31 Best Game Day Recipes For Sunday Football
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In search of the perfect recipe for your next football party? Check out this roundup of the best game day recipes for Sunday football, from sliders to dips to full-blown dinners.
Sunday afternoons in the fall and winter only mean one thing – it’s time for football. And where there’s a crowd of sports fans watching the game, there has to be a table of irresistibly savory game day snacks. Without our favorite finger foods easily within reach, how can we stay energized enough to cheer on our favorite team for 3 hours?
To help you figure out what to make for your next Sunday football watch party, we’ve compiled a list of the 31 best game day recipes. As two lifelong football fans, game day snacks are our specialty! From crowd-pleasing appetizers to full-blown dinners, these football Sunday worthy recipes are guaranteed to satisfy any appetite.
Game Day Appetizer Recipes
We love making so many different snacks to enjoy with a cold beer when watching football, and these are some of our favorites. Check out our game day appetizers category, for all our recipes!
Air Fryer Cheeseburger Egg Rolls
For fans of the savory snacks, whip up a batch of restaurant style cheeseburger egg rolls with sriracha mayo dipping sauce. These fun finger foods are crunchy and crispy on the outside – and a little gooey on the inside – for a mouthful of delicious textures and flavors in every bite. They’re the best kind of greasy, comfort food appetizer you’d order at the bar while watching the game.
Buffalo Chicken Rangoons
Buffalo chicken dip is the best. So we are constantly looking for new ways to enjoy it (that way, we can at least pretend we’re eating a variety of apps). So if you need a new way to disguise your buffalo chicken dip obsession as well, we’ve got you covered. Simply put it in a wonton wrapper, and stick it in the air fryer, and you’ve got yourself some buffalo chicken rangoons. Warning: you may start to find football just isn’t the same without these little bundles of happiness.
Bacon Cream Cheese Jalapeno Poppers
This offseason was great for our jalapeno poppers, as we completely revamped the recipe. Kinda like your favorite team signing that free agent star or hitting on their first round pick. But unlike those, these bacon cream cheese jalapeno poppers won’t disappoint. We’ll be making this classic game day recipe all season long.
Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
If you’re in need of healthy or vegetarian-friendly game day recipes, try these spicy air fryer buffalo cauliflower bites. Cauliflower tends to take on the flavor of whatever you season it with, so we’re not kidding when we say these little fried bites taste just like buffalo chicken. Dip them in ranch or blue cheese dressing (or more hot sauce) and enjoy a plant-based snack while watching the game!
BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders
There’s just something special about football and barbeque. Start the party early by firing up the smoker and making some BBQ pulled pork the day before. Then come game time, show off your barbecue skills with these BBQ pulled pork sliders. Made with King’s Hawaiian rolls, caramelized onions, cheddar cheese, and of course extra BBQ sauce, they’ll be the talk of the day.
Air Fryer Buffalo Wings
Buffalo wings are perhaps the classic game day appetizer. And we’re all about it. These crispy, saucy, spicy air fryer buffalo wings are a staple for football Sundays. Since this is an air fryer recipe, it’s better for small batches, but they’re so crispy they’re worth making a big batch of anyway. I mean, just look at those saucy wings. How can you not make them?
3-Ingredient Beer Battered Onion Rings
Yes, your favorite game day appetizer from the pub is that easy to make at home. These super easy beer battered onion rings taste like the real deal, but only take a few minutes to whip up in your own kitchen. And if you want to make a big batch for all your friends, you can prepare them ahead of time and reheat them in the air fryer. Truly one of the best football Sunday snacks!
Southwest Egg Rolls
These southwest egg rolls are surprisingly light and fresh, and packed with so much flavor thanks to the black beans, corn, onion, garlic, diced green chiles, shredded chicken, and a little cheese. Add on the lime crema made with Greek yogurt and you’re not only getting your veggies, you’re also getting your protein all while sitting on the couch watching your favorite team!
Soft Pretzel Bites & Beer Cheese Dip
If there’s anything that goes better with football than savory snacks, it’s a cold glass of beer! Transform your favorite game day brew into a gooey beer cheese dip to serve alongside these easy soft pretzel bites. This recipe uses store-bought pizza dough for a secret shortcut no one will ever know – it’s just as fluffy and salty as the pretzel bites you’d order at your local pub.
