In search of the perfect game day recipes for your next football party? Check out this roundup of the best game day snacks for any appetite.
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Need ideas for your game day menu? We’ve got you covered – game day snacks are our specialty! Whether you’re watching football from the couch or hosting a tailgate party, having good game day food is a must. To help you decide what to make, we’ve compiled a list of the best game day recipes for any appetite – from crowd-pleasing finger foods to full-blown dinners.
Game Day Finger Foods
1. Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Taquitos
Is there anything better than savory, crispy, dippable taquitos? We don’t think so. Turn everyone’s favorite game day snack, buffalo chicken, into these easy air fryer roll-ups for a fun twist on a classic. Served with buffalo ranch dipping sauce for cool contrast to the spicy chicken filling, these irresistible apps will be gone before kickoff.
2. Cheeseburger Egg Rolls with Sriracha Mayo
For fans of the savory yet not-so-spicy, 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.
3. Air Fryer Buffalo Wings
Is it even a football party without buffalo wings? There’s nothing quite like chowing down on wings during the game and getting sticky sauce all over your face and fingers. Try our take on this tailgating classic, made easy with an air fryer and homemade Frank’s Red Hot-based buffalo sauce. They might be the sauciest, messiest game day finger food on this list, but they’re 100% worth it! Be warned: whether you make enough for two or two dozen, tears will be shed as soon as the plate’s empty.
4. Bacon Garlic & Herb Jalapeno Poppers
If you love spicy game day food, chances are you’re a fan of jalapeno poppers. But have you ever had jalapeno poppers with Alouette garlic & herb spreadable cheese? Flavored spreadable cheese makes preparation a breeze for this easy game day recipe. Surprise your guests with this unique twist on a sports bar favorite, topped with crumbled bacon for a savory and crunchy finish!
5. 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.
6. Tiny Tacos & Spicy Dipping Trio
Prepping game day snacks for a crowd? Go all out and impress your guests with a platter of tiny tacos made with beans, cheese, and chicken. It’s surprisingly easy to whip up a big batch of these tailgate worthy bites as long as you have a little bit of time on your hands. Serve these mini tacos with jalapeno crema, habanero hot sauce, and spicy queso and your party guests won’t be able to keep their hands off these perfectly dippable finger foods!
Easy Game Day Recipes
1. Buffalo Chicken Sliders
Game day sliders are always a hit – which is why these shredded buffalo chicken sliders on Hawaiian rolls are the best easy recipe 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 appetizer. 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.
2. 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. Grab a pack of spicy black bean patties from the freezer aisle, cook them, mash them up and then melt in some cheese for an easy shortcut “ground beef” filling – then serve it all on Hawaiian rolls with a zingy chili lime dressing. It’s that easy! These game day sliders are so savory, decadent, and flavorful that you’d never know they’re made with only 4 ingredients.
3. Cheesy 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, it’ll satisfy even the non meat-eaters at your tailgate, so it’s a win for everyone.
4. 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.
5. Cast Iron Skillet Nachos
If you’re looking for easy game day food on a budget, this bare-bones recipe for two is calling your name! All you need is tortilla chips, shredded cheese, a can of black beans, and some veggies and voila: the easiest small batch game day snack you could dream of. These nachos are surprisingly light and refreshing, but still savory enough to satisfy that comfort food itch that comes with watching football.
Game Day Dinners
1. BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Sliders
Sliders aren’t just appetizers – they make the best game day dinners, too! Especially these barbecue style bacon cheddar Hawaiian roll sliders. Made with homemade BBQ slider patties, extra sharp cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, and Sweet Baby Ray’s, these scrumptious sliders are just mini versions of a cookout classic. Serve them on a platter for an easy grab n go tailgate party dinner that everyone will love.
2. Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Sandwiches
Nothing says game day quite like crunchy fried chicken. So grab your air fryer and make these crispy chicken sandwiches for dinner while you watch the game! After a little hands-on prep time you can just pop these patties into the air fryer, so you can pay attention to the TV instead of sweating over a deep fryer. These sandwiches are the best game day food for two if you’re craving a quick and easy fast food style dinner.
3. BBQ Pulled Pork Pizza
Who doesn’t love a good sheet pan pizza? Perfect for serving a crowd, this large and meaty pizza makes the best game day dinner for football parties. It’s hearty, saucy, and savory – all the best things about good game day food! Slice this pizza into as many pieces as you want and serve it straight on the pan for an easy Sunday night football dinner.
4. Buffalo Chicken Mac n Cheese
Of all the ways to serve buffalo chicken on game day, this may be one of the most decadent yet: a gooey, comforting dish of mac n cheese made with Velveeta and Frank’s Red Hot. Bite-sized pieces of crispy air fried buffalo chicken with squishy, cheesy noodles makes the most mouthwatering comfort food dinner. This recipe does take a little more time and effort, but it’s 100% worth it. We promise.
5. Meat Lover’s Pizza
Last but not least, this hefty meat lover’s sheet pan pizza is everything good game day food should be: super savory, greasy, and over the top. This pizza is loaded with bacon, pepperoni, and sausage for a symphony of flavors any carnivore will drool over. You can slice and serve it any way you want to satisfy your football party guests – just don’t forget to snag some for yourself before it’s all gone!
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!
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