Need some game day hosting inspiration and help? We’ve got you covered with an easy and delicious pick-and-choose menu. This eclectic menu includes savory dishes, sweet treats and drinks to serve to a crowd for any gameday gathering. Mix and match recipes to suit your tastebuds and those of your guests for a good time!
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2025 Update: This round-up for my favorite game day recipes was originally shared in February 2013. The post includes new photos, as well as more tips and tricks. I hope you find inspiration for your game day gathering here!
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There’s an important football game coming up, and I don’t know about y’all, but I am excited… for the food.
Let it be known that I don’t have a professional football team that I cheer for, so I’m all in for the snacks and spending time with people I enjoy.
Whether you are in it for the actual game or the food or maybe even the ads, there’s a lot to cheer for.
And if you’re looking for specific game day food ideas and some of the best food for inspiration and sharing, this post was written for you!
I’ve gathering 30+ crowd-pleasers that work during the regular football season, as well as the playoffs and beyond. You can serve these for other sports, too.
Game day foods:
Stadium foods and foods that you can make at home have some overlap, so let’s talk about some beloved foods that are typically served for gameday festivities or a watch party.
You can serve some of your favorite recipes to your favorite football fans, whether or not they’re traditional.
Here are some more traditional dishes you might find at any gathering involving sports fans:
Appetizers and finger foods, like chicken wings, potato skins, artichoke dip and other eclectic party dips with tortilla chips are brilliant to serve to a hungry crowd. (We like to serve a combination of ones that are mayo-based with ones that are not.)
Grilled mains, like hot dogs or hamburgers, are also popular to make and serve because they are simple to batch cook.
Hearty mains are also a great idea, like pulled pork sandwiches, soups and stews.
Slow cooker recipes (like dips, chilis and more) are winning football food because you can put them in early and let them cook with little to no babysitting.
I love to end any gathering with dessert. There are so many cute football-shaped desserts out there to make.
Depending on your number of guests, you can mix and match these recipes to your taste buds. Just be sure to have a variety (and also be aware of guests’ food sensitivities and allergies) to keep guests fed and happy throughout the game.
Here are some of my ideas for you to serve during the next game day gathering you host or attend:
Gameday Appetizers
Every sports-related party needs some SAVORY finger foods, as well as a dish that's a little heartier to feed to guests. Below are some of my favorite apps to share…
1
Caramelized Onion Guacamole
Get the party started with some GUACAMOLE! It's hard to beat this classic party dip, and we love this rendition because of the unique onions added to it. Whenever we hosts friends, this appetizer is the first to be gobbled up. Every time.
Homemade queso is where it's at for gameday! This recipe can be made in a skillet and is loaded, meaning it incorporates ground beef, avocado AND sour cream! Keep it warm in the slow cooker or the Instant Pot, and let guests scoop as little or as much as they'd like onto their plates.
This twist on a classic bruschetta is a cross between appetizer and main dish. Containing all the ingredients of the classic BLT sandwich, including a sauce, this hand-held recipe is utterly delicious and perfect for a gameday gathering.
If you want to make a meaty, creamy, cheesy and spicy Buffalo Chicken Dip that does not call for canned ingredients or bottled salad dressing, this recipe is for you! All you need are 7 ingredients and about 30 minutes to make this decadent dip. The real question is: what are you making it for and who are you sharing it with?
Want to make the most irresistible snack food for game day or any occasion? These homemade Parmesan Pretzel Bites have the perfect texture. They're soft and fluffy with a little crunch on the exterior and the most wonderful saltiness from the parmesan cheese. Serve them with your favorite queso or pretzel dip for the ultimate finger food.
Another appetizer-turned-main dish, these Pepperoni Pizza Rolls feed a crowd and are the perfect football-viewing food! Easily hand held and dipped, there's not much NOT to love about these beauties. They're easy to make, too, with store-bought pizza dough and very few ingredients.
You know the gooey Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip from restaurants that’s irresistible once you start eating it? It’s incredibly easy to make at home in 30 minutes or less. This Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip is the perfect appetizer for any gathering
These easy jalapeño poppers are the perfect make-ahead appetizer for game day, girl’s night or anytime you crave a little spice. You can easily customize this recipe to be as spicy as you like.
