Gearing up for the big game means getting your menu of incredible Super Bowl food together well ahead of game day. But the idea of Super Bowl food can mean different things to different people.
Do the diehards in your crew expect familiar party foods to be on the table, while choosier foodies expect something adventuresome to make half-time snacking more exciting? You may have a menu in mind that aims to please every guest, but choosing the best party foods to lead you to game day victory is a task that may require a bit of coaching.
It doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive to plan your menu, but what do you serve at a game party? Financial wizards at Forbes suggest comparing prices for notoriously costly ingredients to ensure your Super Bowl foods won’t break the bank, an important consideration when your invite list starts to expand.
Whether feeding a family get-together or a block party, choosing your Super Bowl food wisely can help you provide the necessary noshes for your event.
We’ve drafted our top picks for Super Bowl food that are sure to score points with your whole team. From finger foods to full-fledged entrees, these selections will make sure you don’t fumble!
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- Learn to Make Game Day Meals With Top Chefs
- What to Bring to a Super Bowl Party
- Most Popular Super Bowl Foods
- Healthy Game Day Food Ideas
- Best Game Day Foods on a Budget
- Easy Football Game Food Ideas to Make Ahead
Learn to Make Game Day Meals With Top Chefs
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Get charged up for the Chargers with cooking classes in Los Angeles, tackle kitchen tasks for the Commanders with cooking classes in Washington, D.C. or make power plays for the Steelers with cooking classes in Pittsburgh.
And if you can’t make it in person, gear up for online cooking classes and discover virtual courses in goodies for the gridiron.
What to Bring to a Super Bowl Party
1. Appetizer Plate
If you’re not sure what food will suit the occasion, you can’t go wrong with a plate of mixed appetizers. Grab a few boxes of frozen pizza rolls, pot stickers, mini burritos and mozzarella sticks in the freezer section of your favorite grocer.
Cook according to the instructions and arrange on a tray with marinara and salsa for a small bite selection with big flavor.
2. Sheet Cakes
A sheet cake is ideal for moments when a horde of Super Bowl food lovers need a sweet treat. A half-sheet cake can serve nearly 60 guests, while a whole sheet cake will double that — more than enough cake to cover your crew!
Adjust slice size to suit each guest and freeze any leftovers to enjoy after the party ends.
3. Charcuterie Board
A charcuterie board just might be the fanciest Super Bowl food at the party! Go with a classic arrangement of meats, cheeses and fruits or compose a football-themed display that gives the crowd a blast of team spirit.
Research the charcuterie board ideasthat suit your event best so you’ll be ahead of the game when the big day arrives.
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4. Chips and Dip
Your best bet for easy game day food, chips and dip are simple yet effective treats that everyone can get onboard with. Augment your Super Bowl food with chips and dip that align with your other food, such as tortilla chips and bean dip for a Mexican spread or flavored potato chips for deli sandwiches.
Bring a few bags to spread around the party space, making it easier for guests to snack.
5. Side Salads
With side salads as your Super Bowl food contribution, you’ll be helping the gang pair up their main dishes with fantastic accompaniments.
Whether you go with a fresh pasta salad, a creamy potato salad or a lighter three-bean salad, you’ll have a hearty secondary selection to round out the buffet. If homemade sounds too daunting, opt for store bought side salads from a local deli.
6. Bulk Snacks
Barrels of cheese puffs, bags of popcorn and super-sized sacks of savor cereal mixes are Super Bowl food finger foods that let eager fans snack without missing the action.
With a few bowls of bulk snacks scattered around the room, there’ll be crunchy treats partygoers can grab from wherever they’re sitting. These snacks can be found at warehouse stores like Costco and Sam’s Club, outlets that make Super Bowl food more affordable.
7. Sub Sandwiches
What is the most popular Super Bowl meal? The answers may vary, but sub sandwiches are surely near the top of the list of beloved Super Bowl foods!
Order a super-sized sub and bring it along to the football festivities to share with your fellow superfans. If transport of an extra-long six-footer isn’t feasible, ask the deli to slice it into smaller sections that should fit easily in the car.
Most Popular Super Bowl Foods
8. Wings
One of the best-loved top 10 football foods are wings, wings and more wings! Chicken wings served buffalo-style are a Super Bowl food that no one will be sorry to find among the spread.
A variety of heat levels or even a few orders of honey BBQ or Asian-style wings will give you versions that are sure to satisfy a range of tastes. Don’t forget the blue cheese and ranch dressings, must-haves to complete this delicious game day play.
9. Pigs in a Blanket
Pigs in a blanket are a familiar Super Bowl food that fits at any party, no matter what other dishes you’re serving. Place a pan of these treasured finger foods on your table and watch the crowd gather!
Create your own by wrapping refrigerated crescent roll dough around miniature sausages or buy frozen versions you can heat and serve for easier prep. Either way, these “pigskins” are sure-fire winners.
RELATED: 29 Dinner Party Ideas to Be the Host With the Most in 2023
10. Spinach Dip
A savory mix of spinach, mayonnaise and spices, spinach dip can easily double as a Super Bowl food and a tailgating food, depending on your party location.
