food
Wings, ribs and Taylor Swift
By Stephanie Cain
•
Published Feb 1, 2024
Additional reporting by
Katherine Gillen
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’re tuning 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.
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- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We 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 We 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.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
3. Baked Mac-and-Cheese Bites
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We 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?)
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Erin McDowell
4. Oven-Baked Buffalo Wings
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We 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.
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5. Copycat Stroud’s Cinnamon Rolls
- Time Commitment: 2 hours, 5 minutes
- Why We 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 We 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.)
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
7. Light and Tangy Coleslaw
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We 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.
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Cauliflower
8. Crispy Baked Cauliflower ‘Wings’
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We 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.)
Get the recipe
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We 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 We 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.
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Photo: Eric Moran/Styling: Erin McDowell
11. Slow Cooker Baked Beans
- Time Commitment: 6 hours, 10 minutes
- Why We 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.)
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12. Burnt Ends
- Time Commitment: 23 hours
- Why We 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.
Katherine Gillen
13. Baked Chicken Wings with Chipotle Hot Honey
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We 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.)
Get the recipe
Katherine Gillen
14. Everything Bagel Pigs in a Blanket with Cheater’s Aioli
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We 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.
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15. Instant Pot Baked Creamed Cheesy Corn with Ham
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We 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.
Katherine Gillen
16. Puff Pastry Pizza Bundles
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We 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).
Get the recipe
Katherine Gillen
17. Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Time Commitment: 2 hours, 15 minutes
- Why We 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.
Get the recipe
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Stephanie Cain
Freelance PureWow Editor
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Katherine Gillen
Senior Food Editor
Katherine Gillenis PureWow’s senior food editor. She’s a writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a degree in culinary arts and professional experience in New York City...
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