Now that your man cave is fully furnished for Game Day next Sunday, it’s time to prep your kitchen (and stomach) for the big day!

You could go the easy route and buy a whole bunch of pre-made stuff for the big day, save yourself a little trouble, OR, you can prepare a handful of delicious dishes that we know everyone in your household is going to love!

Aside from last year's offerings, this week we compiled 5 crowd-pleasing recipes for the occasion, taking care to ensure that nothing’s too complicated, that you’re sure to love. Read on to explore some truly delicious treats!

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Prep: 10-15 minutes         Cook: 40-45 minutes        TOTAL: 50-55 minutes

Let’s be honest; who doesn’t love Buffalo wings on a big game day? In lieu of a big plate of chicken wings, we’re subbing this game day fave with a creamy and crowd-pleasing dip that we’re pretty sure we could finish all by ourselves.

Yields 12 servings.           

You will need:

• 2 packs of softened cream cheese
• 1 tbs. butter
• 1 yellow onion
• 1 rotisserie chicken
• 1 cup ranch dressing
• ½ cup blue cheese dressing (optional)
• 1 packet of ranch seasoning mix
• 1 dash of garlic powder
• 1+ cup red hot sauce
• 1 cup shredded cheese

Directions:

1. Shred your rotisserie chicken and set it aside.
2. Chop the onion in either thin slices or cubes. Add butter to a pan and sautee until onions are translucent, before adding chicken, ranch seasoning, garlic powder, and cream cheese. Mix.
3. Add the ranch and blue cheese dressings, mix, then add the hot sauce.
4. Mix in 1 cup shredded cheese with the buffalo mix, then top with a generous layer of shredded cheese.
5. Place in the center of a 350° oven for 40-45 minutes or until browned and bubbly. Serve with crostini, chips, or carrot and celery sticks, and enjoy.

Mild Tomato Salsa

Prep: 20-25 minutes         Cook: 5 minutes        TOTAL: 25-30 minutes

Salsa is a must-have during any sporting event. It’s perfect for munching on tortilla chips between plays, heaping onto tacos as you near the final countdown, and is great to have in the fridge after the fact. Our take on salsa is easy to make and easy to tweak to suit you and yours, no matter the occasion. 

Yields 4 servings.           

You will need:

• 2 jalapeños, seeded and finely chopped
• 1 small white onion, finely chopped
• 2-3 tomatoes, chopped
• ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped (optional)
• 2 tbsp. freshly squeezed lime or lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine jalapeños and onion with lime juice and salt and pepper. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
2. Fold in tomatoes to your mixture, then toss in cilantro for a refreshing bite.
3. Serve with tortilla chips or enjoy in our next recipe!

"On-The-Go" Tacos

Prep: 10-15 minutes         Cook: 30 minutes        TOTAL: 30-35 minutes

Tacos are the perfect finger food for literally any occasion. Mix them with your favorite chips AND portability, and you have yourself a game changer!

Yields 10 servings.           

You will need:

• 1 can of pickled sliced jalapeños
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• Kosher salt and pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 lb. ground beef 
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 1 tsp. cumin
• 1/2 c. canned crushed tomatoes
• 10 single-serving bags of Nacho Cheese Doritos

Directions:

1. Heat oil in large skillet on medium and sautee onions until tender.
2. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant. Add beef, spices, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook beef until browned, breaking apart as you go. 
3. Add tomato sauce and reduce until slightly thickened, 4 to 5 minutes.
4. To serve, open bag of chips and add some ground beef, pickled jalapeños, shredded cheese, fresh diced tomatoes, and avocado or guacamole.

Ranch Flavored Popcorn

Prep: 0 minutes         Cook: 15 minutes        TOTAL: 15 minutes

Is there anything more glorious than popcorn? Yes. Three words: Ranch Flavored Popcorn!

Yields however many servings you please. We won’t judge.           

You will need:

• 3 tbsp. neutral oil
• 1/2 c. popcorn kernels
• 2 tbsp. ranch seasoning (about ½ a seasoning packet)

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a large stockpot on medium, adding in popcorn kernels and tossing to coat.
2. Cover and increase heat to medium-high, let sit until you begin to hear popping.
3. Continue to cook, shaking the pot every few seconds until 2 to 3 seconds go by between pops, then remove from heat and let sit uncovered for 1 minute.
4. Sprinkle in ranch seasoning, then toss to coat thoroughly.

Pantry Mendiants

Prep: 0 minutes         Cook: 15 minutes        TOTAL: 15 minutes

Mendiants are the French equivalent of kitchen sink cookies. They have all the good stuff that you've been storing in your pantry, sprinkled over top, PLUS they're made of chocolate. This easy-peasy recipe comes together so effortlessly, you can even get the kids in on the fun.

Again, we won’t judge.           

You will need:

• Bittersweet or semisweet chocolate
• Toppings of choice (more on that, later!)

Directions:

1. Prep your ingredients so that they’re ready to go as soon as your chocolate is on your pan. This means if there’s anything that needs chopping or slicing, then do so now. Some topping combos to get you inspired:
1. pistachios, edible rose petals, dried cranberries, and almond slices
2. dried figs, edible lavender, and orange or lemon peel
3. dried cranberries, chopped dried apricots, chopped pretzel pieces
4. crushed potato chips, peanut butter candy pieces, and flaky sea salt
5. ginger, candied orange peel, and a drizzle of honey
6. shredded coconut, condensed milk, a drizzle of white chocolate, and flaky sea salt
2. Melt your chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl or on the stove using a double-boiler.
3. Prep a sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside.
4. Drop tablespoon-size daubs of chocolate onto your tray, leaving room for them to spread in the next step.
5. Carefully bang your tray against the counter a few times to spread the chocolate into thin pools and get rid of any air bubbles.
6. While chocolate is still runny, sprinkle with your toppings of choice. Let cool, and enjoy!

Many of these dishes can be prepared ahead and reheated before serving, but if you’re as ambitious as we are, you can always try pacing yourself and serving everything fresh on the big day. 

Either way, with such an incredible menu, you’re guaranteed to score a touchdown with your loved ones next Sunday! 

What are some of your game-day must-haves? Leave them in the comments below and let’s discuss!