The big game is just around the corner and celebrating this year will be a little different then in past years. We will still watch the game, or at least the commercials. Game day food will still be eaten. The halftime show will still be amazing. And we will still cheer for a team that may or may not be our favorite team. Below are the 10 best game day recipes I have created in the past. They are easy to create, and very yummy.

Personalized 7 Layer Dip

Items Needed

• Small plastic cups
• Refried beans
• Guacamole
• Sour cream
• Dom’s Chop Salsa
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Sliced black olives
• Chopped tomatoes
• Chopped chives
• Tortilla chips

Directions

1. This is a really easy snack to make ahead of time. 
2. You can scoop the refried beans right out of the can or you can heat the beans up first. 
3. Place a layer of beans into the plastic cup, then a layer of guacamole, layer of sour cream, layer of picante sauce and a layer shredded cheese. 
4. If you are making them ahead of time, then cover at this point and place in the refrigerator. 
5. Before you serve them, add diced tomatoes, sliced olives, and chopped chives. 
6. Decorate with a tortilla chip and enjoy.

Pig Skin Bloody Mary

Items Needed

• 1 oz Enchanted Rock Vodka
• 4-8 oz Tomato Juice
• 4-6 Drops Worcheshire Sauce
• 3-5 Pork Rinds
• 1 Celery Stick
• 1 Piece of Bacon
• Ice

Directions

1. Place the ice in the glass and add the vodka and tomato juice.
2. Add the Worcheshire sauce.
3. Now for the fun part, add whatever extras you would like.

Bourbon Infused Cocktail Sausages

This is one of my favorite game day snacks. My dad taught me this recipe when I was about 10 years old. We would make it every Sunday before the neighbors came over to watch the game with us. Such great memories surround this recipe.

Items Needed

• 2 Packages of Lil Smokies, or mini sausages
• 1 Bottle of your favorite BBQ Sauce
• 1/4 – 1/2 Cup of Texas Ranger Bourbon Blended Whiskey

Directions

1. Place all the ingredients in a slow cooker or in a pan over low heat.
2. Cook until hot all the way through.
3. If you use the slow cooker, you can keep it on low for many hours and enjoy throughout the game.

Whiskey Glazed Sausage

YUM, that’s the only way to explain the flavor of this amazing game day recipe. Such an easy recipe to make, but tastes like you slaved over it all day.

Items Needed

• 1 – 2 Packages of Kielbasa Sausage
• 1/2 Cup – 1 Cup 7-Up 
• 1/4 Cup – 1/2 Cup Rebecca Creek Whiskey

Directions

1. Cut the sausage into 1/4 slices.
2. Place the sausage in frying pan set on medium heat.
3. Start with 1/2 cup of 7 up and pour it over the sausage.
4. Add 1/4 cup of the whiskey.
5. As it cooks you may need to add more 7-Up or whiskey.
6. Lower the heat to simmer.
7. Once it cooks down and a glaze happens they are done.

Football Cupcakes

Easy Peasy, that’s how I like all recipes to be. This is more about the fun in decorating then anything else.

Items Needed

• Chocolate cake mix
• Baking cups, white or football decorated
• Ready to use chocolate decorator icing
• White icing
• Disposable decorating bags
• Open star decorating tip
• Tip coupler

Directions

1. Bake the cupcakes using the directions on the box. 
2. Let them cool for a couple of hours. 
3. Place the decorator tip into the decorating bag and tighten it with the coupler. 
4. Fill the bag with the chocolate decorator icing. 
5. Go back and forth on the top of the cupcake, making the lines thinner on the top and bottom to make it look like a football. 
6. Draw lines on top with the white decorator icing to make it look like a football.

Bourbon Spiked Arnold Palmer

If you like iced tea and lemonade, you will love this cocktail.

Items Needed

• Your Favorite Ice Tea
• Simply Lemonade
• 1 – 2 oz Texas Ranger Bourbon Whiskey
• Orange Slice
• Mint Leaves
• Sugar Crystals
• Ice

Directions

1. Place the sugar crystals on a plate.
2. Wet the rim of the glass and roll it in the sugar crystals.
3. Add ice to the glass.
4. Fill half the glass with iced tea.
5. Add the Whiskey.
6. Fill the remainder of the glass with lemonade.
7. Add the orange slice and the mint to the cocktail.

