Food and Recipes Party Food and Drink 70 Football Party Food Recipes Made for Game Day By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on June 27, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Hector M. Sanchez Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham In the South, game day food is just as important as the game itself. Fast food wings and grocery store veggie trays just won't cut it. That's why we've gathered all of our favorite football party food recipes into one go-to game day collection. From dips like Jalapeño Popper Dip to handhelds like Cheeseburger Egg Rolls, these crowd-winning dishes deserve to be displayed on your tailgate spread. We find a wide assortment of grab-and-go snacks serve best with eager football fans, so whip up a few of these easy recipes to be the talk of the tailgate, like our Buffalo Chicken Dip (Hook 'em horns!) or Mini Potato Skins (Geaux Tigers!). Forget a touchdown—everyone at the tailgate or watch party will cheer when they see that you've made Pulled Pork Nachos and Mini Muffalettas. You can bet on our Fried Pickle Chips and Bacon Bites, then once your favorite team wins, celebrate with Spiked Arnold Palmer and Potato Chip Cookies. Get ready for kick off by preparing these easy-to-make, grab-and-go recipes that are perfect for game day gatherings. 01 of 70 Rotel Sausage Dip Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Rotel Sausage Dip It's not a game day party without this six-ingredient dip. Serve this meaty Velveeta dip with scoop chips and you're ready to go. 02 of 70 Dry-Rubbed Smoked Chicken Wings Jennifer Causey Recipe: Dry-Rubbed Smoked Chicken Wings If the wings are good, so is the party. This pitmaster-approved recipe packs in the paprika and uses a smoker for dry-rub wings good enough to steal the show from the quarterback. Cook low and slow for tender wings. 03 of 70 Slow-Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip Skyler Burt Recipe: Slow-Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip Let your slow cooker do the work for you and soon enough, you'll have party-worthy dip that's creamy with a kick. We used Frank's Red Hot, but feel free to use your favorite hot sauce. 04 of 70 Bacon-Pimiento Guacamole Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Bacon-Pimiento Guacamole Guacamole is always good, but this Souther-style version will blow the rest out of the stadium. Combine three fan favorites for a game-changing dip recipe. 05 of 70 Slow-Cooked Barbecued Chicken Sandwiches Becky Luigart Stayner Recipe: Slow-Cooked Barbecued Chicken Sandwiches Using your slow cooker will help chicken fall off the bone with no effort. Pickled peppers, onions, and simple slaw take this sandwich recipe to the next down. 06 of 70 Game Day Chili Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Game Day Chili A cool fall Saturday isn't complete without a big batch of chili. Simmering in your Dutch oven, ground chuck, spices, and a bottle of dark beer will become a go-to recipe, and fill your home with a savory aroma that you'll come to associate with game day. 07 of 70 Bacon Bow Tie Crackers Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Tami Hardeman Recipe: Bacon Bow Tie Crackers We suggest at least doubling this two-ingredient recipe for your game day crowd. It's impossible to eat just one of these buttery cracker and salty bacon concoctions. 08 of 70 Basic Deviled Eggs Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Basic Deviled Eggs Deviled eggs are a welcome addition to any Southern gathering. Forget the football teams playing, the real rivalry is the one between Duke's Mayo and Hellmann's. Which will you choose for the yolk filling? 09 of 70 Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad Jennifer Davick Recipe: Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad This light and fresh pasta salad will be a welcome addition to offset the heavier dishes. This colorful salad is easy to transport to the tailgate, and thanks to sweet and tangy dressing, even easier to transport from the plate to tailgaters' mouths. 10 of 70 Pull Apart Pizza Bread Alison Miksch Recipe: Pull Apart Pizza Bread Instead of ordering pizza, serve this bread with your favorite marinara sauce. A savory, Italian take on monkey bread, this biscuit-based Bundt snack is a crowd-pleaser worthy of its own touchdown dance. 