Election Party Recipes

Elections are a great reason to gather your friends together for a celebration. Whether you’re hosting a debate-watching election party, or just using the election theme for a get-together, you’re going to need some yummy election themed recipes! Election parties are a great reason to bring back your 4th of July decorations, so why not make the whole night patriotic with some election night party food?

Here are some tried and true all-American election party recipes:

Appetizers:  For your appetizer course remain neutral with some classic American food. Tailgating recipes are great for this. Use election based label cards to tie in your theme. You can also name your food fun things like “Ballot Buffalo Bites” or “Super Tuesday Sliders.”

Super Tuesday Sliders Recipe

Ingredients:

• ½ cup dried onion flakes
• 2 pounds ground chuck- 80/20 ground beef
• ½ t. seasoned salt
• 6 slices cheddar cheese
• 24 small party rolls
• 24 dill pickle slices

Directions:

Spread the onion flakes so they coat the bottom of a 9x13 inch pan. Press the ground beef on top, making one big patty and sprinkle it with salt. Bake for 20 minutes at 400 degrees, remove, and pat off the grease with a paper towel. Cover the top with cheese and bake for two more minutes. Cut the patty into 24 different squares and put each patty into a party bun. Serve with pickles and condiments.

Main Course: For the main course, try offering two options, one from each of the parts of the country each candidate is from, and let your guests choose! If a candidate is from New England try making clam chowder, or a classic avocado BLT if the candidate is from California. Try this recipe for a southern candidate!

Southern Pulled Pork Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 pounds boneless pork roast
• 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 4 cups water
• 1 tablespoon liquid smoke flavoring

Directions:

Cut the pork into large cubes and season with the Cajun seasoning. Melt the butter in a pot and add the pork, cooking until all sides are brown. Then transfer the pork to a slow cooker. Add the onion and garlic to the pot and cook until tender. Add all of the contents to the slow cooker, including the pork drippings. Add the liquid smoke flavor and stir, then cook on high for 6 hours. Shred the pork and serve with sandwich buns.

Desserts: For your Election Night party dessert, incorporate patriotic red, white, and blue. An easy option is to set up an ice cream sundae bar for your guests. Provide various toppings, including some red and blue accents like strawberries, blueberries, and patriotic sprinkles. If you prefer to serve a baked good, make red, white and blue cupcakes. You can use white frosting and top with fondant donkeys and elephants or try your hand at creating a frosting design based on the campaign symbol of the candidates.

Ingredients:

• 1 box white cake mix and the ingredients listed on the box
• Red and blue food coloring

Directions:

Make the cake according to the package directions but don’t bake. Separate the batter evenly into three bowls. Add a few drops of food coloring into two of the bowls until you achieve your desired red and blue colors. Drop a dollop of each color of cake batter into the cupcake tins. Bake just like that for a layered look or use a knife to swirl the colors together for a funkier look. Top with the frosting design of your choice.

Drinks: Patriotic cocktails are a great choice for your election party. Try this yummy recipe at your election party.

Red, White, and Blue Cocktail Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 oz oval vodka
• ¾ oz Cointreau
• 3 tablespoons of macerated strawberries
• A splash of fresh-squeezed lemon juice
• A splash of blue curaçao

Directions:

Sugar the rim of a martini glass. Combine all ingredients except for the Blue Curacao in a martini shaker and shake until blended. Strain into the martini glass and finally add in the blue curacao.

Your guests are sure to be impressed with the election party menu at your celebration!