What’s the score? Doesn’t matter ~ everybody’s winning with these Game Day recipes from chips and dips to meatballs, pizza, and more, I’ve got all your bases covered for a slam dunk event.
My best collection of game day recipes yet ~ because some of us don’t know a hat trick from a Hail Mary, we just come for the food…
it’s all about the bread
What is it about warm toasted bread? You almost don’t have to serve anything with it ~ but please do! Pairing gooey cheese with crusty bread is a no-fail game day grub plan.
- Ham and Cheese Sliders
- Easy French Bread Pizza
- Mushroom Bruschetta with Gruyere
- Rosemary Focaccia Bread with Dipping Oil
- How to Make Flatbread Pizza with a Tortilla
- Buttery Garlic Knots
- Soft Pretzel Focaccia Bread
Ham and Cheese Sliders
Ham and cheese sliders with melty Swiss cheese and a tangy Dijon-butter sauce are the ultimate crowd-pleasing party food for game days, potlucks, and family gatherings.
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French Bread Pizza
French bread pizza brings family and friends together over homemade pizza made in minutes!
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Mushroom Bruschetta with Gruyere
Mushroom Bruschetta is a quick and easy appetizer ~ the savory mushroom toast with a hint of garlic and lots of melty Gruyere is a combination no one can resist!
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Rosemary Focaccia Bread with Dipping Oil
Make your own restaurant-style rosemary focaccia bread at home. Dip, crunch, and savor the flavors with this simple recipe.
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How to Make Flatbread Pizza with a Tortilla
How to make flatbread pizza with a tortilla ~ this FABULOUS no- fail recipe is a family favorite! It's the best easy appetizer or light dinner.
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Everything Bagel Knots
My everything bagel knots are soft, warm pull-apart rolls that taste just like an everything bagel!!
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Pretzel Focaccia
Pretzel Focaccia with maple mustard dipping sauce is the easiest way to get your fix of soft, homemade pretzel-y goodness. This easy one hour pretzel bread recipe skips the messy bits and gets right to the 'yum'.
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game day hot dips
It’s a good thing we humans have been hard wired with the ability to keep our eyes glued to the screen while simultaneously dipping and inserting hot gooey cheese straight into our mouths.
- Queso Dip ~ easy foolproof recipe
- Baked Caramelized Onion Dip
- Sweet Vidalia Onion Dip
- Cheesy Hatch Green Chile Dip
- Smokey Spinach Artichoke Dip
- Easy Beer Cheese Dip
- Hot Crab Dip
Foolproof Queso Dip
My queso dip recipe is a deliciously silky cheese dip perfect for Game Day snacking!
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Caramelized Onion Dip
Baked Caramelized Onion Dip will spoil you for any other hot appetizers, trust me!
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Sweet Vidalia Onion Dip
Sweet Vidalia Onion Dip is an easy hot appetizer that will have everybody begging for the recipe! It’s perfect for game nights, holiday entertaining, or just a romantic night in.
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Cheesy Hatch Green Chile Dip
Cheesy Hatch Green Chile Dip is an irresistible hot dip made with roasted Hatch chile peppers and lots of cheese!
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Smokey Spinach Artichoke Dip
Smokey Spinach Artichoke Dip ~ my cheesy classic hot dip recipe takes a fan favorite appetizer and gives it a twist with smoked mozzarella and gouda cheese.
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Easy Beer Cheese Dip
15 minute beer cheese dip will be your go to fall appetizer for game days, cocktail parties, and holiday gatherings!
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Hot Crab Dip
Hot Crab Dip is a delicious hot cheesy appetizer, perfect for holidays and game days, but easy enough for everyday ~ it always disappears fast!
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beef it up!
Adding meat to your appetizer spread is always a winning strategy. My game day recipes for cocktail meatballs and poppers are always the first to go.
- How to Make the Best Bourbon Meatballs Ever!
- Apple Butter Brandy Meatballs
- Middle Eastern ‘Nachos’
- Mahogany Chicken Wings
- Crock Pot Frito Pie
- Cheeseburger Jalapeño Poppers
- Cheesy Skillet Meatballs with Garlic Toast
Bourbon Glazed Meatballs
Bourbon Meatballs are tender juicy meatballs smothered in a sweet and spicy bourbon glaze…give your next cocktail hour an upgrade!
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Apple Butter Brandy Meatballs
Apple Butter Brandy Meatballs, the name tells you all you need to know. These luscious meatballs are smothered in a sweet and tangy apple butter brandy sauce that will bring you to your knees. Technically for the cocktail hour, no one will complain if you serve them for dinner.
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Middle Eastern ‘Nachos’
These Middle Eastern ‘Nachos’ are my take on one of our favorite appetizers, perfect for Game Day snacks or a romantic dinner for two ~ you decide!
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Mahogany Chicken Wings
Mahogany Chicken Wings are just plain irresistible, these yummy little guys are glazed to a deep burnished brown and the meat is melt-in-your-mouth tender. Just be sure to make lots — they go fast!
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Crock Pot Frito Pie
Frito pie is the ingenious combination of a fabulously meaty chili on top of crunchy Fritos corn chips. Dinner (or game day) doesn't get any better!
Cheeseburger Jalapeno Poppers
Cheeseburger Jalapeño Poppers are one of the most satisfying appetizers on the planet! These healthier baked jalapeño poppers are stuffed with seasoned ground beef, topped with plenty of melty cheese.
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Cheesy Skillet Meatballs with Garlic Toast
These Cheesy Skillet Meatballs are the ultimate comfort food — serve them as an appetizer with garlic toast, or a light dinner with a salad.
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salsa
This is where you’ll find me, no matter who’s playing who ~ I’ll be huddling up with the chips and salsa.
- Cowboy Caviar Recipe
- Better Than Restaurant Salsa
- Fire Roasted Salsa Negra (black salsa)
- Pineapple Salsa
- Sweet Corn and Hatch Chile Salsa
- Mango Salsa
Cowboy Caviar
Cowboy Caviar ~ whether you call it Texas caviar, black bean salsa, black-eyed pea salad, or Southwestern bean dip, this all-American cross between a salsa and a salad is just plain GOOD!
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Better Than Restaurant Salsa
Restaurant style salsa has that deep rich roasted tomato flavor you love from your favorite cantina, brightened with fresh veggies and cilantro.
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Fire Roasted Salsa Negra (black salsa)
Fire Roasted Salsa Negra ~ this intense Mexican black salsa is made with roasted tomatoes and peppers for a deep dark color and a gutsy flavor.
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Pineapple Salsa
My vibrant pineapple salsa is a brighter, juicier version of pico de gallo ~ we serve it with chicken, steak, pork, and fish. But it's also the best excuse I know of to buy a big old bag of chips!
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Sweet Corn and Hatch Chile Salsa
Sweet Corn and Hatch Chile Salsa is the best summer salsa ~ it goes great with grilled meats, fish, chicken or chips!
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Mango Salsa
Mango Salsa with ripe mangoes, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro and lime is one of the world's great recipes ~ enjoy with chips, tacos, chicken or fish!
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game day fry fest
There’s no contest here, fried snacks are the champs. Game day recipes don’t get any better.
- Beer Battered Fried Mushrooms
- Fried Olives
- Vidalia Onion Strings
- Guinness Beer Battered Onion Rings
- Cornflake Crusted Cheese Curds
- Fried Green Beans
Beer Battered Mushrooms with Herbed Ranch
These Beer Battered Mushrooms with Herbed Ranch Dip are crispy on the outside, and insanely juicy on the inside…they're in my top ten appetizers of all time!
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Fried Olives
Fried Olives are the best little appetizers in the world ~ they're crisp on the outside, warm and juicy on the inside ~ dip them in a little garlicky aioli and you'll be in heaven, guaranteed!
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Vidalia Onion Strings with Horseradish Aioli
Vidalia Onion Strings with Horseradish Aioli might just be the world's most perfect appetizer, these thin sweet onions rings are fried to perfection in minutes!
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Guinness Battered Onion Rings
These Guinness beer battered onion rings with a spicy curried mayo dip are the ultimate appetizer!
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Cornflake Crusted Cheese Curds
Cornflake crusted cheese curds are a twist on a favorite Midwestern snack that anyone can make ~ cornflakes are the secret to my extra delicious crispy crust.
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Fried Green Beans
Fried green beans definitely give French fries a run for their money…these crispy beer battered beans are irresistible!
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finger food
When the game gets close, the snacking goes on auto-pilot. My Game Day recipes for easy finger food are tailor made for couch potatoes 🙂
- Pigs in a Blanket
- Sweet and Spicy Bar Mix
- Gone Loco Party Mix ~ the Ultimate No Bake Recipe
- Dark Roasted Almonds
- Homemade Baked Pita Chips
- Naughty and Nice Party Mix Recipe
Pigs in Blankets
Homemade pigs in blankets for your next party ~ refrigerated crescent dough wrapped around little smokies plus lots of amazing dip suggestions!
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Sweet and Spicy Pretzel Mix
Spicy Sweet and Spicy Bar Mix whether you're celebrating the beginning of a new year or the end of a busy week, this snack mix recipe will be your best friend. The only downside is that you really can't stop once you start!
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Ultimate Party Mix
Gone Loco Party Mix ~ the Ultimate No Bake Recipe is a decadent sweet and spicy snack mix loaded with your favorite guilty pleasures, and it's a-mazing!!
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Dark Roasted Almonds
Deeply roasted almonds with an unexpectedly intense flavor ~ the easiest most delicious appetizer we've ever had!
