Football season kicked off this week, which I could truly care less about until it comes to the snacks that people make to eat while they watch the games. While I’ll never say no to a tailgate at a college football game or great tickets to an especially exciting sporting event with friends, my TV is not automatically tuned into ESPN on Saturdays and Sundays in the fall.
After college, I moved from a quick stint at my mom’s house outside of Philadelphia to Hoboken, where I quickly discovered that there was an extensive culture of football fans who went to bars on Sunday to watch games. Even though I wasn’t a football fan, that sounded like something I could get into.
After spending one September afternoon at my friend John’s neighborhood bar watching a Giants vs. Eagles game over pitchers of beer, I quickly learned that Sundays are not Saturdays, as you in fact have to go to work the next day. Subsequently, I learned that being the soberest person at a bar during a football game is about as much fun as the annual visit to the lady doctor.
So, the majority of my sports-watching during the fall and winter is limited to my or my friends’ living rooms. I far prefer it to being out at crowded, sweaty bars because not only is the booze cheaper, but the snacks are always better. To save you from crowded bars, I’ve pulled together a list of my favorite football-friendly recipes for your viewing – and snacking – pleasure. Laces out!
Appetizers:
Roasted Tomatillo Guacamole from In Good Taste
Buffalo Chicken Dip from In Good Taste
Baked Chicken Meatballs from In Good Taste
Chipotle Chicken Fingers from In Good Taste
Fresh Tomatillo Salsa from In Good Taste
Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers from Erin’s Food Files
Seven Layer Dip from I Was Born to Cook
Hot Crab Dip from Chez Us
Tortellini Skewers from Dana Treat
Black Bean Nachos from Aggie’s Kitchen
Soft Pretzel Bites from Handle the Heat
Vegan Baked Taco Dip from Baked Bree
Pretzel Wrapped Pigs in a Blanket from Tablespoon
Brown Butter Garlic Snack Mix from Sarah’s Cucina Bella
Coconut Shrimp with Pineapple Salsa from Shutterbean
Sandwiches, Tacos & More:
Cajun Lettuce Wraps from In Good Taste
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sliders from In Good Taste
Chipotle Steak Sliders from In Good Taste
Mozzarella Sticks with Buttermilk Dip from Food People Want
Black Bean Sliders from Baked Bree
Bacon, Apple & Cheddar Sammies from Aggie’s Kitchen
Slow Cooker Pork Tacos with Black Bean Pico from Eat. Drink. Smile.
Spicy Bacon, Lettuce, Avocado & Tomato Sandwiches from Chez Us
Black Bean and Shrimp Quesadillas from The Perfect Pantry
Oven Ham Sammies from Dine & Dish
Vegetarian Quesadillas with Chipotle Cream from Smith Bites
Taco Cupcakes from Plain Chicken
Corn and Cheese Crepes with Tomatillo Salsa from Kitchen Belleicious
Shrimp, Sundried Tomato & Feta Quesadillas from Cookin’ Canuck
Grilled Pork Spring Rolls from Chez Us
Chili & Soups:
Beef & Pinto Bean Chili from In Good Taste
Vegetarian Chili from In Good Taste
Classic Turkey Chili from In Good Taste
White Bean & Apple Chili from In Good Taste
Loaded Baked Potato Soup from In Good Taste
White Chicken Chili from Not Rachael Ray
Game Day Chili from Aggie’s Kitchen
Crockpot Pumpkin Chili from Kalyn’s Kitchen
Black Bean and Peach Salsa Soup from Soup Chick
Macaroni & Cheese Soup from The Savory Spoonful
Pinto Bean & Sweet Potato Stew from Peas and Thank You
Beef & Three Bean Chili from Fearless Homemaker
Pumpkin, Chickpea and Red Lentil Stew from Better Homes & Gardens
Hearty Beef Stew from Once a Month Mom
Beer, Bacon & Cheese Soup from Taylor Takes a Taste
Pizza:
Chipotle Black Bean Pizza from In Good Taste
Acorn Squash and Gorgonzola Pizza from In Good Taste
Spinach & Ricotta Pizza with Olive Oil Dough from In Good Taste
Purple Potato Pizza with Caramelized Onions from In Good Taste
Potato Leek & Bacon Pizza from Bev Cooks
Barbecue Chicken Pizza from Not Rachael Ray
Sausage and Fennel Pizza with Caramelized Onions and Peppadews from Smith Bites
Potato Rosemary Pizza from Shutterbean
Pesto, Tomato & Mozzarella Cheese Pizza from 4 the Love of Feasting
Buffalo Chicken Pizza from We Are Not Martha
Pizza Bites from Chaos in the Kitchen
Portobello & Sausage French Bread Pizza from Cooking With Amy