11 of 70 Pecan Praline Dip Alison Miksch Recipe: Pecan Praline Dip Switch it up from all the salty dishes with this decadent dessert dip. Serve it up with vanilla wafers to satisfy every sweet tooth in attendance. 12 of 70 Savory Bacon Dutch Baby Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Savory Bacon Dutch Baby We're digging this bacon-cheddar dish that is perfect for game day brunch. This fluffy pancake is best served right out of the oven in your cast iron skillet. 13 of 70 Spiked Arnold Palmer Southern Living Recipe: Spiked Arnold Palmer Add a little bourbon to this classic sipper for a spirited game day drink. If you have kiddos at your tailgate, you can easily make two batches: one with bourbon and one without. 14 of 70 Pulled Pork Nachos Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Pulled Pork Nachos This hearty crowd-pleaser comes together in just 15 minutes. With lots of opportunities for ingredient substitutions and variations, it's impossible to fumble this dish. 15 of 70 Homemade Onion Dip Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Homemade Onion Dip Once you try this homemade recipe, you'll never use the packets again. Charred Vidalia onions and fresh chives jolt this classic party dip into the end zone. 16 of 70 Beer Can Chicken Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Beer Can Chicken Two game day staples come together to create a classic grilled dish. Grab your favorite game day beer and some spice rub to guarantee that your chicken is tender and flavorful. 17 of 70 Cheddar Cheese Straws Lee Harrelson Recipe: Cheddar Cheese Straws These are the perfect party snack. They're especially easy to make and travel well. You only need six ingredients for this go-to snack and odds are, you already have them. 18 of 70 Cauliflower Wings Micah A. Leal Recipe: Cauliflower Wings Use cauliflower to make your new favorite rendition of buffalo wings. These coated cauliflowers add flare to any vegetable platter with other raw veggies and ranch dressing. 19 of 70 Spinach-Artichoke Dip Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Spinach-Artichoke Dip We love this indulgent dip and we know your guests will too. Add frozen artichokes to your classic spinach dip recipe and thank us later. 20 of 70 Creamy Overnight Fruit Salad Abigail Wilt Recipe: Creamy Overnight Fruit Salad Recipe Say hello to a lighter yet still delicious dish you can make the night before the big game. Making this fruit salad overnight is key to letting the flavors marinate to perfection. 21 of 70 Strawberry Pretzel Jello Salad Southern Living Recipe: Strawberry-Pretzel Jello Salad This nostalgic dish will never go out of style. Creamy, fruity, and with a salty crunch on top from the pretzels, this dish will always be welcome at game day gatherings. 22 of 70 Super Quick Chili Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Super Quick Chili Slice the tops from hearty round dinner rolls, and then let guests hollow out centers and spoon Super Quick Chili into them. Keep the chili warm in a slow cooker during the game so everyone can grab more on commercial breaks. 23 of 70 Sausage Balls Southern Living Recipe: Sausage Balls You're only three ingredients away from the perfect party snack. Sausage balls are a great salty bite for any occasion, so you know you can rely on them to satisfy at the tailgate. 24 of 70 Hoppin' John Hush Puppies Becky Luigart-Stayner Recipe: Hoppin' John Hush Puppies A Lowcountry classic is transformed into a crispy, satisfying fritter. A Tomato-Corn Relish seals the deal for this hybrid snack. 25 of 70 Sloppy Cola Joe Dogs Melina Hammer Recipe: Sloppy Cola Joe Dogs Think of having Sloppy Cola Joe Dogs as a delicious and convenient way to enjoy making a mess. Our Test Kitchen couldn't get enough of these new sloppy Joes enlivened with a splash of cola, which gives the ground beef a sweet boost that plays well off the filling's spices. You'll love these even more when you add your favorite coleslaw for crunch and color. 26 of 70 Pepper-Pepper Cheese Dip Coastal Living Recipe: Pepper-Pepper Cheese Dip Twice the pepper for twice the fun, pepper jelly and bacon top this cheesy jalapeño dip. Serve it piping hot or at room temperature. 