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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 is the pimento cheese I make when I want something classic and reliable, sharp cheddar, real mayo, and a handful of pimentos. It’s just as good spread on a sandwich as it is scooped up with a cracker.
Pimento Cheese Recipe
Creamy and peppery, this Homemade Pimento Cheese Recipe is a classic Southern recipe that works for parties, potlucks, or just an afternoon snack. 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.
This is my everyday deviled egg, tangy and creamy with a little crunch of diced pickle folded in. It’s the first thing that disappears at every potluck.
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.
This is the party mix I make when I want something everybody can snack on without thinking too hard about it. Salty, crunchy, and a little addictive, it never lasts long in the bowl.
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.
This is the pimento cheese I make when the classic version feels too tame. Fresh jalapeños give it real heat instead of just a suggestion of it.
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.
This is my go-to when buffalo season hits, whether that’s game day or just a Tuesday. It bakes up warm and creamy and disappears fast with a bag of tortilla chips.
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!
This is the snack I bring to every party because people always ask for the recipe. The bourbon is subtle, but it’s what makes these taste like more than just candied nuts.
Candied Bourbon 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!
This is one of my favorite appetizers to set out with crackers and cheese. The balsamic and caramelized onions make it taste like I spent a lot more time on it than I actually did.
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 and rich, the caramelized onions give off such a sweet flavor, and of course, the taste of bacon is always amazing.
This is my take on a St. Louis classic, made at home in under thirty minutes. Pizza seasoning in the breading is what makes it taste like something special.
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.
This is the dip I make when I want something a little fancier than the usual game day spread. Lump crab and cream cheese make it feel special without much extra work.
Cajun Crab Dip
This Cajun Crab Dip recipe brings a taste of southern hospitality to your appetizer spread. This creamy concoction of cream cheese, cold lump crab meat, and just the right amount of spice is the perfect show-stopping appetizer. Grab your crackers and enjoy a little taste of Louisiana charm.
This is the appetizer I make when I want something everyone fights over. Loaded with cheese and bacon, they never make it past the first round.
Fully Loaded Crispy Potato Skins
These Fully Loaded Crispy Potato Skins are a delicious appetizer or side dish recipe. The flavorful seasoning, fluffy potato, crispy skins, and of course the cheese, make this a recipe that will quickly become a family favorite!
This is the dip I make when I need something hot and cheesy on the table fast. The Instant Pot does all the work while I get everything else ready.
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.
This is the guacamole I make when I need something fresh on the table in five minutes. Simple ingredients, and it never lasts long.
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.
This is the dip I make for every game day spread because it disappears the fastest. Layers of beef, beans, and cheese mean there’s something for everyone.
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.
This is the nacho recipe I pull out when I want a full meal that still feels like game day food. Everybody builds their own plate exactly how they like it.
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.
This is the snack I make when I want something a little different from the usual spread. The brown sugar mustard dipping sauce is what everyone asks about.
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 a brown sugar mustard dipping sauce, these are a total home run.
This is the snack mix that earned its name honestly, ranch, garlic, and a little warmth from cinnamon. I always make a double batch because one is never enough.
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!
This is the appetizer I make when I need something fast that still tastes like I tried. No slow cooker, no grape jelly, just fifteen minutes on the stove.
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.
This is the slider I make when I want burger flavor without standing at the grill flipping patties. They’re just as good the next day, reheated.
Cheeseburger Sliders
This delicious Cheeseburger Slider 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.
This is how I do charcuterie for a crowd without setting up a whole board. Fifteen minutes and everyone gets their own little cup.
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!
This is the wing recipe I turn to when I want something with real flavor but don’t want to deal with frying. The oven does the crisping for me.
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!
This is the burger night twist I make when regular burgers feel boring. Big Mac sauce on a crispy smashed patty in a taco shell is a genuinely good idea.
Smash Burger Tacos
Skip fast food and spice up your burger dinner 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!
This is the shrimp I fry up when I want something that feels like a treat night at home. A quick dip in homemade tartar sauce makes it complete.
Deep-Fried Shrimp
Perfectly battered and fried to a golden crisp, these succulent shrimp make for a delicious appetizer or main dish. Deep-Fried Shrimp are crispy and pair perfectly with homemade tartar sauce.
This is the sauce I keep in the fridge anytime we’re frying fish or shrimp. Five minutes to make and it’s better than anything from a jar.
Homemade 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.
This is the tender I make when everyone wants fast food but I’d rather make it at home. The breading actually stays put, which is rarer than it should be.
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.
This is the dipping sauce I make so we don’t have to leave the house for it. Tangy, creamy, and peppery, it goes on everything from tenders to fries.
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 for tailgating!
This is the pizza I make when tacos and pizza night can’t decide which one wins. Taco meat and fresh toppings on a crust is a genuinely fun mashup.
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 Game Day and will please even the pickiest of eaters.
This is the slider I make when I want something a little different from the usual game day lineup. The poppyseed topping is what makes people go back for seconds.
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.
This is the chili I make when I want something thick and hearty for a crowd watching the game. It tastes like the restaurant version without the wait.
Texas Roadhouse 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!
This is the chili I make on a weeknight when I still want something warm and filling without a long ingredient list. It comes together faster than most soups.
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.
This is the burger I make when I want something a little different from a plain patty. BBQ sauce and ranch mixed right in means every bite already has flavor.
BBQ Ranch Hamburgers
Are you looking for a simple 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.
This is the gumbo I make when I want something that tastes like it took all day, even though most of the work is just the roux. Okra, tomatoes, sausage, and chicken make it a full meal in one pot.
Louisiana Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
Louisiana Chicken and Sausage Gumbo is a true representation of classic home cooking, taking simple, inexpensive ingredients and turning them into a hearty meal. This Creole gumbo is loaded with okra, tomatoes, sausage, and chicken, and it is so delicious.
This is the treat I put out during the game when everyone wants to keep snacking without a real recipe involved. Sweet, crunchy, and gone in one quarter.
Football Puppy Chow
The ultimate Football Puppy Chow! Cheer on your favorite team with this game day or Super Bowl snack recipe!
This is the dessert I bring when I want something sweet that still feels like finger food. Everyone just grabs a cracker and digs in.
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!
This is the dessert I make when I want something festive without a lot of extra effort. Any brownie recipe works, the frosting does all the visual work.
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!
This is the cookie I make when I want dessert that actually looks like it belongs at a game day party. The royal icing is easier than it looks.
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!
This is the drink I make for a game day brunch when regular bloody marys feel too ordinary. Bacon infused vodka is the detail people always ask about.
Bacon Bloody Mary Recipe
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.
This is the bloody mary I make when I want the classic version done right. Loaded with garnishes, it’s basically a meal on its own.
Classic Bloody Mary Recipe
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.
This is the cocktail I make when I want to try something a little more involved than a basic mixed drink. Fat-washing the bourbon with bacon sounds fancy, but it’s simpler than it seems.
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.
If you need any other ideas, check out my blog post –>
35+ Gameday Recipes
Game Day Favorites. Photo Credit: Southern Bytes.
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
I’m the home cook and photographer at Southern Bytes. My love of cooking started in my mom’s kitchen more than 30 years ago and grew even stronger after I married into a Louisiana family that lives and breathes Southern food. These are the recipes that capture the heart of Southern tradition, from collard greens and gumbo to cornbread and red beans and rice.
