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Slam Dunk March Madness Recipes (35 Recipes, 1 Page, 2 Articles)

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basketball on fire

March Madness is here. But watching basketball in a bar can be…maddening. For the best seats in the house, and the best food and drinks, gather your friends and fans to watch hoops at home.

All 68 teams will be competing for their chance to shine in the Final Four, and hopefully come home national champions. The championship game will be held on April 3 in Houston, TX.

But don’t wait until then to start watching and munching. With a few killer apps and snacks, you and your friends can tune in to all the games at home, while skipping the crowded, noisy, expensive bars. Enjoy March Madness in style with our favorite better-than-bar-food recipes for snacks, appetizers, and munchies.

(Flaming basketball Adobe Stock photo by BornS66)

pecans with a sweet glaze

Got Beer? Snack On These Beefy Beer Nuts Between Sips

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

This recipe for grill roasted nuts is an instant party pleaser. A splash of Worcestershire, black pepper, garlic, cumin, and hot sauce give these nuts a bold, beefy flavor. Serve them at any tailgating party or backyard BBQ and grilling party. You can also roasted these in the oven if you don't have a grill.
candied pecans

Candied Pecans From The Grill Are Sinfully Delicious

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Candied pecans are always a hit as a snack and this recipe takes them over the top by roasting them on the grill. Serve them straight, mixed with dried fruit, or sprinkled as garnish on your favorite dishes. If you don't have a smoker or grill you can make most of these recipes just fine in your indoor oven.
Sweet potato fries with spicy honey

Insanely Addictive Sweet Potato Fries, The Grill Frying Method

By:

Clint Cantwell, AmazingRibs.com President And BBQ Personality

If you’re a fan of sweet potato fries then you’ll do backflips over this grill fried recipe featuring perfectly deep fried sweet potato sticks coated with smoked honey and garnished with deep fried sage. Even better, deep frying is done on the grill, doing away with the mess and lingering odor of deep frying indoors.
Deep fried pickles in a serving platter

Fried Pickles Are An Addictive Appetizer, Especially When Prepared On The Grill

By:

Clint Cantwell, AmazingRibs.com President And BBQ Personality

Why fry inside? Your outdoor grill handles the job better and makes incomparable fried pickles. Coated in a light and airy tempura batter, this delicious fried pickle recipe is a novel appetizer for your next cookout. Be prepared to make multiple batches, as everyone will be clamoring for more.
Pimento cheese on a cracker

Best Pimento Cheese Recipe Ever

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

In the South, you cannot have a social gathering without Pimento Cheese sandwiches. You can buy it in plastic tubs at the grocery, but it is exponentially better when you make it yourself thanks to this tested recipe. It's also rather simple, comprised primarily of pimentos, mayonnaise, and grated cheddar cheese.
chicken skin and chicken thigh sandwich

Chicken Skin Cracklins Are The Zero Waste Snack You’ve Been Craving

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Don't throw away those chicken skins! Cook them up into crispy, savory cracklins to snack on or serve as a garnish with the cooked poultry. It's easy. This recipe shows you two methods for making any poultry cracklins on the grill or in a frying pan. Plus recipes for chicken bacon, schmaltz and gribenes!
Grilled guacamole and tortilla chips

Hitting The Grill Takes Guacamole To Epic New Heights

By:

Clint Cantwell, AmazingRibs.com President And BBQ Personality

Add a delicious smokiness to your favorite party dip with this recipe for grilled guacamole. Grilled avocados, limes, and onion are the key.
tomatoes

Fresh Pico De Gallo Adds Zip To Countless Dishes

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Fresh tomatoes, scallions, jalapeno, and cilantro are the cornerstones of our addictively delicious recipe for homemade pico de gallo. Add a touch of brightness to tacos, quesadillas, and other Mexican dishes; a bold bite to scrambled eggs and omelets; a vibrant twist to salsa and chips; and so much more.
grilled salsa

Grilled Salsa Is Your New Go-To Condiment

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Skip the store bought salsa and opt for these two flavorful home made Mexican salsas: Pico de Gallo and a Grilled Salsa Roja. Known in the US as tomato salsa, salsa roja is an important building block in Mexican cuisine. Fresh quality ingredients are essential, especially fresh tomatoes, when making salsa at home.
Smokey Salsa Verder

Smokey Salsa Verde Takes Your Tacos to 10

By:

Big Jim Maivald, Former AmazingRibs.com CTO

This smokey salsa verde recipe puts the boring store bought stuff to shame thanks to the depth of flavor created by charring the ingredients.
pickled jalapeno on a cracker

Candied Pickled Jalapeños: Champion’s Cowboy Candy Recipe

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Add some sweet heat to sandwiches, favorite side dishes, cornbread, and much more for this recipe for Cowboy Candy, a.k.a. candied jalapenos. This recipe is a refrigerator pickle, so all jars must be stored in the fridge. When you are done, save the syrup for us in DC Mumbo sauce, barbecue sauce, cocktails, and more.
stuffed pepper holder

