Recipes for watching sports matches

Need to feed a crowd of hungry fans? These sweet and savory dishes will provide you with a "winning" menu for watching the match.

Win-win treats

The biggest game of the season is upon us, and if you're asking us, is that all or nothing? When it comes to Super Bowl food, of course! The table should be filled with appetizers, fan-favorite desserts, fun cocktails, and so much more. If the thought of creating a menu that will please die-hard football fans and serious foodies (who come just for the food!) is overwhelming, don't worry. Our versatile collection of recipes is sure to help you set the table in style. Each of these recipes is amazing on its own, but if we had to choose the absolute best, we'd probably start with "Trash Bread." Wrap everything you love about a bacon cheeseburger in dough, bake it until golden brown, and serve it with a special sauce. It's a perfect appetizer worthy of a trophy!

Bread with bacon "Cheeseburger"

Wrap your favorite bacon cheeseburger ingredients in batter and bake until golden brown, then share this delicious treat with friends. Don't forget the special sauce!

Recipe: Bacon Cheeseburger Bread

Artichoke and spinach dip in a football-shaped bread bowl

We've taken our best version of a classic party dip and baked it into a football-shaped loaf of crusty rye Pumpernickel bread (complete with sour cream laces). Toasted bread cubes and fresh carrots for dipping make this a winner. Go team!

Recipe: Artichoke and spinach dip in a football-shaped bread bowl

Buffalo Turkey Wings

These epic wings will wow everyone at your party. They combine Buffalo's favorite flavors: crispy skin, tender meat, and tangy sauce.

Recipe: Buffalo Turkey Wings

Chicken Ranch Taquitos

Ree's ranch-flavored taquitos will be a hit with your guests. Fill tortillas with the chicken and cheese mixture and fry until golden and crispy.

Recipe: Chicken Taquitos with Ranch Sauce

Spicy crab and spinach dip

As Valerie says, you can't go wrong with combining cheese, spinach, and crab meat. Pick through the meat before mixing to remove any shell fragments.

Recipe: Hot spinach and crab dip

Deviled eggs

Sandra's simple recipe has a secret sauce: mayonnaise, mustard, and sweet relish.

Recipe: American Devil's Eggs

Cheese platter "Football" with cold cuts

This generous appetizer board will feed the entire team and even the fans. You can prepare fruits and vegetables, as well as a cheese ball, the day of the game, and then arrange everything on the board just before the big game. A large wooden cutting board with an indentation along the edge, perfect for inserting cold meats, is ideal.

Recipe: Cheese platter "Football" with cold cuts

Guacamole

This guacamole is for those who like a chunky dip. To avoid accidentally pureing the guacamole, use a rubber spatula or a large fork to gently combine the avocado, tomatoes, and jalapeño. Stir in some chopped fresh cilantro for a subtle lemony kick.

Recipe: Traditional guacamole

Stromboli with cheese and broccoli

No meat? No problem! Ree wraps broccoli, cheese, and pesto in store-bought bread dough, then bakes it until crispy and golden brown. Don't forget the marinara sauce for dipping!

Recipe: Stromboli with broccoli and cheese

Baked lasagna rolls

Roll up the lasagna sheets with cheese and then place them side down. Everyone will be cheering for you as soon as this dish hits the table!

Recipe: Lasagna rolls

Soccer Bread with Meatballs

Calzones will never be the same: this giant dough "ball" contains meatballs inside.

Recipe: Meatball Pie "Football"

Italian Stuffed Jalapeños

Guy stuffs jalapeño halves with three types of cheese: mascarpone, Parmesan, and mozzarella. Bake them over high heat until the cheese becomes gooey.

Recipe: Italian Stuffed Jalapeños

Winter sangria

Drink to your team's victory: Sunny's refreshing sangria features sliced red pear and blood orange. Orange juice and liqueur enrich the drink's colorful winter palette.

Recipe: Winter sangria

Cheese Meatball Slider Sandwiches

Ground pork and mortadella replace beef in Giada's succulent sandwiches.

Recipe: Mortadella Meatball Slider Sandwiches

Super Nachos

Beef, beans, and cheese sauce—and that's not all! Serve Rachel's Nachos with a variety of toppings so your guests can enjoy the best nachos, customizing their portions to their liking.

