A KEY ingredient to a successful Bronco Sunday is of course…. THE FOOD! There is so much fun and delicious food to make on NFL Sundays it was hard to choose which ones to share! These are some of mine and Jordan’s favorite game day foods that will keep you satisfied on NFL Sunday.
Here’s what’s on the menu this NFL Sunday for our FIRST Bronco Game of the Year-
Canda’s Crockpot Chili (By my wonderful mama)
Cindy’s Candied Bacon (By my wonderful mama-in-law)
Bacon jalapeño Poppers From Scratch
Yesterday’s Pairing of the Week- New Belgium Fat Tire & Pretzel Bites with Beer Cheese Dip
Just a few to start…keep an eye out the rest of the season as I release more fun NFL Sunday recipes!
Canda’s Crockpot Chili
This is by far the best chili recipe I have ever had, so good that it became a tradition for Jordan and I! Every year on the first Bronco Sunday of the year we make this chili. It’s the perfect combination of meat, beans, spice and liquid. What’s nice is you can adjust the recipe to your liking. If you like chili more soupy, add more broth. If you like it more spicy, add some more roasted green chilis. More beans? Add another can! My recipe below is my mom’s recipe that she has adjusted over the years to make the absolutely PERFECT recipe to the BEST Crockpot Chili out there, so I don’t ever make adjustments! We also love this recipe for Bronco Sunday because you can make it in the morning, turn the crockpot on low, let it cook all day while you’re enjoying football with family and then it’s ready just in time for dinner!
the perfect combination of meat, beans, spice and liquid. What’s nice is you can adjust the recipe to your liking. If you like chili more soupy, add more broth. If you like it more spicy, add some more roasted green chilis. More beans? Add another can! My recipe below is my mom’s recipe that she has adjusted over the years to make the absolutely PERFECT recipe to the BEST Crockpot Chili out there, so I don’t ever make adjustments
Ingredients
- 4 lbs ground beef
- 10 minced garlic cloves
- 2 yellow onions
- 1 green bell pepper
- 1/2 cup chili powder
- 1 Tbsp. ground cumin
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2-3 tsp cayenne pepper
- 2 cans diced tomatoes
- 1/3 cup ground cornmeal
- 2 cans red kidney beans, drained
- 3 cups (more or less depending on how soupy you want it) low sodium beef broth
- 4-5 roasted green chilis, chopped, depending on how spicy you want it!
- sour cream, chopped red onion, shredded cheese to top
Instructions
- In a non-stick skillet over medium heat, brown ground beef, season with salt and pepper, drain
- Return to pan, add garlic and yellow onion
- Stir, cook for 5 minutes
- Transfer to crockpot
- Add tomatoes with juices, cornmeal, drained kidney beans, green chilis, chili powder, cumin, and cayenne
- Add beef stock and stir
- Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low 6-8 hours
- Serve in a bowl with sour cream, cheese, red onion OR serve as chili dogs
Cindy’s Candied Bacon
This is a recipe my mother-in-law introduced to me. This bacon is UNBELIEVABLE and always a hit! She has three boys, Jordan the oldest, so she knows how to feed a hungry group of football fanatics. “Beer, Bacon and Broncos” as Jordan says 😂 you can’t go wrong with this game day treat!
An unbelievable blend of sweet and salty! The perfect twist on your favorite piece of bacon
Ingredients
- 1 lb of THICK peppered bacon **Get it from the deli in your local grocery store to make sure they cut THICK slices- this part is KEY!**
- About 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
- HEAVILY line a baking sheet with foil- the brown sugar will be VERY sticky and will stick and harden to your pan. Make sure there’s no way the melted brown sugar can get onto your baking sheet
- Spread about 1/4 cup brown sugar evenly on the foil (use more if necessary)
- Lay peppered bacon flat, then spread with remainder of brown sugar (more if necessary)
- Bake for about 30 minutes- bacon should be golden brown when it’s done.
- IMMEDIATELY remove bacon from baking sheet and transfer to a cooling rack with paper towels laid underneath to catch drippings
- Allow bacon to sit & cool for 30 min-1 hour, it will get harder as it sets.
Notes
** If you do happen to get the hardened brown sugar on your baking sheet (this happened to me!) put the baking sheet back in the 350 degree oven for just a couple of minutes to melt the sugar, remove the baking sheet and carefully wipe the brown sugar off with a wet paper towel.**
Bacon Jalapeño Poppers From Scratch
Lastly…my favorite appetizer to make especially for game day! These are super simple to make and have an amazing blend of flavor. You can scoop more of the membrane and seed out for less spice, if you want the poppers spicier, keep a bit more of the white membrane in the jalapeno. These are always a crowd favorite!
Ingredients
- 12 jalapeños
- 1 lb bacon
- 8 oz tub of Philadelphia Chive & Onion Cream Cheese
- 24 toothpicks
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
- Slice each jalapeño in half length wise, use a small spoon to scrape out the seeds
- Use a spoon to fill each jalapeño with cream cheese
- Slice 12 pieces of bacon in half
- Wrap jalapeño with a half slice of bacon, use a toothpick to hold it together
- Place on foil-lined baking sheet
- Bake for 30 minutes or until bacon is golden brown
Notes
You can scoop more of the membrane and seed out for less spice, if you want the poppers spicier, keep a bit more of the white membrane in the jalapeno. **I suggest wearing gloves during this step! The spice will linger on your skin for quite a while
These will be a hit for your next tailgate or watch party! Are there more game day recipes you’d like to see? Drop a comment below ⬇️ and GO BRONCOS! 💙🏈🧡