Pre-Game Snacks That’ll Win You the Real Trophy (The Empty Plate Award)

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Alright, last chance for a season redemption—if your Super Bowl snacks are still stuck in the 90s, now’s the time to step it up. Cast Iron Skillet Pizza is about to bring your pizza game to a whole new level (no delivery required). Plus, those Smoked Gouda and Ricotta Fritters? They’re the comeback kid of your snack lineup. We’re also throwing in Mini Twice Baked Potatoes for that bite-sized win and Cheesy Bacon Dip that’ll have your guests questioning why they ever went for the chips. And don’t forget the Dutch Oven Jalapeño Poppers—they’re spicy, they’re bold, and they’re here to finish strong. Make this game day snack lineup your best one yet!

Cast Iron Skillet Pizza

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A cast iron pan holds a sliced pizza with toppings like cherry tomatoes, artichoke hearts, meatballs, basil, and pesto. A slice is served on a white plate beside it. A knife, a cloth, and a bottle of olive oil are nearby on a marble surface.
Photo credit: Love and Lemons

Once you try this Cast Iron Pizza, you’ll never go back to ordering out! The hot skillet gives the crust that perfect crisp and golden-brown finish—pizza night just got an upgrade.
Get the Recipe: Cast Iron Skillet Pizza

Creamy Whipped Feta Dip with Garlic and Toasted Walnuts

A bowl of creamy dip drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with chopped herbs and crushed nuts, placed on a rustic wooden table with a green distressed finish.
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average

Effortless appetizers like this Whipped Feta Dip are game day MVPs. Creamy, tangy, and garlicky enough to make a statement, it’s perfect for crostini, fresh veggies, or even toasted walnuts. Serve this dip, and watch it become the snack table star!
Get the Recipe: Creamy Whipped Feta Dip with Garlic and Toasted Walnuts

Skillet Cheesy Roasted Red Pepper Dip 

A close-up of a stack of round crackers topped with a dollop of creamy pimento cheese, garnished with a small piece of chutney or relish. The crackers rest on a plate filled with more crackers in the background.
Photo credit: Dutch Oven Daddy

Skillet Cheesy Roasted Red Pepper Dip isn’t just a dip—it’s an event. Scoop it onto crackers, baguette slices, or straight-up chips for a game day snack that steals the show every time. This skillet wonder is practically begging to be the MVP of your next gathering.
Get the Recipe: Skillet Cheesy Roasted Red Pepper Dip 

Cheesy Bacon Dip

A skillet with baked dip topped with green onions and bacon is on a cooling rack. Surrounding the skillet are bowls of various crackers and pretzels. A blue and white cloth is partially under the skillet.
Photo credit: Culinary Hill

Cheesy Bacon Dip is a game day dream with two types of melted cheese, a pound of crispy bacon, and buttery cracker crumbs. It’s the kind of dip that makes you forget about the game… until halftime, of course!
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Bacon Dip

Dutch Oven Jalapeño Poppers

A plate of bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers filled with cheese, served with a bowl of creamy dipping sauce. Three whole jalapeños and a decorative napkin are in the background, next to an empty white plate.
Photo credit: Dutch Oven Daddy

Dutch Oven Jalapeño Poppers bring the heat, the cool, and the crispy, thanks to their fiery kick, creamy center, and bacon-wrapped brilliance. Perfect for game days or backyard cookouts, these poppers are a spicy little canvas just waiting for your creative filling upgrades! Don’t worry, we offer some tasty ideas!
Get the Recipe: Dutch Oven Jalapeño Poppers

Crispy Southern Buttermilk Onion Rings

A pile of crispy, golden brown onion rings on parchment paper next to a small bowl of red ketchup on a wooden surface.
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average

These Crispy Southern Buttermilk Onion Rings are the snack you didn’t know you needed for game day. Crunchy, golden, and soaked in that buttermilk goodness, they’re perfect on burgers or just as a snack that’s too good to share. Seriously, no tailgate is complete without these crispy bites of magic!
Get the Recipe: Crispy Southern Buttermilk Onion Rings

Cast Iron Cheddar Bacon Beer Brats

A cast iron skillet filled with six browned sausages on a wooden table. In the background, there is a small bowl of mustard, a plate with sliced bread, and fresh cilantro. Sliced onions are also visible.
Photo credit: Dutch Oven Daddy

