Football Party Recipes - Cooking Light

Photo: Charles Masters

Healthy Football Recipes

Whether your football fans are impromptu or planned, we have recipes to keep your crowd in high spirits no matter how the pig skin matchup plays out. From turkey chili to super simple guacamole, your game day just got a whole lot more delicious.

First up, Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Mustard Sauce.

Barbecue guru Steve advises, “[Hickory is] rich-flavored, with an earthy sweetness that goes well with pork.” This is a pulled pork sandwich unlike any other.

View Recipe: Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Mustard Sauce

Photo: Johnny Autry

Caramelized Onion, Gruyère, and Bacon Spread

Serve this dip to your football crowd with crackers or bread slices. If you can't find Gruyère, substitute raclette, fontina, or Swiss cheese.

View Recipe: Caramelized Onion, Gruyère, and Bacon Spread

$Tex-Mex Hash Brown Casserole$

Photo: José Picayo

Tex-Mex Hash Brown Casserole

This simple skillet dish uses shredded potatoes as a base. The potato mixture cooks on the stove top first to get it browned and crisp on the bottom. Use a cast-iron skillet to get the potatoes perfectly crusted on the bottom, then bake them with smoky chorizo under a blanket of gooey cheese. Football fans will cheer.

View Recipe: Tex-Mex Hash Brown Casserole

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Rosemary Roasted Almonds

Fresh rosemary gives wonderful fragrance and flavor to this roasted almond recipe, and chili powder provides just the right amount of spiciness.

View Recipe: Rosemary Roasted Almonds

Photo: Nigel Cox

Bacon and Cheddar Sliders

Classic burger toppings are all here. Toasting buns on the grill gives a delightful crunch.

View Recipe: Bacon and Cheddar Sliders

Photo: John Autry

Easy Guacamole

The food processor makes quick work of this basic dip so you won't be away from the game for long. We like the heat from leaving the seeds in the jalapeño, but you can seed the pepper for a milder guac. Serve with tortilla chips or crudités.

View Recipe: Easy Guacamole

Photo: Romulo Yanes

Creole Deviled Eggs

Chef Stage, of Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in New York City, remembers his mother's deviled eggs, which he updates with vibrant Creole seasonings. This game day recipe will be a winner.

View Recipe: Creole Deviled Eggs

Photo: Johnny Autry

Creamy Ranch-Style Dip

Serve this dip to your football crowd with baby carrots, broccoli florets, or other fresh vegetables.

View Recipe: Creamy Ranch-Style Dip

Photo: Kiyoshi Togashi

Crispy Pork Spring Rolls

Serve with spicy Sriracha sauce or sweet red chili sauce. You can assemble spring rolls and freeze them until game day arrives. Then cook and serve.

View Recipe: Crispy Pork Spring Rolls

Texas Sheet Cake

With a presence as large as its namesake state, this humble, easy-to-prepare cake made it all the way to the finals for our best chocolate recipe bake-off. Since it first appeared in the magazine 12 years ago, it's been a staff and reader favorite. We think it will be a hit with your game day crowd too.

View Recipe: Texas Sheet Cake

Photo: Johnny Autry

Poblano-Turkey Sausage Chili

If you have pint-sized fans to please, use milder green bell peppers in place of poblanos to make it more kid-friendly.

View Recipe: Poblano-Turkey Sausage Chili

Photo: Johnny Autry

Caramelized Onion Tartlets

Caramelized red and yellow onions and Asaigo cheese give this football party pick-up its savory flavor.

View Recipe: Caramelized Onion Tartlets

Photo: John Autry

Grilled Stuffed Jalapeños

The rich and creamy combination of bacon, cream cheese, and cheddar is a nice foil for the muted spice of grilled jalapeño peppers. This recipe is a healthy, fresh alternative to the popular breaded and fried version. When prepping these poppers for a party, you can stuff the peppers, cover, and chill. Then grill just before your guests arrive.

View Recipe: Grilled Stuffed Jalapeños

Photo: Joseph De Leo

Black-Eyed Pea and Tomato Salsa

This superfast salsa comes together quickly—perfect for halftime prep. Adding the inner veins and seeds from the poblano chile will increase the heat. Serve with tortilla chips for a fresh appetizer.

View Recipe: Black-Eyed Pea and Tomato Salsa

Photo: Randy Mayor

Maple-Bourbon Sour

The perfect mix of sweet maple, tart lemon, and the warmth of bourbon makes the Maple-Bourbon Sour cocktail a keeper.

View Recipe: Maple-Bourbon Sour

Photo: Levi Brown

Baked Black Beans with Chorizo

Serve fans this versatile dish warm or at room temperature as a tasty dip with chips or crackers.

View Recipe: Baked Black Beans with Chorizo

Photo: Marcus Nilsson

Pistachio and Pine Nut Brittle

Cool the brittle completely, break into chunks, and store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

View Recipe: Pistachio and Pine Nut Brittle

Photo: Gentl & Hyers

Apple Sangria

Sugary-sweet Honeycrisp apples balance the spiced wine in this festive drink. Pink Lady or Ambrosia apples—which are slow to oxidize—would make good substitutes.

View Recipe: Apple Sangria

Photo: John Autry

Artichoke, Spinach, and White Bean Dip

If you can't find baby artichoke hearts, use quartered artichoke hearts and chop them. Your game day guests will love this one.

View Recipe: Artichoke, Spinach, and White Bean Dip

Photo: Nigel Cox

Southwest Crispy Chicken Sliders

Homemade muffins, a crispy panko topping, fresh guacamole—and don't forget the bacon—you've got to try this one. Serve this fan favorite with a side of slaw (we recommend our Cabbage Slaw with Tangy Mustard Dressing).

View Recipe: Southwest Crispy Chicken Sliders

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Bloody Mary

You can use rum or tequila instead of vodka for a twist on this drink. Garnish with our Spicy Pickled Green Beans for a touchdown-worthy libation.

View Recipe: Bloody Mary

Photo: Lee Harrelson

Oven Barbecue Beer-Can Chicken

Typically, beer-can chicken is prepared on the grill, but our oven version cooks in a fraction of the time. If you prefer grilling, place the bird over indirect heat for about two hours or until a thermometer registers 170°. The flavorful meat makes a tasty barbecue sandwich with pickle chips and onion slices.

View Recipe: Oven Barbecue Beer-Can Chicken

Sweet Chipotle Snack Mix

Expecting a few fans on game day? Make a batch of this irresistable snack mix ahead of time for a no-fuss snack. A glass storage jar with a locking lid is the perfect vessel to keep this homemade treat fresh.

View Recipe: Sweet Chipotle Snack Mix

Photo: John Autry

Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate Fudge

Just a pinch of instant coffee granules goes a long way when it comes to intensifying the chocolate flavor in the fudge. A sprinkle of peanuts gives a salty bite.

View Recipe: Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate Fudge

Photo: John Autry

Coconut Chicken Fingers

Fans will love these spicy and sweet chicken fingers. Pan-frying in heart-healthy oil creates a crisp exterior.

View Recipe: Coconut Chicken Fingers