17 Super Bowl Recipes That Kansas City Chiefs Fans Will Love (original) (raw)
Wings, ribs and Taylor Swift
Katherine Gillen/Dinner at the Zoo
If there’s one thing Chiefs fans know about (well, besides football), it’s barbecue. Kansas City, Missouri, is famed for its smoky, tangy slow-roasted meats, and we are here for it. Whether you’retuning in on February 11 to catch every play of Super Bowl 2024, you’re on T. Swift watch (no judgment) or you’re just in it for the snack spread, it’s time to ready yourself for wings, ribs, burgers and all the sides. (Don’t worry, we included mac and cheese too.) Ta-da: 17 Super Bowl recipes Chiefs fans will gobble up.
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
Let’s start with the basics: a tried-and-true barbecue sauce recipe from a Kansas City local. It’s the ideal balance of sweet, tangy and smoky. Serve it brushed over slow-cooked ribs (ahem, see below) or as an alternate wing topper to the usual Buffalo sauce.
2. Oven Pork Ribs with Barbecue Sauce
- Time Commitment: 2 hours, 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
Once you’ve mastered the sauce, you’ll want to put it to good use. These pork ribs get slow-roasted in the oven so they’re as easy to make as they are delicious.
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
What goes best with your K.C. barbecue? The side dish to end all side dishes. (And we made ’em bite-sized, because who needs forks?)
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
It’s not really a football game-watch without copious amounts of Buffalo wings, is it? (Don’t forget to make extra sauce for dipping.) Whether you like ranch or blue cheese, these beginner-friendly bites will please everyone.
5. Copycat Stroud’s Cinnamon Rolls
- Time Commitment: 2 hours, 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients, vegetarian
These sweet bites—made famous by the Kansas City institution Stroud’s—are like a cross between a dinner roll and a cinnamon bun. You won’t be able to stop at just one.
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
Missouri is home to many a dairy farm. Pay homage with a plate of these melty nuggets made from squeaky cheese and dipped in a crisp beer batter. (Choose something light, like a pilsner, for best results.)
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, gluten free, vegetarian
Balance out all the smoke and spice of your barbecue-inspired spread with bites of this mayo-free sweet and crunchy coleslaw. The dressing is made with vinegar and a touch of Greek yogurt, so it’s just creamy enough.
8. Crispy Baked Cauliflower ‘Wings’
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegan, vegetarian, <10 ingredients
Got a vegan on your couch? They won’t be left out of the fun, thanks to these as-good-as-the-real-deal cauliflower “wings.” (The secret ingredient is smoked paprika.)
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, gluten free
If you’re all about the sides, you might want to make a double batch of this tasty potato salad, which features cucumbers and hard-boiled eggs. It’s cool and creamy—ideal for pairing with a rack of ribs.
10. Fried Chicken BLT with Jalapeño Honey
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, high protein
With this incredible sandwich on the menu, no one will even be paying attention to the commercials. It’s a labor of love to fry the chicken, but one bite and you’ll realize it was worth the effort.
- Time Commitment: 6 hours, 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, make ahead, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
OK, we know K.C. folks are picky about their baked beans. If you’re an absolute beginner, here’s a basic slow cooker recipe to get you started. (Besides, you’re using your oven for wings tonight.)
12. Burnt Ends
- Time Commitment: 23 hours
- Why I Love It: make ahead, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
Natives will need no introduction to burnt ends, but for the uninitiated, they’re basically the best part of a beef brisket. Think tender, juicy meat with just the right ratio of crispy edges. Plan ahead so it’s ready when your party starts.
13. Baked Chicken Wings with Chipotle Hot Honey
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, gluten free
What’s the secret to crispy chicken wings in the oven? Baking powder. It helps the skin brown faster and will fool everyone into thinking they’re fried. (Try making a second batch with that homemade barbecue sauce.)
14. Everything Bagel Pigs in a Blanket with Cheater’s Aioli
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
Whether or not your guests are Chiefs or 49ers fans, one thing is certain: They’re all fans of pigs in a blanket. (Who isn’t?) Everything bagel seasoning classes them up a touch.
15. Instant Pot Baked Creamed Cheesy Corn with Ham
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: Instant Pot recipe, crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes
If you’re not serving your barbecue with a side of cheesy corn, well, you must not be a K.C. native. And good news, it also makes an excellent dip.
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
These flaky bundles look fancy but take all of 10 minutes to put together (and will disappear from your party in even less time).
17. Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Time Commitment: 2 hours, 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
It’s cheesy, spicy and a given for any game-watch party, but our version has a secret: You can make it ahead. Just break out that slow cooker and let it do the hard work.
Freelance PureWow Editor
Former Senior Food Editor
- Headed PureWow’s food vertical
- Contributed original reporting, recipes and food styling
- Studied English Literature at the University of Notre Dame and Culinary Arts at the Institute of Culinary Education