This post is sponsored by Ozarka. All opinions are my own.
Tailgating is a Texas tradition, and I was excited when I was asked by Ozarka to share a favorite tailgating recipe!
I jumped at the chance to share a healthier version of a traditional recipe for all to enjoy. Wings are a family favorite and they pair perfectly with fresh-cut veggies and the best homemade Ranch dressing ever! A healthy life is all about balance, so its nice to have something that’s nutritious to go along with the other typical tailgate treats…
Speaking of traditions, Ozarka 100% Spring Water has been part of Texas for more than 100 years. It’s sourced from only carefully selected springs in Texas and contains naturally occurring minerals for a refreshing, crisp, and clean taste. For two years in a row, Ozarka is proud to support the Southlake Carroll HS football program as the official spring water of Dragon Stadium. I have not been to a Dragon game myself, but from what I’ve heard, it is quite the show!
Ozarka is celebrating three main pillars of Texas HS football this season- Community Pride, Homecoming, and Tailgating:
I’ve partnered with Ozarka to help bring tailgating to life and share my favorite (healthy!) recipes.
I grew up in the small town of Taos, NM, and football on Friday nights was a big deal! Go Tigers!! Football games and the events leading up to them were where you caught up with your friends and family to cheer the home team on. I have fond memories of being a cheerleader and enjoying those fun moments, such as the homecoming game! Huge Texas-style Mums aren’t a tradition in New Mexico like they are here, but homecoming is just as festive!
Fast forward to moving to Texas after college, where I quickly discovered that football and tailgating are both a tradition and an obsession! At my first real-deal Texas high school football game, it was incredible to see how many people were there, and the awesome tailgating parties before.
I did some research on how to make oven-baked wings crispy, and found that boiling them in water first is a must! Also, baking on a wire rack allows them to cook more evenly and get crispy. I discovered the recipe for dairy-free Ranch dressing when I transitioned to a less processed, whole foods diet and haven’t looked back! It’s flavorful, super easy to make with an immersion blender, and dare I say it…even tastes better than regular Ranch! It lasts a week in the fridge, but whenever I make a batch at home it never lasts that long! Put out a platter brimming with your favorite raw veggies for dipping and watch it go fast…
Try these recipes for tailgating, or anytime! And, I’d love to hear what your go-to tailgate recipes and favorite recipes are…please comment below and share!
Thanks for stopping by!
- 3 lbs Chicken Wings
- Juice of 1 lime
- 3 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 2 or 3 Cloves of Garlic, grated
- 1/2-1 tsp Chili Powder ( l like Morton and Bassett)
- Salt & Pepper to taste
- Mix these together in a bowl and set aside...
- 1/4 cup Hot Sauce (We like Frank's Original)
- 1 Tbsp melted ghee or butter
- Salt to taste
- Remove tips of wings with kitchen shears or knife.
- Bring water to boil in a large pot. Add wings and boil for 8 minutes.
- Strain into a colander and set aside to cool.
- Mix up the Marinade.
- Once wings have cooled a bit, add wings to marinade and mix well.
- Let these sit for a least 30 minutes while you prep the veggies and dip.
- Preheat oven to 450F
- Line a baking sheet or pan with foil (so clean-up is easy) and add a wire rack on top.
- Lay the marinated wings out over the rack and sprinkle with a light dusting of s & p.
- Bake for 30 minutes.
- Take the wings out of the oven, flip them over, and bake for another 10 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, plate, and serve with fresh cut veggies and ranch!
- You can enjoy them coated in hot sauce or as is...both ways are great!
- 1 Cup "Light" Tasting Olive Oil
- 1 Egg (room temperature)
- 1/2 Cup Full Fat Coconut Milk (I prefer the Native Forest brand)
- 2 Tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
- 1 Tbsp Lemon Juice
- 1 Tsp Salt
- 1 Tsp Pepper
- 3/4 Tsp Garlic Powder
- 3/4 Tsp Onion Powder
- Handful of Fresh Cilantro Leaves (Or any other fresh herb of your choice. Parsley is good, too, but cilantro is our family's favorite.)
- Put all ingredients together in a container.
- I like to use the storage container that came with my immersion blender. It has measurements down the side.
- Blend with immersion blender for about one minute. Super easy!
- I've had the best results with this recipe when my ingredients, especially the egg, are at room temperature. Dressing should be nice and thick, the same consistency as regular Ranch.
- If dressing comes out runny, refrigerate for a bit, then mix again with immersion blender.
- Enjoy with the wings and ranch, or pretty much anything else...Yum!
