Football Season is, hands-down, our favorite time of the year. We have so many things to look forward to – cooler weather, college football on Saturday, NFL on Thursday, Sunday, and Monday. Here are some of my favorite Game Day recipes – pimento cheese and buffalo chicken dip, to chili, and chicken and sausage gumbo. And football-shaped desserts!
Let’s Start with Appetizers –>
Classic Pimento Cheese
This creamy, peppery, Homemade Pimento Cheese is a classic Southern recipe that’s perfect for any occasion. With its blend of shredded cheddar cheese, mayo, and diced pimentos, this versatile spread is not only a delicious sandwich filling but it’s also a crowd-pleasing dip for crackers and veggies or a flavorful topping for burgers.
Get the Recipe: Pimento Cheese
Ranch Chex Party Mix
Ranchy Chex Party Mix is a delicious twist on a family favorite called “Crack Pretzels” that covers all the bases – salty, crunchy, cheesy – and addicting. It’s the perfect party snack so bring a bowl to your next picnic.
Get the Recipe: Ranch Chex Party Mix
Spicy Jalapeño Pimento Cheese
If you’re a fan of pimento cheese but want to add a little kick to your traditional recipe, then you’ll love this Spicy Jalapeño Pimento Cheese Recipe! Not only is it a super easy recipe to make, but it’s also really, really delicious. It’s a Southern favorite and an easy dip to serve as an appetizer or a snack.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Jalapeño Pimento Cheese
Buffalo Chicken Dip
Buffalo Chicken Dip is such a great appetizer recipe to serve at parties – especially Game Day! This creamy dip recipe is so easy to make and will be a hit for sure!
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Dip
Bourbon Candied Pecans
Sweet and Spicy Candied Bourbon Pecans are salty, sweet, and, well, just a little bit spicy. The taste of bourbon is very subtle, but it gives these pecans the perfect amount of something extra to make them so delicious and addicting. I bring them to every party!
Get the Recipe: Candied Bourbon Pecans
Bacon Onion Jam
Bacon Jam is one of my favorite appetizers – served with some crackers and cheese, it is such a treat. The balsamic flavor is deep & rich, the caramelized onions give off such a sweet flavor, and of course, the taste of bacon is always amazing.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Onion Jam
Fried (Toasted) Ravioli
Fried (Toasted) Ravioli are a St. Louis staple but this recipe can be made at home in less than 30 minutes. Flavored with pizza seasoning, this homemade version is fried until crispy and is so delicious.
Get the Recipe: Fried (Toasted) Ravioli
Cajun Crab Dip
Alright, folks, gather ’round for a taste of southern hospitality with a Cajun Crab Dip recipe that’ll knock your socks off. This creamy concoction of cream cheese, cold lump crab meat, and just the right amount of spice is the perfect show-stopping appetizer. So grab your crackers and get ready to indulge in a little taste of Louisiana charm.
Get the Recipe: Cajun Crab Dip
Crispy Potato Skins with Cheese & Bacon
These Fully Loaded Crispy Potato Skins are a delicious appetizer or side dish recipe. The flavorful seasoning, fluffy potato, crispy skins – and you can’t forget the cheese – make this a recipe that will quickly become a family favorite!
Get the Recipe: Fully Loaded Crispy Potato Skins
Instant Pot Queso Dip
This Instant Pot Queso Dip is loaded with tons of cheese, tomatoes, jalapeños, and a ton of flavor. It is made in just minutes with a pressure cooker for an impressive and crowd-pleasing appetizer.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Queso Dip
Quick and Easy Guacamole
This Quick and Easy Guacamole recipe is a keeper. Simple. Creamy. Delicious. It’s perfect for tacos, eggs, grilled chicken, or just for dipping. You will come back to it over and over again.
Get the Recipe: Quick and Easy Guacamole
Taco Dip
This creamy, crave-worthy Taco Dip layers beef, beans, cheese, and all your favorite taco flavors for a crowd-pleasing game-day appetizer or potluck recipe. With just 10 minutes of prep time, this easy taco dip with ground beef comes together in under 30 minutes for a warm and gooey bottom layer topped with fresh, cool fixings.
Get the Recipe: Taco Dip
Beef Nachos Supreme
This Beef Nachos Supreme recipe is the best easy appetizer or simple dinner. Crispy tortilla chips are topped with juicy ground beef, refried beans, creamy cheese sauce, and all your favorite nacho toppings.
Get the Recipe: Beef Nachos Supreme
Pretzel-Wrapped Pigs in a Blanket
Pretzel Wrapped Pigs in a Blanket are the ultimate game day snack. Bite-sized in a buttery, pretzel dough with addictive brown sugar mustard dipping sauce. These are a total home run.
