Thanksgiving is approaching, which means that after the Thanksgiving dinner your family will probably watch the Turkey Bowl. You may even play a game of football with your family. Although you will probably start watching the Turkey Bowl after Thanksgiving dinner, watching a football game just wouldn’t be the same without delicious snacks. Today, let’s take a look at the best snacks to make for when you are watching a game of football. These tasty and healthy snacks are guaranteed to become a favorite in your family.

Baked Jalapeño Poppers

Recipe Source: All Recipes

Image Source: All Recipes

Looking to add a little spice to your football snacks? Try cooking some of these baked jalapeño poppers.

Ingredients:

• cooking spray
• 12 jalapeno peppers, halved lengthwise and seeded
• 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. Fill each jalapeno pepper half with cream cheese, Cheddar cheese, and bread crumbs, respectively, and arrange peppers on the prepared baking sheet.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until jalapenos are tender and cheese melts about 20 minutes.

Pepperoni Football

Recipe Source: Delish

Image Source: Delish

What could be a better snack than pepperoni arranged to look like a football? There is no crust, but there is a lot of pepperoni and cheese.

Ingredients:

• 2 8-oz. blocks cream cheese, at room temperature
• 2 c. shredded mozzarella
• 1 c. finely grated Parmesan
• 1 tbsp. Freshly Chopped Parsley
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
• kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 2 c. mini pepperoni
• 1 slice mozzarella, cut into thin strips
• Crackers, for serving

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, parsley, garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes and season with salt and pepper. Stir together until completely combined.
2. Transfer cream cheese mixture onto your serving platter and form into a football shape. Smooth top and top all over with a layer of mini pepperoni. Top with mozzarella “laces” and serve with crackers.

Fried Dill Pickles

Recipe Source: Taste Of Home

Image Source: Taste Of Home

Are you a fan of dill pickles? If so, you’ll probably love this twist to the traditional pickles. The bread crust gives these pickles a crispy texture. For a healthier version, consider baking these pickles instead of frying them.

Ingredients:

• 1 jar (32 ounces) whole dill pickles
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 tablespoons Louisiana-style hot sauce
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 2 tablespoons garlic salt
• 2 tablespoons paprika
• 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• Oil for deep-fat frying
• Ranch salad dressing, optional

Directions:

1. Drain pickles, discarding liquid.
2. Cut pickles into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Drain on paper towels; blot with additional paper towels until dry. In a shallow bowl, mix buttermilk and hot sauce.
3. In another shallow bowl, mix flour, cornmeal, garlic salt, paprika, cayenne pepper, and pepper. Dip pickles in buttermilk mixture, then in flour mixture.
4. In a Dutch oven, heat 1 in. of oil to 375°. Working in batches, fry pickles 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
5. Serve immediately with ranch dressing, if desired.

3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

Recipe Source: All Recipes

Image Source: All Recipes

If you are in a hurry, these peanut butter cookies are perfect for your football game. They only require 3 ingredients: peanut butter, sugar, and an egg. Make an extra large batch of these cookies, because these cookies are bound to become a favorite in your household.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of peanut butter
• 1 cup of white sugar
• 1 egg

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Mix peanut butter, sugar, and egg together in a bowl using an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Roll mixture into small balls and arrange on a baking sheet. Flatten each with a fork, making a criss-cross pattern.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Cool cookies on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before moving to a plate.

Jalapeño Popper Crisps

Recipe Source: Delish

Image Source: Delish

This next football game snack is both spicy, cheesy, and salty. It combines the flavors of jalapeño peppers, Cheddar cheese, and bacon. Once it is baked, it becomes crispy and crunchy.

Ingredients:

• 4 slices bacon
• 1 c. finely shredded Parmesan
• 1/2 c. shredded cheddar (preferably aged)
• 1 jalapeño, sliced thinly
• Freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375º. In a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until crispy, 8 minutes. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate, then chop.
2. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of Parmesan into a small mound on a large baking sheet and top with about tablespoon of cheddar cheese. Carefully pat down cheeses and top with a jalapeño slice. Sprinkle with bacon and season with pepper. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
3. Bake until crispy and golden, about 12 minutes.
4. Let cool slightly on pan before serving.

Fried Chicken and Pulled Pork Cornbread Poppers

Recipe Source: Taste Of Home

Image Source: Taste Of Home

They look like cupcakes, but they taste like fried chicken and pulled pork. Mixed with the chicken and pulled pork are jalapeño peppers, hot chili sauce, and a little maple syrup or honey to sweeten it.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces frozen popcorn chicken
• 1 package (8-1/2 ounces) corn bread/muffin mix
• 4 seeded jalapeno peppers or pickled jalapeno peppers, cut into 6 slices each
• 1/4 cup refrigerated fully cooked barbecued pulled pork
• 1/2 cup maple syrup or honey
• 1 teaspoon Sriracha Asian hot chili sauce, optional

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°. Bake popcorn chicken according to package directions. When cool enough to handle, cut the chicken into 12 pieces.
2. Meanwhile, prepare cornbread mix according to package directions. Place a jalapeno slice in each of 24 foil-lined mini muffin cups. Fill each cup with 1 tablespoon batter. Gently press a piece of popcorn chicken into the centers of half the cups. Spoon 1 teaspoon pulled pork into the centers of remaining cups.
3. Bake until golden brown, about 12 minutes. Serve with maple syrup; if desired, whisk Sriracha sauce into syrup.