Pizza Bianca with Goat Cheese & Greens from Love & Olive Oil
Pizza Pot Pie from Cinnamon Spice & Everything Nice
Desserts:
Seven Layer Magic Bars from In Good Taste
Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Squares from In Good Taste
Malted Chocolate Chip Cookies from In Good Taste
Cocoa Brownies with Browned Butter & Walnuts from In Good Taste
Nutty Cinnamon Monkey Bread from In Good Taste
Tequila Bars from Erin’s Food Files
Toffee Chip Cookies from Bran Appetit
Fall Apple Crisp from Things We Make
Apple Crumb Bars from Sweet & Crumby
Chocolate and Potato Chip Cookies from The Waspy Redhead
Pumpkin Walnut Oatmeal Squares with Cinnamon Glaze from Bake Your Day
S’Mores Cookies from The Girl Who Ate Everything
Reese’s Peanut Butter Chip Cookies from Itzy’s Kitchen
Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies from Not A Crazy Vegan
Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies from The Parsley Thief
[Photo Credits: 1. Hello Cupcake, 2. Erin Wilburn, 4. Aggie Goodman]
{ 93 comments… read them below or add one }
loveeeee this post! Josh and i were just discussing what to make this football sunday! Now i have some great ideas!!
75 recipes – wow. Would love to go to a buffet that has all these
Wow, this is massive. Thanks for all those links!
Seriously fantastic round up of deliciousness. Wow. I totally love all this food! I’ve got my eye on that chipotle black bean pizza for sure…
Ok, I know exactly what you mean about Sundays at the bar, lol. I worked at a sports bar in college and Sundays were a huge day. I was always envious, wanted to be on the other side, instead of serving….drinking, eating and watching! But I know what you mean, being at home on your own couch with your own food and drinks, nothing beats that.
This is like a one stop shop for all my football cooking needs! Amazing round up!
Definitely needed here in Tx!
I have the exact same attitude as you about football! Everything here looks delicious, can’t wait to try some of these recipes. Thank you so much for including me!
Whoa! You were busy girl, this is quite a post!! How can I not bookmark every one?
I’m going with dessert first though since your seven layer magic bars are screaming my name.
Thanks, Maris!
Wow! What a feast! I’m feeling very snacky right now. Thanks for including my pot pies.
I love football season! I am sad from January to August, waiting for college football to start back up
These all look great – thanks for the link!
What an awesome round up of recipes!! I don’t get into NFL football much but I’m a huge fan of college football….I’m definitely saving this page for this season!!
This is NOT a post to look out before I have had breakfast! Thanks for the roundup, very useful in these times!
Thanks, Maris, I can see that I’ll be coming back again and again to these links, esp. the desserts!
Awesome array of recipes from fabulous bloggers!
THAT is quite the roundup Maris – i love watching football, pros, college, high school . . . wonder if that means i like hitting things . . . hmmmmm . . . feeling a therapy session coming on – LOL! Thanks for including us!
definitely a wonderful round-up of recipes + thanks so much for featuring my beef and three-bean chili! we’re huge NFL fans in our household, so i’ll definitely be popping back here for ideas over the next few months!
I always prefer watching at home on the couch, rather than at a crowded bar. I’m definitely a home body! Of course I LOVE the food that goes with football Sunday! Thanks for sharing so many amazing ideas!
Awesome list, Maris. I am trying to get my kids into football this fall … and the snacks that go along with it
What a great round-up! I’m not even a football fan but would still love to make some of these recipes
While I really enjoy a good football game with my honey, you have, by far, featured the best part of football season. We haven’t had cable or satellite since we relocated last year and I found out this past Monday night while watching the Pats game at the local pub that I much prefer my living room, my beer and my snacks to anything that the pub has to offer. I am bookmarking this post for year round use. Thanks so much for the effort you have put in to compile this fantastic list!