Get the Recipe: Pretzel Wrapped Pigs in a Blanket
Crack Pretzels
“Crack” Pretzels are aptly named for their addictive quality. You can’t have just one! They have a ton of ranch flavor but also have a little spice, a little garlic, and a subtly warm cinnamon undertone. They are the perfect snack for a party!
Get the Recipe: Crack Pretzels
Classic Pimento Cheese
This creamy, peppery, Homemade Pimento Cheese is a classic Southern recipe that’s perfect for any occasion. With its blend of shredded cheddar cheese, mayo, and diced pimentos, this versatile spread is not only a delicious sandwich filling but it’s also a crowd-pleasing dip for crackers and veggies or a flavorful topping for burgers.
Get the Recipe: Pimento Cheese
Deviled Eggs with Diced Pickles
With fluffy, tangy, and creamy filling in perfectly-cooked hard-boiled eggs, this Easy Deviled Egg Recipe will be your new favorite side or appetizer. Perfect for a party, these deviled eggs are quick and easy to make and are a crowd-pleaser.
Get the Recipe: Deviled Eggs with Diced Pickles
BBQ Meatballs
Let’s skip the slow cooker and have these delicious sweet and savory stove-top BBQ Meatballs ready in 15 minutes with no grape jelly! This is a great recipe for last-minute dinners or an easy appetizer.
Get the Recipe: BBQ Meatballs
Cheeseburger Sliders
This delicious Cheeseburger Sliders recipe changes things up by tasting like your favorite burger but resembling a sloppy joe. Easy to make in advance, they’re perfect for feeding a crowd, game day, or for a quick weeknight meal.
Get the Recipe: Cheeseburger Sliders
Bacon Jalapeño Popper Dip
Bacon Jalapeño Popper Dip is the perfect appetizer for the busy holiday season and the ultimate holiday feast. It’s creamy and cheesy, and full of bacon and jalapeño peppers. Bacon Jalapeno Popper Dip is easy to put together, can be made ahead of time, and will likely be the first appetizer to disappear.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Jalapeño Popper Dip
Mini Charcuterie Cups
Handheld Mini Charcuterie Cups are ideal for parties and gatherings. Mix and match the filling to make unique and fun combinations that wow guests and fit your budget. This easy individual appetizer recipe only takes 15 minutes to prepare!
Get the Recipe: Mini Charcuterie Cups
Spinach Artichoke Bread Ring Dip
Spinach Artichoke Bread Ring Dip is the perfect marriage between soft and fluffy homemade rolls and amazing Spinach Artichoke Dip.
Get the Recipe: Spinach Artichoke Bread Ring Dip
Onto the Main Courses –>
Crispy Korean BBQ Oven Baked Chicken Wings
These Sweet and Spicy Korean BBQ Chicken Wings are oven baked and oh so crispy! If you’re looking for a way to kick your appetizer game up a notch, look no further!
Get the Recipe: Crispy Korean BBQ Oven Baked Chicken Wings
Smash Burgers Tacos with Big Mac Sauce
Skip fast food and spice up your burger night with these super fun Smash Burger Tacos. It’s basically just a cheeseburger, but you eat it like a taco. Top it with Big Mac Sauce. Taco Burgers cook really fast, and you get to load them up with extra toppings. THE BEST!
Get the Recipe: Smash Burger Tacos
Fried Shrimp
Perfectly battered and fried to a golden crisp, these succulent shrimp make for a mouth-watering appetizer or main dish. Deep-Fried Shrimp are crispy and delicious, and pair perfectly with homemade tartar sauce.
Get the Recipe: Deep-Fried Shrimp
Tartar Sauce
This Easy Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe is the perfect sauce to dip your crunchy fried fish fillets or crispy fried shrimp in. The tangy flavor pairs perfectly with so many dishes, and it is so easy to make.
Get the Recipe: Tartar Sauce
Buttermilk Fried Chicken Tenders
These Buttermilk Fried Chicken Tenders are marinated in seasoned buttermilk, breaded in seasoned flour and panko breadcrumbs, then fried in peanut oil until golden brown and crispy. The breading actually sticks to them – and stays perfectly crunchy. They are the BEST.
Get the Recipe: Buttermilk Fried Chicken Tenders
Copycat Raising Cane’s Sauce
Southern Bytes readers have spoken and this Copycat Raising Cane’s Sauce Recipe tastes JUST LIKE the original. It is perfect for dipping chicken tenders, fries, and really, anything else. It is tangy, creamy, peppery, and so addicting. It goes perfectly with chicken tenders with tailgating!
