For any sports fans, the playoffs are arguably the most exciting time. As die-hard Raptors groupies, we're over-the-moon that we've made it past the first round against the Milwaukee Bucks. Now we're fighting against the big guys, the Cleaveland Calvaliers, and we need to make an even bigger statement.
Even though we'll be battling against last year's NBA Champions, we have high hopes for the home team and we'll be celebrating every game day. As much as we love cheering in the stands, there's nothing like watching the game at home in sweats with our family. But our favourite part about watching at home is being surrounded by snacks galore!
While it's easy to stack drinks in the fridge and inviting family and friends over, you might start to wonder -"what about the food?" We all know that as soon as the action starts, there's no time to go back to the kitchen and prep. No one wants to miss a second of what's sure to be an exciting series.
That's why we put together the best of the best dishes for you and your guests to munch on during the playoffs. With our many years of sports spectating experience, we know you need tasty, easy, bite-sized snacks that you can make quickly or in advance like our beer-braised barbecue chicken sliders and cookie pizzas.
So clear the coffee table, fluff up the couch pillows and let's make some room for our playoff eats!
Plus, we added an exclusive video we made with Raptors' very own Jonas Valanciunas!
1. Spicy Ranch Popcorn Recipe
What do you get when you combine Sriracha sauce with Ranch seasonings? A kickin' batch of spicy and savory popcorn that's guaranteed to wake up your taste buds!
2. Sweet And Spicy Snack Mix
Satisfy your next snack attack with this delicious baked Sweet and Spicy Snack Mix, a crunchy combo of pecans, almonds, pretzels, cereal and dried cranberries.
3. Sweet And Sticky Honey Baked Chicken Wings
These delicious Sweet and Sticky Honey Chicken Wings are baked until intensely gooey and fall-off-the-bone tender - get ready for a family-friendly, finger-licking, fantastic feast!
4. Oven Baked BBQ Ribs
We wish we had written the Chili's baby back rib anthem. You see, these easy oven-baked, tender and flavorful ribs make us want to sing. Marinated in a sweet and spicy dry rub and baked low and slow, the meat on these baby back ribs is so tender it falls off the bone. We want our baby back, baby back, baby back ribs...
5. Quick Beer-Braised Barbecue Chicken Sliders
Holy BBQ sauced sliders! This quick and easy recipe is for all pulled chicken lovers out there, especially those who don't have hours to spare. Within a half hour, you can have shredded beer-braised chicken, tossed in zesty, flavorful barbecue sauce and stacked in soft slider buns.
6. Lightened Up Crispy Baked Potato Skins Recipe
We love bar food, finger foods and easy appetizers. Unfortunately, those usually mean unhealthy and grease-laden. Not anymore, thanks to this recipe for Crispy Potato Skins, addictive skins baked (not fried!) to crisp perfection and mounded high with crunchy turkey bacon and melted cheese.
7. Cookie Pizza Recipe
Who said pizzas were restricted to being salty and savoury?
A pizza by the simplest of definitions can be described as a flat round base of dough topped with a variety of ingredients. These "new" pizza pies consist of a cookie dough crust, with a layer (or TWO!) of frosting and a variety of "toppings" and thus the world has been blessed with The Cookie Pizza! We'd like to bet that it's here to stay for the next millennium because it's quickly becoming a classic in simple and stress-free desserts!
8. Homemade Peanut Butter Cups
These Homemade Peanut Butter Cups are sure to put Reese's out of business. Topped with caramelized peanuts, the decadent, delicious and easy-to-make Peanut Butter Cups have a smooth, sweet and salty peanut butter filling that is sandwiched between luscious layers of chocolate. You'll never buy packaged ones again!
9. Lemon Ginger Beer Shandy
What happens when the lemonade stand and the keg collide? The perfectly refreshing and delicious beer shandy drink recipe that combines lager beer with ginger ale and lemonade. Bottoms up!
10. Jonas Valanciunas' Cepelinai - A Traditional Lithuanian Recipe
Toronto Raptors' 7 ft Center, Jonas Valanciunas, is a superstar on and off the court! Watch him show us his moves in the Bite Me More kitchen as he teaches us how to make Cepelinai, a traditional Lithunian dish.
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