Preparing for the Big Game Day + Easy Meatball Slider Recipe
*This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com. All opinions are 100% my own. Thank you for supporting brands that support Afternoon Espresso.
It’s that time of year and we are all prepping for the Big Game Day! Whether you are here for the commercials or want your favorite team to win, one thing we can all agree on is having good Game Day food is an absolute must! We like to keep things small and have a few people over for the festivities. This way, it’s relaxing and involves no stress in putting something together for a few friends. I partnered with Babbleboxx to share a few items to help make your Game Day gathering so much easier! Some of these items are tried and true in our household and some are actually new to me that have now become a pantry staple. I even have a double bonus for you. If you keep reading at the bottom of this post, you will find my recipe for the most delicious (and oh-so-easy to prep) meatball sliders for your Big Game Day gathering. Additionally, there are some discount codes, and last but not least a fun RAGÚ giveaway is happening!
Big Game Day Essentials
Late July Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips & Thick & Chunky Medium Salsa: No matter how fancy you get with your Big Game Day party, there are a few simple things that are an absolute Game Day must and chips and salsa are on that list! There are many, many options when choosing chips and salsa, but my #1 Game Day winner will always be Late July.
Late July Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips are tasty enough to eat alone. Give me one chip and I honestly can’t stop eating them. They are rolled out perfectly thin with just the right amount of salt. My mouth is watering right now thinking about them. When choosing a restaurant style tortilla chip, flavor is always key but how the chips are made is just as important. Late July Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips are organic, non-gmo, gluten-free, vegan, and kosher!
If you want to spice things up a bit, pair them with Late July Thick & Chunky Medium Salsa. This is by far my favorite jar salsa I ever had. The salsa is made with real tomatoes and peppers making this salsa taste so fresh! (Also organic, Non-GMO Project Verified)
Big Lou’s Onion Sauce– This is the first time I’ve ever tried Big Lou’s Onion Sauce and it is now going to be a pantry staple for our home. Big Lou’s Onion Sauce comes in two varieties: sweet and spicy. Honestly, I can’t begin to tell you how much flavor Big Lou’s Onion Sauce added to my meatballs for my meatball slider recipe (below). Using the sauce also cuts down on cooking and prep time because it’s like having sautéed onions, full of delicious flavor ready to go in a jar! This is a great item for your Game Day party to serve over nachos, on top of hamburger sliders, or even within a recipe like I did with my meatballs!
Special Offer:
- Big Lou’s has kindly offered 10% off your first order!
- Code: babbleboxx10
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Terms: Expires December 31, 2020
Dorot Gardens Garlic and Ginger– I will be completely honest, the last thing I like to do is cut and mince garlic. I’m just not good at it so I always, always keep Dorot Gardens Pre-Portioned Garlic in my freezer. It has been life changing for me! I love cooking with fresh garlic and Dorot Gardens couldn’t make it any easier. You simply pull the package out of the freezer and pop out the garlic from the pre-portioned tray. This tray eliminates chopping, mincing, and measuring. Most importantly, it helps eliminate wasting a product! With a shelf life of 2 years I don’t have to stress about my garlic going bad!
Another product I like to keep on hand Is the Dorot Gardens Ginger. I love to add ginger to Asian inspired dishes, pies, and a few other baking recipes I have. I don’t use it as often as I use the garlic, but it’s so nice to have a fresh tray of ginger in the freezer on hand when I get the itch to make one of my favorite recipes.
For more information on Dorot Gardens and to find great new ways to use these products check them out on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. I’m going to be stocking up on their frozen herb options in the meantime!
New Simply™ Roasted Garlic Sauce from RAGÚ– I can think of about a million football party recipes I could use this New Simply™ Roasted Garlic Sauce from RAGÚ, so go ahead and add it to your Game Day party list! I opted to use it with my meatball slider recipe below and the New Simply™ Roasted Garlic Sauce from RAGÚ really made my sliders special. The full flavor of onion, garlic, and tomatoes really made my meatballs shine. The sauce is simple, made with 100% olive oil, and has no added sugars to worry about.
Another option for a delicious Game Day crowd pleasing recipe is this Roasted Garlic Short Rib Stuffed Ciabatta recipe!
Want to try the New Simply™ Roasted Garlic Sauce from RAGÚ plus some other tasty RAGÚ favorites for yourself? Scroll down below for allll the details on a giveaway I’m hosting with RAGÚ!
4C Breadcrumbs & Parmesan Cheese– More pantry staples for me! How great is it to plan a Big Game Day party with items you already have in your house?! I always have 4C Breadcrumbs in my pantry. It’s so easy to coat some veggies with them, put in meatloaf, coat fish, and make a delicious meatball with (see recipe below)! 4C Breadcrumbs have the perfect blend of herbs and spices so they are not only adding texture but flavor to your favorite foods!
4C Homestyle Parmesan Cheese is another favorite in our home because it’s 100% real cheese. Enough said. There are no extra fillers, additives, or preservatives. This parmesan cheese is nutty and delicious. I can always find a reason to add cheese to anything in our house, especially on Game Day. (Insert all your favorite cheese dips here. Yum! Yum!!)
Meatball Slider Recipe for Game Day
Below is my meatball slider recipe made with some of my favorite items listed above! You honestly have to try these! Not to toot my own horn by any means, but I would actually go as far as saying this is in the top 5 of my all time favorite recipes!
Meatball Slider Recipe for Game Day
From Afternoon Espresso at https://afternoon-espresso.com/preparing-big-game-day-meatball-slider-recipe/
https://staging2.afternoon-espresso.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/gameday70.jpg
The most delicious, flavorful meatballs smothered in sauce and cheese but made mini style- perfect for the Big Game Day!
You'll Need...
- 1lb ground beef
- 1 Egg
- 1 Cup 4C Breadcrumbs
- 1 Tablespoon Big Lou's Onion Sauce
- 1 tsp Dorot Gardens Crushed Garlic
- 1 Jar New Simply™ Roasted Garlic Sauce from RAGÚ
- 1 Cup 4C Parmesan Cheese
- Salt & Pepper
- 3 Dashes of Worcestershire Sauce
- Sliced Provolone Cheese
- Mini Italian Rolls
Directions
- Preheat Oven to 400 degrees. In a mixing bowl add ground beef, egg, 4C Breadcrumbs, Big Lou's Onion Sauce, Dorot Gardens Crushed Garlic, salt and pepper, and Worcestershire Sauce and mix lightly with your hand. Once combined, roll into small meatballs (about 1 tablespoon each). Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes (or until the beef is fully cooked in the center). I like to add about 1/2 cup water to my pan to keep the meatballs moist. Once the meat balls are cooked, slice the italian rolls just in the center to create an opening. Be sure not to completely cut through the roll. Place a large tablespoon of Simply™ Roasted Garlic Sauce from RAGÚ on the bottom of the roll. Add two meatballs inside and add more sauce to the top. (The more sauce the better!) Sprinkle over 4C Parmesan cheese and top with one slice of provolone. For extra flavor sprinkle over some garlic salt and oregano on the tops of the mini sliders. Broil in the oven for about 5 minutes (or until the cheese is completely melted.) Enjoy!
Game Day Giveaway!
BabbleBoxx will randomly select winners from all program entries and will be responsible for fulfillment of prizes to the winner.
Photography by Julie Kahlbaugh