27 of 70 Uncle Jack's Mac-and-Cheese Hector Sanchez Recipe: Uncle Jack's Mac-and-Cheese This cafeteria-style macaroni and cheese recipe is full of comforting flavor. Fit for a crowd, this mac dish comes together in a slow cooker and will taste just like Grandma used to make. 28 of 70 Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels These pinwheels have all the fixings found with your typical buffalo chicken dip but with the ease of a handheld vessel. Finally, a pastry that goes great with beer. 29 of 70 Sweet Potato and Chorizo Sausage Bites Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Sweet Potato and Chorizo Sausage Bites Sausage balls are a favorite Southern finger food. This recipe offers a delicious spin using sweet potatoes to make this appetizer stand out. 30 of 70 Mini Black Bean and Cheese Enchiladas Stephen DeVries Recipe: Mini Black Bean and Cheese Enchiladas These bite-size enchiladas are the solution to a mess-free yet delicious appetizer. Not your average labor-intensive enchilada, these miniatures come together in just three steps and 30 minutes. 31 of 70 Baked BLT Dip Skyler Burt Recipe: Baked BLT Dip We can never say no to a BLT. This recipe lets us get all the delicious flavors from the sandwich in one scoop. 32 of 70 Mini Potato Skins Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop styling: Claire Spollen; Food styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Mini Potato Skins These potato skins will be a hit at any watch party. Made with only five ingredients, these handhelds are convenient and delicious with a beer occupying your other hand. 33 of 70 Quesadillas al Pastor Skyler Burt Recipe: Quesadillas al Pastor Quesadillas are an easy crowd-pleaser. Add smoked shredded pork for an upgraded and slightly sophisticated version. 34 of 70 Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings Photographer: Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Recipe: Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings These crispy wings are easy to make and taste as good as any restaurant wings. Thanks to an air fryer, they're done in a flash and will fly off the platter in no time. We like them best with honey mustard dipping sauce. 35 of 70 Ham-and-Cheese Sliders Photography and Styling: Karen Rankin Recipe: Ham-and-Cheese Sliders Throw this bake in the oven for easy, handheld delight. Hawaiian Rolls and gruyère cheese will tempt tailgaters until the platter's empty. 36 of 70 Fried Pickle Chips Alison Miksch Recipe: Fried Pickle Chips Crispy pickle chips are always a hit with any crowd. Roundhouse-Kick Sauce with mayonnaise, chili sauce, ketchup, vinegar, Sriracha, and Worcestershire, will punt the pickles to the next level. 37 of 70 Cheeseburger Egg Rolls with Special Sauce Recipe: Cheeseburger Egg Rolls with Special Sauce Make these egg rolls to satisfy burger cravings during game days. Dipped in our Special Sauce, a delicious combination of multiple go-to condiments, this snack will send your normal burger takeout order scrambling. 38 of 70 Creamy Crab Dip Southern Living Recipe: Creamy Crab Dip A fresh take on an old classic, this ultra-creamy dip is heavenly. We know you'll want to eat the whole thing, but let everyone else at the tailgate have some too. 39 of 70 Mini Muffulettas Jennifer Davick; Styling: Amy Burke Recipe: Mini Muffulettas Cheese, cold cuts, and pickled vegetables fill these mini sandwiches. You can prepare these sliders the day before the party then watch them fly off the plate come game time. 40 of 70 Slow-Cooker Beef Nachos Photo: Laurey W. Glenn Recipe: Slow-Cooker Beef Nachos Nachos are a great way to get a bite of all this recipe has to offer, but with slow-cooker beef this good, there's lots of wiggle room for delicious snacks. Perfect as a bowl-game party bite, you can also serve this recipe in slider buns with your favorite sandwich toppings. 41 of 70 Chimichurri Beef Meatball Hoagies Photo: Iain Bagwell Recipe: Chimichurri Beef Meatball Hoagies These deliciously flavored meatballs served on hoagie rolls or French baguette rolls will be the new favorite at your weeknight dinner table or your neighborhood football party. The sauce makes plenty for cooking the meatballs, and there's even enough to spoon over the sandwiches for a boost of flavor. 