15 Game Day Recipes Worth Cheering For (No Team Required)

“Defense! Defense!“

*cue me looking around to the chanting people in the room, trying to figure out what exactly is going on.*

Guys, I’m just here for the snacks. I’m the stepsister on Ever After whose mother claims she only goes to parties for the food.

Still, if you have any sports fans in your life, you know that it takes a chunk of time to reach the finale…erm, I mean final quarter…whatever. What better way than cheesy snacks to sweeten the deal?

No matter the team or sport, I am ALWAYS a Game-Day food fan. It’s almost like this category was created for me:

✅ Smothered in cheese?
✅ Carb-loaded?
✅ Spicy kick?

Yes, please!!

I created the perfect round up of recipes to make your Game Day easy and delicious!

So many tips and tricks, and even some of my favorite products for hosting down below, check it out.

​Stromboli​

1

Stromboli Sandwich

4.91 from 20 votes

This stromboli couldn’t be simpler—it’s like pizza, but rolled up with amazing layers of meat, cheese, and bread. It's already melty and basically impossible to resist but when you add marinara it totally takes it over the top.

If you have a big crowd, consider doubling it. Stromboli always disappears faster than you think.

Mary says, "Absolutely delicious!! They were a hit at our super bowl party!!"

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​Cheeseburger Sliders​

2

Hamburger Sliders with Cheese

4.94 from 62 votes

These easy Cheeseburger Sliders are the perfect appetizer for game day, so much better than overpriced DoorDash. Fluffy Hawaiian rolls get packed with juicy, cheesy ground beef, then brushed with a buttery mustard topping that bakes into the buns. They’re ridiculously easy to throw together and make the ideal shareable party snack.

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​Homemade Cheese Sauce​

3

Simple Cheese Sauce Recipe

5 from 19 votes

Get ready to dip your heart out. Have you ever had Shake Shack's crinkle cut fries with the cheese sauce on top? This is a copycat but don't feel like you have to stop at fries. If there's a meat, veggie, chip, or cracker that wouldn't be improved by this cheese sauce, I don't even wanna know about it. Pro tip: top your next taco with with this. WUT yes it's so good.

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​Homemade Pretzel Dogs​

4

Homemade Pretzel Dogs

4.83 from 35 votes

Your new favorite hot dog! Homemade Pretzel Dogs are just as delicious as the ones you get from the mall! They are easier to make than you think. Make a simple bread dough, wrap the dogs, boil, then bake. Don’t forget to sprinkle tons of salt on top! Another pro tip: Make the cheese sauce above and dip these in it. YAS.

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​Cheeseburger Egg Rolls​

5

Cheeseburger Egg Rolls

4.85 from 19 votes

Want to switch it up from burgers and dogs? Game day food doesn’t get much better than these. Crispy golden wrappers hold a melty, savory burger-and-cheese filling that’s, dare I say it…maybe even better than a cheeseburger?? (No, that's heresy.) Dunk them in fry sauce, and suddenly no one's paying attention to the game anymore. Not that I was paying attention anyway 😆

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​Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Dip​

6

Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Dip

5 from 5 votes

This dip is the just-right blend of chicken and cheesy with the kick of Frank's. Have I eaten this for dinner before? Yes. Yes I have.

Jennie says, "I made these last weekend for some fight my husband and his dad ordered. This dip is the bomb dot com. Everyone loved it. All I kept hearing was how yummy the dip was and “Mmmm, this is so good.”

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​Pimiento Cheese Dip​

7

Pimiento Cheese Dip

5 from 4 votes

A Southern classic! This pimento cheese dip brings the heat and the creaminess. A little zing from a secret ingredient makes it totally addictive, and it’s easy enough to whip up right before kickoff. Set it out with crackers, chips, and veggies and watch it disappear. One of my all time favorites.

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​Sausage Cream Cheese Dip​

8

Sausage Cream Cheese Dip Recipe (Slow Cooker)

4.75 from 4 votes

A recipe that just screams game day? For me, it's THIS sausage cream cheese dip, a huge family fave around here. Cheesy, spicy, sausage-y dip is always an instant win, no matter how badly your team is doing. Throw it together in the crockpot and you’ve got a crowd-sized appetizer that disappears before halftime.

