67 Best Recipes for a Matchday Watching Party

Pico de Gallo

Ree's simple pico de gallo is a must-have for any picnic; add it to tacos and nachos and sprinkle it over guacamole.

Recipe: Mexican Pico de Gallo sauce

Sausage Wreath in Dough

How to perfect sausage rolls? Make them into a pull-apart wreath. This epic version uses 7-inch sausages, four layers of dough, and a thick layer of melted American cheese.

Recipe: Sausage ring in dough

Chili con carne in a cauldron

When everyone is bundled up in coats and scarves at the pre-match picnic, this hot chili with beef and pork will warm up every fan.

Recipe: Chili con carne cooked in a cauldron

Baked Stuffed Jalapeños

Rachael Ray's recipe for baked jalapeños is filled with a mixture of smoked pepper jack cheese, feta, and cream cheese. Baked jalapeños paired with smoked cheese make a wonderfully comforting appetizer.

Recipe: Oven-Baked Stuffed Jalapenos

Dip in a bread bowl

Combine your favorite sandwich ingredients—cut meats, cheese, lettuce, pepperoncini—into a festive dip served in a bread bowl.

Recipe: Hoagy Sandwich Dip

Giant Italian Meatballs

These meatballs, stuffed with fresh mozzarella, are so filling they can be enjoyed on their own without the pasta. They're best served with tomato sauce, ricotta, and fresh basil.

Recipe: Large Italian-style cheese meatballs

Cheddar and Jalapeño Bread

This foolproof, simple recipe doesn't require many ingredients; you don't have to wait for the dough to rise, and the bread turns out delicious.

Recipe: Jalapeño Cheddar Beer Bread

Cowboy nachos

Marinated beef brisket is the base for many of Ree's favorite dishes. Layer the meat on baked tortilla chips with spicy beans, cheese, and pico de gallo. Grill the dish until the cheese is melted.

Recipe: Cowboy Nachos

Soccer Ball Cake Pops

Add something sweet to your fan's menu when you're getting ready to watch the game with friends. Football-shaped cake pops are the perfect option: delicious and beautiful. You can use the same technique to make balls from any other sport, decorating them with icing in your favorite team's colors.

Recipe: Soccer Ball Cake Pops

Chili con carne with dark beer

Geoffrey Zakarian's chili is loaded with flavorful spices and a whole bottle of beer.

Recipe: Chile for fans

Calzone with artichokes and three cheeses

Pecorino, fontina, and ricotta cheeses are combined with frozen artichokes and sun-dried tomatoes to create a delicate filling for Giada's calzones. Store-bought dough makes one large calzone or individual servings.

Recipe: Calzone with artichokes and three cheeses

Warm Bacon and Artichoke Dip

Giada De Laurentiis bakes simple homemade pita chips flavored with cumin and chili powder to soak up this creamy dip.

Recipe: Hot Artichoke and Bacon Dip

Guacamole with grilled corn and corn chips

Bobby's secret to guacamole is to grill the corn until lightly charred. Combine the corn with mashed avocado, onion, and lime juice, then dip fried corn chips or warm wheat tortillas into the sauce.

Recipe: Guacamole with roasted corn and corn chips

Beer punch

Make a festive beer drink for your fans with Sunny Anderson's Fruit Beer Punch.

Recipe: Beer punch

Grilled Tomato Salsa

Before blending in a food processor, grill the juicy tomatoes until the skins are puffed and slightly charred. This will infuse the salsa with a wonderful grilled flavor.

Recipe: Grilled Tomato Salsa

Baked ziti pasta

If you're hosting a football game party with kids, try Ree's baked pasta—it's made with ground beef and Italian sausage, plus Parmesan, mozzarella, and ricotta. Crushed red pepper flakes and Italian seasoning add just the right amount of heat, perfect for kids' tastes.

Recipe: Macaroni and Cheese Casserole

Deep-fried mac and cheese

Try mac 'n' cheese in the form of crispy, deep-fried nuggets, served as an appetizer with ranch dressing. The star of this recipe is cheese-flavored Doritos tortilla chips. They serve not only as a crunchy coating but also as a flavoring. Soak them in milk, then use the flavorful milk to make the mac 'n' cheese.

Recipe: Deep-fried mac and cheese

Chili with Beef, Black Beans, and Avocado Relish

Booby Fly remains true to form: every spoonful of this chili is perfectly seasoned. Even the toppings are flavored with cumin and chili peppers.

