Create great game day grub

While you may not be able to enjoy game day with thousands of your closest friends at the stadium this year, that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy tailgate-worthy grub at home with a smaller group of friends and loved ones.

Step up your home-gate with an appetizing pre-game lineup featuring customized hot dogs and bratwursts as the main course with other plate-filling appetizers on the side to keep the noshing going right up to game time like bacon-wrapped potatoes and a savory take on guacamole.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Build-Your-Own Brat Bar

A simple and tasty main course, hot dogs and bratwursts are mainstays on game day and can be easily topped and customized to match each guests’ taste buds, regardless of age. Consider setting out a variety of garnishes and topping options such as these:

• Ketchup
• Mustard
• Relish
• Onions
• Chili
• Nacho cheese
• Shredded cheese
• Jalapeno peppers
• Diced tomatoes
• Sauerkraut
• Cole slaw
• Pickle spears
• Barbecue sauce
• Sriracha

A Bacon-Wrapped Winner

Creating a mouthwatering game day spread is all about teamwork, and it’s hard to find a better set of teammates than crispy bacon and potatoes.

Take one to the house with these Pigskin Potatoes that cut down on prep time and cleanup as an easy-to-eat finger food that can be made in advance. Just prep the potatoes and wrap with bacon a day or two ahead of time then throw in the oven an hour or so before kickoff.

Your base ingredient in these tasty, touchdown-worthy snacks, Wisconsin Potatoes, are low in calories, high in fiber and a source of vitamin B6, potassium, vitamin C and antioxidants.

Find more game day inspiration at eatwisconsinpotatoes.com.

Photo courtesy of The Little Potato Company

Pigskin Potatoes

Recipe courtesy of The Little Potato Company on behalf of Wisconsin Potatoes

Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 44 minutes
Serves: 8

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 pounds Boomer Gold Little Potatoes
• 6 ounces plain cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1/3 cup orange cheddar cheese, finely shredded
• 3 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• jalapenos, to taste (optional)
• pound bacon, thinly sliced, rashers cut in half

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 F. Boil potatoes until fork tender, approximately 15-20 minutes. Cut in half and allow to cool. In bowl, use spatula to combine cream cheese, cheddar, chives, salt, pepper and jalapenos, if desired. Once potatoes cool, spread cream cheese on one half of each cut potato and sandwich using other half. Wrap each potato using half rasher of bacon around cut middle to secure cheese filling. Bake on middle rack 10 minutes to allow bacon to set. Flip and bake 10 minutes. Turn oven to broil. Broil 2 minutes, turn and broil 2 minutes until bacon reaches desired crispiness.

Tip: Bacon-wrapped potatoes can be made ahead of time and kept in refrigerator until ready to bake.

A Tasty Take on a Favorite

Even at home, game day means good times with friends and family while enjoying moments together watching your favorite teams. A menu full of flavorful favorites takes the experience to another level, and tackling your spread by starting with a tasty dip is a sure way to fire up the crowd.

No tailgate or home-gate is complete without fresh guacamole made with the Avocados From Mexico brand. Because they’re always in season, you can enjoy guac during your favorite sporting events and beyond.

Take it to the house with a twist on a game day classic by testing out this Bacon Chipotle Guacamole, a tailgate-worthy snack loaded with crowd-pleasing flavor. Because it’s such a fan-favorite, you might find yourself making another round at halftime.

To find this recipe and more ways to take your tailgate to new heights, including more than 200 guacamole recipes to choose from, visit avocadosfrommexico.com.

Photo courtesy of Avocados From Mexico

Bacon Chipotle Guacamole

Ingredients:

• 3 Avocados From Mexico, halved, pitted and peeled
• 3 tablespoons shallot, minced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup cilantro, finely chopped
• 1 lime, juice only
• 8 ounces applewood smoked bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1/2 cup tomatoes, small diced
• 2 canned chipotle chiles, finely chopped
• ground cumin. to taste
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste

Directions:

In large bowl, mash avocados with shallots, garlic, cilantro and lime juice to desired consistency. Fold in bacon, tomatoes and chipotle chiles until well combined. Season with cumin, salt and pepper, to taste.