Deviled Egg Footballs are the perfect fun and festive snack for your next tailgating or "homegating" party. These aren't just your standard deviled eggs; they are topped with savory bacon and finished with mayonnaise laces to look just like tiny footballs.
Your guests will definitely be cheering when you bring these out!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
If there’s one rule of tailgating, it’s that deviled eggs are the first things to disappear. This version levels up the fan-favorite by swapping standard paprika for a 'pigskin' coating of crispy, salty bacon.
These football-themed deviled eggs are interactive, easy to grab, and provide that perfect protein boost to keep your guests energized until the fourth quarter.
How to Make Perfect, Easy-to-Peel Hard-Boiled Eggs
The secret to a beautiful deviled egg is a smooth, tear-free egg white. If you’ve ever struggled with shells sticking to the whites, steaming is the ultimate game-changer.
- Boil: Fill a large pot with about an inch of water and bring it to a boil using high heat. Then, reduce the heat to a simmer (medium-low).
- Steam: Arrange your eggs in a steamer basket. Place the basket into the pot, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and steam for 12–13 minutes.
- Shock: Use tongs to immediately move the eggs into an ice water bath. Let them chill for at least 20 minutes. This "shocks" the egg, pulling the membrane away from the shell.
The Pro Peeling Trick
To peel them effortlessly: Place one cooled egg in a small airtight container with a splash of water. Shake it gently until the shell begins to crack and fall away. The shell should slip right off! Give it a quick rinse to ensure no tiny fragments remain.
Watch the video below to see this easy egg-peeling process.
Step-by-Step: Decorating the Footballs
1. Prep the Filling
Cut your eggs in half lengthwise to create that classic football shape. Remove the yolks and mash them in a small bowl. Mix in your favorite ingredients—I personally love a blend of:
- Miracle Whip or Mayo (for creaminess)
- Yellow Mustard (for tang)
- Sweet Pickle Juice (or vinegar for extra zip)
- Salt and Pepper to taste
2. Add the "Leather" (Bacon Bits)
- Cut each egg in half lengthwise so they are football-shaped.
- Carefully remove the yolk from each half.
- Crumble the yolks into a small bowl.
- Add your favorite deviled egg ingredients.
- Stir until creamy.
- Fill the eggs, spreading the filling over most of the egg white, leaving about ⅛th of an inch border all around the egg.
- Sprinkle on crumbled bacon to make the eggs look like brown footballs.
3. Pipe the Laces
Fill a small zip-top bag with a spoonful of mayo or Miracle Whip. Snip a tiny corner off the bag and pipe:
- One long line down the center.
- 3 or 4 short "laces" across the center line.
Top Tips for Success
- Bacon Texture: For the best presentation, add the bacon bits and the mayo laces the day you plan on serving your football eggs. Bacon can lose its crunch and rich color if left in the fridge overnight.
- Make-Ahead Strategy: You can hard-boil and peel the eggs up to two days in advance. Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge. You can also prep the filling ahead of time and store it in a separate bag.
- Variations: Want more flavor? Add a pinch of smoked paprika, shredded cheddar cheese, or even a tiny bit of jalapeño to the yolk mixture for a kick.
Related Recipes
Be sure to check out all of my football-themed foods.
These desserts and appetizers are perfect for your game-day party.
More Decorated Deviled Eggs
Recipe
Creamy egg-yolk filled deviled eggs topped with crumbled bacon are decorated with mayonnaise laces to look like footballs. They make a fun game day snack.
- 6 large hard-boiled eggs
- ⅓ cup Miracle Whip or mayonnaise, plus 1 more tablespoon for decoration
- ½ teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon sweet pickle juice
- 1 pinch table salt
- 5 slices bacon, finely chopped
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Cut hard-boiled eggs in half lengthwise.
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Remove the yolks and crumble them into a bowl.
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Add ⅓ cup Miracle Whip or mayonnaise, mustard, pickle juice, and salt, and stir until smooth and creamy.
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Equally divide the filling among the 12 egg halves, spreading the filling in an even layer over top of the egg, leaving about ⅛ of an inch border around the outer edge of the egg.
