21 Of Grandma's Favorite Game Day Recipes To Serve All Season Long

These recipes are guaranteed to be winners.

Ham-and-Cheese Sliders
Photo: Photography and Styling: Karen Rankin

When the family gathers to enjoy a day of watching football games, everyone can agree on the importance of the game day menu. Even if you're cheering for different teams, the right game day dishes will bring everyone together. Starting with pre-game snacks and ending with 4th quarter desserts, Grandma knows the best dishes to serve up on game day.

From sausage balls to sliders to meatballs and more, these classic, Grandma-approved game day recipes are sure to be a touchdown.

01 of 21

Hot Corn Dip

Southern Living Hot Corn Dip

Jessica Furniss

Coming together in just 30 minutes, it's easy to see why corn dip is a game day favorite. Serve with tortilla chips, veggies, or a mixture of both.

02 of 21

Ham- and- Cheese Sliders

Ham-and-Cheese Sliders
Photography and Styling: Karen Rankin

Sliders are a heartier option for game day but are still easy to serve.

03 of 21

Slow-Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs

Grape Jelly Meatballs
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Ali Ramee; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland

There's sure to be at least one slow cooker plugged in on game day, and we bet it'll be filled with these meatballs that come together with chili sauce and grape jelly.

04 of 21

Rotel Sausage Dip

Rotel Dip
Caitlin Bensel

Perhaps the most classic game day dip of all time, your Saturday won't be complete without a pot of this six-ingredient appetizer.

05 of 21

Pimiento Cheese Sandwiches

Southern Living Fancy Pimiento Cheese Tea Sandwiches on a platter to serve

Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Dailey

Finger sandwiches made with pimiento cheese and white bread are a classic game day food at The Grove in Oxford, Mississippi. In addition to Ole Miss tailgates, they're also a classic in Grandma's kitchen.

06 of 21

Game Day Chili

Game Day Chili
Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Nothing says game day like Grandma whipping up a big pot of chili on the stove in her Dutch oven.

07 of 21

Homemade Brownies

Southern Living Homemade Brownies on a plate to serve with a glass of milk

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Homemade brownies don't require too much more effort than the boxed mix and will make your team's win even sweeter.

08 of 21

Jalapeño Poppers

jalapeno poppers

Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

For less spicy poppers, make sure to remove all of the membrane and seeds. However, if you want to add some heat you can leave a few on the pepper.

09 of 21

Sausage Balls

Sausage Balls
Emily Laurae/Southern Living

Whether your team is kicking off before noon or after 6 p.m., sausage balls are always a welcome addition to the game day spread. This no-frills version is made with just 3 ingredients, just like Grandma does.

10 of 21

Deviled Eggs

Classic Deviled Eggs
Photography: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Depending on the size of your game day crowd, you may want to double this classic recipe.

11 of 21

Party Cheese Ball

party cheese ball

Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Grandma knows a cheese ball is the way to get any party started.

12 of 21

Little Smoked Sausages In Grape Jelly And Chili Sauce

Little Smoked Sausages in Grape Jelly and Chili Sauce

Monica Farber/Southern Living

This iconic appetizer is synonymous with game day in the South. It comes together with just 3 ingredients, but has no shortage of crowd-pleasing flavor.

13 of 21

Puppy Chow Snack Mix

southern living puppy chow snack mix

Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Caleb Clarke

This snack mix is delicious as is, but you can add M&Ms in your team's colors for a festive touch.

14 of 21

Creamy Overnight Fruit Salad

Creamy Overnight Fruit Salad
Abigail Wilt

Since it needs to be chilled overnight, this classic fruit salad is a great make-ahead option to add to the menu for early game day gatherings.

15 of 21

Southern Cheese Straws

Cheese Straws

Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Grandma knows that cheese straws are a welcome snack at any Southern get together, game day included. Especially when they're homemade.

16 of 21

Cook-The-Enemy Gumbo

Southern Living Cook the Enemy Gumbo in a bowl to serve

Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Dailey

A pot of gumbo is made perfect for game day by matching the meat to your team's opponent.

17 of 21

Spinach- Artichoke Dip

Spinach-Artichoke Dips
Caitlin Bensel

Grandma knows there's no such thing as too many dips on game day, and this classic recipe will be better than the store-bought versions.

18 of 21

Pigs In A Blanket

Pigs in a blanket served with dijon mustard

Will Dickey

This classic game day snack is loved by both kids and adults.

19 of 21

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip

Monica Farber

Another game day classic, this dip can be made with rotisserie chicken or you can cook your own like Grandma most likely does.

20 of 21

Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad

Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad in a white bowl with golden spoon

Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

Pasta salad offers a bit of freshness to the game day spread, but the addition of pasta ensures it's still hearty enough for hungry fans.

21 of 21

Luscious Lemon Bars

Southern Living Luscious Lemon Bars cut and ready to serve

Fred Hardy; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke

Lemon bars are an ideal grab-and-go dessert for the game day potluck and this no-frills recipe is as classic as it gets.

Was this page helpful?

Related Articles