To be frank, a good number of guests at your Super Bowl gathering probably aren't able to name even one player on any of the teams, meaning it's gonna be all about the food! I've compiled a list of 25 recipes that will tackle the mealtime challenge by offering ooey-gooey dips and crispy treats that will be a hit and won't take much more time than it will take for you to watch a couple of commercials. Choose your favorites, make doubles of the ones you enjoy the most, and let the fun begin!
Don't lose this article. Enter your email below, and I'll send it to you right now. Plus a little encouragement and inspiration from me, straight to your inbox.
1) Buffalo Chicken Dip
The dip that disappears every year before kickoff.
ONE LIST
Five simple dinners. One grocery list.
No recipe hunting, no messy shopping notes, no complicated chef projects. Just family dinners that fit real weeks.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Buffalo Chicken Dip
Spicy and creamy shredded chicken dip which is baked till hot and bubbly.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 375 F.
- Stir together the cream cheese, buffalo sauce, and ranch until smooth.
- Fold in the shredded chicken and half the cheddar.
- Spread into a baking dish and top with the remaining cheddar.
- Bake for 20 minutes until hot and bubbly. Serve with celery and chips.
Notes
Make it in a slow cooker on low to keep it warm all game.
2) Stuffed Jalapeños with Cream Cheese
Just a bit of heat and plenty of cream, you'll gobble them up in two bites.
Stuffed Jalapeños with Cream Cheese
Cream cheese and crunchy bacon stuffed roasted jalapeno halves.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 400 F.
- Mix the cream cheese, cheddar, and crumbled bacon together.
- Spoon the filling into each jalapeño half.
- Place on a baking sheet, filling side up.
- Bake for 20 minutes until the peppers soften and the tops are golden.
Notes
Wear gloves while seeding the peppers or your eyes will thank you later.
3) Mini Cheeseburgers
Small burgers that for some reason taste better than regular size burgers.
Mini Cheeseburgers
Delicious tiny beef sliders with melted cheese served on soft buns.
Ingredients
Method
- Season the ground beef with salt and pepper and shape into 8 small patties.
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Cook the patties about 3 minutes per side.
- Top each with a half slice of cheese and let it melt.
- Place each patty on a bun and serve with your favorite toppings.
Notes
Add a pickle chip and a swipe of special sauce for the full diner feel.
4) Spinach Artichoke Dip
Melted cheesy goodness thats the reason you bought that second bag of chips.
Spinach Artichoke Dip
An oven baked dip packed with spinach, artichokes, and gooey cheese.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 375 F.
- Stir together the cream cheese, sour cream, and half the mozzarella.
- Fold in the spinach and artichoke hearts.
- Spread into a baking dish and top with the remaining mozzarella.
- Bake for 25 minutes until golden and bubbly. Serve warm with bread or chips.
Notes
Squeeze the spinach really dry or the dip turns watery.
5) Pulled Pork Sliders
Set and forget the slow cooker and let the magic happen!
Pulled Pork Sliders
Tender BBQ pulled pork stacked on soft buns with crunchy slaw.
Ingredients
Method
- Rub the pork shoulder with brown sugar and smoked paprika.
- Place in a slow cooker and pour half the barbecue sauce over it.
- Cook on low for about 4 hours until fork-tender.
- Shred the pork and stir in the remaining barbecue sauce.
- Pile onto slider buns and top with slaw.
Notes
Leftover pork freezes beautifully for nachos later.
6) BBQ Chicken Wings
It's sticky and saucy, and you'll definitely want to use a ton of napkins.
BBQ Chicken Wings
Crispy wings made in the oven and tossed in barbecue sauce that is sweet and tangy.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 425 F.
- Toss the wings with olive oil, garlic powder, and salt.
- Spread on a rack-lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 40 minutes, flipping halfway, until crispy.
- Toss the hot wings with barbecue sauce and bake 5 more minutes.
Notes
Baking on a wire rack is the trick to crispy wings without frying.
7) Bacon-Wrapped Smokies
Three components of trouble that are pure and salty sweet.
Bacon-Wrapped Smokies
Small smoked sausages that are wrapped in bacon and glazed with brown sugar.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 375 F.
- Wrap each cocktail sausage with a piece of bacon and secure with a toothpick.
- Arrange on a foil-lined baking sheet.
- Sprinkle generously with brown sugar.
- Bake for 30 minutes until the bacon is crisp and caramelized.
Notes
Line the pan with foil unless you enjoy scrubbing caramelized sugar.
8) Guacamole and Salsa Platter
The chip bowl always stays full, thanks to this bright, fresh duo!
