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Big game Ritz cracker chicken nugget footballs

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The big game is almost here and everyone’s eyes are on and routing for their favorite team.   There’s nothing better than sitting around the TV on a Sunday afternoon with a feast of food and friends. Wow your guests with these Ritz cracker breaded chicken nugget footballs with homemade ranch dressing and #PreparetoParty

Game watching in our home is an intimate affair. We like to keep it to a small select group because it can get pretty rowdy with team rivalry so only our close friends and family are who we like to spend our Sunday’s with and making themed food is always fun thing that people love.

Big game Ritz cracker chicken nugget footballs

So yes, I made football shaped chicken nuggets. I cut out a paper template, about 1 1/2 – 2 inches in length. I then placed the template on the chicken breasts and cut around the template using a sharp knife. I then used kitchen scissors to trim the edges and refine the football shape.
Big game Ritz cracker chicken nugget footballs

Making the breading couldn’t be easier, you just add the crackers to a food processor or blender, add any seasoning you like and blend away. An assembly line is the best way to bread the chicken nuggets. 1 bowl of flour, 1 bowl of the whisked eggs and 1 bowl of the cracker breading. First you dip the nuggets in the flour, then in the egg and then into the cracker breading. The nuggets are then fried for about 3-4 minutes and drained.

Big game Ritz cracker chicken nugget footballs
You also need a tasty dipping sauce to dip the nuggets into and there’s nothing like a yummy ranch dressing that can also be used to dip  just about anything (edible). To give the nuggets a little more of a football theme, I added sour cream to a squeeze bottle and painted stitching on the nuggets. If you don’t have a squeeze bottle, you could add the sour cream to  a ziptop bag and snip off the corner and pipe the stitching.
Big game Ritz cracker chicken nugget footballs

 

Head over to the cracker aisle of your local Walmart where you will find the full range of Ritz crackers for your hungry guests.
Big game Ritz cracker chicken nugget footballs

So this is just some of what I like to eat when I’m game watching. What will you be eating while watching the Big Game?

Big game Ritz cracker chicken nugget footballs

Yields 6

Big game Ritz cracker chicken nugget footballs

15 minPrep Time

4 minCook Time

19 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

  • For the ranch dressing
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1-16 ounce tub sour cream
  • 3/4 cup buttermilk
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • Small pinch salt
  • Small pinch pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
  • For the chicken nuggets
  • 2 packets of Ritz crackers
  • 1 cup flour
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 8 thin boneless, skinless chicken breasts * see note
  • 1-48 ounce bottle vegetable oil

Instructions

  1. For the ranch dressing
  2. To a small bowl add the mayonnaise, 3 tablespoons sour cream. Whisk in the buttermilk until smooth.
  3. Stir in the lemon juice, onion powder, salt, pepper and dill. Set aside.
  4. For the chicken nuggets
  5. To a food processor add the Ritz crackers and pulse until they resemble breadcrumbs.
  6. Transfer to a shallow dish. Set aside.
  7. To another shallow bowl add flour salt and pepper. Set aside.
  8. To another shallow bowl add the eggs and salt and pepper. Set aside.
  9. Cut chicken breasts into football shapes.
  10. Line up the bowls with the flour, eggs and breading.
  11. To a large saucepan add vegetable oil over medium heat and heat to 350 degrees using a candy thermometer or until the oil starts to ripple and when you add a little breadcrumbs it starts to sizzle.
  12. Dip the chicken pieces into the flour, then into the egg and then into the breadcrumbs.
  13. Fry in the oil until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes.
  14. Remove from the oil and and drain on a paper towel.
  15. Add the remaining sour cream to a squeeze bottle, or a ziptop bag and snip off a corner and paint stitching onto the football nuggets.
  16. Serve warm with ranch dressing for dipping.
Cuisine: American | Recipe Type: Appetizer

Notes

* If you can't find thin chicken breasts, slice regular chicken breasts in half lengthwise

Big game Ritz cracker chicken nugget footballs

 

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Comments

  6. These are adorable! To be honest, I wouldn’t have the patience to decorate them like you did. I’d end up just slashing on a glop of dressing. So, I’m super impressed by your skills! Nice work! And, I bet these are a huge hit on a Super Bowl Party table!

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