Popcorn Chicken
Fried? Check. Snackable? Check. Pairs well with all your favorite sauces? Check. Quick and easy to make? Check and check. I’m not sure what else you could really be looking for in a game day snack. This popcorn chicken pairs perfectly with a spicy sriracha aioli and sesame soy sauces (as well as any other dip) and can be served as a snack, appetizer, or even a game day dinner.
Vegetarian Black Bean Southwest Sliders
Serve these vegetarian southwest sliders for a meatless option on game day and your guests might just think they’re eating mini cheeseburgers. Using frozen black bean burger patties and cheese, it’s surprisingly easy to make a plant based “ground beef” style filling for Hawaiian rolls. These game day sliders are so savory, decadent, and flavorful that you’d never know they’re made with only 4 ingredients.
Buffalo Chicken Dip Bites
I don’t know about you, but we can never have too much buffalo chicken at our game day parties. That’s why we need to keep coming up with new forms to serve it in. We have over 10 recipes featuring buffalo chicken at this point, so maybe we’ll have to throw a buffalo chicken party this year…
Game Day Dip Recipes
For all the appetizers we make, our dips make up a lot of our favorites! Check out our game day dips category for more fun recipes!
Buffalo Chicken Dip
This one speaks for itself. What’s better than buffalo chicken in dip form? This football favorite is the perfect mix of spicy, savory, hot, and cheesy – basically everything you could ever want while watching the game. Serve it with a bowl of Fritos Scoops or tortilla chips and you won’t even have to take your eyes off the TV as you dip and snack to your heart’s content. Bonus: it’s super easy to prepare this dip ahead of time and just pop it in the oven for hands-off cooking.
4 Layer Mexican Dip
What football fan doesn’t love a good Tex-Mex dip? All it takes to make this easy, cheesy dip is cream cheese, canned chili, cheese, and jalapenos. Layer these ingredients and pop it in the oven during the first quarter, and it’ll be gone before halftime. Served with salty tortilla chips, this dip is simply irresistible.
Mexican Street Corn Dip
If you’re looking for an easy dip that’s perfect for game day parties or potlucks, this is it. Our Mexican street corn dip is made in the slow cooker so you can just dump everything in, stir, and serve. Easy as that. And we just know that everyone will love this cheesy, spicy, comforting dip no matter what’s happening in the game. Pair it with some tortilla chips and a couple other easy dips for an all time great spread.
Creamy Spinach and Artichoke Dip
You really can’t go wrong with a hot and cheesy dip on game day! Try this easy restaurant style spinach and artichoke dip for a crowd-pleasing appetizer you can make in 30 minutes or less. It’s the best for dipping pita chips, tortilla chips, crostini, fresh bread, and anything else you can think of. Plus, this game day dip is vegetarian, so you can be sure you’ll have something available for everyone to snack on.
Cottage Cheese Spinach Artichoke Dip
Or switch it up and go for a healthier cottage cheese spinach and artichoke dip! Cold game day appetizers and dips make party prep so much easier. That’s because dips like this can be made ahead of time and then taken out of the fridge right when guests arrive, or when the game starts. Make this cold dip ahead of game day and you’re all set!
Cottage Cheese Queso
Are you obsessed with queso? If yes, we’ve got great news. (If not, are you okay?) As I’m sure all queso lovers are aware, queso may be delicious, but it’s also not necessarily great for you… But that’s why we created this cottage cheese queso. All of the deliciousness without any of the guilt! Give this amazing healthy queso a try and thank us later.
Game Day Nacho Recipes
Nachos and game day go hand in hand. We never get tired of making (and eating!) new nacho recipes. Here are some of our favorites we’ve made.
Beer Cheese Nachos
Nachos are one of the best snacks for watching football games. They’re salty and cheesy and go great with a beer – especially when they’re smothered in beer cheese and bacon bits! Best of all, you can make this game day snack in just 15 minutes, so if you’ve forgotten to prepare ahead of time, you’re in luck.
High Protein Nachos With Cottage Cheese Sauce
What if we told you that you could enjoy a decadent plate of nachos drenched in cheese sauce without all the typical calories and fat? It’s not too good to be true – these nachos are made with a deliciously creamy cottage cheese queso that tastes just like the real thing. Bonus: these nachos pack a high protein punch, so you can make ’em for dinner and dig in while you settle into the couch for the big game.