Recipe: Beef and Black Bean Chili with Creamy Vegetable Sauce

Avocado salsa

Sliced ​​pineapple adds a rich, sweet flavor to this guacamole-salsa hybrid. Fans will be hard-pressed to tear themselves away from this appetizer while watching the game.

Recipe: Avocado salsa

Sangria Popsicles

Sangria is even more delicious frozen. For the perfect treat, mix red wine with juice and sliced ​​fruit.

Recipe: Sangria Popsicles

Venezuelan empanadas

The dough is filled with shredded beef, garlic, cumin, and onion. Serve with avocado and herb dipping sauce.

Recipe: Venezuelan empanadas

Margarita with Gatorade

Gatorade sports drink and Blue Curacao liqueur give the classic Margarita a cheerful, bright blue color and a pleasant taste. Garnish the rims of the glasses with blue decorative sugar and salt, and a contrasting orange slice completes the look.

Recipe: Margarita with Gatorade

Charleston cheese dip

You haven't had a cheese dip until you've tried Trisha Yearwood's Charleston Dip. It's triple cheese: Monterey Jack, sharp cheddar, and cream cheese.

Recipe: Cheese dip "Charleston"

Bread with bacon, cheese and potatoes for breakfast

Crumbled bacon and sausage rolls combine with tater tots, eggs, and American cheese in this sandwich- or burrito-like bread. Serve with hot sauce or ketchup for a morning picnic.

Recipe: Filled bread for breakfast

Chocolate chip cookies

No matter the score, a double helping of chocolate will keep your group in a great mood.

Recipe: Chocolate chip cookies

Chili with beef brisket

This chili is a cross between a beef stew and chili. Ina Garten uses sliced ​​beef brisket instead of ground beef, along with strong coffee—a hearty and delicious take on the classic chili.

Recipe: A Win-Win Chili Beef Goulash for Football Fans

Enchilada Puff Pastry Ring

The Mexican dish "enchiladas"—tortilla tubes filled with chicken in tomato sauce and topped with a layer of melting cheese—are delicious, but they're awkward to eat with your hands as an appetizer. This recipe is adapted for an appetizer: instead of tortillas, use ready-made bagel dough (cut into triangles), wrap the chicken filling in enchilada sauce and a generous layer of cheese, arrange them in a circle, like the sun, and bake until crispy. Serve the enchiladas as you baked them—in a circle, with a bowl of salsa in the center so everyone can tear off a enchilada, dip it in the sauce, and enjoy.

Recipe: Enchilada Puff Pastry Ring

Brownie with chocolate icing

Make your brownies even better by topping them with silky chocolate frosting.

Recipe: Brownie with chocolate icing

Turkey and Bell Pepper Chili

Ree's Turkey Chili is perfect for the transition from summer to fall. Serve with a variety of chips, from potato chips to pita chips, for scooping up the dish.

Recipe: Autumn Turkey Chili Sauce

Meatball Sandwiches

Your fellow fans will love every component of these Alton mini sandwiches: Parmesan-parsley buns, homemade spaghetti sauce, and three-meat meatballs.

Recipe: English sandwich with meat muffins

Bourbon Lemonade

Anne Burrell's classic cocktail combines lemon juice with bourbon. Sweeten the juice with simple syrup, making the drink more tart or sweet, as desired. Add a few mint leaves.

Recipe: Alcoholic lemonade

Spicy fried wings

Season the chicken wings with cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes. The creamy dipping sauce also contains a touch of horseradish, chili sauce, and cayenne pepper.

Recipe: Spicy fried wings

Peppers stuffed with meat and rice

Stuffed peppers are one of the most delicious summer dishes, a treat you'll want to enjoy throughout the season of these incredibly healthy and vitamin-rich sweet peppers. You can use leftover cooked rice or store-bought frozen rice to make the filling. Mix it with ground beef stewed with tomatoes and spices, grated cheese, egg, and breadcrumbs, and fill the peppers after lightly boiling them in the microwave. The stuffed peppers are then sprinkled with grated mozzarella and baked until the filling is heated through and the cheese is deliciously melted on the surface.

Recipe: Peppers stuffed with meat and rice

Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars

These sweet and salty bars are the perfect snack to make ahead of time and take with you on a picnic.

