No basketball game is complete without the right snacks on the menu. If your existing menu is a bit light on snacks and appetizers in general, then the upcoming basketball season is a good time to change things up. Basketball usually brings in crowds and bigger groups, so being prepared to please a variety of palates is the best strategy for restaurant owners.
Whether you stick with classic crowd favorites or want to try out equally delicious but experimental snacks, there are many ways to serve up some fun for big basketball events. Being reminded of some of the classics and learning about some new and creative basketball snack ideas will provide you with the inspiration you need to kick off the season the right way.
The Big Basketball Game Snacks That Made The Sweet 12
Ground Beef Nachos
Nachos are a staple of any multi-course snack feast. For the big basketball game, make sure to go all out and add nachos with all of the fixings to your menu. Including some fresh ground beef on top, along with plenty of cheese and guacamole on the side, will be sure to please any basketball enthusiast.
BBQ Chicken Wings
Alongside nachos, every basketball event needs chicken wings to be complete. Find some substantial chicken wings with plenty of meat on them and marinate them in a variety of different sauces. Providing your customers with at least a few different sauce options is a great idea to ensure that everyone is satisfied.
Charcuterie Board
By mixing up the best prepared meats and pickled vegetables that you can find, you can put it all together in one big snack platter for a big game. Charcuterie boards are a great way to share food with a big group and will let everyone try a bit of everything.
Bacon Cheese Ball
Cheese balls make a great appetizer that is perfect for sharing. By taking a simple cheese ball and covering it in crumbled and cooked bacon, you can elevate it to the next level. For extra flavor, you can also include chopped pecans, relish, and poppy seeds to the coating.
Pulled Pork Sandwiches
For a simple and rich appetizer for a big game, try cooking up a big batch of pulled pork for sandwiches. Adding coleslaw is a traditional accompaniment to this classic dish.
Bacon-Wrapped Sweet Potatoes
While it might sound a bit unconventional, this bacon dish is perfect for snacking. Applewood-smoked bacon adds a delicious touch to the heartiness of sweet potato. By chopping the potatoes up into pieces, you can turn the dish into smaller bites that can be eaten on toothpicks.
Butter Chicken Meatballs
This update of classic cocktail meatballs makes for a delicious basketball snack. Choose some quality chicken breast or ground chicken and find a great recipe for butter chicken sauce. For a more complete meal, serve this dish with naan bread or rice.
Pork Satay Skewers
With top-quality pork tenderloin, you can create delicious skewers that will provide some variety to your basketball snack menu. Throw on some sesame oil, garlic, peanut butter, lime juice, and brown sugar to create a great marinade or rub. Then, either bake or barbecue these skewers until they are ready to eat. With some green onions and cilantro to garnish, they make a great appetizer.
Chicken Fingers
Do not simply add breaded and boxed chicken fingers to your menu if you want to have a respectable snack. Find some quality chicken breast and use real breadcrumbs to make this dish a real treat.
Smoked Ham Sandwiches
Easter season is also on its way, so be prepared by adding a ham dish to your menu. Smoked ham sandwiches are a great way to take the flavor of a traditional Easter meal and bring it down to snack-sized form.
Sirloin Steak Sliders
Sliders do not have to be simple. Making yours with sirloin steak is a sure way to make a great basketball snack.
BBQ Chicken Sliders
Moving past the basic beef slider, try mixing it up with BBQ chicken to make a unique snack for basketball events. Sliders are easy to add to any menu and make a great appetizer or light meal.
Put Together Some Great Basketball Snacks For TheMarch Madness Crowds
The twelve basketball snacks described here are only some of the possibilities that will help to make your restaurant the most popular venue throughout the basketball season. Explore these and other premium meat cuts that are guaranteed to bring in the crowds and kick off the college basketball season the right way. Northwest Meat Company is a wholesale meat supplier proudly serving the Chicagoland restaurant and hotel scene. Get in tough if we can have you create a distinctive menu.