Spicy Spinach Artichoke Dip

Recipe Source: Show Me The Yummy

Image Source: Show Me The Yummy

Are you needing a little spice in your life? Look no further than this tasty dip. Not only does it contain veggies like spinach and artichokes, but it is also vegetarian and gluten-free. It is the perfect dip for crackers and chips.

Ingredients:

• 2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese softened
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 3/4 cup artichoke hearts drained and chopped
• 1 (4.5 oz) can of chopped green chiles drained
• 1 (4 oz) can of chopped jalapeno peppers drained
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne or more to taste
• 1 (10 oz) box frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
• salt to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Start by mixing room temperature cream cheese, mayo, and sour cream together until smooth.
3. Next, stir in chopped artichoke hearts, canned diced green chiles and jalapeño peppers, spinach, parmesan cheese, garlic, garlic salt, cayenne, and salt, to taste.
4. Place into a baking dish, bake for about 25 minutes, or until the middle is hot and the top has lightly browned.

Lettuce Wraps

Recipe Source: Food Network

Image Source: Food Network

These lettuce wraps are simple, healthy, and easy to make. Besides the lettuce, there are many other vegetables mixed in this football game snack. As an alternative to lettuce, you could also use kale.

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons lime juice (from about 4 limes)
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons light brown sugar
• 1/3 cup fresh cilantro leaves, roughly chopped, plus more for serving
• 3 scallions, thinly sliced
• 1 small red jalapeno or Fresno chile, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 pound ground pork or chicken
• 1 tablespoon grated ginger
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 large head Bibb or romaine lettuce, separated into 15 large leaves
• Chopped roasted salted peanuts, for serving
• Shredded carrots, for serving

Directions:

1. Whisk the lime juice, fish sauce, 1 tablespoon of the soy sauce and brown sugar in a large bowl until the sugar dissolves. Add the cilantro, scallions, and chiles; set aside.
2. Heat the chicken stock in a large skillet over medium heat until steaming but just below a simmer. Add the pork and the remaining teaspoon soy sauce, and cook, breaking into pieces with a spoon (not too small), until the meat is just cooked through and no longer pink, about 6 minutes. Add the ginger and garlic, and remove from the heat. Combine the chicken mixture with the lime mixture until well coated. Let sit for at least 15 minutes while the flavors combine.
3. To assemble, put 1 to 2 tablespoons of the chicken filling in the center of each lettuce leaf. Top with chopped peanuts, shredded carrots, and chopped cilantro. Strain the remaining liquid from the filling, and serve on the side.

Cheesy Jalapeño Pretzel Bites

Recipe Source: Woman’s Day

Image Source: Woman’s Day

Here is a new version of pretzels and cheese. With the added jalapeños, this football game snack has some extra spice to it. A dash of hot sauce also adds to the spice in this recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 3 jalapeños, seeded and finely chopped
• kosher salt
• 2 (4-ounce) packages pretzel bites
• 4 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1/2 tsp. finely grated lemon zest
• 1 tbsp. lemon juice
• Dash hot sauce
• 1 oz. extra-sharp orange Cheddar, coarsely grated (about 1/3 cup), plus more for sprinkling
• 1 scallion, finely chopped, plus more for sprinkling

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Heat a medium skillet on medium. Add oil, then jalapeños and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 2 minutes; remove from heat.
3. Meanwhile, using a paring knife and working at an angle, remove the top of each pretzel, leaving a 1-inch opening. Using your thumb, push in and around to press down some of the pretzels and create a larger opening.
4. In a bowl, combine cream cheese, lemon zest and juice, and hot sauce. Fold in jalapeños, cheddar, and scallions. Transfer mixture to a resealable plastic bag.
5. Snip off the corner of the bag and fill up each pretzel. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet, sprinkle with additional cheese and bake until cheese melts, 5 to 6 minutes. Sprinkle with scallions before serving, if desired.

Final Thoughts

I hope this article has inspired you to start cooking for the Turkey Bowl. There are so many delicious snacks that you can make for when you watch football on Thanksgiving. From sweet treats like the peanut butter cookies to spicy recipes like the baked jalapeño poppers, your family is guaranteed to love these recipes. Happy cooking!

Related Article: 5 Delicious Healthy Snacks That Are Easy To Make For Your Kids After School