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Sprinkle bacon over top and use your fingers to press the bacon into a football shape.
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Spoon the remaining 1 tablespoon of Miracle Whip or mayo into a small zip-top bag. Snip off the tip leaving a small opening.
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Pipe a straight line of mayo down the center, going lengthwise, of each egg.
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Add 3-4 short lines of mayo going across the long line to create the football laces.
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Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Video
Success Tips
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The "Clean Cut" Trick: For perfectly smooth egg halves, wipe your knife with a damp paper towel between every single cut. This prevents the yolk from smearing across the white "field."
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Bacon Texture: For the best "football" look, use finely crumbled bacon rather than large chunks. If your bacon is chewy, it won’t stick as well to the filling; crispy bacon provides the best color and stays put.
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Piping the Laces: If you don’t have a zip-top bag, you can use a toothpick to "draw" the mayo laces, but a bag gives you that professional, raised-stitch look. If the mayo is too thick to pipe smoothly, stir it vigorously in a small bowl first to loosen it up.
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Transporting to a Tailgate: If you are taking these to a party, transport the filled eggs and the "laces" separately. Pipe the mayo once you arrive so the laces stay bright white and don't smush during the drive.
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Egg Freshness: While farm-fresh eggs are delicious, eggs that have been in the fridge for a week or two actually peel better after steaming! The slightly higher pH level helps the membrane pull away from the shell.
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m Patricia Edson says
So glad I googled this!!! Thank you!
Beth Klosterboer says
You are welcome. I hope you enjoy this recipe.
Sabrina Espinoza says
Can the Oscar Mayer Real Bacon Bits be used?
Beth says
It's all about flavor. If you enjoy the flavor of the bacon bits then by all means use them. They should work fine.
Michele Marvell says
These were a big hit at our Super Bowl party!
Beth says
I am so happy to hear that! 🙂
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
These would disappear in our house!
Taylor W. says
These are so cute!! Absolutely perfect for game day!
Kristyn says
What a fun idea!! What football fan wouldn't love these?! They are delicious!
Jessica says
Oh my gosh these are adorable and delicious!
Tara says
SO fun for a tailgate party -- and yummy, too!
Rob says
How cute are these! I'll definitely be making these for our Super Bowl party this year.
Beth says
I hope your party guests enjoy these Deviled Egg Footballs!
Emily says
These are so so cute!!! What a fun idea
Beth says
Thanks, Emily!
The Partiologist says
Our family loves football and deviled eggs, so this is a win win for sure!
Beth says
I can see these football deviled eggs on your kitchen counter next to all your amazing fun food! They'd be a great addition to your game day parties.
Becky says
Looks amazing!! I love it!
Becky says
Our kids are going to love this!!
Becky Mansfield says
Looks so good! Our kids would love this!!
Amy Locurto says
These are so fun Beth!!!
Lynn@Happier Than A Pig In Mud says
I love your spin on them, they look great:@)
Beth says
Thanks. I wanted the deviled eggs to look like footballs so the brown colored bacon was a must for me! I'm glad you like it.
Rachael Yerkes says
These are legit the cutest things ever and I bet they taste amazing too! I love deviled eggs. Making these for my next party.
Beth says
I'm so happy to hear you plan to make these Football Deviled Eggs for your next party. I hope they are a hit!
April says
These are brilliant and adorable!!
cindy hopper says
I love this idea! These eggs look so delicious.
Beth says
Adding bacon on top really made them taste great.
Tavette says
Lots of good tips here. You make such ordinary things into such FUN food. You've perfected your video techniques and there's no question of how to do something vs reading written instructions - ALTHOUGH your written instructions are always well done also.
Football fans everywhere will be impressed! So quick and easy to turn an ordinary deviled egg into a touchdown football.
Tavette - S. Fla.
Beth says
Thanks Tavette. I'm so glad you are enjoying my video tutorials. Videos are fun to make and I agree that it's much easier to see how you can recreate these projects at home when you can watch how I made them.