Football Dip Worthy of a Touchdown

With everything going on in today’s crazy world, one thing has remained the same. People love food! It brings us together, no matter how far apart we might be from loved ones and friends. Sharing a recipe keeps us connected. So, even if you can’t throw the huge, annual, Super Bowl Game Day party, you can still have a scrumptious meal to celebrate.

Now, everyone has their favorite dish that makes its way to every party feast. When people think of something as simple as chips and dip, they often picture it as the pre-meal snack, something to satisfy the hunger of guests just until the real spread is ready to be served. Bland chips stacked in a bowl with some store-bought dip on the side. It doesn’t have to be this way! Chips and dip can be elevated into a meal, and a delicious, mouth-watering one at that! Let me tell you how.

My mom used to make, what we call “Football Dip” every Sunday (or Monday for Monday night football). If our favored team was playing, we were digging into this tasty dip while they were scoring touchdowns. It has everything you could want in a gameday treat! Meaty, cheesy, and creamy with a little kick and a LOT of flavor!

One of the greatest things about this dish is that it is totally customizable and you’ll see what I mean once we get started. So, let’s jump in because the sooner we start, the sooner we can eat!

First, start by browning some ground beef in a large skillet. Use whatever amount you think you need for the number of people you are serving. I live with my girlfriend and, for the two of us, I use about 1 pound of ground beef. Then we have leftovers and this dish is one of the few that the leftovers are just as delicious as the first time around.

While that's going, cut a sweet onion into about 1/2 inch wide strips and put them into another skillet with a little veggie oil (or extra-virgin olive oil, whichever you like to use is fine). You want the onions to get that beautiful golden, caramel color, so keep an eye on them and give them a stir every so often to keep the cooking even.

Again, use as much as you feel is right and like. I LOVE onion, so I use a lot. But if you aren’t a big fan, use less or none at all. It’s completely up to you!

Once your beef and onions are done, turn off the heat. Now, you're ready to assemble! This is the fun part and, if you have kids, they usually love to help!

In a deep baking dish (it can be round, square, or rectangular), layer the ground beef on the bottom. Use all of it and spread it out nice and even. Then add a layer of sour cream (whatever brand you like). This adds a nice, creamy element to the dip.

On top of the sour cream, spread out your cooked onions.

Then, sprinkle on some cheese. You can get really creative here! I usually use the 4 cheese Mexican blend, but I've used just cheddar in the past and even once pepper-jack to give it a little kick of heat. I find the Mexican blend works the best because it has a few different types of cheeses that all work well together and make the dish gooey and delectable.

Next is a layer of salsa. Again, you can use whatever brand, or even make your own, for this step. Mild, medium, hot, whatever! You control the heat level of your masterpiece! I usually use mild so it doesn't overpower the rest of the dish.

Finally, add more cheese! You can never have enough cheese!

Put it in the oven at 350-degrees for about 10-15 minutes. I start with 10 and watch it after that. You just want that top layer of cheese to melt and brown a little bit.

Usually, while it’s in the oven, I open an avocado and smash it up in a bowl with a fork. I add in some pepper, a little salt, and squeeze in half a lemon. It’s not super fancy, but don’t be fooled! It is fresh and bright and oh so very good!

Once the dip is done, serve with your favorite tortilla chips and put the “naked guacamole” (as I call it) on the side and ENJOY!

*You can also make your own guac or use store bought if you prefer to have the traditional style.