Loaded Buffalo Chicken Nachos
Nacho variations are so underrated. And while traditional nachos are hard to beat, we absolutely love to mix it up sometimes. There is no better way to change up your game day nachos than with a pan of loaded buffalo chicken nachos. This merging of two of the best game day foods will leave no one disappointed! Piled high with buffalo chicken, cheddar cheese, scallions, and ranch dressing, these nachos are basically a plate full of buffalo chicken dip.
Carne Asada Nachos
Streak nachos just hit differently on game days. Grab your favorite tortilla chips and pile them high with Mexican cheese, carne asada, pico de gallo, jalapeno slices, and some homemade avocado lime crema. Whether you’re making these just for yourself, a small group, or a crowd, we know everyone will love these craveable nachos. You’ll probably end up wishing you didn’t plan on sharing them.
BBQ Pulled Pork Nachos
If BBQ pulled pork and nachos isn’t enough to intrigue you, what if I told you it also features a homemade nacho cheese sauce? Not to mention all the other toppings these nachos are ABSOLUTELY STACKED with. Make these for a crowd, cause you’re gonna need some help eating them all.
Sunday Football Dinner Recipes
Sometimes we’re looking for more than just apps for a big game. And that’s where our game day dinners come into play. We have too many to list them all here, so we collected our go-tos.
BLT Pizza
Sandwich or pizza… sandwich or pizza… Why not both? This BLT pizza tastes just like the classic sandwich in a fun sharable gameday format. It’s piled high with crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, juicy tomatoes, and savory garlic aioli. Make this for a perfect game day dinner to give your guests something a little more filling to go with all the wonderful dips and snacks.
Buffalo Chicken Dip Sliders
Game day sliders are always a hit, which is why these shredded buffalo chicken sliders on Hawaiian rolls are one of our favorite game day recipes for serving a crowd. They’re gooey, cheesy, and a little bit spicy, and the way the Hawaiian rolls caramelize while they bake makes for an irresistibly sweet and savory bite sized snack. Grab a rotisserie chicken to make things even easier, and you’ll be happy you went with this crowd pleasing pull apart sliders recipe on game day.
Chick-Fil-A Pizza
A viral recipe so good it’s here to stay. This homemade Chick-Fil-A pizza doesn’t require a trip to your local fast food chain. Instead, we use store bought popcorn chicken and Chick-Fil-A sauce so you can be home all game day long! Basically a combination of pizza, chicken nuggets, and fries (the 3 best comfort foods), this game day dinner is super satisfying and definitely a crowd-pleaser.
Philly Cheesesteak
Okay Eagles fans, have your moment… Okay moments over. One thing I am thankful of Philly for is the all time classic the cheesesteak has become. I’m not sure there’s anything better than digging into an Amoroso roll piled high with shaved steak, melty cheese, and all of your other favorite toppings. Well maybe that and watching the Eagles lose… Kidding, kinda.
Buffalo Chicken Cheesesteak
And this one’s for our non-steak eaters. Not that being a steak eater keeps me from thoroughly enjoying a buffalo chicken cheesesteak. Buffalo chicken, a good hoagie roll, lots of cheese, and plenty of sauce just screams perfect game day dinner. Oh and it’s so easy to make a big batch of these when you’re having friends over for the game. Serve with some fries or onion rings for a complete dinner and you’ll quickly become the favorite host.
Thin Crust BBQ Chicken Pizza
There’s no better combination than pizza and beer, and we all know beer and football go hand-in-hand. So if you have a little extra time on your hands and really want to indulge on game day, this homemade thin crust pizza loaded with barbecue chicken really hits the spot. Make it for dinner and relish in the results of your labor while relaxing in front of the TV.
Crockpot Meatball Sliders
Get all your cooking out of the way early in the day so you can focus your full attention on the game. Before the game is on, set up your slider station with a crockpot full of meatballs, your prepped slider rolls, and whatever toppings you want. That way when the game is on, your guests can help themselves and leave you alone!
Homemade Pizza Bagels
Pizza bagels aren’t just for kids! This fun sheet pan recipe uses fresh ingredients for an extra delicious (and slightly bigger) alternative to the frozen version. You can customize them with whatever toppings you like, and easily make a large batch to feed a crowd. Plus, pizza bagels can either be a game day snack or dinner, depending on how many you eat!
We hope this list helps you find your new favorite game day recipe! Leave a comment below to tell us your go-to game day food. Happy snacking!
If you have any questions regarding the information presented in this post, please refer to our Nutrition Disclaimer here.