Cast Iron Cheddar Bacon Beer Brats by Dutch Oven Daddy are the ultimate multitaskers—delicious in a bun piled with your go-to toppings or served alongside any side dish you love. Whether you’re tailgating or just craving a no-fail crowd-pleaser, these brats bring the flavor.
Get the Recipe: Cast Iron Cheddar Bacon Beer Brats

Smoked Gouda and Ricotta Fritters

Close-up of golden-brown arancini balls on a plate. One is split open, revealing a creamy rice filling with melted cheese and herbs. The crispy breadcrumb coating is visible.
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average

Host a Super Bowl just to showcase these Smoked Gouda and Ricotta Fritters with warm Bourbon Glaze. Crispy, cheesy, and totally addictive—trust me, you won’t want to stop! They’re like Arancini rice balls met a Gougère, then added a splash of bourbon for fun. Ideal for snacking through every touchdown!
Get the Recipe: Smoked Gouda and Ricotta Fritters

Beer Cheese Dip

A platter filled with pretzels and breadsticks surrounds a bowl of creamy dip topped with shredded cheese and green onions. A hand dips a pretzel into the bowl. A glass of beverage is partially visible in the background.
Photo credit: Culinary Hill

Beer Cheese Dip is the dip you didn’t know you needed—ranch-flavored, pub-style, and ready in minutes with zero cooking required! Whether you’re ‘team pretzel’ or ‘team chip,’ this dip guarantees everyone goes home happy!
Get the Recipe: Beer Cheese Dip

Skillet Chorizo Cheese Dip

A skillet filled with cheesy taco dip topped with slices of jalapeño, chopped tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and lime wedges. Tortilla chips are visible in the background.
Photo credit: Dutch Oven Daddy

Skillet Chorizo Cheese Dip takes cheese dip to the next level with its meaty chorizo base and ooey-gooey melted top. Ideal for any gathering, this dip will have everyone coming back for more—and fighting for the last scoop!
Get the Recipe: Skillet Chorizo Cheese Dip

Pigs in a Blanket

A white platter filled with crescent roll-wrapped mini sausages, served with a small metal cup of ketchup in the center. The platter rests on a red and white striped cloth on a rustic gray surface.
Photo credit: Culinary Hill

These Pigs in a Blanket are a game day slam dunk—just 3 ingredients and 20 minutes to snack-worthy perfection! Perfect for the kids or double the batch to keep the party rolling!
Get the Recipe: Pigs in a Blanket

Chicken Carnitas (Dutch Oven, Instant Pot, Slow Cooker)

Three soft tacos filled with seasoned meat, cherry tomatoes, red onions, and fresh cilantro are displayed on a wooden board. The tacos are garnished with red and yellow tomato slices, with sprigs of cilantro nearby.
Photo credit: Feasting at Home

My chef’s perfected Chicken Carnitas recipe is a flavor-packed game day winner! Easy to make and perfect for your Dutch oven, Instant Pot, or slow cooker—this one’s sure to steal the show.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Carnitas (Dutch Oven, Instant Pot, Slow Cooker)

Mini Twice Baked Potatoes

A hand holds a baking tray with roasted potato halves topped with melted cheese, bacon bits, and chopped green onions. A small bowl of chopped green onions is on the tray. The potatoes are arranged in neat rows on a white textured background.
Photo credit: Culinary Hill

Mini Twice Baked Potatoes are like potato skins, but with an upgrade—and the best part? They’re ready in just 35 minutes! Perfectly packed with cheesy goodness, these bite-sized snacks will be gone faster than you can say “touchdown!”
Get the Recipe: Mini Twice Baked Potatoes

Irish Nachos

A tray with a bowl of loaded potato nachos topped with bacon, scallions, and melted cheese. Nearby are small bowls of diced tomatoes, sour cream with scallions, jalapeño slices, and a dark beverage. A red and white cloth is in the background.
Photo credit: Culinary Hill

Irish Nachos take loaded baked potatoes to the next level—crispy, fried potato slices piled high with cheese, bacon, sour cream, and all the toppings your heart desires. Perfect for game day, these nachos are ready to steal the snack spotlight!
Get the Recipe: Irish Nachos

About Jenny deRemer

I am a Charleston, South Carolina-based culinary novice, an ardent authority on all things travel, a designer by trade, and the creator of Not Entirely Average. I have a weakness for farmers' markets, delight in adventures way off the beaten path, enjoy documenting my many moods through photography, and have been known to conquer the occasional yard sale with gusto!

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