23 Recipes For Football Sundays That Aren’t Just Nachos

Nachos may be the poster child for football Sundays, but they don’t have to be the only thing on the table. Game day food should be hearty, easy to share, and keep everyone fueled until the last whistle. Sliders, wings, dips, and mains that feed a crowd do exactly that without a lot of extra work. Prepping some dishes ahead of time means less stress and more time to actually watch the game. This lineup is one you’ll want to keep in your playbook.

Cheesy Chipotle Fundido Dip

Melted cheese mixed with chipotle flavor and baked until bubbling creates a dip that is bold and rich. Served with chips or vegetables, it’s the kind of dish that disappears quickly. It’s easy to prepare ahead of time and heat up right before kickoff.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Chipotle Fundido Dip

Sweet Potato Guacamole Bacon Bites

Slices of roasted sweet potato topped with guacamole and bacon create a bite that’s crisp, creamy, and salty all at once. They’re simple to assemble and sturdy enough to serve as finger food. These bites are a fun option that mixes classic flavors in a different format.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Guacamole Bacon Bites

Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders

Chicken tenders coated, air fried until crispy, and tossed in buffalo sauce make an easy crowd favorite. They deliver the crunch of fried chicken without the deep fryer. Served with dipping sauce, they’re perfect for football Sundays when you need something quick but bold.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders

Popcorn Shrimp

Shrimp coated in breadcrumbs and baked until golden turn into bite-sized snacks perfect for dipping. The crispy coating with tender shrimp inside makes them addictive, and they’re easy to serve with lemon wedges or a favorite dipping sauce. They hold their own next to classic football foods.
Get the Recipe: Popcorn Shrimp

Cheeseburger Sliders

These sliders bring all the flavor of a cheeseburger in a smaller, shareable size that works perfectly for game day spreads. Seasoned beef and melted cheese are tucked into soft buns, making them easy to grab and eat while watching the game. They can be prepared ahead of time, and leftovers heat up well, which makes them practical when you have a crowd.
Get the Recipe: Cheeseburger Sliders

Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken

Chicken slow cooked with salsa verde, garlic, and spices creates a juicy, flavorful filling that works in tacos, burritos, or rice bowls. The slow cooker does the work, leaving you free to focus on the game or other dishes. This is the kind of recipe that makes football Sundays less stressful while still feeding everyone well.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken

Kimchi Fries

Crispy fries get loaded with melted cheese, tangy kimchi, scallions, sesame seeds, and spicy sauce for a bold snack. The mix of textures makes them stand out at any football gathering, giving you something different from standard fries. They’re fun to serve on a big platter where everyone can dig in together.
Get the Recipe: Kimchi Fries

Pizza Pigs in a Blanket

Crescent rolls are filled with pepperoni and cheese, then baked until golden and flaky. They turn into bite-sized pizza snacks that are easy to dunk in marinara. Perfect for football Sundays, they take a classic party snack and give it a pizza spin that everyone loves.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Pigs in a Blanket

Oreo Football Truffles

These chocolate truffles shaped like little footballs are a sweet way to round out a football menu. A creamy center covered in a chocolate shell makes them rich and satisfying, and they look great on a game day dessert table. With minimal ingredients, they come together quickly.
Get the Recipe: Oreo Football Truffles

Fresh Vegan Guacamole

Creamy avocado mixed with lime, onions, and cilantro creates a dip that’s always a hit on game day. It takes only minutes to prepare and pairs with chips, veggies, or tacos. A bowl of guacamole on the table is a reliable choice for football Sundays when you need something everyone will enjoy.
Get the Recipe: Fresh Vegan Guacamole

Buffalo Chicken Tacos

Shredded jackfruit tossed in spicy buffalo sauce stands in for chicken in these tacos, topped with crunchy vegetables and dairy-free dressing. They come together quickly, making them an easy addition to football Sunday spreads. The bold flavors hold their own next to classic wings and dips.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Tacos

Oven Roasted Honey Sriracha Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts caramelized in the oven are tossed in a honey and Sriracha glaze for a balance of sweet and heat. The edges crisp up while the centers stay tender, giving you a vegetable side that still feels game day worthy. They’re a nice change of pace from heavier football snacks.
Get the Recipe: Oven Roasted Honey Sriracha Brussels Sprouts

Buffalo Wings with Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing

Chicken wings baked until crisp are tossed in a spicy buffalo sauce and paired with creamy blue cheese dressing made from scratch. They’re messy, flavorful, and exactly the kind of food people expect during football season. Serving them hot from the oven keeps the crowd happy.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Wings with Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing

Cheesy Garlic Bread Fingers

Thick slices of bread brushed with garlic butter are baked with a layer of melted mozzarella until gooey and golden. Cut into strips, they’re perfect for dipping in marinara or enjoying alongside other football favorites. They’re quick to assemble and always disappear fast.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Garlic Bread Fingers

High Protein Taco Dip

This layered dip uses whipped cottage cheese as a base, giving it a creamy texture that’s high in protein. Topped with salsa, cheese, and fresh vegetables, it’s hearty enough to double as a meal. Served with chips, it is a crowd-pleasing option for football Sundays.
Get the Recipe: High Protein Taco Dip

Whiskey Pot Roast

Beef roast slow cooked with whiskey, broth, and vegetables turns tender and flavorful, making it a hearty dish for game day. It can be started in advance so the work is done before kickoff. This recipe is great for feeding a larger group when you want something more substantial than snacks.
Get the Recipe: Whiskey Pot Roast

Pulled Pork Sliders

Slow cooked pork piled on Hawaiian rolls with bacon and spicy coleslaw makes these sliders a standout. They’re juicy, easy to grab, and perfect for serving a crowd during football season. The combination of smoky pork and crunchy slaw keeps everyone coming back for more.
Get the Recipe: Pulled Pork Sliders

Raspberry Salsa

Fresh raspberries mixed with mango, peppers, and herbs create a salsa that balances sweet and spicy flavors. It takes only ten minutes to prepare and pairs with chips, grilled meats, or tacos. This salsa brightens up the spread and gives football Sundays a fresh option.
Get the Recipe: Raspberry Salsa

Air Fryer Chicken Sausage

Chicken sausages cooked in the air fryer stay juicy inside with a crisp exterior, and they’re ready in just fifteen minutes. You can use any flavor, from sweet to spicy, depending on your crowd. It’s a quick way to add protein to the table without much prep.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Sausage

Whipped Ricotta Dip

Ricotta whipped until smooth is topped with lemon, herbs, and a drizzle of honey for a creamy dip. It’s ready in minutes and works with bread, crackers, or vegetables. Light and flavorful, it adds variety to heavier football Sunday foods.
Get the Recipe: Whipped Ricotta Dip

Taco Salad Bowls

Crisp lettuce, seasoned meat, beans, and vegetables are piled into bowls, then topped with an avocado lime dressing. The bowls are customizable so everyone can build their own. It’s a fresh option that balances out the heavier football food on the table.
Get the Recipe: Taco Salad Bowls with Creamy Avocado Lime Dressing

Muffin Tin Mexican Bowls

Layers of shredded chicken, beans, salsa, and cheese are baked in muffin tins for perfectly portioned bites. They’re easy to grab and eat, making them ideal for parties. With fresh toppings added after baking, they taste just like tacos in mini form.
Get the Recipe: Muffin Tin Mexican Bowls

Buffalo Cauliflower

Cauliflower florets roasted until crisp are tossed in buffalo sauce and finished with blue cheese crumbles and celery. They deliver the same punch as wings but without the meat. Served hot, they’re a crowd-pleasing vegetarian option for football Sundays.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Cauliflower