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When you’re planning food around televised sporting events, the aim is to keep everything simple, tasty, and stress-free. Whether you have the whole crew coming over for the big game, or just looking to feed the family as simply as possible while eyes are glued to the screen, getting game day right need not be difficult.

The recipes and dishes below are all popular and versatile snack and mini-meals options that you can use to expand your playbook and make game day dining something to get excited about. Soon enough, your household will be the place to watch every big game!

Image Source: Ines Hegedus-Garcia via Flickr CC BY 2.0

1. Hot Dogs

Image: 12 Tomatoes

There is never a sports viewing situation where a hot dog isn’t called for. They’re simple, social, and filling.

If you put the effort in and make them the right way you can make hot dogs taste better than at the ballpark.

Do you want to level up your hot dog to otherworldly? I highly recommend that you try this innovative bacon wrapped, pickle-stuffed hot dog recipe. It’s better than Tom Brady!

2. Chips and Dip

Maryland-Hot-Crab-Dip
Image: 12 Tomatoes

If you are hosting a game day get-together, then chips and dip are essential. It doesn’t matter if it’s simple French Onion, three olive dip, or something more exciting, you can’t go wrong pairing dips with the best chip brands.

We’ve got a great collection of outstanding dip recipes perfect for game day entertaining. Check our our recommendations for crowd-pleasing dips.

3. Homemade Buffalo Wings

Perfect-Crispy-Chicken-Wings
Image: 12 Tomatoes

Look, you don’t have to choose Buffalo wings unless, of course, you are a Bills fan, then it’s expected behavior on game day. You can certainly order some via takeout or delivery, but I’m willing to bet (now that wagering is legal in a lot of places) that they aren’t as good as these homemade Buffalo wings! Then, the only question remaining is: do you prefer wings or drums?

4. Pizza Rolls

Pizza Rolls
Image: 12 Tomatoes

Why get average takeout pizzas (like everybody else in the country) when you can have deliciously fresh and piping hot pizza rolls, just in time for kickoff? This 12 Tomatoes pizza roll recipe is great! You can copy it to the letter or use it to try out your own favorite fillings.

5. Nachos

Image: 12 Tomatoes

Dips are good, but for some people (like me), nachos are even better! I’m happy to make a mess when there’s corn chips, Pico de Gallo, and cheese involved. Load the nachos up with chilli con carne, salsa, sour cream, and homemade guacamole, and I’m going to have a difficult time sharing the platter with anybody else.

As a big time Cheese Head, you gotta bring the melt – so don’t be shy with the mozzarella, Monterey Jack, and some white cheddar to make it bind and taste divine! It’s not rocket science to make nachos, but we’d like to recommend this drool-worthy Loaded Sheet Pan Nachos for you to try.

6. Sliders

Kalua Pork Sliders
Image: 12 Tomatoes

Sliders are a tasty little meal that you can have in your hand, and there’s plenty of different kinds of amazing fillings that you can enjoy with friends and family on game day. There’s little mess, lots of flavors, and they’re versatile for different audiences. You can even utilize leftovers from the grill or fridge.

Check out this recipe for Kalua Pulled Pork Sliders.

7. Quesadillas

Sheet-Pan-Chicken-Quesadillas
Image: 12 Tomatoes

I’m a big believer in the versatility quesadillas can bring to social food situations, especially when you’ve got guests with a range of different dietary requirements that cover gluten-free all the way through to vegan and vegetarian.

For a simple, adaptable, and enjoyable quesadilla, check out this delicious sheet pan quesadillas recipe.

8. Poutine

Poutine
Photo by @withlovefromchile on Unsplash

On behalf of people that love sports across the world, I’d like to thank Canada for giving us Wayne Gretzky, Steve Nash, and poutine (amongst other things). If you rustle up an awesome bowl of fries, gravy, and cheese curds on game day, you can rest assured that it won’t last long. One tip: use a gravy boat for serving. It will keep your fries crisper for longer and also allow for more individualized approaches to drowning your fries in gravy.

Curious about this Canadian comfort food, check out this cheesy gravy fry poutine.

9. Crispy Chicken Meatballs

Crispy-Chicken-Meatballs
Image: 12 Tomatoes

A simple meatball dish can go a long way on game day, either as an accompaniment to chips and dips, salads, or as a stand-alone tapas-style plate for a room full of carnivores.

You can go a lot of different ways to create brilliant meatballs; slow and saucy, grilled and cheesy, or oven roasted.

My favourite game day version is this one for crispy chicken meatballs because you can dip them in just about any sauce or dip and they’ll taste equally delicious. They are stacked with flavor and a hidden cheesy center. The delightful crunch when you bite into them takes these meatballs to a whole different level!

10. Homemade Pizza

Mashed Potato Pizza
Image Source: Joy via Flickr CC BY 2.0

I firmly believe that game day pizzas are cheating. They should be assigned for family movie night or those rainy/snowy days when you just couldn’t be bothered. In saying that though, I understand I represent a minority viewpoint. Rather than calling for delivery, try making your pizza at home for a special game day treat. It’s really not that hard, just the toppings you love and this super simple two-ingredient homemade pizza dough. It’s ready in just 15 minutes! A fresh pizza dough makes 100% of the difference in the whole pizza experience, and you could also fit it into the halftime break with a bit of sensible planning!

Conclusion

You don’t need a thick playbook to run great game day food, you just need to execute the basics well and give 110% effort (sorry, I had to).

If you focus on flavor, fun, and versatility, you can use the game day snack option above for years before anyone notices!