The Smoked Jalapeno Poppers Recipe That Puts All Others to Shame

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

A cheesy appetizer with a kick, this easy grilled jalapeño popper recipe is sure to please, and the smoked version is better than the fried version. This appetizer is a big hit with people who like a little bit of heat in their food, but you can remove most of the heat to accommodate wimps if you wish.
burnt ends

Brisket Burnt Ends: A Kansas City Original Made At Home

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

When done right, smoked brisket burnt ends are the perfect bite. Find out how to make your own with this tested recipe featuring the point muscle of the brisket.
smashed meatballs sliders

The Flat Top King Crushes It With Smashed Meatball Sliders

By:

The Flat Top King, AmazingRibs.com Griddle Content Contributor

The Flat Top King fires up the griddle for these delicious smashed meatball sliders featuring a delicious blend of meats, topped with cheese, marinara, and fresh basil on slider buns.
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beef shank and taco toppings

Channel Your BBQ Superpowers With Thor’s Hammer Tacos

By:

Sterling Ball, AmazingRibs.com BBQ And Grilling Content Contributor

Step up your taco game with the addition of the aptly named "Thor’s Hammer." These monster beef shanks are seasoned, smoked, and shredded then served alongside various taco fixings.
Asian flank steak tacos

Make Tacos Pop With Asian-Style Sous-Vide-Que Flank Steak

By:

Chef Stef, AmazingRibs.com Recipe Developer

Sous vide and live fire grilling come together in this delicious twist on tacos featuring sous-vide-que flank steak.
plated carnitas taquitos

Big Poppa’s Crazy Carnitas Taquitos

By:

Sterling Ball, AmazingRibs.com BBQ And Grilling Content Contributor

Make mouthwatering taquitos at home with this recipe from Sterling "Big Poppa" Ball that utilizes leftovers from his authentic copper pot carnitas recipe!
Grilled Buffalo wings on a plate

No Mess Crispy Grilled Buffalo Wings

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Grilling Buffalo wings may sound like blasphemy but the results from this non-deep fried twist are simply amazing. By cooking this All-American Classic on the grill, you avoid the deep frying mess while also adding a deep, smoky flavor. The Buffalo wings start with indirect smoke before being crisped over direct heat.
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Miso wings on a plate

Smoked Miso Wings Take Any Party Over The Top

By:

Clint Cantwell, AmazingRibs.com President And BBQ Personality

Yes, Buffalo sauce tastes great on hot wings, but try some Asian flavors on your chicken wings with the deep, savory flavors of miso, sesame oil, and wood smoke. This recipe leans heavily on miso paste, a traditional Japanese ingredient rich in umami, the rich meaty savory flavor.
Bacon wrapped wings

Super Easy Smoked Bacon Wrapped Wings Elevate Any Cookout

By:

Clint Cantwell, AmazingRibs.com President And BBQ Personality

Appetizers don't get much simpler than this five-ingredient recipe for smoked bacon-wrapped wings with Sriracha ranch dipping sauce.
BBQ sauce drizzlied bacon wrapped sausage bites

Smoked Pig Balls: An Appetizer Recipe As Easy As It Is Delicious

By:

Clint Cantwell, AmazingRibs.com President And BBQ Personality

As easy to make as they are delicious, these smoked bacon-wrapped kielbasa bites (a.k.a. pig balls) are the perfect appetizer for any event.
armadillo eggs

Armadillo Eggs: Bacon, Sausage, And Cheese In One Perfect Bite

These cheese and jalapeno stuffed, bacon-wrapped sausage appetizers are perfect for tailgating, backyard cookouts, and more.
chopped smoked pork rib tips

Smoked Pork Rib Tips Are The Best Treats, No Tricks

By:

Clint Cantwell, AmazingRibs.com President And BBQ Personality

This simple smoked rib tips recipe makes the perfect snack, appetizer, or main course. The rib tip (a.k.a. brisket, costal cartilage, or break) is the triangular, cartilage-dotted slab of meat attached to the lower end of the sparerib. Seasoned with BBQ rub then slow smoked on the grill, these bites are a surefire hit.
pork tenderloin lollipops with dipping sauce

Pork Tenderloin Lollipops, A Meaty Treat For All Ages

By:

Clint Cantwell, AmazingRibs.com President And BBQ Personality

Here's the ultimate grab-and-go appetizer. Pork tenderloin is cut into medallions that are then skewered with lollipop sticks before being grilled and served with a soy-ginger dipping sauce.
Smoked bacon wrapped meatballs

MOINK Balls, The Easiest Grilled Appetizer Ever

By:

Clint Cantwell, AmazingRibs.com President And BBQ Personality

We'll bet you can't stop at just one of these tasty smoked bacon-wrapped meatballs, a.k.a MOINK balls. This recipe is the perfect appetizer for any tailgating, couchgating, or backyard bash. The best part is that they are as easy to make as they are to eat!
Smoked Texas style beef rib

Smoked BBQ Beef Ribs Just Like They Do ‘Em In Texas

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Create delicious Brontosaurus sized beef ribs at home with this tested smoked Texas beef rib recipe. Whether it is meaty beef short ribs or the more flavorful beef back ribs, the key to successfully replicating this Texas BBQ classic is cooking them low and slow over live fire with just the perfect touch of smoke.
brisket on a grill

Authentic Texas Style Smoked Brisket Recipe

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Behold the best smoked brisket recipe ever! Texas style brisket is more than a recipe, it is a concept and a goal. It all begins by selecting the right meat, trimming it, seasoning it, smoking it, slicing it, and more. Follow this easy BBQ brisket guide for mouthwatering results!
Sauced rack of ribs on a tray

A Killer Smoked BBQ Ribs Recipe That Shames The 3-2-1 Method

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Mastering smoked ribs -- whether they are St. Louis style ribs, spare ribs, or baby back ribs -- with our comprehensive tutorial and recipe will make you a backyard all star.
pulled pork sandwich with sauce

An Easy BBQ Pulled Pork Recipe With Mouthwatering Results

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

This easy pulled pork recipe skips the slow cooker to create authentic low-and-slow smoked pulled pork on a smoker or grill. With smoke woven through the moist meat, bits of seasoned crust, and a gentle splash of BBQ sauce, pulled pork is perfect for your next backyard cookout.
brat tub

This Brat Tub Beer Bath Will Elevate Your Sausage Grilling Game

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Bratwurst are the signature food of Wisconsin and here's the recipe for creating perfect Touchdown Tailgate Brats simmered in beer and then grilled. The beauty of this recipe is that you can make the sauce at home, chill everything, and then finish the brats at the game during your next tailgating adventure.
Chili con carne in a bowl with cheese and sour cream

Award Worthy Texas-Style Chili Con Carne Recipe

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Create the ultimate bowl of chili with this recipe for Texas-style chili con carne. Starting on the grill for a touch of BBQ flavor, this chili recipe is built from numerous layers of flavor, including such unexpected additions as chocolate and tortilla chips to create mouthwatering results.
Sugar being melted on top of ribs with a torch

Candied BBQ Ribs Are Just Too Good To Pass Up

By:

Clint Cantwell, AmazingRibs.com President And BBQ Personality

Crunchy bruleed sugar adds an unexpected twist to traditional low and slow smoked spare ribs in this recipe for sweet and savory candied BBQ ribs. The ribs are smoked low and slow until mouthwateringly moist and tender before sprinkling the ribs with sugar then torch them until the sugar melts and browns for a crust.
Individual ribs, wrapped in bacon, shine on the grill

Bacon Wrapped Spare Ribs Will Blow Your Mind

By:

Dave Joachim, AmazingRibs.com Contributing Author

Just when you thought spare ribs couldn't get any better! The secret to this bacon wrapped spare ribs recipe is wrapping each rib in bacon. Rub, smoke, and glaze, and they're done! This simple but ridiculously awesome combo is easy to pull off and is certain to wow your guests.
fried ribs

Deep Fried Ribs: The BBQ Equivalent Of A Mic Drop

By:

Clint Cantwell, AmazingRibs.com President And BBQ Personality

Slow smoked pork ribs are taken to a whole new level of flavor with this recipe for crispy panko breaded deep-fried ribs.
Chicago Italian beef sandwich

Classic Chicago Italian Beef Sandwich Recipe Done At Home

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Classic Italian Beef Sandwiches are a popular regional specialty in Chicago and here is the recipe to make easy authentic Italian beef sandwiches at home featuring slow smoked beef, drippings, and peppers.
pulled pork sandwich on white plate

Simple And Delicious Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork

By:

Clint Cantwell, AmazingRibs.com President And BBQ Personality

The Easiest and Most Delicious Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe is an all-in-one tasty dish you would fall in love with. For best results, let the cooked pork to rest for about an hour before serving.
whole hog by the Shed

Going Whole Hog: What You Need To Know To Smoke Roast A Hog Or Suckling Pig

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Learn how to cook a whole hog the way the pros do it. Our whole hog or suckling pig smoking guide discusses everything from shopping to prepping and serving in our extensive whole hog recipe.

Smoked And Grilled Dessert Recipes From AmazingRibs.com (16 Recipes, 2 Articles)

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Nothing brings the kids running faster than the aroma of brownies or a fruit-filled pie baking. Dessert maybe the last course but it's the one course that everyone looks forward to. How do you make dessert on a grill? We've got just the right recipes to put a crown on a great meal.

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Published On: 6/28/2019 Last Modified: 3/7/2024

 

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