Find an easy recipe and prepare it ahead of time to make sure it’s rich and ready on game day. You can serve it in a bread boule with bits of sourdough or pair it with seedy crackers and veggie sticks. It’s a perfect topping for just about anything!
11. Seven-Layer Dip
If the question is, “What should I eat on game day?” then a seven-layer dip should be among the best possible answers! This layered spread combines all the best bases and toppings from Mexican food favorites to become a Super Bowl food MVP.
Once you add your base of refried beans, you can pile on just about any taco fixings on top before heating the dip in the oven. Serve with tortilla chips or street taco-size tortillas to encourage guests to enjoy as much as they like.
12. Sliders
With sliders of any kind among your Super Bowl main dishes, you’ll have a diminutive entrée that guests of all sizes can get their hands around.
Fill dinner-sized rolls with BBQ pork, mini burger patties or ham and cheese slices with a pickle in the center. It’s a versatile Super Bowl food you can make with minimal effort to make celebration prep an easier task.
13. Burgers and Hot Dogs
At the peak of the top 10 football foods are burgers and hot dogs, those cookout contenders that never fail to delight party people! Make your Super Bowl versions more special by including premium beef patties and sausages to elevate the experience.
With grilled onions, roasted veggies and aioli among your spread selections, you’ll have gourmet toppings to max out the flavor profile.
14. Taquitos
Is it a tubular taco or a tightly wound tostada? However you classify it, the taquito has become a staple among Super Bowl selections through the years.
These crunchy bites come frozen by the dozen, making it simple to heat and serve a second round if you run out too quickly. Salsas and queso are always winners as dipping sauces to bring even more flavor to your snack game.
Healthy Game Day Food Ideas
15. Veggies
For easy Super Bowl food that takes healthful eating into consideration, you can’t go wrong with a selection of fresh veggies. You’ll find prepared veggie trays at many grocery stores with snack-sized carrots, celery and cherry tomatoes all washed and ready to go.
There’s even a dish of ranch dip to give guests a daub of added flavor. You can save a little on your Super Bowl food expenses by peeling and slicing fresh veggies instead.
16. Hummus
What Super Bowl food can play as many different positions as hummus can? Place it in a bowl as a chip and veggie dip, use it as a spread on sandwiches and wraps or encourage guests to slather it on slices of baguettes.
It’s a high-fiber, high-protein snack that tastes far more decadent than its nutrition profile would suggest. Mindful snacking as premium Super Bowl food? That’s a flawless play everyone will cheer for!
17. Wraps
Use pitas or flour tortillas to create flavorful wraps for a thoughtful game day food with healthy potential. Set out a variety of lean cold cuts and fresh veggies and let your guests fill their own or make slices of pre-filled wraps to make your ingredients go even further.
Adding these nutritious sandwich stand-ins among your Super Bowl main dishes will give cautious eaters the extra point they’re going for.
18. Salsa and Guacamole
Salsa and guacamole are classic Super Bowl foods that never go out of style! Make your own or pick up pre-packaged versions and set them out with pita chips and veggie sticks to maximize the mindful aspects.
A blend of the two will result in a “salsamole” that satisfies guests’ urges for tangy and creamy dips in a single scoop.
19. Quinoa Salad
You may have enjoyed quinoa salad among yourbrunch party ideas, but did you know it can double as a Super Bowl food, too?
If your Super Bowl party is more of a brunch situation, a salad featuring fluffy quinoa and diced veggies will bring gourmet flair that prevents your guests from having to make the coin toss when trying to keep their options on the healthy side of the playing field.
20. Fruit
Having fresh fruit as a centerpiece among you Super Bowl food display will set the tone for a healthier party menu. It’s also an easy game day food to prepare, especially if you opt for keeping the fruit whole and unpeeled.
If you’re into a more decorative presentation for your fruit, create small slices or chunks and serve them over ice to keep them cold and fresh long past half time.
21. Chicken Breast
Grilled chicken breast can be a flavorful game day food for two, whether served as an entrée topped with a light sauce or sliced into strips and tossed into a green salad.
It’s a surprisingly tasty possibility for Super Bowl food you can eat without guilt, leaving room for a little indulgence if your team comes through in a clutch!
22. Gyros
Go global with your healthy Super Bowl food by bringing gyros to the table. Make these pita fillers as simple or as complex as you please by using lean sliced meats or meatballs, leaves of romaine or red lettuce and a bounty of tomato and onion slices.
You can even grill zucchini and potatoes to make the flavors and textures savory without sacrificing nutrition.
Best Game Day Foods on a Budget
23. Soups
Cold weather outside means soups as Super Bowl food inside! The ultimate winter championship is a perfect excuse to serve homemade chicken, vegetable and potato soup.
Pair your soothing creations with homemade bread or elegant crackers, or top them with croutons and cheese to make them even heartier. It’s a simple way to make your Super Bowl food funds go further down the field!
24. Baked Potatoes
Baked potatoes make budget-friendly Super Bowl food as hearty and comforting as any complicated entrée. For around $5.00, you can pick up a bag of potatoes to feed a sizable crowd and bake them just before the game starts.