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Baked Pita Chips 5 Ways
Easy homemade baked pita chips can be customized with endless flavors.
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Party Mix
My Naughty and Nice Party Mix Recipe is updated take on classic Chex snack mix combining spicy, salty, and sweet flavors into one seriously irresistible snack. It's endlessly customizable, just make sure to save some for Santa!
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kick it up a notch
Game day grub doesn’t have to be lowbrow ~ here are some delicious game day recipes to upscale your spread.
- Crispy Crab Balls
- Artichoke Parmesan Crostini
- Jarcuterie!
- Boursin Stuffed Mushrooms
- Baked Feta Cheese with Olives and Lemon
- How to Bake Brie
- Homemade Boursin Cheese Recipe
- Copycat Raincoast Crisps® Crackers
- Classic Clam Dip ~ updated!
- Rainbow Crudités with Fire Feta
Crispy Crab Balls
My crispy crab balls are crunchy on the outside, velvety smooth and packed with crab inside. A classic cocktail party appetizer that's great for date nights in, and game day nibbling, too.
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Artichoke Parmesan Crostini
Think you're too busy to make a hot appetizer? Try my artichoke Parmesan crostini ~ these crowd pleasers are quick to make (you can even make them ahead!)
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Jarcuterie
Jarcuterie are single serve charcuterie in adorable jars or cups. Everybody gets to take their meat and cheese appetizer with them as they mingle (the concept is pure genius!)
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Boursin Stuffed Mushrooms
Juicy baked mushroom caps stuffed with creamy Boursin cheese ~ this ultra easy appetizer will be the hit of your next party, guaranteed!
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Baked Feta Cheese with Olives, Lemon and Rosemary
Baked Feta Cheese with Olives and Lemon ~ an easy baked cheese appetizer that shows off the spectacular sun drenched flavors of the Mediterranean.
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Baked Brie
Do you know how to bake Brie the right way? Baked brie is one of the most luxuriously easy appetizers ever invented, and I'm sharing all the secrets to getting that perfectly oozy, gooey Brie every time.
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Homemade Boursin Cheese Recipe
My Homemade Boursin Cheese recipe is easy to do, and the flavor is spot on. This copy cat garlic and herb creamy cheese will save you SO MUCH money! It's perfect for any occasion.
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Copycat Raincoast Crisps Crackers
Homemade Raincoast Crisps are a copycat version of the famously beautiful and crunchy crackers that dominate cheese boards everywhere, and they're so easy to make!
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Clam Dip Recipe
A classic Mid Century dip gets a much needed makeover ~ this is the best clam dip recipe!
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Fire Feta
Rainbow Crudités with Fire Feta ~ an oasis of freshness and crunch in a season full of comfort foods and holiday treats, people will flock to this colorful healthy appetizer!
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go big
Don’t get caught short if the game goes into overtime! These main course game day recipes will keep your crowd going.
- Sheet Pan Smashburgers
- Sheet Pan Tuna Melts
- Steak Taco Crunch Wraps
- Sheet Pan Peppers and Brats
- Mexican Short Rib Tacos
- Tunapeño Poppers
- Authentic Chicago Hot Dogs
- Chili Mac and Cheese
- How To Make an Antipasto Platter
- Turkey Reuben Sandwiches
Sheet Pan Smashburgers
Juicy smashburgers with all the fixings made quick and easy on a sheet pan!
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Sheet Pan Tuna Melts
Sheet pan tuna melts are a quick and easy meal that everyone loves!
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Steak Taco Crunch Wraps
Steak taco crunch wraps are a weeknight favorite! Better than Taco Bell with juicy steak, lime crema, pico de gallo and lots of cheese!
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Sheet Pan Peppers and Brats
Sheet Pan Peppers and Brats ~ a quick and easy way to feed a Game Day crowd or a hungry family. This yummy sheet pan dinner is a favorite!
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Beer Braised Short Rib Tacos
Mexican short rib tacos are the BEST tacos ~ melt-in-your-mouth tender beef braised in a beer and guajillo chile sauce for Taco Tuesday, Cinco de Mayo, or just because!
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Tunapeño Poppers
Tunapeño poppers are irresistible little peppers stuffed with tuna and baked up with lots of bubbly cheese.
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Chili Mac and Cheese
Chili Mac and Cheese is the ultimate fall comfort dinner, a combo of meaty chili, pasta, and lots of gooey cheese. Perfect for Game Day or every day!
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Antipasto Platter
Learn how to assemble a stunning Mediterranean antipasto platter with meats, cheese, and fruit ~ a show stopping appetizer for 2 or 20!
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Sheet Pan Turkey Reuben Sandwiches
Deli style turkey Reuben sandwiches grilled up in the oven, on a sheet pan!
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Can you use an air fryer to fry the Vadalia Onion strings?
I haven’t tried, let me know how it goes if you do!