42 of 70 Sweet-and-Salty Snack Mix Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Katie Jacobs Recipe: Sweet-and-Salty Snack Mix This mixture has it all to fulfill both salty cravings and a sweet tooth. Stuff this snack mix into waffle cones for pretty presentation. 43 of 70 Slow-Cooker Beef Sliders with Pickled Peppers Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Slow-Cooker Beef Sliders with Pickled Peppers Rev up your slow cooker the night before. On game day, tote it to the game, plug it in, and let your crowd build their own sandwiches. 44 of 70 Fried Chicken Sliders with Pimiento Cheese Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Fried Chicken Sliders with Pimiento Cheese Two Southern staples in one slider? Yes please. Your game day guests will love the crispy chicken, and pimiento cheese takes the slider to the next level. 45 of 70 Husk BBQ's Cheesy Collard Green Dip Andrew Cebulka Recipe: Husk BBQ's Cheesy Collard Green Dip Yep, it's just as good as it sounds. No need to pull out all the fixin's for a barbecue meal when you can just have this dip at your tailgate instead! 46 of 70 Sweet Heat Hot Dogs Jennifer Davick; Prop Styling: Allison R. Banks; Food Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns Recipe: Sweet Heat Hot Dogs It isn't a tailgate without some grilling involved. Kick up your regular hot dogs with this spicy-sweet recipe with Sriracha, sweet-hot pickles, and cabbage. 47 of 70 Easy BBQ Shrimp Southern Living Recipe: Easy BBQ Shrimp Simple but always popular for a party, barbecue shrimp is a sure-fire snack to keep everyone happy at the tailgate. Skewer the shrimp with a cocktail pick and serve with some Tobacco sauce to bring the heat to your game day spread. 48 of 70 Honey BBQ Chicken Wings Recipe: Honey BBQ Chicken Wings These wings may be messy to eat, but they're worth it—we promise! The secret ingredient? Apple cider vinegar. It takes the sauce to the next level. 49 of 70 Cookie Dough Egg Rolls Southern Living Recipe: Cookie Dough Egg Rolls Finger food is ideal for any game day function. These Cookie Dough Egg Rolls are easy to make and easy to enjoy before heading to the stadium to cheer on your favorite team. 50 of 70 Cheerwine Cherry Cupcakes with Cherry-Swirl Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner Recipe: Cheerwine Cherry Cupcakes with Cherry-Swirl Every game day line-up needs a sweet treat. These Cheerwine Cherry Cupcakes are reminiscent of summer days and oh-so delicious. 51 of 70 Buffalo Chicken Bites Jennifer Causey Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Bites If you don't want to go through the mess of eating wings, make these Buffalo Chicken Bites and offer toothpicks to your guests for a mess-free eating experience. Serve with ranch or blue cheese for the full buffalo wing experience, but without the sticky fingers. 52 of 70 Smoky Snack Mix Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Smoky Snack Mix Pack festive baggies of this snack mix for your guests to take with them in the stands. It's the best salty treat to have on hand for half-time. 53 of 70 Cowboy Pasta Salad Photo: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Cowboy Pasta Salad Offer this Cowboy Pasta Salad at your tailgate as a refreshing, chilled side that still packs the heat. Taco-inspired ingredients including black beans, jalapeños, and cilantro make for a pasta salad with tang to spare. 54 of 70 Potato Chip Cookies Recipe: Potato Chip Cookies These are your favorite childhood cookie with a salty twist. Keep these cookies in the fridge to ensure the chocolate doesn't get too melty before the tailgate. 55 of 70 Bacon-Wrapped Potatoes with Queso Blanco Dip Photo: Iain Bagwell Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Potatoes with Queso Blanco Dip If the name of this dish alone doesn't convince you of their game day potential, we don't know what will. Keep your queso warm in the slow cooker until it's ready to be scooped up to pair with salty, starchy skewers. 56 of 70 Baked BBQ Baby Back Ribs with Bourbon BBQ Sauce Southern Living Recipe: Baked BBQ Baby Back Ribs with Bourbon BBQ Sauce Just a hint of bourbon flavor elevates baby back ribs for a barbecue main that will stand out at any tailgate. With only 30 minutes of hands-on time, these ribs will be fall-off-the-bone tender. 