My Favorite Football Recipes to Make Game Day Delicious

By Brooks Halliday 

I didn’t realize when I said “I do” years ago that it included my husband’s larger-than-life love of football. If his team is on the field, you can be sure his eyes are on the screen. Never a sports enthusiast myself, I had to wrap my head around the fact that game day is serious stuff. 

Initially, I would watch the games with him. I would even stay silent during key plays, a real act of love for this chatterbox. But, in spite of giving it the old college try, I found myself bored and wishing I could change the channel. I knew that football season wasn’t going anywhere, and neither was my husband, so I had to come up with a compromise. Fortunately, there’s one important part of the superfan experience that we both love: the snacks. 

Now, I look forward to the start of football season and game day because I approach it like a party. We invite family and friends, and while the football aficionados watch the action on screen, the rest of the group plays cards or just chats in the other room. And the football foods are the real star of the show. I try to make at least four or five things, so people go home full, even though I don’t serve a full meal. For me, it’s all the fun of a cocktail party, but in a relaxed, family-friendly setting. These are some of the all-star football recipes I include in our lineup when football season rolls around.

Air Fryer General Tso’s Chicken Wings

When my husband told me that these wings tasted like his favorite sports bar and his favorite Chinese place had a baby, I knew they’d be a regular in our snack roster. I’m absolutely okay with that because they’re budget-friendly and so easy to make. The wings go directly from the freezer to the air fryer without thawing. The homemade sauce is divine, sticky, with just the right amount of heat.

Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels

We both love Buffalo chicken, so I was looking for a way to serve it in the form of finger food, other than wings. These flaky pinwheels are just the ticket. I usually make one mild batch for the kids (and some heat-adverse relatives) and an extra spicy batch for everyone else. I like to add blue cheese crumbles for extra tang, and of course, I serve them with crunchy veggies and plenty of blue cheese dressing for dunking.

Pigs in an Everything Blanket

I didn’t think pigs in a blanket, AKA the world’s most perfect party food, could get any better. I was wrong. Just a few shakes of everything bagel seasoning takes them to another dimension. It’s not only the extra savory flavor, but the crunchy texture on top that makes them even harder to resist than the original.

Jalapeño Popper Dip

You can’t talk about game day grub without mentioning jalapeño poppers. I love to serve them, but slicing and stuffing enough peppers for a crowd is tedious and time-consuming. This dip delivers all the flavor with a fraction of the work. It’s cheesy and savory with the right amount of kick. I serve it with tortilla chips and veggies, including both pickled and raw slices of jalapeño and bell pepper.

Slow Cooker Thai Sweet Meatballs

I always rely on my slow cooker for game day because it requires little to no effort, and it doesn’t take up much real estate in the kitchen. This recipe is basically as easy as heating up a frozen appetizer, but it tastes homemade. The meatballs go in frozen, and the sauce comes together from some doctored-up store-bought options.

Air-Fried Buffalo Pretzels with Blue Cheese Dip

This is another unique way to get my Buffalo and blue cheese fix. The pretzels get an extra layer of satisfying crunch in the air fryer. It’s almost as easy as serving store-bought chips and dip, but it’s a really memorable snack. These pretzels are always one of the first things to disappear on game day.

Gluten-Free Mozzarella Sticks

It felt like a lightbulb went on above my head when I realized that my kids’ string cheese is a gooey mozzarella stick just waiting to happen. This version uses gluten-free breadcrumbs, so everyone can enjoy them. Sometimes I like to mix up the seasoning in the breading with smoked paprika or a little cayenne.

Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken Sliders

These sandwiches are probably the most-requested munchie I make on game day. Everyone devours them, including my son, who orders everything extra mild. The flavor contrast of spicy, savory, and sweet, along with the textural contrast of crunchy chicken on a soft roll, is just perfection. Using frozen chicken tenders makes this almost too easy.

Beer Poached Shrimp

Even though no one is watching calories on game day, I like to serve a balance of lighter bites and veggies along with the heavier snacks. This shrimp fits the bill. Between the spice mix and the beer, they have so much flavor. It feels like a fun party food that’s also filling because of all the protein, but doesn’t leave anyone feeling like they need a nap afterward.

Spicy Queso with Chorizo

This queso blows the jarred stuff out of the water. The pepper jack cheese and fresh chorizo take it to another level. I serve it with both tortilla chips and veggies for dipping. It’s so easy to make that it usually shows up on taco night at our house, too.

Brooks Halliday is a writer, recipe developer, food stylist, and mom based in New York City. In addition to writing for Savory, she’s created delicious dishes for The Barefoot Contessa TV series, the James Beard Award-nominated special “Barefoot in Washington,” as well as numerous cookbooks and product brands, including Coca-Cola, Tyson, and Pepsi.