Guacamole and Salsa Platter
Chunky fresh guacamole and zesty salsa served side by side.
Ingredients
Method
- Mash the avocados in a bowl and stir in half the lime juice, half the onion, and salt to taste.
- In a second bowl, combine the diced tomatoes, remaining onion, cilantro, and remaining lime juice.
- Season the salsa with a pinch of salt.
- Place both bowls on a platter side by side.
- Surround with tortilla chips and serve.
Notes
Press plastic wrap right onto the guac to keep it green.
9) Deviled Eggs with Bacon
Deviled eggs that have matured and now include bacon.
Deviled Eggs with Bacon
Egg halves with runny yolks and topped with crumbled bacon.
Ingredients
Method
- Boil the eggs for 12 minutes, then cool in ice water and peel.
- Slice the eggs in half and scoop the yolks into a bowl.
- Mash the yolks with mayonnaise and mustard until creamy.
- Spoon or pipe the filling back into the egg whites.
- Top with crumbled bacon and chopped chives.
Notes
A pinch of smoked paprika on top adds color and flavor.
10) Loaded Nachos
Construct your own masterpiece that feeds the entire couch.
Loaded Nachos
A full sheet pan of chips covered with beef, cheese, and other toppings.
Ingredients
Method
- Brown the ground beef and stir in the taco seasoning with a splash of water.
- Spread the tortilla chips on a sheet pan.
- Scatter the seasoned beef and cheese over the chips.
- Add the jalapeño slices.
- Bake at 400 F for about 10 minutes until the cheese melts, then add fresh toppings.
Notes
Two thin layers melt more evenly than one giant pile.
11) Crispy Fried Pickles
Zesty, crispy, and super simple to munch on continuously.
Crispy Fried Pickles
Golden battered and fried dill pickle chips with an incredibly crunchy texture.
Ingredients
Method
- Pat the pickle chips very dry with paper towels.
- Dredge each pickle in flour, then egg, then panko.
- Heat the oil in a skillet to 350 F.
- Fry the pickles in batches until golden, about 2 minutes.
- Drain on paper towels and serve with ranch.
Notes
Drying the pickles well keeps the breading from sliding off.
12) Cheesy Garlic Breadsticks
Pull-apart, cheese-pull, garlic-butter heaven.
Don't lose this article. Enter your email below, and I'll send it to you right now. Plus a little encouragement and inspiration from me, straight to your inbox.
Cheesy Garlic Breadsticks
Cheese covered breadsticks brushed with garlic butter.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 425 F.
- Stretch the pizza dough onto a baking sheet.
- Stir the minced garlic into the melted butter and brush it over the dough.
- Sprinkle the mozzarella evenly on top.
- Bake for 15 minutes until golden, then sprinkle with parsley and cut into sticks.
Notes
Serve with warm marinara for dunking.
13) Sweet and Spicy Meatballs
The crock pot superstar that self simmers into glory.
Sweet and Spicy Meatballs
Tender meatballs slow cooked in a sweet and spicy sauce.
Ingredients
Method
- Stir the grape jelly, chili sauce, and sriracha together in a slow cooker.
- Add the frozen meatballs and toss to coat.
- Cover and cook on low for 2 hours.
- Stir halfway through to coat the meatballs evenly.
- Serve warm with toothpicks straight from the cooker.
Notes
Grape jelly sounds odd but it makes the glaze irresistible.
14) Seven-Layer Taco Dip
A no-bake stunner you construct like tasty layers of the Earth.
Seven-Layer Taco Dip
Awesome layered dip with beans, guacamole, cheese, and new toppings.
Ingredients
Method
- Spread the refried beans across the bottom of a wide dish.
- Layer the guacamole over the beans.
- Spread the sour cream over the guacamole.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheese on top.
- Finish with the diced tomatoes and chill until ready to serve.
Notes
Add black olives or green onion for two more easy layers.
15) Mac and Cheese Bites
Food for the soul that you can grab with one hand and dip.
Ingredients
Method
- Cut the chilled mac and cheese into bite-size cubes.
- Coat each cube in flour, then egg, then panko.
- Heat the oil to 350 F in a deep skillet.
- Fry the bites in batches until golden, about 2 minutes.
- Drain on paper towels and serve warm.
Notes
Chilling the mac and cheese overnight makes it much easier to cube.
16) Shrimp Cocktail
A ten minute classy classic.
Ingredients
Method
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and add the lemon halves.
- Add the shrimp and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until pink.
- Drain and chill the shrimp in ice water.
