Football Snacks

These classic buffalo wings pair perfectly with a creamy homemade blue cheese dip.

Cayenne and chile gives this yogurt-based dip an extra touch of spice.

These Indian-spiced chicken wings from chef Ben Ford are superb on their own with a squeeze of lemon, but they're even better dipped in the thick and tangy minty yogurt sauce that's made with cream cheese.

These Indian-spiced chicken wings from chef Ben Ford are superb on their own with a squeeze of lemon, but they're even better dipped in the thick and tangy minty yogurt sauce that's made with cream cheese.

These Indian-spiced chicken wings from chef Ben Ford are superb on their own with a squeeze of lemon, but they're even better dipped in the thick and tangy minty yogurt sauce that's made with cream cheese.

This supereasy, thick pumpkin seed spread from the Yucatan, called sikil pak, might just be the new guacamole—it seems to be on Mexican menus all over the US. This orange zest-scented version comes from Bandalero in Washington, DC, owned by Top Chef finalist Mike Isabella.

These rolls, which are a delightful play on the traditional lobster roll, are quite substantial, so one per person is plenty, especially if you're serving additional hors d'oeuvres. Cooked shrimp or lump crab is a fine alternative to lobster.

This timeless tapa from Spanish cookbook author Penelope Casas has everything going for it—it's sweet, smoky and savory, all in one bite.

At his Boston gastropub, Blue Dragon, star chef Ming Tsai will serve these Asian-accented sliders. They're based on a recipe his mother made for him when he was young: She'd fill his thermos with the chile-sauce-and-ginger-flavored ground meat and include the slider buns in his lunch box. "Everyone at school wanted them, so I'd usually trade a little slider for a complete lunch," says Tsai.

Nachos are an easy dish to make, but it's amazing how many restaurants and bars just don't get it right. The key to success? Good quality ingredients, and tortilla chips that are layered with attention to their respective cheese-to-topping ratio. These ultimate skillet nachos are covered in lots of fresh toppings after they've emerged from the oven, which give them a great contrast of hot and cold.

Chef Dave Beran loves the combination of Champagne and potato chips. For this dip, he took inspiration from the classic French butter sauce beurre blanc, spiked with shallots, wine vinegar and herbs.