Four Simple Football Game Snacks

When the season strikes, there's no stopping the cravings for football game snacks. Whether you're watching the games or just socializing with friends, tasty treats are an important part of the fun.

But what to cook? Lots of options can be overwhelming. We've come up with four standard football game snacks that are sure to satisfy. Keep reading to get the recipes!

Game Day Recipes to Feed a Crowd

1. Buffalo Chicken Dip

Imagine the granddaddy of all football game snacks, but as a dip. That's exactly what buffalo chicken dip is. A little spicy, a little creamy, and a whole lot of delicious, buffalo chicken dip is a crowd-pleaser.

Recipe borrowed from NYT Cooking.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 cups shredded, cooked chicken
• ½ cup Buffalo sauce
• ½ teaspoon lemon juice
• ¼ cup sour cream
• 4 ounces cream cheese, cut into pieces and softened to room temperature
• ½ cup freshly shredded cheddar cheese
• ¼ crumbled blue cheese
• 1 ½ teaspoons finely chopped chives

1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. In an 8-inch oven-safe skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and hot sauce and simmer until the sauce has thickened and reduced by half, 2 to 3 minutes.
2. Turn off the heat, then stir in the lemon juice, sour cream, and cream cheese until combined. Sprinkle the cheddar cheese over top.
3. Bake until bubbling around the edges and the cheese has melted, about 10 minutes. If you'd like the top to get browned, run it under the broiler for a minute or two.
4. Immediately garnish with blue cheese and chives. Serve warm with chips, bread or vegetables for dipping.

2. Loaded Potato Skins

Game day isn't complete without potato skins. Simultaneously crispy and smooth, potato skins are an American staple. Load them up with your desired toppings to create an incredible football game snack.

Recipe borrowed from Bon Appetit.

Ingredients

• 8 russet potatoes (about 5 pounds), washed
• Olive oil
• Flaky sea salt or kosher salt
• Black pepper
• 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
• Sour cream and chopped chives, for serving

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Poke potatoes on all sides with a fork and rub with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Place potatoes on a rack set in a rimmed baking sheet. Roast until very soft when squeezed and skin is crisp, 60-75 minutes. Let potatoes cool until easy to handle.
3. Heat broiler to high. Halve potatoes and scoop out insides (you can use this for other recipes or eat separately), leaving a 1/4-inch border attached to skins. Brush both sides of potatoes with oil and season insides with salt and pepper.
4. Return potato skins to rack. Broil, turning once, until skins are crisp and flesh is golden, about 5-7 minutes per side.
5. Divide cheese and bacon among potatoes and broil until cheese is melted, about 2 minutes. Top with sour cream, chives, and black pepper.

3. Guacamole

A good guacamole recipe is a staple for any kitchen. And when served with tortilla chips, guacamole becomes one of the ultimate football game snacks. This basic recipe provides a good canvas for adding your own twist. Customize as you like!

Ingredients

• 2 ripe avocados (soft but with some firmness)
• 2 teaspoons lime juice
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ cup red onion, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
• ½ jalapeno with seeds, finely chopped

1. Halve avocados and carefully remove pits. Scoop avocados and place in a medium bowl.
2. Toss avocados with lime juice to coat.
3. Add salt and mash avocados with a fork or potato masher to a smooth consistency. Feel free to leave some chunks if desired.
4. Fold in remaining ingredients and mix well. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

4. Cool Ranch Chex Mix

Rather than having lots of crunchy snacks, why not have one mix that combines them all? That's exactly what this cool ranch Chex mix does. If you can find a better salty football game snack, we're all ears.

Recipe borrowed from Delish.

Ingredients

• 3 cups Corn Chex cereal
• 3 cups Rice Chex cereal
• 1 cup pretzels
• 1 cup Cool Ranch Doritos, broken into pieces
• ½ cup butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning/dressing mix
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, toss the cereals, pretzels, and chips together.
3. In a small bowl, whisk the butter and spices together, then pour the sauce over the snack mix. Toss until the snack mix is completely coated.
4. Spread mixture out on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until toasted, about 10-15 minutes. Let cool completely before serving.

By now, your mouth is probably watering. And we can't blame you! If you know someone else who could use some easy football game snacks, give this post a share.

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