Recipe: Chocolate bars with peanut butter and jam

Braised beef brisket taco

Beef brisket is simmered in a flavorful sauce with poblano peppers, smoked paprika, and tomato juice until tender, then served on tortillas with the sauce and other traditional taco ingredients: cabbage, greens, radishes, and salsa. The tacos are juicy, filling, and bursting with multifaceted flavor.

Recipe: Braised beef brisket taco

Philadelphia cheesesteak

No matter where you're watching the big game, you're sure to love this richly-filled cheesesteak. Sandra Lee prepares it in the traditional style, with thinly sliced ​​steak, melted cheese, and green peppers.

Recipe: Philadelphia cheesesteak

Buffalo Chicken Brie

Having trouble deciding what appetizer to serve at a house party? Opt for this combination of buffalo wings and baked brie. Serve it like a dip with crackers for dipping. It's just as delicious as fried buffalo wings, but it keeps your hands and chins clean!

Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Brie

Texas chili

Chipotle and ancho peppers, along with plenty of spices, give Tyler Florence's chili a rich flavor.

Recipe: Texas chili

Grilled sausages with hot sauce

When there's no time for a barbecue or everyone's starving while the meat is grilling, this recipe for quick but delicious fried smoked sausages will come to the rescue. The sausage pieces are threaded onto skewers and grilled until crispy, and a delicious mixture of ketchup, hot mustard, and hot sauce makes the perfect sauce.

Recipe: Grilled sausages with hot sauce

Purple Potato Salad

Duff Goldman's potato salad with greens and pickles will stand out at a picnic for more than just its color.

Recipe: Purple potato salad

Warm dip with spinach and mushrooms

Spinach is microwaveable, making this warm cheesy dip even easier.

Recipe: Hot dip with spinach and mushrooms

Fruit pies

When you're cheering on your team, who has time to sit down for dessert? Ree Drummond's fried fruit pies are perfect for on-the-go eating.

Recipe: Fried pies with fruit filling

Fried wings with onion crust

Sunny dips her chicken wings in a sweet and spicy hoisin sauce and adds a touch of horseradish for a kick. The hoisin creates a sweet, caramelized flavor. Sprinkle the finished wings with French-fried onions to coat them completely.

Recipe: Fried wings in a sticky glaze with crispy onions

Guacamole

Ina makes a classic avocado appetizer in just 15 minutes. Add hot sauce to taste.

Recipe: Guacamole with avocado

Pressure Cooker Chili

Kick off your matchday party with this hearty, meaty chili from Alton Brown. Corn chips help thicken the dish, while chipotle peppers in adobo sauce add a smoky flavor.

Recipe: Pressure Cooker Chili Without Beans

Mini Salted Caramel Cheesecakes

Ree's pecan cheesecakes are topped with a luxurious salted caramel sauce.

Recipe: Salted Caramel Cheesecake

Chili with pasta

On sports day, you don't want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. This meaty chili with pasta and vegetables from Rachel, seasoned with a unique spice blend, is ready in just 15 minutes.

Recipe: Chili pasta

Spring rolls with fresh vegetables and dipping sauces

Bobby fills spring rolls with sliced ​​Chinese cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, and more. Serve with garlic-soy or spicy peanut dipping sauce.

Recipe: Spring rolls with fresh vegetables and two dipping sauces

Jalapeños stuffed with pork

Use leftover pulled pork to make stuffed peppers.

Recipe: Fried Jalapeños Stuffed with Cheese and Pork

Chorizo-stuffed mushrooms

Make a mushroom appetizer with a Spanish twist: stuff them with chorizo ​​and Manchego cheese.

Recipe: Stuffed mushrooms with chorizo

Deviled eggs with avocado

This party appetizer combines two popular ingredients: guacamole and deviled eggs. Tender avocado and egg yolk, with a touch of sour cream, whip into a creamy filling, while lime juice, fresh cilantro, and cayenne pepper infuse the appetizer with a vibrant, zesty flavor.

Recipe: Deviled eggs with avocado

Mexican meatball sandwiches

Give your meatball sandwiches a Mexican twist. We've seasoned the meat with spices and topped the sandwich with crushed tortilla chips, fresh cilantro, and more.

