Football food = comfort food this time of year, and I just can’t get enough to either one. Homemade is the way to go, and this list of easy game day snacks is going to help you mix and match your favorites.
1. Bacon Crackers
You can use any cracker you want, but these are great with a club cracker or plain, stoneground wheat cracker. The sprinkle of brown sugar just brings this simple flavor combo all together.
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2. Grape Jelly Meatballs
It doesn’t get simpler than basically reheating some frozen meatballs in a rich, flavorful sauce. Whether you are getting out the toothpicks or nudging these alongside other noshy options, these sweet-and-savory gems hit the spot. They stay warm and self-serve all afternoon, too.
3. Avocado Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs aren’t just for picnics. Now that the prices have dropped a little, you’ll get 24 stuffed eggs to a dozen, so whip up these tasty game day snacks for a boost of protein. They disappear fast.
4. BBQ Kielbasa Chunks
Like the slow-cooker meatballs, BBQ kielbasa starts out with a simple package of kielbasa or smoked sausage and you just make an easy savory barbecue sauce, where they nestle in nicely to wait for the gang to arrive, appetites ready.
5. Easy Ranch Oyster Crackers
Move over soup, these seasoned crackers make the perfect fistful of football snacks. The always-popular ranch flavor makes these super tasty and a nice, crunchy addition to the snack table.
6. Smokey, Honey-Roasted Peanuts
Add your own homemade touch to a can of high-quality peanuts and you’ve got sweet, salty, savory, and smoky all in one delicious game day snack. Leave out the cayenne pepper if you don’t want that spicy-heat.
7. Classic Sausage Balls
I used to make these for every major holiday and get-together because they are a hearty classic appetizer. Cheese, biscuit mix, bulk sausage, and a handful of seasonings come together and bake up hot with crispy edges. I have never needed a sauce with these, but I suggest a robust bang-bang sauce if you desire.
8. Spiced Walnuts
My dad always loved cracking into whole walnuts on game day with hit nutcracker mallet and pick. I don’t have the patience for that these days, so I buy walnut halves and make these spiced walnuts for friends and family. He’d be proud.
9. Baked Avocado Fries
A different take on serving something delectable in front of the big game: These avocado fries make a great snack, but aren’t particularly portable. Serve hot and crisp from the air fryer or oven.
10. Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas
Oh yeah, if your gang loves those buffalo flavors (think Frank’s Red Hot), pile wedges of these quesadillas sky-high on a platter and let them dig in. My thick and clingy blue cheese dip is ready and waiting as the perfect flavor combo.
11. Fall/Halloween Trail Mix
Is there anything better than an elaborate trail mix? Make your own just the way you like it and use my recipe as a guide. This one is a nice blend of sweet and salty, crispy and crunchy—and totally satisfying.
12. Homemade Taco Cups
This recipe for Taco Cups is one of our most popular recipes on the Cooking Chew blog EVER. A muffin pan holds street-size flour tortillas and you fill them with all of your favorite taco toppings. Serve warm with a taco toppings bar and your guests will rave.
13. Bacon Cheese Ball
This one’s a no-brainer. Cheese Balls are a vintage Midwestern delicacy made famous in the 60s. Let’s bring it back with this easy, make-ahead bacon cheese ball recipe.
14. Chili Cheese Fries
My team did a chili battle to see what kind of chili is best on a delicious, decadent plate of Chili Cheese Fries. Can you guess the cheese brand favorite though?
15. Homemade Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
Sure, it’s simple enough to pick up a huge, pricey bag of tortilla chips at the store, but if you have a huge pack of corn tortillas in freezer (like I do), why not use them up and make your own chipsters in the air fryer? They’re good, and have a restaurant quality to them.
16. Honey Butter Biscuits
I love the fresh taste of Challenge butter for hot breads. I treat myself to what I call “the good butter” for everything, but especially when I am diving face-first into a fresh biscuit right out of the oven.
17. Air Fryer Apple Chips
Apple chips sliced uniformly, dipped in lemon juice, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and air fried are SO delicious. Each variety of apple makes a unique tasting chip.
18. Pomegranate Mini Cheese Ball
These cute “decorations” have a unique ingredient that goes well with the seasoned soft cheese inside: pomegranate arils. Not only delicious but seasonally appropriate, I was pretty enchanted with the final result.
The bottom line
When it comes to football food, nothing beats a spread of crave-worthy snacks. With these easy game day appetizers and tailgating recipes, you’ll be set for kickoff — and every touchdown after.
Want even more finger foods to help you get back in the game? Of course you do:
