It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
I love this season: the crunchy leaves, apple cider everything, and football every weekend. Each year I gather my favorite recipes from the blog for tailgating, game-day parties, and cozy weekend viewing. Below is a curated, organized list of top picks across categories to make planning easy and delicious.
Please share your must-make game-day favorites in the comments!
p.s. For details on building a huge cheese plate like the one above, check the original post on how to assemble one and a few mini cheeseballs.
Dips
roasted green chile queso cheese dip
hot bacon cherry pepper hummus
butternut squash goat cheese dip
grilled kale BLT dip
layered buffalo chicken dip
roasted butternut squash hummus
copycat chipotle corn salsa
spinach + kale Greek yogurt dip
caramelized pineapple, bacon + goat cheese guacamole
whipped feta
homemade French onion dip
white pizza dip
roasted butternut squash spinach dip
Snacks
buffalo beer cheese fondue fries
marinated flank steak hummus plate
chimichurri fries with gorgonzola
brown butter herb garlic knots
herb salted garlic Parmesan french fries
spinach, bacon + artichoke stuffed portobellos
how to make a killer cheese plate
the best sweet and spicy snack mix
crispy carnitas oven nachos with homemade tortilla chips
bacon blue deviled eggs with roasted garlic and asparagus
fontina roasted garlic and goat cheese arancini
20 minute turkey taco nachos
fried Brussels sprouts with smoky honey aioli
cheesy pumpkin Parmesan french bread
BBQ chicken french breads
white pizza pull-apart bread
30 minute buffalo chicken french breads
Thai butternut squash lettuce wraps
brown sugar sriracha sesame popcorn
lobster corn fritters with truffle herb mayo
pomegranate-jeweled white cheddar cheeseball
coconut curry mussels
roasted sweet potato casserole bites with oatmeal cookie crumble
sweet + sticky pomegranate chicken wings
crispy roasted chickpeas
chipotle beer shrimp quesadillas with spicy guac
Salads
rosemary chicken, bacon and avocado salad
crunchy taco kale salad
shredded kale salad with fried chicken
autumn arugula salad
crispy bacon pasta salad with fresh herbs
warm Brussels Caesar with bacon ciabatta croutons
BLT chopped salad with corn, feta + avocado
house salad
grilled buffalo chicken Caesar salad
parmesan crusted chicken salads
Slow Cooker Meals
kalua pulled pork sliders with mango blueberry salsa
slow-cooker sweet and spicy pork shoulder
crockpot bacon bourbon baked beans
slow-cooker short rib sauce with bucatini
crockpot smoky brisket tacos
crockpot pulled pork chili
short rib tacos with salted lime cabbage and queso fresco
healthy crockpot mini turkey meatballs
pulled pork tacos with sweet chili slaw
brown sugar roasted garlic pot roast sandwiches
crockpot cheeseburgers
BBQ beer chicken
Burgers & Sandwiches
queso cheeseburgers with avocado and pico de gallo
smoky sloppy joes with green chiles and Greek yogurt slaw
meatloaf sliders with bacon, pepper jack and frizzled onions
saucy chicken sandwiches with pomegranate BBQ sauce and crunchy apple slaw
BBQ Havarti burgers with curly sweet potato fries
tortilla-crusted chipotle salmon sliders
smoky sweet cherry pepper cheeseburgers
homemade chicken cheesesteaks
spicy mini meatball grilled cheese
goat cheese guac burgers with cheddar and caramelized onions
black bean butternut sliders with chipotle ketchup
buffalo chicken grilled cheese with beer cheese fondue
blue cheese stuffed portobello burgers with grilled corn and crispy shallots
saucy pulled pork sandwiches
cheeseburgers with sautéed mushrooms, arugula + Dijon aioli
salt + vinegar chip-crusted fish sandwiches
cheesy stuffed meatball sliders
balsamic Brussels grilled cheese
roasted jalapeño cheddar turkey burgers with smoky BBQ aioli
smoky sweet potato burgers with roasted garlic cream and avocado
buffalo chicken burgers
jalapeño pretzel dogs with cheddar beer sauce
crispy buffalo-style quinoa sliders with sweet corn + scallions
double-bean burger patty melts