Want to make the best Cheese Dip for Pretzels? All you need are three ingredients and your favorite soft pretzels to make this ultimate dipping sauce for any occasion.
Spicy, creamy and wonderfully dippable, this Jalapeno Popper Dip recipe is the perfect appetizer to get any gathering started. Calling for a handful of ingredients, including fresh jalapeno peppers, and requiring just a little bit of time, this recipe tastes just like the beloved handheld app, but in dippable form.
When hosting a game day gathering, you've got to have some entrees for the crowd, too. Here are some of my favorites to make. (Spoiler alert: You can make many in advance or keep them warm in the slow cooker…)
13
Texas Chili
Let TEXAS CHILI be the star of the show at your gameday party! Spicy and chock full of meat, this authentic beanless chili serves a crowd and can be dressed up however your guests like theirs. I recommend making this a day in advance so you don't have to fret about cooking it the day of, and just warm it up on the stovetop before guests arrive.
This grilled turkey burger recipe is a juicy turkey burger recipe because of a homemade spinach artichoke filling. This stuffed burger recipe is delicious and easy to make at home on your favorite grill.
These Beefy Poutine Fries make a delicious appetizer or dinner. A twist on traditional Canadian poutine, this favorite comfort food recipe features French fries from the freezer section speckled with white cheese curds and drizzled in hearty beef stew meat gravy. This bar favorite recipe is so easy to make at home!
This crunchy, cheesy, meaty stromboli could not be easier to make at home! All you need are 7 ingredients to make this delicious homemade Stromboli recipe. Perfect for weeknights, pizza parties and any time!
BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches are one of the best ways to enjoy pulled pork. Meaty pulled pork sits on toasted buns with homemade creamy coleslaw and is slathered in BBQ sauce for extra flavor. Perfect for picnics, backyard BBQs, weeknight dinners and more, it’s hard not to LOVE this easy BBQ sandwich recipe!
Chicken and Sausage Gumbo is the ultimate Louisiana comfort food! This gumbo starts with a dark roux as its base. Once the roux is ready and combined with water, add sautéed chopped green bell pepper, onion and celery to the pot. Sear the chicken and sausage, too, before throwing them in, and letting the gumbo cook low and slow for hours. From-scratch gumbo is a labor of love, but it’s a delicious one that is perfect to serve to a crowd over rice.
These easy BBQ Chicken Sliders are the perfect mix of smoky, tangy and savory flavors packed into a bite-sized sandwich. Juicy chicken patties coated in a lightly spicy sauce pair beautifully with a crisp, creamy slaw — all tucked into a soft, toasted bun. Whether you're making them as appetizers for a party or game day, or as an easy weeknight dinner, these sliders are sure to be a crowd favorite!
Love the flavor and spice of Buffalo wings? This Buffalo Chicken Casserole is a nod to the classic bar food! Learn how to make this simple casserole recipe at home to enjoy this appetizer-turned-dinner.
Every gameday gathering needs dessert, too! Below are some of our favorite bar desserts (because they're easy to make in advance) and other sweet treats that guests will have a hard time turning down! The thing to keep in mind about gameday desserts is that they need to be handheld without being too messy. And all of these recipes fit the bill!
21
Bourbon Pecan Brownies
Bourbon and pecan ANYTHING makes me so happy, and when paired with chocolate, these flavors just sing. These brownies are well-loved by friends and family, so much that I've been told by family members that these are the only thing I ever need to bring to their house for any gathering.
Another perennial classic at our house, these Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are the classic cookie made into bar form! They never last long, and guests are always going back for seconds and thirds because the flavors are spot on. And who can resist Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars? I mean… really?
These Brazilian Fudge Balls are a fun, bite-sized treat for guests to enjoy at a gameday gathering! Coat the fudge balls in classic chocolate sprinkles or add colored sprinkles for your favorite team to add some flair/
Not a fan of chocolate? These decadent Bacon Pretzel Peanut Butter Bars (with BOURBON!) marry sweet, salty and savory flavors. We made these for last year's gathering, and they were gone pretty quick since peanut butter, pretzels, bacon and bourbon together are an awesome combo.
No Bake Peanut Butter Bars with Pretzels are a delightful combination of sweet, salty and crunchy! This twist on peanut butter squares is covered in a chocolate layer and served cold. Easy to make, these Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars make a delicious dessert for sharing with family and friends.
