Easy Game Day Food Ideas Your Guests Are Sure to Love

There’s nothing quite like hosting a gathering of family and friends to watch the big game. While football is the main attraction, the food always comes in a close second.

Don’t stress about what you’ll serve! These delicious and easy game day food ideas are sure to make an impression. Even better, they’re quick to make so you won’t have to worry about missing one minute of the big game.

Easy game day food ideas

There’s no need to spend all morning in the kitchen or keep running back and forth once the game comes on. You can whip up these quick and easy game day food ideas in a flash.

1. Ham and cheese sliders

To make delicious ham and cheese sliders, start with some Hawaiian sweet rolls, add some mayo and slices of ham and cheese, then bake them in the oven.

2. Nachos supreme

Nachos are easy and delicious. To make enough for a crowd, start by putting a layer of tortilla chips on a large cookie sheet. Add meat, cheese, and beans and bake it in the oven until the cheese melts. Then add your cold toppings – like sour cream, salsa, and avocado.

3. Potstickers

If you want to do something a bit different, try serving potstickers! They’re easy to heat up and are delicious when served with a side of Asian dipping sauce.

4. Queso dip and chips

It’s easy to make your own queso dip in the slow cooker, and there are plenty of different options – like changing out the type of cheese you use or adding beef. If you’re tight on time, you can also use pre-made queso dip.

5. Seafood dip

A warm, creamy dip with plenty of seafood is a classy addition to your game day buffet. Choose your favorite pre-made seafood dip and serve it with crackers, tortilla chips, or chunks of bread.

6. Grape jelly chili meatballs

This may sound like a strange combination, but once you try grape jelly chili meatballs, it’s sure to become one of your favorite party dishes. Serve this in the slow cooker so it stays warm all day. 

7. Loaded potato skins

Loaded potato skins are easy to make from scratch, but it’s even easier to buy them frozen, pop them in the oven, and top each one with a dollop of sour cream.

8. Jalapeno popper dip

Jalapeno popper dip is delicious either cold or served in a small slow cooker. Make it from scratch, or pick up a pre-made version from the deli department of your favorite grocery store.

Football game day food ideas

Planning for a few football-themed dishes will make game day even more fun. Start with these simple ideas.

1. Spinach dip in a football bread dough

Start with a football-shaped loaf of bread, hollow it out, and place spinach dip inside. You can create the “laces” of the football with pieces of bacon or slices of bell pepper.

2. Pepperoni footballs

Make a football-shaped cheese ball, then cover it with slices of pepperoni and make the “laces” with slices of mozzarella cheese. Serve it on a large plate surrounded by crackers.

3. Football deviled eggs

Deviled eggs are always a popular party food. Give them a festive look by using slices of olive to add “laces” to the eggs.

4. Football shaped cookies

Sugar cookies shaped like footballs are a festive way to satisfy your guest’s sweet tooth. Even better, if you have kids, you can let them have a blast decorating them before the big game.

Game day finger food ideas

Don’t worry about buying cutlery and setting up tables for people to sit. These game day finger food ideas will help you keep things simple. 

1. Classic Buffalo wings

Nothing says game day quite like classic Buffalo chicken wings. Bake chicken wings in the oven, toss them in Buffalo sauce, and serve them with some celery and blue cheese dressing.

2. Pigs in a blanket

You can’t host game day without some pigs in the blanket! Just wrap mini cocktail wieners in crescent rolls and bake them in the oven. Serve them with ketchup and mustard for dipping.

3. Tater tots

Toss a big bag of frozen tater tots in the oven, then serve them with a side of ketchup. It’s super simple yet oh-so-delicious! 

4. Taquitos

Frozen taquitos baked in the oven and served with a side of queso cheese is sure to be a hit!

5. Loaded cheese ball bites

Roll cream cheese into balls, then roll the balls in coatings like green onions, bacon pieces, and crushed nuts. Put a pretzel stick in the middle of each one and serve!

6. Mozzarella sticks

Mozzarella sticks are always a huge hit, so if you’re going to serve these, make sure you get plenty! Serve them with a side of warm marinara sauce for dipping. 

7. Bacon wrapped avocado

Slices of ripe avocado wrapped in bacon and cooked in the air fryer make for a truly amazing appetizer. Serve it with a sauce made from mayonnaise, Sriracha, and lime juice.

8. Stuffed mushrooms

Bite-sized stuffed mushrooms are another super popular finger food for your game day! You can stuff them with cheese and sausage, crab meat, or anything else that appeals to you.

Let Instacart help you with your game day party!

Now that you’ve got some great game day food ideas, you’re ready to throw an unforgettable party. Make things even easier by ordering a grocery delivery from Instacart. Just create your grocery list, place your order, then sit back and wait for an expert shopper to drop it off at your door. Try it out today!

Grab it now on Instacart:

King's Hawaiian Original Hawaiian Sweet Rolls 12PK (1 oz)

Chung's Potstickers, Pork (9.5 oz)

Gordo’s Foodservice Cheese Dip, with Jalapeno, Hot (16 oz)

Farm Rich Limited Edition Meatballs with Grape Chili Sauce (34 oz)

Publix Deli Dip, Jalapeno Popper (16 oz)

Hormel Sliced Pepperoni (per lb)

Chicken Wings ()

Oscar Mayer Mini Smokies Franks (14 oz)

El Monterey Chicken Taquitos (21 oz)

Philadelphia Original Cream Cheese (8 oz)

Farm Rich Breaded Mozzarella Sticks (24 oz)

Avocado (1 ct)

Instacart

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