GoPackGo Halftime Snack: Game-Day Wing & Veggie Platter for Two Rival Fans

This recipe makes enough for 2 very hungry fans or 3–4 lighter snackers. You can easily double everything for a bigger party.

For the Crispy Oven Wings

• 2 pounds (about 1 kg) chicken wings, split into flats and drumettes

• 2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil

• 1 tablespoon baking powder (NOT baking soda – this helps crisp the skin)

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1 teaspoon onion powder

• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

• ½ teaspoon black pepper

For the “Green & Gold” Wing Glaze (Packers side)

• 2 tablespoons melted butter

• 2 tablespoons honey

• 2 tablespoons hot sauce (adjust to taste)

• 1 teaspoon Dijon or yellow mustard

• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley (for a green sprinkle)

For the “Opponent” Wing Glaze (flexible colors)

To match different teams, choose one:

• Red team idea (Chiefs, 49ers, etc.):

  • 3 tablespoons BBQ sauce

  • 1 tablespoon hot sauce or ketchup

• Purple team idea (Vikings, Ravens, etc.):

  • 3 tablespoons teriyaki sauce

  • 1 teaspoon plum jam or grape jelly

• Blue team idea (Lions, Cowboys, etc.):

  • 3 tablespoons honey-soy glaze or simple BBQ sauce, topped with crumbled blue-cheese when serving

(You can also keep all the wings with the same glaze if you prefer less work.)

For the Ranch Dip

• ½ cup sour cream

• ½ cup mayonnaise

• 1 teaspoon dried dill

• 1 teaspoon dried parsley

• ½ teaspoon onion powder

• ½ teaspoon garlic powder

• ½ teaspoon lemon juice or white vinegar

• Salt and pepper to taste

• 1–2 tablespoons milk or buttermilk to thin, if needed

Packers “Green & Gold” Garnish Ideas

• Green celery sticks

• Sliced cucumber

• Broccoli florets

• Green bell pepper strips

• Yellow bell pepper strips

• Sweet corn chips or yellow tortilla chips

Opponent-Color Garnish Ideas

Choose according to the rival:

• Purple: carrot sticks + red cabbage shreds, or purple grapes in a small bowl

• Red: cherry tomatoes, red pepper strips, beet chips

• Blue: blue corn tortilla chips, small bowl of blueberries as a fun accent

• Orange: extra carrot sticks, orange bell peppers

The goal is to make one half of the platter scream Green & Gold, and the other half match your opponent’s colors—even if you secretly hope they lose.

3. Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1 – Preheat and Prepare

1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil and place a wire rack on top if you have one (this lets air flow under the wings for extra crispiness).

2. Pat the chicken wings dry with paper towels—this is essential for crisp skin.

Step 2 – Season the Wings

1. In a large bowl, toss the wings with the oil until evenly coated.

2. In a small bowl, mix the baking powder, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika and pepper.

3. Sprinkle this mixture over the wings and toss well so every piece is coated. You should see a thin, even layer of seasoning without big clumps.

Spread the wings out on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer, leaving a little space between them.

Step 3 – Bake Until Crispy

1. Bake for 20 minutes, then flip the wings.

2. Bake for another 20–25 minutes, or until the wings are golden brown and crispy.

   • Thicker wings may need a few extra minutes.

   • If you like them extra crisp, you can broil them for 2–3 minutes at the end—just keep an eye on them so they don’t burn.

While the wings bake, make your sauces and dip.

Step 4 – Mix the Sauces

In separate small bowls, combine the ingredients for:

• The Green & Gold honey-hot butter glaze

• Your chosen opponent glaze (BBQ, teriyaki, etc.)

Stir until smooth. Set aside.

Step 5 – Make the Ranch Dip

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, dill, parsley, onion powder, garlic powder and lemon juice.

2. Add salt and pepper to taste.

3. If the dip is too thick, mix in milk or buttermilk a little at a time until it reaches your preferred consistency—thick enough to cling to veggies, but soft enough to scoop easily.

Transfer to a small serving bowl and chill in the fridge until ready to serve.

Step 6 – Prep the Veggies and Chips

While the wings finish in the oven:

1. Wash and cut all the vegetables into finger-size sticks or florets.

2. Separate them into two piles:

   • Green & Gold pile (celery, cucumber, broccoli, yellow pepper, corn chips)

   • Opponent-color pile (red pepper, carrots, cabbage, etc.)

This will make assembling the platter quick the moment the wings come out.

Step 7 – Toss the Wings in Two Flavors

When the wings are fully cooked and crispy:

1. Divide them into two large bowls, roughly half and half.

2. Pour the Packers glaze over one bowl and toss gently until the wings are coated in a shiny, sticky Green & Gold sauce.

3. Pour the opponent glaze over the second bowl and toss.

If you prefer a lighter touch, you can brush the sauce onto the wings instead of tossing.

4. Assemble the  GoPackGo Platter

Now it’s showtime. Use a large round or rectangular platter, cutting board or even a clean sheet pan covered with parchment.

1. Place the ranch dip slightly off-center in a small bowl. Think of it as the neutral zone where both fans meet.

2. On one side, arrange the Packers wings so they form a generous pile. Sprinkle with chopped parsley for that extra touch of green.

3. Surround them with Green & Gold veggies and chips: celery sticks pointing outward like rays, yellow peppers, a pile of corn chips, maybe a few lemon wedges for color and zing.

4. On the other side, arrange the opponent-flavor wings. Use your color accents here: red peppers for a red team, purple cabbage for a purple team, blue corn chips for a blue team, etc.

5. Make sure the platter looks roughly balanced so it visually says:

   “We’re rivals… but we’re sharing this.”

If you want to go extra, you can place small flags or printed team logos on each side, or even write “GB” and the opponent code with sauce on the parchment.

5. Make It Social-Media Ready

You wrote an article with #GoPackGo, so you probably want visuals that pop on social media. Here’s how to capture it:

1. Use natural light if possible. Place the platter near a window, turn off harsh ceiling lights, and shoot from above for that classic food-flatlay look.

2. Ask your two “rival” girls to lean in with a wing or a carrot stick in hand, laughing or shouting at the TV in the background.

3. Add a simple text overlay in one corner:

   • “House Divided, Snacks United”

   • Or simply #GoPackGo in bold green and gold.

In your caption, you can write something like:

“One couch, two teams, zero leftovers.
🍗 Who are you cheering for this week? #GoPackGo”

This transforms your recipe from just food into content—something people will like, share and maybe even copy for their own game night.

6. Variations and Make-Ahead Tips

Because every game and every crowd is different, here are ways to customize:

• Healthier twist: Bake sweet-potato wedges instead of serving chips, and load the platter with extra veggies.

• Spicier version: Add more hot sauce to the Packers glaze and sprinkle wings with chili flakes.

• Kid-friendly version: Keep one bowl of wings plain (just salt and pepper) and serve sauces on the side for dipping.

• Make-ahead:

  • Season the wings and store them, uncovered, in the fridge up to 12 hours before baking—this actually helps them dry out and get crispier.

  • Cut all the veggies a few hours ahead and keep them in airtight containers with a damp paper towel to keep them fresh.

That way, when halftime hits, you aren’t stuck in the kitchen. You’re already on the couch, remote in one hand and a wing in the other.