Provide green onions, sour cream and shredded cheddar for toppings and you have an affordable and easy Super Bowl food that won’t set you back.
25. Homemade Bread
With bread prices rising quicker than the scoreboard, consider making homemade bread as a Super Bowl food that will give you delicious game day food on a budget.
You can bake basic beer bread with a can of beer, some flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. It’s a simple yet flavorful recipe that doesn’t require kneading or rising.
26. Pre-Made Pizza
What food is good for a football game? Pizza is always a top option. Shop sales for frozen pizzas under $5.00 each before game day so you can heat and serve affordable pies your rivaling revelers will love.
Be sure to serve pizza with a variety of toppings for an array of Super Bowl main dishes to satisfy an array of preferences.
RELATED: 23 Fun Ideas for Hosting the Best Pizza Party in 2023
27. Home-Baked Cookies
There may be no Super Bowl food more welcome at a party than home-baked cookies. Even basic chocolate chip cookies will make game watchers ecstatic while saving you time and money.
If you have the ingredients on hand, a simple chocolate chip cookie recipe can be prepped and frozen ahead of time.
When the game starts, pop them into the oven and fill the house with the intoxicating aroma to make your guests excited, no matter how the game is going!
28. Cupcakes
Your Super Bowl food selections are going to need sweets to balance the savory, so why not make homemade cupcakes for the occasion? A $2.00 box of cake mix plus eggs and oil will make a dozen cupcakes.
Double that to make sure everyone gets a treat and top them all with homemade frosting to stay within your budget.
29. Mac and Cheese
Your guests will undoubtedly be searching for mac and cheese among your Super Bowl food selections. You can spruce up the boxed mix by adding a sprinkle of shredded cheddar for a richer texture.
Sprinkle bread crumbs on top and bake for a few minutes to give the pan a luxurious touch. Be sure to watch for sales and stock up before your party so you’ll be ready come kickoff time.
30. Brownies
Unless you make a quarterback’s salary, keeping your Super Bowl food within your budget with treats like brownies is a must.
You can pick up a box mix or create your own batter for a pan of crispy, chewy squares that feel far more indulgent than they are! Slice them into bite-sized squares for adorable snacks that will go even further.
Easy Football Game Food Ideas to Make Ahead
31. Plan a Taco Bar Party
Include a taco bar in your Super Bowl party plans to give yourself a head start on the prep work. Cook your ground meat well in advance and store in freezer bags that can be thawed and heated in the microwave just before serving.
You can use canned crockpot-heated refried beans for a creamy filling and use pre-shredded cheese and chopped lettuce as familiar fixings that take little work to make ahead. Add a few inventive taco bar party ideasto get your guests raving!
32. Enchilada Casserole
Having a pan of enchilada casserole on your Super Bowl food means doing the work ahead of time so you can relax more on the big day. Put it all together and stash it in the freezer, then just thaw and cook when you’re ready.
It’s a hearty dish that provides flavorful game day food for two or twenty, so no matter how big your party is, you’ll have a saucy option to share.
33. Spaghetti Bake
Italian Super Bowl food that includes a spaghetti bake will surprise and delight pasta fans who won’t know what hit them! By mixing cooked spaghetti and the sauce of your choice in a pan and topping it with more sauce and shredded cheese, you have a freezable entrée you can assemble weeks ahead of time and pop in the oven before the big game.
Serve with crusty baguettes or slices of garlic bread and watch as the crowd goes wild!
34. Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Make a batch of sweet and sour meatballs for your Super Bowl selections and store them in a freezer bag until you’re ready to cook them.
Then, drop them in a slow cooker and let them simmer to fill the space with the tangy aroma that will bring your gang running for a plateful of edible happiness.
35. Chili
When chili joins the Super Bowl food line up, everyone wins! This make-ahead option is an ideal tailgating food that lets you use your slow cooker or crockpot as a heat-and-serve vessel indoors or outdoors.
To keep the crowd calm, leave the spice at a moderate level, or make two versions that are clearly marked to bring extra heat to the field.
36. Nachos
What is the best sports day food? Many football fans would say nachos, which is a great Super Bowl food to make ahead of time. Shred cheese, chop tomatoes and jalapenos and cook seasoned ground beef the night before and heat everything up once the game starts.
You can even heat the chips to give a more authentic snack bar nacho feel to this homestyle Super Bowl food favorite.
37. BBQ Chicken
For a sweet and spicy Super Bowl food you can make ahead and keep on hand, BBQ chicken is a prime choice that stores well in the freezer.
Since this dish is pre-cooked, it only needs thawing and heating to be ready to serve on its own or as sandwiches. You can even freeze burger buns and toast them before the coin toss!
What are typical Super Bowl foods? The list is similar to other party food selections, with a handful of bar bites and cook-out classics added for good measure. A great rule to follow is, if you’ve enjoyed a dish at a BBQ or a sporting arena, it’s sure to make fantastic Super Bowl food for your celebration.
A bit of pregaming and some thoughtful moves made ahead of time will help you bring in your game day food on a budget. And if you’re left with more Super Bowl food than you can face eating as leftovers, send guests home with wrapped plates to make sure the whole spread clears the field.
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