Recipe: "Super Nachos" - Mexican snack

Grilled Corn and Bean Salsa with Corn Chips

Sandra Lee's colorful, zesty salsa is delicious paired with crispy baked corn chips.

Recipe: Roasted Corn and Bean Salsa with Oven-Baked Corn Chips

Classic hot wings

Chicken wings and football often go hand in hand, so Ree makes traditional spicy wings for a crowd. Serve with blue cheese dip and celery sticks.

Recipe: Chicken wings in hot sauce

Mini Meatball Slider Sandwiches

Who doesn't love a meatball sandwich? For extra flavor, Trisha spreads the buns with a butter-Parmesan mixture, then bakes the sandwiches until golden brown and the cheese is gooey.

Recipe: Mini Meatball Sandwiches for Parties

Crunchy dessert with marshmallows

This beloved nostalgic treat gets even fancier with rainbow sprinkles.

Recipe: Puffed rice dessert

Cheese boat

Most football fans will agree: cheese dip is a must-have for a match-watching meal. It combines two cheeses—cream cheese and sharp cheddar. Season the dip to taste with hot sauce and chili powder.

Recipe: Cheese dip in a bread boat

Jello shots in lime wedges

Use lime and orange peels as a base for Trisha's cute jelly shots.

Recipe: Lime Wedges Alcoholic Jelly

Bean Dip with Roasted Garlic

This vegetable snack is a perfect addition to any game-watching table. Eddie roasts garlic, rutabaga, and carrots, then combines the vegetables with beans to create a smooth, creamy sauce.

Recipe: Garlic Dip Sauce with Beans

Spicy sausages in dough

Guy adds cayenne pepper and Italian seasoning to the dough wrapped around homemade pork sausages. Serve this spicy appetizer with chipotle-agave mustard.

Recipe: Spicy pork sausages in dough

Sour cream dip with parmesan

Pat and Gina make homemade chips to go with this cheesy dip.

Recipe: Sour Cream Dip with Parmesan

Buffalo style meatballs

Get the perfect meatball texture by combining ground meat with panko breadcrumbs, sour cream, grated carrots, and celery. Buffalo meatballs get their wonderful flavor from simmering them in chicken broth with a spicy sauce.

Recipe: Buffalo Meatballs with Vegetables

Quesadillas with sour cream sauce with lime and cilantro

Sunny makes a crispy, spicy quesadilla filled with corn, peppers, and onions.

Recipe: Quesadilla with corn and beans

The most delicious chocolate brownies

Ree's recipe uses store-bought German chocolate cake mix to save time.

Recipe: Caramel Brownie

Mozzarella sticks

Giada coats mozzarella with Italian-style breadcrumbs and grated Parmesan cheese, then fries it. These cheese sticks can be made and frozen up to two days in advance.

Recipe: Cheese sticks

Turkey meatballs

Ree's mini meatloafs are a great compact snack for watching a game. Plus, they freeze well, so you can make them in advance!

Recipe: Mini Turkey Meatloafs

Baked meatballs

Ree mixes ground oats into ground beef for meatballs. Bake them in a homemade sauce made with ketchup, onions, vinegar, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce.

Recipe: Ground beef meatballs

Buffalo Chicken Dip

When it comes to game-watching appetizers, a rich and creamy Buffalo chicken dip takes the cake. Try this easy version; it'll take just over half an hour.

Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Dip

Mini Chocolate Cheesecakes with Caramel and Pecans

There's always room for sweets at a game-watching party. Ree's miniature salted caramel cheesecakes will be highly praised by your guests.

Recipe: Mini Cheesecakes with Chocolate, Pecan, and Caramel

Cream cheese and cookie dip

Giada's delicate cookie dip will please both those with a sweet and savory tooth. It's equally delicious served with pretzels, potato chips, cookies, or fruit.

Recipe: Sweet cheesecake-flavored dip

Chicken legs with Buffalo sauce

Melissa De Arabian coats chicken drumsticks with a savory mixture of butter, hot sauce, and barbecue sauce. For a milder flavor, reduce the hot sauce and use maple syrup and lime juice to tone down the heat.

Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Legs

BBQ Chicken Nachos

Fresh homemade salsa and barbecue-flavored chicken nuggets add a vibrant summer flavor to this dish any time of year. The salsa can be made the day before and kept in the refrigerator; add avocado just before serving.

