25 Easy Game Day Appetizers

When your favorite sports are on TV, it’s time to bust out the ultimate game day appetizers!

Tailgating extravaganza or big screen TV gathering, these game day appetizers are great no matter where you watch. 

There are quintessential bites like chicken wings, potato skins, and nachos.

There are also some stunning curveballs like cocktail meatballs and succulent crab dip. 

No matter which team you’re rooting for, game day will be a major win with these 25 league-worthy game day appetizer recipes. 

1. Qdoba Queso

Qdoba makes a top-notch queso. However, with what’s soon to be a packed house, it’s hard to find the time to run out and snag a couple of orders. 

Enter this copycat recipe. The combination of cheese and poblanos make it taste just like the stuff you get from the Mexican food chain. 

2. Air Fryer Pizza Rolls

The kick-off is in 10 minutes, guests are knocking at the door, and you realize your famous chili won’t be ready for an hour.

Don’t worry, these pizza rolls are here to save the day. 

With the help of an air fryer, you can have these cheesy rolls ready in just 6 minutes. Plus, the air fryer does all the work. 

That way you can focus on grabbing drinks and finding the right channel without missing a beat. 

3. Crispy Oven Baked Potato Skins

In my household, it wouldn’t be game day without these potato skins! Bacon, cheese, and chives turn each crispy potato into an immaculate bite. 

You can serve these with something as simple as sour cream or double down on the garlic with garlic aioli.

Fancy dip or not, these potato skins are a winner on their own. 

4. Quesadillas

What’s so terrific about these quesadillas is everyone can enjoy them no matter their age. 

The inside is oozing with melty cheese while you pick your favorite variation of either veggies, chicken, or beef. 

I like to make all three to appease all my guests, and also because I want to eat them all.

5. Hormel Chili Dip

There’s an endless array of dips you can serve during game day. But if you want a guaranteed home run, go with this.

Similar to standard queso, it’s heavy on the cheese. Add in chili and it becomes an explosion of flavor. 

As for the dippers, keep it easy like the recipe and pair this thick, creamy dip with some corn tortilla chips.

6. Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Wings

A game day without chicken wings is blasphemy.

So if you don’t want to hear about not serving it for years to come, I highly suggest you opt for this recipe.

You’ll take frozen chicken wings and turn them into a succulent masterpiece. All you need is some spices, Frank’s red hot, and a trusty Crockpot.

The smell of this cooking will have everyone’s mouth watering before they even feast their eyes on these juicy wings. 

7. Loaded Tater Tots

Tater tots are good, but this recipe knocks it out of the park.

It takes everyone’s favorite childhood spud and turns them into a bite-sized version of a baked potato. 

These mini flavor bombs are bursting with cheese, bacon, and sour cream. Plus, this recipe is ridiculously easy. 

You’ll smash some tater tots into a cup shape in a muffin pan, bake with cheese, then load on the fixings. 

8. Cheeseburger Sliders

This recipe has MVP winner all over it! It features juicy ground beef and melty cheese on toasted buttery rolls. 

These sliders are so tasty you don’t need any more fixings than just the meat and cheese. 

Serve these with some tater tots, and you’ll have a meal fit for the big game!

9. Jalapeno Poppers

Whether you’re there for the game or just in it for the food, jalapeno poppers are a crowd pleaser. 

The spice of the jalapeno and the cooling effect of the cream cheese is the perfect combination. 

When hulling out the jalapenos, be sure to remove all the seeds. Otherwise, these might be unexpectedly spicy. 

10. Seven-Layer Taco Dip

You can always count on the seven-layer taco dip to come through and win the game. 

It’s got everything a game dip should have including cheese, veggies, and refried beans. 

When layering this dip, start with the beans, then add the cheese and veggies.

You’ll want the denser ingredients on the bottom, so when you dip in your chip, you scoop up all the layers. 

11. Spinach Artichoke Dip

This is the champion of dips! It’s creamy, cheesy, garlicky, and has bacon.

You can use fresh spinach instead of frozen, however, you’ll want to steam it first. 

I also recommend sticking with jarred artichokes versus canned. They’ll have more flavor to contribute to the dip.

12. Mozzarella Sticks

Got some non-meat eaters in the bunch? Mozzarella sticks are a surefire winner. 

