The 19 Best Game-Day Snack Ideas That Will Surely Win You the Hosting Trophy (2024)

Gear up for the biggest gridiron game of the year with our best football game snacks. With pretzel bites, jalapeño poppers, chicken wings, and pizza cups, these football appetizers will score with your fellow fans. And don't worry; our best game-day snacks aren't all savory—we have sporty brownies and cookie dough pops to satisfy your sweet tooth.

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Cheese-Stuffed Pretzel Bites

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Keep your hands free for cheering (or holding a cold drink) with this creative appetizer recipe for your game-day party. One BH&G home cook who has tried the homemade pretzel bites raves, "These are a great treat for get-togethers—everything is self-contained and no dip required!" They look like simple pretzel pieces, but everyone will be delighted to discover a melty jalapeño-spiked cheese filling inside.

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Spicy Cheese (Foot)Ball

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Nothing tops a flavor-packed, bacon-covered cheese ball while watching sports of all kinds. But this cheese ball recipe is the clear winner as a football-themed appetizer idea thanks to its distinctive shape. Just add a side of crackers and crudités and you're sure to score—especially with the keto diet crowd. (Each serving has just 3 grams of carbs.)

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Football Cookie Dough Pops

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We love football-shaped foods, and this sweet football-themed appetizer idea (OK, more like dessert idea) might just be our favorite! Whip up a batch of cookie dough or save time with store-bought and create sports-inspired cookie pops. Dip them in dark chocolate and add the stitching with piped white chocolate to make these winning desserts-on-a-stick.

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Classic Soft Pretzels

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These soft, doughy pretzels are great to make if you're expecting company and want to impress with one of our top 10 football appetizers. We recommend using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer to get the dough just right. For the ultimate party-ready finger food experience, pair with bowls of queso, grainy mustard, ranch dressing, and marinara for dunking.

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Taco Burger Sliders

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Why choose between a zesty taco recipe and all-American burger when you can have both wrapped into one bold football game snack slider? Taco seasoning adds extra flavor to the ground beef, and salsa stands in for traditional ketchup. Serve between slider buns or folded inside street-taco-size corn tortillas.

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Pepperoni Pizza Cups

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Instead of ordering pizza, serve these poppable pizza cups. They're one of our best football game snacks, because unlike with a delivery pie, you're not stuck with just one topping combo—each muffin tin "slice" can be customized to fit guests' preferences. Try traditional pepperoni or pile on mushrooms, green bell peppers, and Italian sausage for those classic supreme pizza flavors.

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Pickle Poppers

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These ham-wrapped pickle poppers will score big points with friends and family who come to watch the Super Bowl. They're a cinch to make: Mix cheese, jalapeños, and spices together and spread the mixture on a sliced pickle. To complete the easy game-day snacks, wrap each pickle with ham and secure with a toothpick.

Pickled Recipes That Go Way Beyond Cucumbers

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Pumpkin Football Cakes

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The pigskin has nothing on these canned pumpkin-based game-day snacks. You'll score big at your next tailgate or viewing party with pumpkin whoopie pies with buttercream frosting. To achieve the football shape, use an egg-shaped muffin tin.

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Spicy Italian Meatballs

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This football snack idea is a tasty reminder that meatballs aren't just for piling atop a bed of pasta. We bet there won't be leftovers when you offer fans these juicy slow cooker appetizers on their own as a snack. Serve them with toothpicks or pile into slider buns for mini-meatball sandwiches.

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Sweet Potato Fritters with Yogurt-Chive Dipping Sauce

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Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, fritters are what appetizer dreams are made of. Give the pillowy bites harvest flavor with mashed sweet potatoes—once fried, they almost look like little footballs! To serve these, one of our best football snacks, pile the warm fritters next to a bowl of cool homemade yogurt-chive dipping sauce for dunking.

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Asiago-Artichoke Dip

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Go hot or cold with this game-day appetizer: It's delicious made up to a day ahead and chilled overnight or served bubbly, warm, and straight from the oven. This twist on traditional spinach-artichoke dip gets its savory flavor from roasted peppers and green onions. Pair the melty appetizer with a hefty dipper like baguette slices or toasted pita wedges.

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Salami Chips with Grainy Mustard Dip

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Potatoes aren't the only thing you can "chip!" Not only do the bold flavors of salami chips and mustard dip make perfect teammates, but they're a snap to prepare too. Simply bake thin slices of salami in the oven until browned, prep the dip, and devour this big-game appetizer recipe.

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Fudgy Football Brownies

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Treat your football fans to a sweet dessert that is guaranteed to score big points on your football snack table. Creamy vanilla frosting creates the distinctive laced look. (In a hurry? Feel free to use boxed brownie mix or even boxed cake mix to speed up the process.)

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Cheddar-Bacon Loaf

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Guests will go wild for this amped-up baguette. Get a head start on this top-rated football snack idea with a loaf of frozen bread dough. Thaw it out, then stuff it with bacon, cheddar cheese, and a touch of mustard. Like a combo of a stromboli and BLT, the ooey-gooey slices will disappear faster than a picked-off ball.

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Roasted Corn and Crab Dip

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Creamy crab dip gets a delicious update when made with sweet corn, onions, and spicy cheese. Try it on broken tostada shells, crackers, crudités, or slices of your favorite bakery or homemade bread. The flavorful football snack idea teams up well with all of the above!

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Cheddar-Beer Weenies

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This slow cooker superstar features several favorite game-day foods in one low-fuss, lusciously creamy package. Bacon, cheese, and beer flavor this football game snack fave. A little hot pepper sauce and chili powder turn up the heat.

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Bonanza Bean Dip

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Like a deconstructed seven-layer-dip, this big-game appetizer recipe makes for an MVP pairing with tortilla chips. Lime-and-jalapeño guacamole lends a kick to layers of refried beans, cheese, tomatoes, and onions. Hosting some olive-averse fans? Simply offer olives in a separate bowl on the side so each fan can call an audible.

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Spinach-Artichoke Dip with Blue Cheese and Bacon

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Crumbled bacon and blue cheese add a hearty component to this classic football appetizer. (Actually, this classic anytime appetizer!) Have plenty of crackers and chips on hand; your guests won't be able to stop with just one scoop—and we can't blame 'em.

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Barbecue Chicken and Cheddar Quesadillas

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Give your sports party a little Southwestern flair with this mash-up mini meal. It features everything you love about grilled cheese sandwiches, barbecue chicken, and Mexican food in a handheld wedge. Tender shredded chicken, zesty barbecue sauce, chili peppers, green onion, and lots of cheese fill these grilled flour tortillas. Pair with sour cream and salsa to cure game-day snack attacks.