Yesterday was Selection Sunday a.k.a. the kickoff of March Madness. Today, we have a breather to consider our brackets and get all our ideas lined up for the next few weeks. Now, I don’t know about you, but one thing I like to get squared away is the menu for my watch parties!

Food and beer go hand in hand with watching any sporting event, but March Madness takes it to a whole ‘nother level. With this in mind, we thought (in the words of Joey Tribiani), Why don’t we “put those hands together?”

We don’t just want to pair your food and beer. We want to put your beer in your food! Two of the best things about beer are that it pairs well with food and it is a tasty ingredient for any number of recipes. We picked out a couple for you to add to your March Madness Menu. They’re easy, simple, and they don’t take forever to throw together.

They both call for Budweiser (which you can absolutely use), but if you’re wanting to use all that Bud Light you just stocked up on over the weekend for March Madness, go right ahead and use it!

First up, we have a Bud (Light) Cheese Dip. If you follow the link, you will be taken to our Pin.

INGREDIENTS

Yield 10 oz. of dip

• 1 can Budweiser
• 8 oz. sharp cheddar, shredded
• 8 oz. gruyere, shredded
• 1 tbsp. A.P. Flour
• 2 tbsp. Worcestershire
• 1 tbsp. Sriracha hot chili sauce
• 0.5 onion, medium diced
• 0.5 tbsp. garlic powder
• 0.5 tbsp. chili powder
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 0.5 tbsp. salt
• 0.5 tbsp. pepper

METHOD

1. In a mixing bowl, mix the two cheeses together with the flour making sure that all three ingredients are fully incorporated.
2. In a medium sauce pot, heat on high and add olive oil until it starts to smoke.
3. Immediately add onions and sauté until light golden brown.
4. Season sautéed onions with garlic powder, chili powder, salt and pepper and stir until mixed.
5. Deglaze by adding beer, Worchester, and sriracha.
6. Bring to a boil and then add cheese/flour mix ¼ at a time.
7. Be sure to constantly stir and ensure that most if not all of the cheese is melted before adding the next batch.
8. Serve very warm with crackers, pretzels, or bread.

Then for a little more sustenance, we have Beer Battered Wings. Again, the recipe calls for Budweiser, but Bud or Bud Light will do!

INGREDIENTS

Yield 1.5 dozen wings

• 18 pieces jumbo chicken wings
• ½ cup corn starch
• ½ cup AP flour
• 2 cans Budweiser
• ½ cup water
• ½ tbsp. paprika, garlic powder, onion powder
• ½ tbsp. salt, ground pepper
• ½ lemon, juiced
• 2 quarts vegetable oil, heated to 350F in a pot that leaves 4 inches between the top of the oil and the top of the pot

METHOD

SET UP: Deep fry or blanche chicken wings in oil for 5 minutes and let cool prior to starting recipe

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients and mix until all are fully incorporated.
2. Slowly add beer while whisking together with dry ingredient mixture.
3. Once all beer is used, add water until mixture is viscous but not too aqueous.
4. Whisk until all lumps are gone and mixture is smooth and one consistent texture.
5. Dip each wing individually and gently place into oil.
6. Be careful to cook wings only 3 pieces at a time to ensure against overflowing of the oil and in order to reduce the drop in temperature of the oil.

For more ideas for your March Madness Menu, visit our Pinterest board “Cooking with Beer!”

Cheers!

P.S. Watch for the post on our Bud Illini blog about our March Madness Bracket on Wednesday!