Recipe: Nachos with chicken, beans and salsa

Meatballs stuffed with cheese

The secret ingredient in this appetizer is fresh chorizo, a spicy Mexican pork sausage (not to be confused with the uncooked Spanish chorizo). It adds a spicy flavor characteristic of tacos and ensures the meatballs' juiciness.

Recipe: Cheese-Stuffed Meatball Tacos

Dip with spinach, artichokes and roasted peppers

Guy's simple dip can be made with frozen vegetables for any occasion. Defrost the vegetables and squeeze them well before blending for a creamy, thick dip.

Recipe: Spinach, Artichoke, and Grilled Bell Pepper Dip

Buffalo Chicken Wellington

Everyone's favorite chicken dish is wrapped in a creamy puff pastry crust with melted cheese.

Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Wellington

Meatball slider sandwiches

Combine pork sausage and ground pork for meatballs served on soft buns.

Recipe: Meatball slider sandwiches

Pomegranate punch with beer

Use pomegranate juice to add wonderful color and flavor to your punch.

Recipe: Pomegranate Beer Punch

Garlic and Herb Spread

This spread isn't just beautiful to look at (it looks like an American football)—it also boasts a rich, creamy texture and vibrant herbal flavor.

Recipe: Creamy Garlic and Herb Spread "Football"

Sausage balls with cheese

Trisha's three-ingredient meatball appetizer is reminiscent of Southern sausage balls, but with the addition of cheese.

Recipe: Sausage appetizer

Pimento Cheese Spread

Sunny makes a delicious snack by spreading pimento cheese spread on slices of white sandwich bread.

Recipe: Simple Cheese Spread with Pimento Peppers

Nacho-Style Chicken Legs

Top the chicken legs with shredded cheese and bake until melted. For a nacho-style appetizer, top with salsa, guacamole, and jalapeños.

Recipe: Chicken legs in corn chip breading with cheese

Giant Pretzel with Cookie Filling

This giant pretzel with a sweet surprise inside will wow your guests. Made with readily available ingredients—store-bought pizza dough and a simple cookie crust—it's an easy appetizer perfect for any occasion.

Recipe: Giant Pretzel with Cookie Filling

Three hummuses

There's no such thing as a third when it comes to this flavorful assortment. All three hummuses use the same base, making it easy to add more. Simply fold in the various toppings just before serving.

Recipe: Hummus "Trio"

Beer-battered cheese bites with ranch dressing

Valerie's beer-battered pickle cheese bites (a popular Midwestern dish) are even more delicious when dipped in homemade ranch dressing.

Recipe: Beer-battered cheese curds with homemade ranch dressing

Potato dip with roasted sweet peppers

This dip is inspired by the traditional Greek potato-garlic sauce, skordalia. It features the best toppings: sour cream, green onions, and crispy potato skins and bacon.

Recipe: Potato dip with bacon and crispy skins

French onion dip with cheese toasts

Sweet caramelized onions and plenty of fresh thyme provide vibrant flavor and liven up this hearty French onion soup-inspired dip.

Recipe: French onion dip with cheese toasts

Buffalo-Style Chicken Wings

These spicy wings are fried and then baked for a super-crispy texture. A simple three-ingredient sauce—lemon, butter, and hot sauce—gives them incredible flavor.

Recipe: Buffalo-Style Chicken Wings

Baked Sweet Potato Balls

Roll mashed sweet potato balls in crushed sweet potato chips and bake until crispy.

Recipe: Sweet potato croquettes

Pizza-flavored dip

This hearty dip features pepperoni, onions, and bell peppers in a rich tomato sauce and topped with melted cheese.

Recipe: Pizza Dipping Sauce

Queso Fundido Dip with Jalapeño

The base of this tangy, beer-flavored dip is cheese, and it's best to grate it yourself. Store-bought grated cheese has a coating that prevents it from melting as well as freshly grated cheese.

Recipe: Queso fundido with jalapeño

Beer brownie with nut glaze

Brown ale plays a vital role in this sophisticated dessert, providing both the distinctive brownie texture and the deep, rich flavor of the nutty glaze.

Recipe: Brown ale brownie with pecan topping

Sparkling punch for a party

Sandra serves a pitcher of sparkling punch to watch an important match.

Recipe: Cranberry punch with champagne

Tropical Avocado Salsa

Smooth avocado and sweet pineapple in this refreshing dip get a zesty kick from spicy jalapeño and ginger.

