them into squares or rectangles. Simple to make and a family favorite of mine! Can use regular flour too.
Or choose something here: COOKIES & BARS
- Line a 8 x 8 pan with parchment paper
- Cream butter & sugars until light
- Add egg, then rest of ingredients (use best quality dark chocolate chips)
- Spoon batter in pan, bake until done. (Do not overcook) Cool, cut into 16 squares
- Double or triple the recipe for a crowd!
Come for the Game; Stay for the FOOD!
Crowd-pleasing appetizers are always a win during the big game.
Karen
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BLT & C Crostini ~ Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato and Cheese
Ingredients
- 12 1/3 inch slices fresh baguette
- 1 1/2 tablespoons garlic oil*
- 12 small l cherry tomatoes, mixed colors, sliced
- 2 strips bacon, or turkey bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
- 3 ounces brie cheese, I used Goat Milk Brie
- 1 large lettuce leaf, like romaine, use interior leaf
- 1 1/2 tablespoons mayonnaise, use on without "natural flavorings"
- 1/4 teaspoon sriracha sauce or hot sauce, more if you like spicy
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Place the baguette slices on a tray to hold. Brush with garlic oil. Toast in the hot oven until turning golden, but not hard, about 5 minutes. Remove from oven to top. Keep the oven on.
- Slice the brie into 12 slices – 1/3″ thick, and the size of your toast slice, about 1″ wide x 1 1/2″ long. Place them on the toast, and put in the oven to melt. Remove from the oven when sufficiently melted, about 2 minutes. Can be held here until ready to serve, make sure it is warmed through before proceeding.
To Serve:
- Mix mayonnaise with sriracha sauce or hot sauce. Top warm cheese with a dollop of flavored mayonnaise. Add the bacon on top of cheese (it will stick). Slice the tomatoes thinly, add 3 slices to each crostini, and finish with a few strands of crisp lettuce. Add a touch of watercress if you like as well. Serve immediately.
*Garlic Oil:
- Add 2 T. of extra virgin olive oil in a small skillet with 2 sliced cloves of garlic. Heat over moderate heat until the garlic has just turned golden, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Garlic will flavor the oil as it cools. Make a larger batch for other recipes, keep in a clean glass container refrigerated, lasts for about 5 days.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