Get the Recipe: Copycat Raising Cane’s Sauce
Taco Pizza
This Easy Taco Pizza Recipe is loaded with big flavors from taco meat, taco sauce, and fresh vegetables. It is a delicious dinner that will help you change things up for Grame Day and will please even the pickiest of eaters.
Get the Recipe: Taco Pizza
Sheet Pan Cuban Sliders
Sheet Pan Cuban Sliders are filled with melty Swiss cheese, deli meat, tart pickles, and mustard. This recipe is great for serving a crowd and is extra special thanks to a buttery poppyseed topping.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Cuban Sliders
Three Bean Sweet Potato Chili
Three Bean Sweet Potato Chili is a great vegetarian Game Day recipe. Made with corn, kale, tomatoes, and beans – it’s perfect for vegetarian guests.
Get the Recipe: Three Bean Sweet Potato Chili
Copycat Texas Roadhouse Style Chili
If you want to serve thick Texas-style red chili for Game Day, then you need to make the Best Texas Roadhouse Chili Recipe. It’s a reader favorite recipe on Intentional Hospitality. They have tested it, and declare it’s the best copycat Texas Roadhouse Chili you can make at home, hands down!
Get the Recipe: Texas Roadhouse Chili
Quick and Easy Chili
Make a hearty and comforting meal in no time with this Quick and Easy Chili recipe. With minimal ingredients and effort, you’ll be able to enjoy a warm bowl of chili that’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a satisfying lunch.
Get the Recipe: Quick and Easy Chili
BBQ Ranch Hamburgers
Are you looking for a simple and mouthwatering recipe to impress your friends and family at your next BBQ? Look no further than these BBQ Ranch Hamburgers! Packed with flavor and easy to make, these burgers are sure to be a hit.
Get the Recipe: BBQ Ranch Hamburgers
Chicken & Sausage Gumbo
Louisiana Chicken and Sausage Gumbo is a true representation of classic home cooking – taking simple, inexpensive ingredients and elevating them into an extraordinary meal. This Creole gumbo is loaded with okra, tomatoes, sausage, and chicken – it is so delicious.
Get the Recipe: Louisiana Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
Ready for Dessert? –>
Kroll’s Cookies (Giant Chocolate Chip Cookies)
These Giant Chocolate Chip Cookies will soon be your new favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe. The BEST chocolate chip cookie I have ever tried. They are everything you want and more: soft, chewy, fluffy, thick, easy to make, gooey on the inside, golden brown, and slightly crispy on the outside.
Get the Recipe: Giant Chocolate Chip Cookies
Football Puppy Chow
The ultimate Football Puppy Chow! Cheer on your favorite team with this game day or Super Bowl snack recipe!
Get the Recipe: Football Puppy Chow
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Ball
This Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Ball is the perfect appetizer for Game Day snacking! Go on and wow your guests at your next football party with this easy, yummy treat!
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Ball
Frosted Football Brownies
Brownies decorated like a football using chocolate and vanilla frosting. Use your favorite brownie recipe as the base. No cookie cutter needed!
Get the Recipe: Frosted Football Brownies
Football Cookies
Half the fun of game day is the food, and you’re sure to score points with these adorable homemade Football Cookies. Soft, buttery, and flavored with a touch of vanilla, they’re topped with reader-favorite sweet royal icing. Serve them during the football game festivities and watch them disappear before you can call foul!
Get the Recipe: Football Cookies
And now, Cocktails –>
Bacon Bloody Mary
If a bloody mary is a brunch drink, doesn’t it only seem natural to add bacon to the mix? This Bacon Bloody Mary Recipe is delicious and is a fun way to drink your bacon breakfast! Bacon infused vodka and homemade bacon salt make this a unique cocktail, for sure.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Bloody Mary Recipe
Classic Bloody Mary
Whether you are looking for a brunch cocktail or just a great drink, this Classic Bloody Mary Recipe is a tasty one and a meal in a glass. Get out that tomato juice and mix up a beautiful, tasty, and filling Classic Bloody Mary.
Get the Recipe: Classic Bloody Mary Recipe
Bacon and Bourbon Old Fashioned
Bacon and Bourbon are perfect bedfellows in this delicious Old Fashioned variation. This sweet drink brings together some great flavors and you will walk away knowing how to fat-wash your own spirits.
Get the Recipe: Bacon and Bourbon Old Fashioned
If you need any other ideas, check out my blog post –>
35+ Gameday Recipes
Here are 35 of my favorite Game Day foods. We like to do it up when we are watching football and we really like to go all out for Superbowl Sunday – a tradition that I inherited from my parents.
Get the Recipe: 35+ Gameday Favorites
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