What better way to welcome Sunday football than to create a smorgasbord of snacks? Here, we present some delicious, simple appetizer recipes for everyone to indulge in on game day!
Beer Cheese Dip
(image via the pioneer woman/will dickey)
Served best with pretzels, but also great with crostinis, chicken wings, and crunchy veggies, this beer cheese dip from The Pioneer Woman is super-versatile and doesn’t long to make. It’s an excellent game-day appetizer that’ll keep your guests coming back for more.
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup yellow onions, finely chopped
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 12 oz IPA beer
- ¼ cup half-and-half
- 6 oz shredded fontina cheese
- 6 oz shredded sharp yellow cheddar cheese
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
Instructions:
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter. Add onion and stir until softened, 4-6 minutes.
- Gradually whisk flour into the butter-onion mixture until lightly browned.
- Gradually mix beer and half-and-half into the pan. Whisk constantly until the sauce thickens and begins to bubble, 5-7 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low and gradually add cheese, whisking constantly. Do so until melted and combined.
- Remove from heat and whisk in Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce.
- Garnish with chives and black pepper. Serve warm.
Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls
(image via taste of home)
A little spice is the perfect way to start the first quarter of a football game. What better way to do that than with these buffalo chicken egg rolls, courtesy of Taste of Home? It’s a mini meal they’ll rave about for weeks.
Ingredients:
- 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 Tbsp ranch salad dressing mix
- ½ cup Buffalo wing sauce
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 16 egg roll wrappers
- ⅓ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ⅓ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions:
- In a slow cooker, combine chicken, dressing mix, and wing sauce. Cook covered on low until chicken is tender, 3-4 hours.
- Preheat oven to 425° F. Shred the chicken with a fork and stir in butter.
- With a corner of an egg roll wrapper facing you, place 3 Tbsp of chicken mixture just below the center of the wrapper. Top with feta and mozzarella.
- Fold the bottom corner over the filling and moisten the remaining wrapper edges with water. Fold the side corners toward the center to cover the remaining filling. Roll tightly and press at the tip to seal.
- Place egg rolls on a parchment-lined baking sheet, seam-side down.
- Bake until golden brown, 15-20 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Sloppy Joe Cups
(image via delish/rachel vanni)
Instead of a large sloppy joe sandwich, why not make mini cups for everyone to indulge in? These snack-sized apps from Delish will have you and your guests’ mouths watering – and that’s the truth.
Ingredients:
- 8 oz crescent dough
- 1 batch sloppy joe filling, approximately 2 cups
- ½ cup shredded mixed cheddar and mozzarella
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375° F. Grease a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray. Lightly flour the surface.
- Roll the dough on a lightly floured surface and pinch the seams together. Cut into 8 squares and place the squares into the prepared muffin cups.
- Spoon about ¼ cup of sloppy joe filling into each cup.
- Bake until the pastry is golden brown and filling is heated, 15 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and top each with 1 Tbsp cheese.
- Return to the oven to bake until the cheese is melted, 3-5 minutes.
- Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then serve.
Jalapeño Poppers
(image via spend with pennies)
Back to the spice for another option! This jalapeño popper recipe from Spend With Pennies will tickle your taste buds. Calling all pepper fans, get to the kitchen island while they last!
Ingredients:
- 12 jalapeño peppers
- 6 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 4 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 Tbsp chives, finely chopped
- ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 Tbsp butter, melted
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400° F.
- Wearing gloves, slice the jalapeños in half lengthwise. Take a small spoon and scoop the seeds and membranes out.
- In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, garlic powder, cheddar cheese, and chives.
- In a separate bowl, combine panko crumbs and melted butter.
- Fill the jalapeños with the cheese mixture and top with crumbs.
- Place jalapeños on a baking pan and bake 18-22 minutes.
- Allow to cool before serving.
Bacon Deviled Eggs
(image via southern living/antonis achilleos)
A deviled egg is one of the yummiest things you can put in your mouth – and it’s packed with protein! Add bacon to the mix, and you have something extraordinary. This recipe from Southern Living is one for the books.
Ingredients:
- 6 large eggs
- 3 Tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper
- 2 Tbsp scallions, thinly sliced
- 3 thick-cut bacon slices, cooked, then crumbled
- Thinly sliced pickled okra
- 2 tsp freshly chopped chives
Instructions:
- Fill a medium saucepan with 1 inch of water and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Add eggs, cover, and steam until hard-cooked, about 13 minutes.
- Transfer eggs to an ice bath and let sit for approximately 6 minutes.
- Crack the eggs, peel, and discard the shells.
- Cut eggs in half lengthwise and carefully scoop the yolks into a medium bowl. Leave the whites intact.
- Mash the yolks with a fork until smooth.
- Add mayonnaise, mustard, black pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne; mash until smooth.
- Stir in scallions and onions.
- Divide filling evenly among egg whites. Top each with pickled okra and chives to serve.
What are some of your favorite game-day recipes? Share them with us in the comments below!