A cross between a cheesecake and a brownie, Ooey Gooey Bars are delightful and decadent! With just a few ingredients and the ability to make them in advance, these desserts are to-die-for delicious. A friend of mine once nicknamed these “Crack Brownies” because they're hard to stop eating… and they always make a splash at a gathering.
These classic Oatmeal, Chocolate and Caramel Bars marry three different flavors beautifully and are oh-so-decadently delicious! What's not to love about this combination? You can make 'em in advance, too, and cut them as large or small as you'd like…
Because every gameday gathering needs a drink or two for guests to sip as their teams play!
28
Meyer Lemon Shandies
We love a good beer for a football game! If you're into cocktails, this BEER COCKTAIL is the direction to go! Calling for seasonal ingredients and a more fruit-forward beer, it's delicious for sipping all game long.
Celebrate everything you love about beer with a refreshing and bright beer cocktail – the Strawberry French Monaco! Featuring a homemade strawberry syrup, fresh lemon juice and a pale lager, this perfectly sippable drink is downright addictive.
If you're in the market for a pitcher drink, look no farther than this wintery sangria recipe! Make it the night before for optimal infusion time, and enjoy watching guests sip throughout the event!
Another pitcher drink, this Rosé Sangria brings some different flavors than the Cranberry Sangria. Make it the night before for the flavors to infuse, and double the batch if you're hosting a crowd! This is the type of drink you don't want to run out of.
This non-alcoholic Wassail is another warm, comforting drink everyone can enjoy! While it's traditionally served during the holidays, I don't see anything wrong with it being a centerpiece at a gameday party. How could it not be loved with these ingredients?
Spice up brunch or a morning tailgate by mixing up a flavorful BBQ Bloody Mary! This twist on the classic brunch drink features spicy Bloody Mary mix, BBQ dry rub and your favorite BBQ sauce! Add a spritz of lime juice, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce, and this cocktail mixes up easily for a crowd. With spice from the Bloody Mary mix and sweetness from the barbecue sauce, this BBQ Bloody Mary strikes a balance for any morning get together!
Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her…
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8 Comments
That guacamole looks amazing! And those ooey gooey bars…yum!
I’m making buffalo chicken dip for a friend’s Super Bowl party!
We are hosting our annual Super Bowl party and we always have a food theme – this year its cooking/baking with alcohol/beer! I can’t wait to see all the food/recipes. And I may add your Bloody Beer to the list!
I LOVE that y’all have a food theme for your Super Bowl party. LOVE. I cannot wait to hear how it goes… and if you try the Bloody Beer, let me know. It has become one of my favorite tailgating drinks because it’s super easy and tasty.
Um I’ll have one of everything. Normally when I’m invited to a Superbowl party I make my Game Day Chicken Quesadilla’s. Buttermilk and beer marinated chicken, onions, peppers, olives, jalepenos, cumin, cinnamon, cilantro, cheese… Health food.
That guacamole looks amazing! And those ooey gooey bars…yum!
I’m making buffalo chicken dip for a friend’s Super Bowl party!
Thanks, Holly! They’re both pretty delicious… but I might be a bit biased.
And your buffalo chicken dip sounds good! How do you make it?
We are hosting our annual Super Bowl party and we always have a food theme – this year its cooking/baking with alcohol/beer! I can’t wait to see all the food/recipes. And I may add your Bloody Beer to the list!
I LOVE that y’all have a food theme for your Super Bowl party. LOVE. I cannot wait to hear how it goes… and if you try the Bloody Beer, let me know. It has become one of my favorite tailgating drinks because it’s super easy and tasty.
Um I’ll have one of everything. Normally when I’m invited to a Superbowl party I make my Game Day Chicken Quesadilla’s. Buttermilk and beer marinated chicken, onions, peppers, olives, jalepenos, cumin, cinnamon, cilantro, cheese… Health food.
Haha, that can totally be arranged. And your health food sounds EXACTLY LIKE my kind of health food. 😉
Will you be making your Game Day Chicken Quesadillas on Sunday?
Now that’s an interesting take on GUAC! Must try it out. I wanted to make some fun eats for Super Bowl but instead went out for sushi heh 🙂
I definitely recommend checking it out. I absolutely LOVE the onions in it! What kind of sushi did y’all have last night? That sounds delightful, too!