Best Game-Day Snack Recipes

Your game-day buffet needs a little heat, and these Cajun-spiced wings are just the ticket! Trade traditional ranch for homemade cilantro yogurt dip for dipping, and remember to serve with plenty of napkins and water.  

Pizza sauce, diced tomatoes, chopped sweet peppers and sliced pepperoni quick-cook in your Instant Pot, then get combined with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses for a scrumptious dip. 

When it comes to game-day snacking, we leave the messy task of deep-frying hot wings to the pros. But buffalo-flavor nachos? Game on. (Be sure to use kettle-cooked chips; they're crunchy enough to support all the toppings.)

Ice cubes and cold water give this hummus its incredibly creamy texture (and an edge over purchased varieties!). Surround it with pita chips and crunchy veggies for a lighter game-day snack option.

On game day, plan to find us parked by this bowl of maybe the best snack mix we've ever published.

These light, cheesy puffs taste best when served straight from the oven but can be made ahead for easy hosting.  

These easy appetizers combine two party favorites — jalapeno poppers and buffalo chicken wings.

Fresh herbs season this ridiculously simple spread from BelGioioso Cheese in Wisconsin. It keeps well in the fridge and is delicious with cherry tomatoes or other vegetable dippers, as well as crackers or baguette slices.

These little beef sandwiches make a great appetizer for a party. And you can put them together in just 20 minutes.

Ground turkey, reduced-sodium and light ingredients, and a confetti of crisp, colorful veggies make this potluck staple more nutritious than a typical layered dip—but every bit as tasty.

Add color and freshness to your game-day spread with this mild Salvadoran-style salsa. Most of its flavor comes from tomatoes, so choose the ripest, reddest ones you can find, and serve with assorted tortilla chips. 

These totally indulgent sliders pack all the flavor of French onion soup into a tidy little sandwich. The recipe comes from Annie Marshall of the Indianapolis-based blog Everyday Annie.

Bacon, honey-roasted nuts and fresh herbs elevate purchased spinach-artichoke dip in a flash. We served ours with crackers, but you can use toasted pita chips or sliced baguette.

Inspired by Buffalo chicken wings, this zesty twist on classic cheesy potato soup is perfect for dishing up on game day. The recipe doesn't call for chicken, but you can add it if you like.

Our recipe actually makes two different kinds of tortilla spirals-one flavored with curry powder, the other with garlic and herbs.

This warm and cheesy pull-apart bread takes just a few minutes to make. Keep the ingredients on hand for parties as well as a soup supper with family and friends.

Nuts in your slow cooker? Sure! Just toss them with sugar, butter and spices, and cook on low heat for two hours.

Carrot and celery sticks add crisp crunch to the platter of Buffalo Chicken Wings with Blue Cheese Dressing. Our wings recipe includes blue cheese, garlic powder, vinegar, and spicy cayenne pepper sauce for kick.

This crazy-simple classic cheese fondue has just four ingredients (plus the dippers, of course). We especially love it with smoked sausage.

This traditional German appetizer, popular in northeast Ohio, comes from the Hey Hey Bar and Grill in Columbus. Even if you're not usually a sauerkraut fan, you may love the sweet-sour tang of mustard and kraut inside crispy deep-fried shells.

A surprise ingredient, coffee liqueur, adds a sweet background to this make-ahead snack. The recipe calls for ground Chimayo chile, but you can use any ground red chile you like.

Customize this snack mix recipe by substituting your favorite bite-size crackers for those we've listed. We've also given a choice of salad dressing mix for seasoning.

Freshly shredded cheese works better than packaged shredded cheese in a cheese ball. Prepare the cheese mixture the night before so flavors have a chance to blend. Shape and roll in the crumbled bacon or pistachio nuts a few hours before serving.

Lots of Monterey Jack cheese goes into this creamy fondue that gets a flavor boost from sour cream, chipotle peppers and bacon. Scoop it up with bread or tortilla chips.

Whip up this easy appetizer and store it in your fridge until it's party time. To serve the skins hot and crispy, broil them just before your guests arrive.

These six-ingredient party sandwiches are simple and delicious. The recipe comes from Annie Marshall of the Indianapolis-based blog Everyday Annie.

This crowd-pleasing party sandwich works on your schedule. You can prepare and bake it all at once for a party, or assemble the sandwiches the night before, and then bake them when your guests are ready to eat. Perfect for Game Day!

A mixture of cranberry jelly and bottled barbecue sauce jazzes up classic cocktail meatballs in this easy, three-ingredient recipe. Prepare in your slow cooker or in a saucepan.

Artichoke hearts, dried tomatoes and sauce combine for a rich, creamy dip. Our recipe calls for processed Swiss cheese because it melts smoothly, but regular Swiss cheese will work fine, too. The dip will have a more stretchy, less creamy texture, but it tastes just as good.

Tortilla chips make bite-size appetizers for an easy, warm-from-the-oven treat. Stir together mayo, onion, two cheeses and salsa for the filling.