- Stir together the ketchup, horseradish, and lemon juice for the sauce.
- Arrange the shrimp around the sauce and serve cold.
Notes
Don't overcook the shrimp; pull them the moment they curl and turn pink.
17) Classic Pigs in a Blanket
A snack for the party that is guaranteed to get finished.
Classic Pigs in a Blanket
Sausages in blanket style wrapped in buttery flaky crescent dough.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 375 F.
- Cut the crescent dough into thin strips.
- Wrap each cocktail sausage in a strip of dough.
- Place seam-side down on a baking sheet and brush with beaten egg.
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds and bake for 15 minutes until golden.
Notes
Serve with honey mustard for dunking.
18) Honey BBQ Chicken Skewers
Skewers that taste sweet and smoky, looking like you spent hours preparing them!
Honey BBQ Chicken Skewers
Bite-sized pieces of grilled chicken covered in sweet honey barbecue sauce.
Ingredients
Method
- Stir together the barbecue sauce, honey, olive oil, and garlic powder.
- Toss the chicken cubes in half the sauce and thread onto skewers.
- Grill over medium heat for about 12 minutes, turning often.
- Brush with the remaining sauce in the last few minutes.
- Cook until the chicken is glazed and cooked through, then serve.
Notes
Soak wooden skewers in water first so they don't scorch.
19) Mozzarella Sticks
The sensational cheese pull is definitely the most valuable player of the night!
Ingredients
Method
- Coat each cheese stick in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs, then repeat the egg and breadcrumbs for a double coat.
- Freeze the coated sticks for 30 minutes so they hold their shape.
- Heat the oil to 350 F.
- Fry the sticks in batches for about 1 minute until golden.
- Drain and serve immediately with marinara.
Notes
Freezing first is non-negotiable or the cheese leaks out.
20) Warm Crab Dip
A bit more upscale than its competitors but its creaminess is truly irresistible!
Warm Crab Dip
A melted cheese crab dip that is baked and loaded with the good stuff.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 375 F.
- Mix the cream cheese, mayonnaise, half the cheese, and Old Bay until smooth.
- Gently fold in the crab meat.
- Spread into a baking dish and top with the remaining cheese.
- Bake for 25 minutes until golden and bubbly. Serve with crackers.
Notes
Fold the crab in gently to keep those nice big lumps.
21) Spicy Queso Dip
It's molten cheese with a kick, it's basically a dare in a bowl.
Ingredients
Method
- Add the cubed cheese and milk to a saucepan over low heat.
- Stir constantly until the cheese melts and smooths out.
- Stir in the diced tomatoes with green chilies.
- Add the diced jalapeño and stir to combine.
- Keep warm and serve with tortilla chips.
Notes
A splash more milk loosens it back up if it thickens.
22) Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
The sneaky dip that gets veggies on the table.
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
Smooth homemade hummus blended with sweet roasted red pepper.
Ingredients
Method
- Add the chickpeas, roasted red peppers, tahini, and lemon juice to a food processor.
- Blend until mostly smooth.
- Drizzle in the olive oil while blending.
- Add a splash of water if it's too thick.
- Spoon into a bowl and serve with pita and veggies.
Notes
A swirl of olive oil and paprika on top makes it pretty.
23) Crispy Onion Rings
These crunchy golden rings are better than what you would get at the drive-thru.
Crispy Onion Rings
Fried golden-thick onion rings in a crispy seasoned batter.
Ingredients
Method
- Separate the onion slices into rings.
- Dredge each ring in flour, dip in buttermilk, then coat in panko.
- Heat the oil to 350 F.
- Fry the rings in batches until golden, about 3 minutes.
- Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with salt.
Notes
Soak the onions in ice water first for extra crispness.
24) Caprese Salad Skewers
A fresh bite that balances all of that fried stuff out, and also requires no cooking!
Caprese Salad Skewers
Skewers with balsamic glaze, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil.
Ingredients
Method
- Thread a cherry tomato onto a skewer.
- Add a folded basil leaf.
- Add a mozzarella ball.
- Repeat the pattern until each skewer is full.
- Arrange on a platter and drizzle with balsamic glaze.
Notes
Assemble these just before serving so the basil stays fresh.
25) Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
The unexpected contender that even changes the minds of wing enthusiasts.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 425 F.
- Whisk the flour and water into a thin batter and toss the cauliflower to coat.
- Spread on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes.
- Stir the buffalo sauce with the melted butter and toss the cauliflower in it.
- Bake 10 more minutes until crispy, then serve with ranch.
Notes
Don't crowd the pan or the florets steam instead of crisping.