Pre-kids, we always spent our Sundays at the bars watching the games. Now I much prefer spending those days at home with our family- and homemade snacks definitely beat bad-for-you bar food! Great compilation list here!
Holy ___ all that is amazing!
This is the best resource for snacks EVER. I may need to work my way through all of these…especially the chilis.
Thanks for the shoutout as well, homegirl.
That is some roundup! I actually adore the ritual of football, but probably only watch 20% of the game. I like to eat, read a magazine, lay around, and eat while watching. Just enough watching to have an excuse to eat sport food fare.
Great roundup!
Great roundup – thanks for including me! And, I need to know which bar you’re referring to…I spent many a Sunday at several Hoboken bars (if I wasn’t at the actual game), but I agree, sometimes it’s better to stay home.
I also could care less about football season, although the tailgating part always sounds fun. This is such a fun roundup, thanks so much. I keep scrolling through and finding more stuff I want to make/eat/
Maris, I can’t express enough how great you are as a food blogger. It takes time to make this 75 recipe list and you always work ahead of time. Love this roundup. My husband’s happy season will start.
Wow, some great ideas and recipes!
Wow Maris, now THAT is what I call a roundup! 75 recipes!? I actually love football season (an unhealthy amount) but I’m right there with ya on the food portion. Can’t wait to try out some of these recipes.
I love your football cupcakes – they are adorable!
This is great Gameday food!
Wow! That post had to take you some time to put together!!!! YUM
Love this post – a must have resource for all us football fans. Thanks, Maris!
That’s funny, I just had the same conversation – “I don’t care about football but I could get into going to people’s houses to eat a ton of snacks” – with my husband this weekend. He doesn’t care about football either, and while he likes snacks, he doesn’t feel the urge to go to someone else’s house and put a football game on in order to eat them… and he kind of has a point. But if someone invited me over to watch the game, I’d definitely bring something delicious off this list!
First thank you so much for the shout out on my crepes. Secondly, I am keeping this list so handy, as in a print out so I can be sure to make some if not all of these fantastic recipes this year! Awesome round up- thanks for doing all the leg work for us!
I love those cupcakes and those dips sound amazing!
I prefer to watch football in the comfort of my, or my friends’, home too. Although, one Badger game at Camp Randall is a must! What a wonderful array of football party recipes. Love the cupcakes!
This is great! My friends and I always get together for Steelers games and this will be a great reference!
Tailgating and football watching has begun! Here in the South college football is the main event. Did I mention I am a Gator fan? Everyone always seems to be looking for a good tailgating recipe. I am going to share your link with a few friends, to share your recipe ideas.
Cheers.
Velva
i am an avid college football plan only b/c i went to a big ten college
. not really into NFL or anything else! i’m all about watching at friend’s living room rather than bar. so much more comfortable and fun!
I’m not a football fan, but I do love me some good food! These are things I could enjoy for any occasion.
It would be a great idea to have a potluck with all these dishes…like a HUGE gathering of people (football optional, haha).
I want everything in this amazing line up
Great list Maris.
If someone made all of this it would be the best football party ever!!!
Love the football cupcakes, and what a great recipe list for football parties! My football viewing habits sound similar to yours, but my husband is a huge fan. He’s been missing quite a few football games though because of our kids busy sports schedules right now…soccer and football games on Saturday and softball double headers on Sundays. I’m sure he’ll be much happier mid November when they take a break from sports and he gets to watch more football
I’m loving those football cupcakes but they’re just too beautiful to eat!
If any food from this fantastic list is served at the next tailgating party I attend, I will be one happy girl! What a great list: I’ve mentally said “yes” to every item on the menu.
Hi Maris. Wow…so many amazing recipes. This must have taken you FOREVER to put together, so THANK YOU!!!!! Hope your weekend has been a good one.
Those cupcakes are darling!!! And what a great array of football food…everything sounds fabulous! Enjoy your football Sunday~xo
fabulous ideas and recipes! Hope you had a great weekend
Love this! My hubs is a ridiculous about football…I’ll have to check these out!