Thai turkey burgers
bacon pineapple burgers
white pizza grilled cheese
Soup & Chili
homemade pulled pork ramen
cider cheese soup shooters in mini pretzel bread bowls
white bean soup with crumbled bacon and spiced brown butter
creamy tomato soup shooters with grilled cheese sticks
white bean tortellini soup with broiled Havarti toasts
roasted chicken ramen
smoked gruyere butternut soup with crispy chickpeas
chickpea pasta soup
beer cheese soup in homemade bread bowls
smoky white bean chicken chili
white chicken quinoa chili
chicken pot pie soup
spicy chicken chili with pumpkin beer biscuits
spicy sausage, kale and whole wheat orecchiette soup
braised short rib beef stew
butternut beef stew with pearl couscous
cheesy corn chowder with bacon and gorgonzola
Main Dishes & Good Eats
30 minute Cajun salmon with salted lime butter
puffy tacos
grilled flank steak with a toppings bar
Thai drunken zucchini noodles with spicy honey chicken
pimento cheese chicken salad on honey butter biscuits
cheese enchiladas of my dreams
chili cheese polenta bowls
crispy buffalo wing shrimp with blue cheese grits
easy weeknight chicken tacos
spicy roasted squash with feta + herbs
BBQ meatloaf cornbread stacks
beer-marinated steak fajitas
chili garlic chicken skewers with Greek yogurt dipping sauce
creamy chicken and buttermilk dumplings
lightened-up beef enchiladas with homemade enchilada sauce
beer-battered fish tacos with margarita mango salsa and jalapeño crema
sweet and spicy short rib tacos with sesame guacamole
roasted broccolini, bacon and caramelized shallot quiche
zoodles with mini chicken, feta and spinach meatballs
chicken tinga tacos with grilled corn guac
roasted cauliflower and broccoli stuffed potatoes with cheesy butternut sauce
Thai coconut curry shrimp noodle bowls
grilled baby back ribs with root beer BBQ sauce
pulled pork tostadas
cider-braised chicken with spiced butternut
garlic brown sugar flank steak with chimichurri
Pizza & Pasta
roasted vegetable lasagna with burrata
blackened broccoli pasta with charred lemon and goat cheese
white pizza with garlic sauce and garden herbs
no-rise crispy thin crust pizza
caramelized onion, bacon + gruyere whole wheat pizza
white pizza lasagna
caramelized shallot, spinach and goat cheese garlic-butter pasta
charred cauliflower carbonara
cheesy bucatini pie with mini meatballs
four-cheese skillet mac + cheese
pizza supreme on cauliflower crust
chipotle candied bacon & smoked blue cheese pizza
30-minute farfalle with marinated feta, arugula and toasted pine nuts
pesto burrata bucatini
hot and sweet triple-pepper pizza
creamy Cajun chicken penne pot
pepperoni puff pastry pizza
one-pot mushroom and Swiss chard pasta
meat lovers pizza
30-minute skillet lasagna
bacon cheeseburger skillet pizza
cast-iron skillet Brussels sprouts, bacon pizza
honey-chipotle chicken pizza with goat cheese
Treats
peanut butter pretzel stuffed chocolate bark
chai cupcakes with brown butter chai icing
chocolate-stuffed oatmeal bars
peanut butter cheesecake with whipped marshmallow and bananas
double dark chocolate peanut butter cup cookies
one-bowl whiskey chocolate fudge cake
sweet orange cinnamon pull-apart bread
brown sugar pumpkin cheesecake with pistachio macaroon crust
homemade Snickers bars
burnt caramel bourbon ice cream with milk chocolate toffee
peppermint pattie brownies
bourbon bacon marshmallow s’mores
peanut butter fudge brownie trifle
pumpkin s’mores cupcakes
chocolate cream pie with vanilla whipped cream
vanilla bourbon caramel apples
salted chocolate pecan pie bars
brown butter oatmeal chunk cookies
chocolate tres leches cake
Drinks
grapefruit daiquiris
mulled wine, two ways
hot cider nog
apple cider sangria
pomegranate margaritas
cranberry cider punch
crockpot coconut hot chocolate
shandy sangria
palomas with salty chili sugar
iced whiskey coffees with whiskey syrup and whipped cream
apple cider margaritas
ginger beergaritas
mojito margaritas
rosé sangria
That’s a wrap. What’s your go-to autumn party food?