Recipe: Smoked Meatball Subs

Grilled Ham Roll with Eggs and Cheese for Breakfast

Bacon, ham, eggs, and cheese—all the ingredients of a hearty breakfast in this recipe are transformed into a compact roll, perfect for quick sandwiches. Serve the roll slices on cinnamon rolls and enjoy a breakfast that will keep you full for hours.

Recipe: Grilled Ham Roll with Eggs and Cheese for Breakfast

Stuffed champignons

Don't limit yourself to chips and dip when planning your buffet appetizers. Alex Guarnaschelli's stuffed mushrooms are a delicious, sophisticated addition to any pre-sports picnic.

Recipe: Stuffed champignons in the oven

Pork meatballs with spicy sauce

Feed your fans a hearty meat dish that will last them the entire game.

Recipe: Pork meatballs with spicy sauce

Soft bars with chocolate pieces

These bars are baked with traditional American chocolate chip cookie dough and are just as delicious, with a crispy exterior and a deliciously soft center. The dough is made with flour, eggs, butter, plenty of chocolate chips, and dark brown sugar, which imparts a wonderful caramel note, rich color, and that unique texture. The dough mixes easily without a mixer and bakes into one large cake, which is then cut into individual bars before serving.

Recipe: Soft bars with chocolate pieces

Greek Meatballs with Lemon and Arugula

Serve these vibrant, lemon-flavored Greek meatballs and they'll be gobbled up right before your eyes.

Recipe: Greek meatballs in egg-lemon sauce

Lasagna "Taco"

Taco-flavored lasagna is two delights in one! Layers of classic taco meat filling alternate with tender noodles and layers of gooey mozzarella. When making the sauce, you can use either a spicy salsa for a bolder flavor or a milder one for a family-friendly version. The finished lasagna is topped with classic taco toppings: shredded lettuce, tomato slices, shredded cheddar, crisp tortilla chips, and a drizzle of sour cream.

Recipe: Lasagna "Taco"

Asian-Style Pork Meatballs

Shiitake mushrooms, green onions, and ginger are just a few of the unique ingredients that transform pork meatballs into an Asian-inspired appetizer. They're perfect served in lettuce leaves, topped with homemade hoisin sauce and sesame seeds.

Recipe: Hoisin Glazed Pork Meatballs

Ricotta-stuffed meatballs with fennel and hot peppers

Red pepper flakes add a spicy kick to the meatballs, balanced by a fresh ricotta filling.

Recipe: Meatballs stuffed with ricotta cheese

Buffalo Chicken Dip Sauce

All the flavors of Buffalo wings combined into a dip. Combine shredded chicken, hot sauce, celery seed, and cream cheese and bake until bubbly.

Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Dip Sauce

Amazing Bavarian Pretzels

These soft, pretzel-flavored buns are perfect for a wide variety of sandwiches. To make them, you'll need just a few ingredients: flour, yeast, a spoonful of sugar, and salt. But to ensure the buns acquire that distinctive pretzel flavor, it's important to blanche them in boiling water and baking soda before baking.

Recipe: Amazing Bavarian Pretzels

Peppers stuffed with ragout

We suggest a great use for leftover stew: stuff bell peppers with it.

Recipe: Stuffed peppers with Italian ragout

Italian Meatloaf Sandwiches

This meatloaf is made with the same mixture Italians use to make meatballs: ground beef, pork, and veal, seasoned with Parmesan and parsley. It's topped with a ketchup-balsamic sauce mixture, which turns into a wonderfully sticky crust when baked. Slice the meatloaf and make delicious Italian-style sandwiches.

Recipe: Italian Meatloaf Sandwiches

Philly Cheesesteak Pizza

Two game day favorites come together in this steak and cheese pie.

Recipe: Philly Cheesesteak Pizza

Peanut Butter Toffee Bars

No one will refuse these sweet bars. Valerie combines the flavors of butterscotch toffee and peanut butter for a treat with the perfect nutty note.

Recipe: Peanut Butter Toffee Bars

Grilled Stuffed Cheeseburger

Forget those huge cheeseburgers that always seem to drip sauce on your clothes or get your face and hands dirty. Make them into mini stuffed buns! Store-bought pizza dough is used to wrap mini beef patties with cheese. You can make everything ahead of time and grill them the day you're ready to serve. Serve the stuffed burgers with a "special sauce" for dipping and enjoy your favorite flavor in a new form.

Recipe: Grilled Stuffed Cheeseburger