15 Easy Football Snacks for Gameday

No matter what team you root for, everyone cheers for football food! Game day appetizers, including finger foods, party snacks, chips, and dips, can make or break the viewing experience regardless of whether the game goes your way. Football superfans and casual viewers can enjoy classic and elevated game day appetizers. Below are 15 favorite recipes featuring fresh Maryland seafood from Crab Dynasty.

Crab Dip

Crab Dip is a game day staple for a reason. Your basic crab dip recipe contains cream cheese, mayonnaise, mustard, shredded cheese, and lump crabmeat. Serve it hot or cold, depending on where you tailgate. Spice it up with buffalo or jalapeño, or add spinach & artichoke for a twist on another favorite dip.

Mini Crab Cakes

Crab cakes are always a crowd-pleaser. Divide our crab cake recipe into smaller portions to create more convenient mini crab cakes for your next Sunday Funday get-together. Split the crab mixture into twelve ¼ cup portions and shape them into patties for a fun, portable take on Maryland’s favorite dish.

Hot tip: grab slider rolls to make a mini version of our favorite Maryland crab cake sandwich served with cocktail or tartar sauce as a seafood appetizer to your main event. 

Crab Rangoon

Surprise guests with a simple recipe that looks very impressive. We all need finger foods on game day, and crab rangoon is easier to make at home than you may think. This restaurant-style crab rangoon recipe requires cream cheese, crab meat, seasoning, and wonton wrappers. Fry (or air fry) for a tasty, homemade take on this appetizer. 

Crab Stuffed Mushrooms

Stuff 2-inch diameter mushrooms with decadent crab meat, green onions, parmesan cheese, and mayonnaise, and season to taste for these baked crab-stuffed mushrooms. Your friends and family won’t be able to stop eating these during commercial breaks!

Salmon Spread

Cook fresh salmon in butter, or add leftover cooked salmon to this salmon spread for Sunday football get-togethers. This recipe can be made ahead of time and chilled overnight in the fridge for a worry-free game day appetizer. 

Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs

If you want to show off your skill with that new smoker, you can also smoke your own salmon for smoked-salmon deviled eggs. This super recipe is sure to be a home run (or, in this case, a touchdown) for everyone enjoying the game – easy to make, easy to eat, and easy to clean up. 

Oysters Rockefeller 

Show off some skill in the kitchen with restaurant-style Oysters Rockefeller. Our Chesapeake oysters are wonderfully balanced and make a perfect complement to the shallots, cream, spinach, Romano, and lemon juice that coat them in this recipe. Cover the mixture with panko breadcrumbs and bake. Just because it’s a football appetizer doesn’t mean it can’t be a little fancy!

Fried Oyster Sandwich Sliders

Another sandwich you can turn bite-sized for game day is our classic Maryland fried oyster sandwich. Coat shucked oysters in egg and milk, then dredge them in cornmeal. Fry the oysters and serve on a bun with tartar or cocktail sauce.

Po’Boy Sandwiches

Need a sandwich with a bit more substance? Use our Maryland soft shell crabs to create delicious Po’Boy sandwiches to enjoy during halftime. Coat crabs with flour and Old Bay, then sauté them until golden brown in a large pan. Spread tartar sauce on toasted bread, add tomato and lettuce on top of the crab, and enjoy during a break from the action —these definitely require both hands and some concentration!

Shrimp Quesadillas

Gulf shrimp are incredibly versatile — you can fry, grill, broil, bake, saute or boil them. Make a delicious, shareable shrimp quesadilla with extra large tortillas for the next football game you watch at home. Depending on the weather, you can do the shrimp and quesadillas both on the grill, or you can sauté or steam the shrimp and then bake them into the quesadilla.

Coconut Shrimp

You don’t have to spend your whole weekend cooking for game day. We provide several ready-to-eat options, including coconut shrimp. Our coconut shrimp are coated with fresh coconut breadcrumbs and delivered straight to your door. Try them with Thai peanut butter or sweet chili dipping sauce.

Shrimp Taco Bites

Tortilla chips are readily available at most tailgates and game day parties, so why not get creative? Instead of average old nachos, make fish taco bites with our breaded shrimp. You can offer an assortment of sauces and toppings, like pico de gallo, pineapple salsa, and guacamole.

Lobster Stuffed Cheese Ball

Cheese balls are a favorite amongst football fans for a reason. They’re super easy to make and customize from a basic recipe, and they’re great for sharing! Cream cheese, sharp cheddar, and gouda are great bases. We recommend boiling, chilling, and adding the meat from our fresh Maine lobster tails to the mix for a festive event like Superbowl Sunday. 

Alaskan Snow Crab Macaroni and Cheese 

As the weather gets colder and you crave heartier fare during the game, try Alaskan Snow Crab Macaroni and Cheese — the ultimate football comfort food! Our recipe includes Havarti, gruyere, and cheddar for cheesy deliciousness and decadence in every mouthful!

Crawfish Gumbo

Another one of our favorite cold-weather recipes is Louisiana Crawfish Gumbo. This recipe is a labor of love, as it takes quite a while to build up the flavor. Begin by creating a dark roux with all-purpose flour and oil. Add sausage, bell pepper, onion, and celery to soften up before adding garlic, water, tomatoes, and cajun seasoning. Let simmer until flavors are melded (about an hour). Then throw in our pre-cooked crawfish and some okra and serve with white or brown rice.  

Football Specials from Crab Dynasty

It wouldn’t be fall without football specials from Crab Dynasty! Don’t miss out on deals for hard crabs, crab claws, shrimp, breaded seafood, and more. Making game day appetizers is a breeze with Crab Dynasty’s high-quality seafood delivered right to your door.