8 Midwestern Recipes For Game Day & Beyond (2024)

Community Corner

Become the MVP of the Big Game with these Midwestern recipes, from toasted ravioli and tater tot nachos to peanut butter buckeyes.

Posted Wed, Dec 27, 2023 at 8:37 am ET|Updated Wed, Dec 27, 2023 at 8:58 am ET

1. Kansas City Style Ribs (Kevin Is Cooking) — What’s better than kicking back to watch the Big Game with friends and family? Doing it with a big plate of Kansas City-style ribs in hand! This finger-licking good recipe offers directions on making both the dry rub, which features ingredients like chili powder, brown sugar and cayenne pepper, and the sticky barbecue sauce to coat. Prep time runs a little over two hours, and then another two hours to cook. As a bonus, if you wind up with leftovers — which, let’s be honest, you probably won’t — you can shred pork ribs over a bed of cheesy grits and top with any remaining sauce for a delicious dinner. See the full recipe here.

2. Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip (Iowa Girl Eats) — Every game day menu needs some sort of dip, and this buffalo chicken dip from Iowa Girl Eats is sure to please! A combination of cheesy and spicy, this dip pairs well with Fritos, tortilla chips or crunchy breadsticks, as well as with vegetables like carrots and red bell pepper sticks. This recipe requires little effort, calling for only five ingredients — all you have to do is combine them into a crock pot, heat on low for upwards of two hours and stir occasionally. You can even make this dip up to two days in advance, as long as it's refrigerated and reheated before serving. See the full recipe here.

3. St. Louis Toasted Ravioli (Garnish And Glaze) — Despite the name, this delicacy found across St. Louis is actually fried, not toasted. However, it’s still a straightforward dish to make; but be warned, these bites will likely go fast! For this recipe, dip fresh or frozen beef ravioli into a buttermilk and egg mixture, followed by a mixture of breadcrumbs, salt and pepper to coat. From there, put the ravioli in the freezer until firm (about 30 minutes), then deep fry in a pot with two inches of oil for about 4-5 minutes or until golden. To finish, sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve with a marinara sauce. See the full recipe here.

4. Chicago-Style Hot Dog (Tasting Table) — As a staple across the biggest city in Illinois, you can’t go wrong with making some Chicago-style dogs on game day. A sweet and mildly spicy dish, these hot dogs are easy to assemble, taking just 10 minutes total for prep and cook time. Don’t forget to sprinkle celery salt on top, then finish off by tightly wrapping the dog in tin foil for up to two minutes — this steams it to give it a more authentic texture. Note: you’ll probably want to double or triple this recipe for your party, as it only makes four servings. See the full recipe here.

5. Tater Tot Nachos (Midwest Foodie) — The menu for the Big Game wouldn’t be complete without nachos — however, that doesn’t mean you have to stick to the basics! Instead, put a Midwestern spin on the dish with this tater tot nacho recipe. These “totchos” are simple to make and can be assembled in about five minutes; just put frozen tots in a cast iron pan or a baking sheet and sprinkle them with seasoning, cheese, corn, beans and whatever else you want to add. It’s the perfect recipe for any vegetarians on your guest list, plus you can customize it by adding additional ingredients, such as avocados or salsa. However, don’t overwhelm the dish with toppings, or you could wind up with soggy tots. See the full recipe here.

6. Velveeta® Chili Dip (Kraft Heinz) — Looking for a quick and low-commitment dish to make for game day? Try this simple yet delicious North Dakota classic: Velveeta® Chili Dip. With just two ingredients, Velveeta® cheese and — you guessed it — chili, this easy dish will surely be a hit at your game day party! All you have to do is combine the ingredients and place them in a microwave for five minutes total. Stir after three minutes to ensure the ingredients melt properly. Don’t forget to pair the dish with some sort of dipper, such as tortilla chips or vegetables. See the full recipe here.

7. Peanut Butter Buckeyes (Culinary Hill) — Aptly named for its resemblance to the Buckeye Nut, derived from Ohio’s Buckeye Trees, this easy-to-make Peanut Butter Buckeyes recipe is sure to be a hit with proud residents of The Buckeye State. This recipe uses white chocolate chips, semi-sweet, milk or dark chocolate chips, powdered sugar and peanut butter to achieve a taste reminiscent of a peanut butter cup. In approximately three hours of cook and cool time, you’ll have about 40 treats, which can be stored for up to a week in an airtight container in the fridge or a freezer (thaw for 30 minutes before serving). See the full recipe here.

8. State Fair Cream Puffs (Taste Of Home) — Bring the taste of the Wisconsin State Fair to your game day party with this cream puff recipe! Going on 100 years of being served at the fair, guests will go wild for this light and fluffy cream-filled pastry. The iconic dessert can be recreated using this recipe, which makes 10 servings, in about an hour total. The recipe calls for your standard dessert ingredients and, while helpful, doesn’t require a pastry bag for filling. Plus, you can make the pastry up to three days in advance as long as they are unfilled, stored in an airtight container and refrigerated or frozen. See the full recipe here.

There’s a world of mouth-watering dishes perfect for game day, and any of these Midwestern recipes will surely be crowd-pleasers. Got a game day special that never fails to impress? We’d love to hear about it ...

Share your favorite recipe with us here!