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​Carol’s Legendary 7 Layer Dip​

9

Best 7 Layer Dip

4.67 from 3 votes

7 Layer Dip is legendary game day food! It has seven amazing layers of party perfection: spicy bean dip, creamy guac, cool sour cream, fresh tomatoes, and plenty of cheese are just the beginning. This dip is always the first thing gone. Grab plenty of tortilla chips!

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​Chili’s Copycat Queso Dip​

10

Copycat Chili’s Queso Dip (Slow Cooker)

4.50 from 58 votes

This is a spot-on copycat of Chili’s famous queso for the stovetop or the crockpot. It's creamy, cheesy, and totally addictive. Honestly, you might want to make a separate pot just for yourself. Seriously try just one bite and you’ll understand why it’s impossible to stop once you start.

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​J Dawgs and Special Sauce Copycat​

11

The Best Hot Dog You Will Ever Eat (JDawgs Special Sauce Copycat)

4.96 from 23 votes

Laura says, "I made this tonight and it was amazing! This will be a regular in my kitchen. Burgers, brawts, MEATLOAF, hash browns, hotdogs (of course), anything you would eat ketchup on will get this. And the hotdogs! I loved the cut marks. It just added to the charred flavor. "

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​Guacamole​

12

My Favorite Guacamole Recipe

5 from 14 votes

The best part of this easy homemade guac is that it comes together in just 5 minutes, no complicated steps or extra ingredients needed. I've made a lot of guacamole in my time (and, let's be honest, EATEN a lot) and I’m going to show you exactly how to make it so your guests can’t stop dipping.

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​Laura’s Meatball Sub​

13

Laura’s Meatball Sub Recipe

5 from 4 votes

These meatball subs are total crowd-pleasers, even for picky people! My sister Laura’s recipe is insanely good, and our whole family can’t get enough. Make them in the slow cooker or on the stovetop. I'm giving you both the full recipe (homemade meatballs, homemade sauce) and the shortcut (frozen meatballs, jarred sauce). Both are awesome.

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​Canadian Bacon and Havarti Cheese Sliders with Pesto Glaze​

14

Canadian Bacon and Havarti Sliders

5 from 5 votes

Don't want to spend hours making individual sandwiches for hungry fans? This is the solution! One time I was at Costco and they had samples of Havarti and ham sandwiches with pesto. It was SO good, so I came home and added melted butter. I mean, it was the right choice, right? The flavors are seriously making me drool just thinking about them.

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​Caramelized French Onion Dip​

15

French Onion Dip

5 from 2 votes

I have your dip recipe for the big game guys!! Caramelized onions steal the show in this french onion dip, which is a whole 'nother level up from any onion dip you've had before. Your chips are about to meet their new best friend!

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What you need to host game day

Serving TraysCharcuterie Board with LidGalvanized TubPyrex Bowls with Lids

• Serving trays: everyone needs white platters. Classic, three different sizes and oven safe! They look good with any theme, and you will use them for years to come.
• Charcuterie board with lid: going to tailgating or to someone else’s house? The wooden tray with a lid is the perfect way to transport your goodies and have them look perfectly party ready. Snacks with class (and less clean up, yes please).
• Galvanized tub: I don’t really know what “galvanized” means, but a big tub filled with ice is the best way to keep everything cold and contained on your buffet table. Works for everything from fancy sparkling juice to a buncha Diet Cokes.
• Pyrex bowls with lids: these bowls will remain classic forever. I have had mine for more than 15 years! They come with a lid so your food is easy to transport or for immediate leftovers storage. Your dip has never looked so good!

Football NapkinsMini TongsClear Plastic PlatesBristle Free Grill Brush

• Fun napkins: if you’re not messy, at least one of your guests will be (it me, it me). Besides how cute are these?? It’s the little things!
• Mini serving tongs: tongs are the best when it comes to serving. This mini set ensures that everything matches and they are small enough to fit on any size dish.
• Clear plastic plates: no one wants to stay up late doing dishes, and NO ONE wants their queso or salsa to seep through paper plates onto those new white pants. The best hack is to get clear plastic. They look really nice, but you (or your ever-patient spouse, sorry Eric!!) won’t have to deal with the mess later.
• Grill brush: ok, you are gonna have to clean the grill though (at least until the day they make disposable grills). No more being terrified about little bits of metal brush in your food: this one is bristle free.
  

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