57 of 70 Frito Pie Southern Living Recipe: Frito Pie Turn your favorite corn chips into a meal by adding chili. A delicious take on a feel-good classic, no game day would be complete without a hearty helping (or two!). 58 of 70 Party Poppers Hector M. Sanchez Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham Recipe: Party Poppers Simply named, they're called Party Poppers for a reason: We think they're essential for any festivity. If your tailgate spread is in need of a Hail Mary, these wrapped and stuffed peppers will do the trick. 59 of 70 Buffalo Chicken Sliders Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Sliders Could Hawaiian Rolls and tender buffalo chicken possibly get any better? With Colby-Jack and blue cheeses, plus fresh fixings like lettuce, pickle, onion, and tomato, the answer is an emphatic yes. 60 of 70 Beer-Cheese Fondue Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Beer-Cheese Fondue Serve up this piping hot fondue with bratwurst, steamed broccoli florets, roasted Brussels sprouts, and roasted fingerling potatoes for dipping, and you've got a game day crowd-pleaser. This dip is decadent with just enough lager to make it an ideal tailgate snack. 61 of 70 Queso-Filled Mini Peppers Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Queso-Filled Mini Peppers If a recipe involves queso, odds are it's a winner. Queso stuffed peppers, though, are a game changer. You may have to play defense on these party favorites or they'll be gobbled up before the end of the first quarter. 62 of 70 Pizza Pepper Poppers Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christina Daley Recipe: Pizza Pepper Poppers Ready in just 30 minutes, these finger foods are great as an after school snack, but even better complementing a good game. Cheese and pepperoni work hard to make sure this is unlike any other stuffed pepper you've had. 63 of 70 Jalapeño Popper Dip Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke Recipe: Jalapeño Popper Dip If stuffed jalapeños are a hit at your usual gatherings, this dip will be a winning surprise. Cheesy and spicy, this dip has all the kick of a handheld popper but with extra points for creamy texture. 64 of 70 Meatball Sliders with Tomato Sauce Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham Recipe: Meatball Sliders with Tomato Sauce Tender meatballs and tangy sauce are a winning combo that come together even better in a portable slider. Place these miniatures under the broiler with some cheese to sack any doubts that this is an ordinary sandwich. 65 of 70 Bacon Bites Oxmoor House Recipe: Bacon Bites Bacon, brown sugar, and breadsticks? Say less. Make these once, and they'll be requested on every Saturday for the rest of football season. 66 of 70 Deviled Potatoes Hector Sanchez Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham Recipe: Deviled Potatoes Why choose between deviled eggs and potato salad? When combined, these two Southern classic appetizers are a force to be reckoned with at any game day gathering. 67 of 70 Afterburners Southern Living Recipe: Afterburners Jalapeño poppers get a seafood spin with these shrimp-stuffed peppers. Call "white 80" because these snacks will be snagged in a snap. 68 of 70 Petite Sweet Potato Biscuits with Pulled Pork and Slaw Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Recipe: Petite Sweet Potato Biscuits with Pulled Pork and Slaw Pulled pork and sweet potato biscuits are the quarterback and center you never knew you needed. Add some slaw and that's a winning play. 69 of 70 Stove-Top Bacon Popcorn Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Stove-Top Bacon Popcorn Popcorn is for the cinema, but bacon popcorn is for the stadium. Pop your kernels on the stove, add crispy bacon crumbles, and make this recipe your own with variations like Maple and Glazed Pecans or Smoky Chile-Garlic. 70 of 70 Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers Micah A. Leal Recipe: Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers These party poppers have it all, from a creamy inside, to a crunchy outside, and even smoky bacon flavor. Removing the seeds from the peppers before wrapping them ensures that these snacks aren't too hot to enjoy. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit