Game Day Menu Ideas

Whether you’re throwing a potluck or cooking everything yourself, the key to a game day menu is making sure your menu is well rounded and balanced. You want to ensure enough variety with the appetizers, finger foods and desserts you serve during the party. Plus, if game time will straddle meal time — lunch or dinner — be sure to offer something hearty enough to be a main course.

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Planning your game day menu

If you’re drawing a blank on what to serve, consider this: Have you ever enjoyed tailgating food in a stadium parking lot before a football game? Think back to dishes you enjoyed at that event and consider repeating them at your party.

Kick-off appetizers

Start strong with finger foods that are easy to grab between plays, such as a vegetable tray with carrots, cucumbers, cauliflower and bell peppers. Serve with ranch dip.

Another option for a game day menu: stuffed jalapenos. They are the go-to football food for Sage Scott of Sage Alpha Gal. “They can be prepped in advance and are always a crowd pleaser,” she said. “They’re always gone by halftime.”

Some appetizers are great to enjoy throughout the game. That’s where a Crock-Pot can come in handy, such as with a no mayo slow cooker artichoke spinach dip. With the slow cooker on warm, all you need to do is refill crackers throughout the game and everyone can dip and enjoy this appetizer from kickoff through the fourth quarter.

Charcuterie boards also work well for appetizers or all-afternoon snacking. Michelle Goth of Blackberry Babe likes to create a game day charcuterie board that incorporates team colors. “All of these items can be prepared ahead of time and allow guests to graze throughout the game,” she said. “This allows me to enjoy the game without the need to be in the kitchen, except when I’m reloading my own plate with snacks.”

Another great idea? Putting together a nacho bar. For that you’ll want the following necessities:

• chips
• salsa
• ground meat or vegan meat if your guests are vegetarian
• sliced peppers
• cheese sauce

Main event entrees

A big pot of chili is perfect for game day. Set up a chili bar with toppings like shredded cheese, diced onions and sour cream.

That’s the exact approach Casey Rooney of Get On My Plate takes. She likes to make a chili bar with all the fixings, which incorporates another part of her party-planning approach: 50% homemade food and 50% store-bought items, such as the chips and toppings she sets out with the chili.

Another must-have football food: wings. It’s easy to make chicken wings in the air fryer. Then, offer a variety of sauces like classic buffalo, BBQ and honey garlic. Provide celery sticks and blue cheese dressing for people who want the traditional sides.

If you have vegetarian or vegan friends attending, there is no reason they can’t enjoy their own version of wings. And in this instance I’m talking about making cauliflower wings in the air fryer that you can serve with the same traditional sides and sauces.

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Winning beverages

It’s up to you whether or not to add alcoholic beverages to your game day party menu. Rather than stocking a whole bar, prepare a big batch of sangria for those who prefer wine and encourage guests to bring their favorite beer, if that’s their preferred brew.

Don’t forget non-alcoholic options. You can purchase bottled water in bulk at your favorite warehouse club or set up a large iced tea dispenser. Add sliced lemons or berries for extra flavor.

Consider tapping into the hot chocolate trend and setting up a hot chocolate bar for colder game days. Offer lots of different toppings and mix-ins. This includes the traditional — marshmallows, whipped cream and chocolate chips — as well as trendier options, such as crushed cookies, sprinkles and flavored syrups.

Another idea is to serve up a special hot s’mores latte. This would be great whether or not you’re serving s’mores for dessert. Check out these easy ways to make s’mores in the air fryer.

Victory dance desserts

Serve a fruit platter arranged in team colors. Use berries, melon and pineapple to create a colorful spread.

Also, people always ask what they can bring to a party. Leaving dessert as the course where they can fill in the menu will make it easier for you to answer that proverbial question. Plus, it lets you off the hook for having to come up with another course of party food.

Finger food versus utensils

Opt for easy-to-eat finger foods that guests can grab without missing a play. Wings and bite-sized appetizers are ideal.

Consider foods that can be eaten with one hand, leaving the other free to hold drinks or make gestures during exciting moments. If you do make a chili bar, encourage guests to enjoy their chili in shot glasses or coffee mugs so they can eat with one hand. Of course, offer spoons and other utensils for those who would rather not eat with their hands.

Dietary considerations

Be mindful of your guests’ dietary restrictions when planning your menu. Always include one vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free option.

For instance, along with traditional chicken wings, make They are meat free and, with one substitution — plant-based milk for dairy milk — they can be vegan, too.

Ask guests about any allergies or dietary restrictions in advance. This allows you to plan accordingly and ensures everyone feels included in the festivities. Also, let them know they are welcome to bring their own food so they will know what they can and cannot eat. Allow extra room on the buffet table for any last-minute potluck additions.

Football food themes based on teams playing

Just like Michelle Goth likes to create a charcuterie board that reflects the team colors, you, too, can play on food themes based on where a team’s home field is located. For instance, if the Philadelphia Eagles are playing, you can serve cheesesteaks, soft pretzels and Tastykake snack cakes — all Philly favorites.

Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs again? Well, there’s always Kansas City barbecue and the fixings that go along with those dishes. Whenever the Buffalo Bills are playing or have made the postseason, you’ll definitely want to serve those aforementioned Buffalo wings — meat or vegan version.

If the Baltimore Ravens are your team, then build your menu around anything having to do with crab. That’s pretty much the official food of Maryland. You’ll definitely want to use Old Bay seasoning, since that’s a Baltimore native product.

Here are a few other ideas:

• Set up a Southern comfort food station with fried chicken, mac and cheese and collard greens.
• Represent the Midwest with a selection of hearty dips like beer cheese, mini corn dogs and loaded potato skins.
• Offer a taste of the Southwest with a build-your-own taco bar.

Portions of this article originally appeared on Food Drink Life.