Mini Taco Soup Bites

My family loves taco soup, and this recipe using our favorite soup is one of my favorites from the 10 Best Game Day Recipes.

Items Needed

• Tortillas 
• Round cookie cutter, large enough to make the circle fill the muffin pan
• 1 pound ground sirloin
• McCormick taco seasoning
• Hidden Valley ranch dressing mix
• Bush’s chili pinto beans
• Bush’s chili kidney beans
• Red Gold crushed tomatoes
• Red Gold petite diced tomatoes
• 1 – 1 1/2 Can of water
• Muffin pan
• Non-stick cooking spray
• Shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• Sour cream

Directions

1. Brown the ground sirloin in a large pot.
2. Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, taco seasoning, ranch seasoning, both cans of beans and the water. 
3. Let it simmer for 30 minutes. 
4. While the soup is simmering, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 
5. Now, cut the tortillas into smaller circles, about 3 – 4” in diameter so they fit into the cupcake pan. 
6. Lightly coat the cupcake pan with non-stick cooking spray or oil. 
7. Place the cut tortillas into the cupcake pan, pressing them to the sides to make a cup. 
8. Now bake them for about 5 minutes. 
9. Once the taco soup is done, spoon it into the tortilla cup, sprinkle the top with shredded cheese and bake for another 10 minutes. 
10. These are a great snack to make ahead of time and re-heat before the game. 
11. Place a dollop of sour cream on the top and enjoy.

Football Bacon Ranch Cheese Dip

This is so yummy and really easy to make. You can’t go wrong when a recipe calls for ranch and bacon.

Items Needed

• 8 oz Softened Cream Cheese
• 1 Package Ranch Dressing Mix
• 4 – 5 Slices Crispy Cooked Bacon
• 1 Cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• 1/2 – 1 Teaspoon Dried Parsley Flakes
• Pretzels or Crackers

For Topping

1. 4 – 5 Slices of Crispy Cooked Bacon
2. 1/2 Teaspoon Parsley

Directions

1. Mix all the ingredients in a mixing bowl.
2. Place the mixture in a zipper bag and form into a ball.
3. Put it in the refrigerator for at least an hour.
4. Crush the remaining bacon and add 1/2 teaspoon of parsley to it.
5. Roll the ball in the crushed mixture.
6. Place it back in the zipper bag and place in the refrigerator for another hour.
7. Form the ball into a football shape.
8. You can get really artsy and draw football laces with sour cream on top.
9. Use crackers or pretzels to dip in the ball.

Related – 18 Part Dips For Your Big Game Party

Mini Caprese Bites

Caprese salad is one of my favorite things to eat. Putting it into my 10 Best Game Day Recipes was an easy decision to make.

Items Needed

• Mozzerella Cheese Balls
• Grape Tomatoes 
• Olive Oil
• Fresh Basil Leaves
• Toothpicks
• Small Plastic or Paper Cups
• Balsamic Reduction

Directions

1. Place the cheese ball, grape tomato and a fresh basil leaf on a toothpick.
2. Pour a dolup of olive oil in the bottom of the small cups.
3. Add the caprese on a stick to the cup.
4. Pour the balsamic reduction over the caprese on a stick.

Mini Burger Bites

Similar to a slider, these mini burger bites are a little healthier because there is no bun.

Items Needed

• 1 Pound of Ground Sirloin
• Salt, Pepper, Seasonal Salt
• Sharp Cheddar Cheese Slices
• Head of Iceburg Lettuce
• Mini Tomatoes
• Pickles
• Toothpicks

Directions

1. Make small burger patties, about 2 inches wide.
2. My tip because I don’t like to touch raw meat, put the burger in a zipper bag and use that to make the patty.
3. Season the burger patties with salt, pepper and seasonal.
4. Grill or fry the burger patties.
5. Use the toothpick to make your stackable burger bite.
6. Add all the ingredients onto the burger patty, place the lettuce on the bottom.
7. Put ketchup, mustard, and mayo in little containers, or just place it on your plate for dipping.

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