38 Game Day Potluck Recipes

This is an easy, versatile party appetizer that everyone loves. If you can't find chorizo, ground beef or ground chicken are great, too. Top with anything you like! —Connie Krupp, Racine, Wisconsin

I tried these meatballs at a birthday party for a friend, and now I make them all the time. They are super easy to make and perfect for a potluck or a Sunday afternoon football game. —Lisa Castelli, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin

Ranch dressing mix flavors this easy dip that's packed with shredded cheese and is perfect paired with pretzels. Be forewarned, though—it's hard to stop eating once you've started! This beer cheese dip can be made with any type of beer, including nonalcoholic. I've taken it to many parties and am always asked for the recipe. —Michelle Long, New Castle, Colorado

I created these pinwheels for a football game snack using ingredients I had on hand. They were a huge hit, and I love how quick and easy they are to prepare. —Melanie Foster, Blaine, Minnesota

My take on Italian street food, these fried tortellini are crunchy, gooey good. For the sauce, use the best quality tomatoes you can find. —Angela Lemoine, Howell, New Jersey

With its medley of herbs and tomatoes, this rustic bread will liven up any occasion, whether it’s a family dinner or a game-day get-together. It never lasts long! —Janet Miller, Indianapolis, Indiana

Score big with your guests with a little bit of sweet heat! This recipe works well for a football party—the extra liquid in the slow cooker keeps it nice and juicy all day long. —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland

If you're serious about guacamole, use a molcajete. The lava stone makes a big difference on the pepper paste and is fun for guests. — Laura Levy, Lyons, Colorado

Take two popular restaurant nibbles, put them together and you'll have an unforgettable appetizer for your next holiday get-together. —Bridget O'Connor, Round Lake Beach, Illinois

It's game time when these minis make an appearance. Two things my husband loves—beer and brats—get stepped up a notch with crunchy flavored chips. —Kirsten Shabaz, Lakeville, Minnesota

After trying to create a Mexican soup, I ended up with this outstanding dip. My husband and two young children love it, and so do guests at football game days or family gatherings. —Sandra Fick, Lincoln, Nebraska

The buffalo wing fans in my family were happy to taste test when I invented these snacks. We love them anytime—especially during football games. —Jasey McBurnett, Rock Springs, Wyoming

I love the start of fall because that means it's football season! Meatballs are filling and hearty and great for a tailgate. I served this for the first time at my favorite team's home opener. My best friend, who hates meatballs, couldn't get enough of them! I created a meatball convert! Woo-hoo! If you are serving children and prefer not to add the wine, substitute beef broth instead.—Lisa de Perio, Dallas, Texas

My lasagna noodle chips turned out great and are out-of-this-world crispy. And the dip truly tastes like rich, cheesy Italian-American lasagna. —Linda Cifuentes, Mahomet, Illinois

For game days, I shake up these saucy wings. When I run out, friends hover by the snack table until I bring out more. When they ask me how to fry chicken wings, they never believe it's so easy! —Nick Iverson, Denver, Colorado

What's game day without can't-stop-munching nachos? Featuring layers of crunchy tortilla chips, black beans and a creamy, smoky chicken mixture, this appetizer will disappear before the second quarter. —Whitney Smith, Winterhen, Florida

Head to the Midwest for the big game with a platter of these crunchy snacks enlivened with a beer-laced cheese sauce. —Kelly Boe, Whiteland, Indiana

Featuring kitchen staples like salsa, refried beans, sour cream and two types of cheese, this crowd-pleasing appetizer comes together faster than a two-minute drill. —Kristy Wilshire, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Perfect for tailgating, you can make the meatballs and sauce for these sliders ahead of time and heat them up at home on game day. Put 'em on rolls in the parking lot. —Hilary Breinholt, Glenwood, Utah

I count on my slow cooker to do the honors when I have a house full of summer guests. Teenagers especially love DIY nachos. Try cola, ginger ale or lemon-lime soda if you’re not into root beer. —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor

It's fun to take remnants of ingredients from my pantry and create a meal. You can make wontons with this same filling for a bite-size snack; bake or deep-fry depending on your preference. —Melissa Pelkey Hass, Waleska, Georgia

My hot wings are a foolproof way to curry a little favor with the men in my life. Thanks to tons of sweet (orange marmalade) and hot (Sriracha) flavors bursting through with every bite, these wings are a winner on game day—or any day of the week. —Jennifer Locklin, Cypress, Texas

Preparing the pulled turkey in a delicious teriyaki sauce for these snack-size sandwiches is a breeze using a slow cooker. Serving them on lightly-toasted sweet dinner rolls is perfection made easy.—Amanda Hoop, Seaman, Ohio

We grill peppers with rosemary and garlic, then blend them with sun-dried tomatoes for a creamy spread to pass with pita chips. —Donna Alwine, Bloomington, Indiana

For potlucks and tailgates, we slow-cook pork with cider, onions and spices. These tangy sliders and sweet potato fries make a winning barbecue plate. —Rachel Lewis, Danville, Virginia

Serve my fiery hot wings on game day or any time friends and family gather. If you don’t like a ton of sweetness, add the honey slowly and taste as you go. —Logan Holser, Clarkston, Michigan

Take these cheesy, fiery appetizers straight to the grill so you can add a touch of smoke. We pass them with bowls of guacamole and sour cream. —Wayne Barnes, Montgomery, Alabama

I came up with this recipe when I was preparing for a large party, and I wanted a healthy Tex-Mex chicken to serve in tortilla cups. This party dish can made ahead of time to free up yourself for time-sensitive dishes. You can serve it in tortilla chip cups or any other savory crispy cup you can find. Leftovers are great over salad greens or wrapped up in a tortilla as a burrito. — Lori Terry, Chicago, Illinois

These tasty sloppy joes with plenty of mass appeal are perfect for a gathering. If you're taking them to an event later in the day, simplify your morning by cooking the beef mixture and stirring in other ingredients the night before. Cool the meat sauce in shallow bowls in the fridge, then cover and refrigerate them overnight. The next day, transfer the meat mixture to the slow cooker to finish cooking, and then keep it warm for the party. —Hope Wasylenki, Gahanna, OH

I like to dunk these appetizer meatballs in blue cheese or ranch salad dressing. If I make them for a meal, I often skip the dressing and serve with blue cheese polenta on the side. —Amber Massey, Argyle, Texas

A unique take on crostini, these hearty appetizers are great for tailgating and other casual parties. Every bite is spicy, sweet and salty, and the layers of salsa and sauce make the recipe even more special. —Randy Cartwright, Linden, Wisconsin

This recipe started at school—I'm a teacher, and when a colleague brought Hot Cheese Dip to our regular staff potluck, I immediately gave it an A-plus. —Ardyce Piehl, Poynette, Wisconsin

Don't let the number of ingredients in this recipe scare you; I'll bet you have most of them in your pantry already. The sauce is what makes this dish so special. It's hard not to like ketchup, brown sugar and a little butter drizzled over tender beef brisket. —Jane Guilbeau, New Orleans, Louisiana

For ages, my brother's family and I have gotten together on Christmas Eve, and always eat snacks while we open our presents. This Tex-Mex spin on classic appetizer pizza is one we have again and again. —Laurie Pester, Colstrip, Montana

I made this creamy spread with my students and it was a big success. It is easy to make and the flavor contrasts make it interesting. Toasty bread slices are the perfect compliment. Paula Englert, Louisville, Kentucky

In the summertime, I love to make this zippy salsa with fresh tomatoes from my garden instead of the canned. I even have a special pan for roasting the peppers. —Roger Stenman, Batavia, Illinois

This zippy buffalo chicken flavored blend is sure to spice up your favorite snack. It's perfect for game time, movie time, or as a special after-school snack. —Jenny McCarthy, Sussex, Wisconsin

These fun, filling pretzels with a mild Southwestern kick are the perfect snack for watching football games. And they'll score just as high with adults as they do with kids! —Cathy Tang, Redmond, Washington