Great list! A lot of nice recipes.
What a comprehensive line up Maris! And those football cupcakes are just adorable!
Whoa – 75 recipes?! Not that’s what I call a recipe round-up! Thanks for sharing, Maris!
What great recipes! A lovely roundup. Everything looks and sounds wonderful.
Cheers,
Rosa
Great list of recipes here! Im looking forward to going through them all! Thanks for sharing!
What a nice little (or large) recipe collection for fall and football! Great post!
I love this post! What a great idea. Being that I went to UGA I am pretty pumped about football season kicking off but I, too, love the goodies that accompany the tailgates. Looking forward to checking out the other recipes…thanks for the shout out as well
That’s quite an extensive list of game day treats! I have to admit I didn’t know much about the football culture until I moved here since it was never a big deal in Boston (my own school never had a team). Love the assortment you’ve got going on here.
wow! you’ve got football season covered! i’m not really into football, but with your vast array of recipes I could really get into it.
I haaate football but LOVE the food! This all looks so so good
wow! that’s a lot of recipes and so many for us vegetarians too…thank you, thank you, thank you….with the party season around the corner…this is a real treasure.
I’ve got a thing for lists…this is awesome. And I know it was a lot of work, so, thank you!
Have a magical Monday!
I bookmarked your “Chipotle Chicken Fingers” recipe – that’s right up my husband’s alley (even moreso than football itself)! Stumbled on your blog through chopinandmysaucepan. Your photography is lovely, and you’ve done such a great job infusing your personality and taste into your posts! A pleasure to read, and I look forward to seeing what else you have in store.
I don’t even really watch football, but I want to just so I have an excuse to make a bunch of these recipes!! (I especially love that first picture of the football cupcakes. Too cute!!)
I’m a HUGE football fan and love to have people over to watch the games. Thanks for putting these together
I’m not very interested in football, but I do love parties. All these are great to serve to make your guests happy. Thanks for the round up!
fun post made me smile and great snacks thanks for the congrats on the baby
Girl, can I share some of your recipes next week in my “Enjoy your Food” post?
Let me know!
soft pretzel bites, yes please!
Thanks for the great roundup of recipes! I’m not much into football, but the get-togethers are always fun!
Maris, beautiful links…they are awesome.
Hope you are having a fantastic week and thank you for this post
Thank you for the shout out and link to my recipe! Everything here looks so drool-worthy!
I am not a football fan but all these recipes look great!
Awesome round-up! Gave me some great inspiration for football season. I don’t particularly enjoy watching the game but whenever there is an excuse for a good meal, I am in!
All these recipes look amazing! I kept on going “I want to try that one! No wait, I want to try that one! Oh but look at that one! …” and so it continued
Your post is longer than football season itself!
I’m excited to browse through all these recipes to find some to make for the husband on Sunday nights.
Wow, this is a great collection of recipes Maris! I’ve never been much into football, but now that I live in Austin Texas I don’t think I have a choice but to be, haha! I do go to a lot of neighborhood happy hours where I have to bring a dish, though, so this is enormously helpful. Thanks for sharing, and of course thanks for always stopping by my blog, too!
Maris, I love this!!!
Love this list! I’m with you – in it for the snacks.
I hope you’re feeling better about your writing.
Those football cupcakes are the best!
HI Maris. Just want to say “hi” and hope you’re doing ok!!!!!!
WHat a fantastic group of recipes! You are a GENUIS! We have to bookmark this page ! Thanks again!
Bookmarking your line-up for sure! Love the depth of this list…I can’t imagine not finding the perfect recipe each week. Thank you
What a mouthwatering roundup!
Yum! It all looks fantastic! Those cupcakes are super cute! I’m with you on the living room over the sweaty crowded bar….so much more fun.
-Kim
Have a magical Monday! I hope you’re ok!
what a list!!! I LOVE all the link,, super football fan here, so any new ideas make me happy!! I read you oatmeal post, your an awesome writer.
I’ve been looking for inspiration for our footy grand final and I think you’ve just given us a great idea!
That is quite the round-up, hard to decide what to try first. That would keep any football fans happy.
-Gina-
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