Recipe: Tropical Avocado Salsa

Layered Greek Dip

For a refreshing light party appetizer, layer Greek salad ingredients over a yogurt dip with sweet cucumber and feta cheese.

Recipe: Layered Greek Salad Dip

Giant Meat Sandwich

The more, the merrier—especially at a matchday party. Trisha's sandwich is enough for 16 guests, and it features three types of meat, plenty of cheese, red wine dressing, and basil mayo: a treat for every taste.

Recipe: Giant Hoagie Sandwich

Spicy edamame bean dip with ginger and coconut

The rich flavor of this vibrant dip comes from the spicy Sriracha sauce, fresh ginger, and coconut.

Recipe: Spicy edamame bean dip with ginger and coconut milk

Creamy vegetable dip

Make a quick dip with arugula, celery, carrots, green onions, sour cream, and cream cheese, then serve with sliced raw vegetables of your choice.

Recipe: Creamy vegetable dipping sauce

Deep-fried pickles

Coat the pickles in cornstarch, dip in egg and roll in cornmeal mixture, then fry until golden brown.

Recipe: Fried pickles

Shrimp and sesame seed pancakes with Asian dipping sauce

Store-bought pizza dough makes it easy to make Asian-inspired flatbreads; green onions and sesame seeds are hidden between the soft crusts. This versatile dip can also be served with dumplings, spring rolls, and even chicken wings.

Recipe: Sweet and spicy Asian dipping sauce and green onion sesame seed flatbreads

Cheese platter with grape tapenade

Serve a sophisticated appetizer of grape tapenade, Spanish cheeses and sliced baguette.

Recipe: Cheese platter with grape tapenade

Mini Beef and Chipotle Burgers

Rachel's mini chipotle burgers are the perfect size to munch on while hanging out with friends at a party.

Recipe: Texas mini beef burgers with chipotle and warm garlic ketchup

Baked Beef and Cheese Enchiladas

Sunny takes the enchilada to the next level with this tall, layered casserole. Seasoned beef alternates with red sauce, corn tortillas, and two types of cheese. Place the casserole dish on a baking sheet in the oven to catch any cheese drips, resulting in a bubbly dish.

Recipe: Beef Casserole with Cheese and Enchilada Sauce

Fried Shrimp with Buffalo Sauce

Seafood lovers will appreciate this take on the classic combination of chicken and Buffalo sauce. Before frying the shrimp until golden brown, prepare a savory batter using hot sauce and a secret ingredient: lager.

Recipe: Deep-fried Buffalo Shrimp

Wings in sweet and spicy sauce

Honey, white vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce combine to create a sweet and savory marinade for tender chicken wings. For a touch of crunch, add a few chopped pecans to the mixture.

Recipe: Sweet and spicy wings in the oven

Salsa with Mexican tomatoes and tequila

This delicious green salsa combines two beloved Mexican delicacies. The flavors of roasted Mexican tomatoes, peppers, and green onions pair perfectly with the peppery and herbal notes of tequila.

Recipe: Salsa Margarita with Roasted Tomatillos

Caribbean Chicken Wings

Sunny's sweet and tangy wings are infused with the flavor of honey, soy sauce, habanero peppers, and plenty of spices.

Recipe: Caribbean-Style Chicken Wings with Spicy Glaze

Dumplings with pork

Alton makes pork dumpling filling using store-bought wonton dough.

Recipe: Chinese-style meat dumplings for the festive table

Chicken fillet in bacon

Trisha stuffs chicken breasts with cream cheese and jalapeños, then wraps each finger in bacon.

Recipe: Chicken rolls with bacon and cheese

Beef Chili Nachos

Rachel makes these meat nachos for watching the game in just 25 minutes.

Recipe: Nachos "Chili Dog"

Crab dip with goat cheese

Goat cheese soaked in red wine is a great ingredient for Neely's crab dip.

Recipe: Crab Dip Sauce with Drunken Goat Cheese

Sausages in dough "Football"

This easy holiday version of a favorite snack is prepared with a sports theme.

Recipe: Sausages in dough "Football"

Focaccia with cheese and pepperoni

We took this idea from a classic dessert: when you flip the focaccia off the baking sheet, you'll see a crispy pepperoni topping. Another surprise is the cheesy center; before baking, the bottom layer of dough is sprinkled with mozzarella.

Recipe: Upside-down focaccia with pepperoni and cheese