Crunchy on the outside and gooey on the inside, these mozzarella sticks are impossible to resist. 

While the recipe isn’t complicated, you will need to freeze the cheese for a couple of hours, so keep that in mind.

13. Buffalo Chicken Dip

Score a touchdown with carnivores by serving this dip. 

This lip-smacking appetizer is a creamy concoction of tender rotisserie chicken that’s smothered in a trio of cheese and spicy Frank’s hot sauce.

It’s so good, I can eat it with a spoon! Although, on game day I opt to serve it with some crunchy celery and carrot sticks along with a bag of tortilla chips.

14. Quick and Easy Nachos

These slamming nachos come fully loaded with the works. I’m talking shredded cheese, refried beans, beef, and jalapenos. 

It’s a foolproof recipe that’s just about as effortless as it gets. Simply load up all your ingredients on a sheet pan and bake. 

What’s so great is you can adapt this recipe to the taste preferences of your crowd.

Vegan, vegetarian, or meat-eater, there are numerous ways to fix up this quick recipe. 

15. Cheese and Garlic Crack Bread

Football, baseball, soccer, or hockey, this bread is perfect no matter which sport you’re watching.

Each piece of this pull-apart bread is as garlicky as it is buttery and cheesy. 

It’s beyond better than anything you can get from the store, and your guests will love tearing in.

16. Ham and Cheese Sliders

These sliders are always a great recipe to have on hand for game day.

They’re far less messy than chicken wings and there’s no need to worry about someone second dipping. 

Although, you will need to worry about seconds, and possibly even thirds. So, you might want to whip up a double batch.

17. Popcorn Chicken

Popcorn chicken is the perfect recipe for snacking.

Panko breadcrumbs give them a crunchy exterior while the inside is nothing but juicy chicken. 

I think a blue cheese or buffalo sauce will make a great addition for dipping.

However, your guests will have no problem finishing off a basket of these on their own.

18. Stuffed Mushrooms

There’s no rule saying you can’t serve a delicious veggie appetizer for game day. 

However, the rules of the game do state they must feature either a meat or cheese component.

Luckily, these stuffed mushrooms get a bite from parmesan cheese. 

They’re a little bit more classy than a guilt-laden queso dip, but equally delicious nonetheless.

19. Guacamole

Of course, there’s always an exception to the meat and cheese rule and that’s guacamole. 

This Chipotle-inspired recipe is as chip-worthy as they come. It’s fresh and creamy with a hint of spice.

20. Crab Dip

This crab dip is seriously addicting. It’s got chunks of succulent jumbo crab meat the meld in matrimony with an Old Bay seasoned cream cheese. 

I love how sharp cheddar cheese adds a bit more bite while lemon juice pulls everything together. 

For serving, I highly recommend going the cracker and toast points route. 

21. Cowboy Crack Dip

Another addictive dip to add to the game day list is this cowboy crack dip.

Sink your teeth in, and you’ll quickly discover this name is anything but a misnomer. 

But wait, it gets even better because you can cook up this five-ingredient dip in your Crockpot. 

22. Philly Cheesesteak Egg Rolls

The inside of these egg rolls is as surprising as the final inning. The meat and cheese filling taste just like a Philly cheesesteak except it’s way less messy.

This is a great option if you want easy-to-eat finger food without sacrificing standard game day fare.  

23. Pizza Dip

Everything about this dip screams game day! 

It starts with a base of a cream cheese mixture, then it gets a layer of marinara sauce and more cheese. 

Oh, and don’t forget pepperoni for the final topping! 

Serve this with some bread for dipping, and nobody will even think about ordering a pizza.

24. Paula Deen Sausage Balls

These cheesy sausage balls are so good they deserve a trophy.

Made with Bisquick, ground sausage, and lots of cheese, these little bites are sure to please.

Serve them with mustard dip, something spicy, or even in a sub. No matter what, they’re delish!

25. Football Cheese Ball

Looking for a fun classic American appetizer to serve during the Super Bowl? This is the recipe you’ve been searching for.

A cheese ball is a party staple for American gatherings, including American football. The inside is all cheese while the outside is all bacon crumbles.

What makes this cheese ball unique is it’s shaped just like a football. How perfect is that?!