Home / Food Bites & Articles / Janet's Notebook

Fan-tastic Game Day Recipes

Ranchero Layer Dip

I’m heading to a party for the big game on Sunday. While I do enjoy watching the game (and the commercials), I really look forward to the food. It’s a fun food indulgence day. Are you heading to a party this weekend? Here are a few great game day recipes for inspiration.

You’ll score extra points when you serve Sheri Zarnick’s (Union Lake, MI) Crabby Football Cheese Spread. “I make this every year for the Super Bowl in the shape of a football,” explains Sheri.

The addition of crab and horseradish really enhance the flavor. I really love the blend of cheeses – cream cheese, cheddar cheese, provolone cheese, Parmesan cheese, ricotta cheese. Very cheesy and super yummy!

Giselle Gonzalez’s (Cape Coral, FL) Pot Roast Nachos are a great alternative to your typical game day fare. “The best nachos for game day or any day you want to have an amazing snack,” shares Giselle. Easy to prepare, easy to double for a crowd and easy to eat… You can’t get much better than that.

Another slightly unusual but amazing recipe is Dina Breaux (Morse, LA) Crawfish Balls. “These balls are very rich and filling, but delicious,” says Dina.

Packed with flavor, these would be good for a football party and, of course, Mardi Gras! I really like that these are baked, not fried By rolling them in bread crumbs before baking they come out with a slight crunch. They’re delish.

Layer dips are always a favorite and I am a fan of Melissa Snow’s (Hillsboro, OR) Ranchero Layer Dip. It’s a new twist on a layered taco dip.

“Our neighbor refers to this as everything but the kitchen sink dip,” jokes Melissa. Jalapeno bean dip on the bottom is a great, flavorful base. But what really makes this really different is the sour cream level. Sour cream mixed with taco seasoning and other ingredients really add to the recipe. They’re lots of flavors in each layer.

While munchies always seem to the rule the menu, larger, more filling food is good to put out too.

“A twist on classic sloppy joes, these delicious (and not so sloppy) Italian-style mini-sandwiches are a fabulous game day snack,” reveals Lisa Speer (Palm Beach, FL) about her Sloppy Giuseppe Sliders. “Because the sauce is thick and chunky and the sandwiches are small, there is no need to worry about them creating a big mess.”

Simple and delicious, this sandwich will have your friends and family cheering. Lisa uses mild Italian sausage as the base for her sandwich, but I bet ground beef or turkey would work well also. These are fantastic!

Crock pots are great on game day and Cheryl’s Hot Beefs will be a tasty addition to your fare. “This has been in the family for years,” shares Cheryl Beyer (Bloomington, MN). “It’s always a hit during football games.”

Rich with flavor, I can see why Cheryl’s recipe is always a hit. You get a hint of smokiness and serving on an onion bun is perfect. Very few ingredients, very easy and lots of flavor… A perfect combo.

Bring any of these dishes to the party and you’ll be the MVP. Do you have a game day go-to recipe? Make sure to share… Happy Pinching!