When hosting a football party, there are many options for food. From classic football recipes to creative ideas for Homegating, there is something for everyone. From appetizers to desserts, there are countless possibilities for this type of party. Here are a few ideas to get you started. Read on for more ideas. Also, don’t forget to check out the following articles for more football party ideas and recipes. You can’t go wrong!
Football Party Ideas and Recipes
Are you looking for some new ideas for your next football party? You’ve come to the right place! Whether you have just started hosting games or need some fresh ideas, we have a variety of entertaining recipes and ideas to help you throw the best game night yet. A little football knowledge goes a long way when hosting a party, so check out these tips on throwing the ultimate game night!
Football is one of the most popular sports in America. It is played by millions of people every single weekend. And it doesn’t matter if you are an avid fan or just starting; everyone will enjoy playing this fantastic sport together. If your friends haven’t tried it yet, they will want to after they meet you and your friends who love watching it as much as playing it. Here are some great ideas for throwing an epic party that everyone will love!
Football Party Ideas and Recipes
Whether you’re planning a Super Bowl party or just want to show your support for your favorite team, these football party ideas and recipes will help you throw the perfect event. From decorating tips to game-day grub, we’ve got everything you need to make your party a touchdown.
Why a Football Party Is the Best Kind of Party
When it comes to party planning, a few key components make a party successful: good food, music, and company. But if you want to make your party a hit, you must add one more element to the mix: football. That’s right; a football party is the best kind of party. Here’s why:
For starters, football is the ultimate fall sport.
What better way to celebrate the season than by gathering your friends to watch football? And if you’re looking for an excuse to get together during the week, a Thursday or Friday night football game is the perfect opportunity.
Another reason a football party is the best is that there’s no shortage of food options. Whether you’re serving up wings, chili, or nachos, there’s something for everyone at a football party.
Themed Decorations: How To Make Your Party Space Look Like a Football Stadium
If you’re throwing a football party, you want your guests to feel like they’re right in the middle of the action. That’s why themed decorations are essential. To create a stadium atmosphere, start by hanging football pennants from the ceiling.
Then, use streamers and balloons to create a field on the floor. Make yard markers out of construction paper, and use them to decorate the walls. Finally, set out plenty of snacks and drinks so your guests can enjoy the game in style. These simple tips can transform any room into a football stadium.
If you want to make your home party space look like an actual football stadium, then investing in some decorations is a good idea. There are many different ideas for decorating your home and making it look like one of the famous stadiums.
For example, if you live in Chicago and love the Bears, buy some Chicago Bears banners, flags, or t-shirts and hang them on the walls. If you live in Los Angeles and have a vast Rams fan in your life, buy some Los Angeles Rams banners or t-shirts to add signage to your living room or bedroom. You can also go as simple as buying posters of team colors and displaying them on any available wall space.
Game Day Eats: Delicious Recipes for Your Football Party
When it comes to game day eats, there are endless possibilities. But if you want to serve up some truly delicious food, try one of these recipes.
- Wings: Wings are a classic game-day snack and easy to make at home. Just choose your favorite sauce, bake or fry the wings, and serve with dipping sauces.
- Chili: Chili is perfect for game day because it’s hearty and filling. Plus, it’s easy to customize based on your preferences. Serve chili with toppings like sour cream, cheese, and green onions for a satisfying meal your guests will love.
- Nachos: Nachos are always a hit at parties and easy to make ahead of time. Just layer chips, cheese, and your favorite toppings like chicken, beef, or pork and bake until melted and delicious.
For more ideas, check out our collection of football party recipes below. With dishes like these, you’ll have a touchdown of a party!
Game Day Snacks
Football is high-octane, so it’s easy to get hungry while watching your favorite team. One of the best parts about hosting a game day party is that you have lots of time to prepare snacks and refreshments. First things first, make sure to prep some snacks before the game starts.
Make sure to have plenty of hot dogs, potato chips, and chips on hand for when the first whistle blows. Provide your guests with plenty of options to find something they love!
Once the game begins and everyone’s hungry for food, try out one of these delicious recipes: Pork & Bean Chili Cheesy Potato Wedges Creamy Blue Cheese Dip Parmesan Garlic Bread Store-bought or handmade pizza buns One of my personal favorites is this simple but flavorful Parmesan garlic bread served with a nice green salad on top. It’s a great way to bring in some fresh greens that are low in calories but packed with flavor!
Finger Food
It can be challenging to throw a party without giving your guests a lot of options. One excellent choice is to serve finger foods like cobblers, jalapeno poppers, and buffalo chicken dip. These recipes are easy to make, and they won’t take up much time, which is perfect for when you’re hosting a game night!
If you want to serve something different, there are plenty of other options. You could try serving frozen margaritas or even a fruit salad for dessert! Everyone will love these recipes because they are easy and will be on hand the entire game. So whether it’s at the stadium, in someone’s living room, or at someone’s house, you can serve these delicious dishes at any gathering with football as part of the festivities.
Make some Bites
If you’re hosting a game night, your guests want to eat. Make sure to prepare some delicious snacks before the party starts! It doesn’t have to be complicated; it just takes some planning. You can make different appetizers that everyone will love and even serve them simultaneously.
Here are some ideas:
- Salsa and chips
- Cheese crackers with meats and spreads
- Hummus and pita chips
- Deviled egg bites
- Crostini with cheese, meats, and veggies
- Vegetable fritters
- Buffalo chicken dip
- Crostini with pizza toppings
These are just some of the many appetizers you could create for your football party. The combinations are endless! Just be sure to plan so that they can all be ready before the party starts!
Shrimp & Grits
When you think of a football party, you might imagine all the food served on a buffet. But this is not always the most entertaining way to host a party. That’s where shrimp and grits come in! This dish has quickly become everyone’s favorite because it is simple to make and delicious.
You can change up this dish in many different ways, but one of our favorites is adding bacon. To make this dish unique, top it with a fried egg! This recipe is also great for people who don’t like spicy foods because there isn’t too much fire in the recipe at all.
It also comes out nice and crispy once cooked in your pan! We hope you enjoy these recipes and have a memorable game night with your friends and family!
Burgers and Dogs
One great idea for a football party is to serve delicious burgers and dogs. When planning this type of party, you want to ensure that your guests have fun while eating. A great way to do this is by adding a few different games.
You can create your own or use some of the many free ones online, such as trivia or bingo. Another great idea is making your food into a game! One idea is to have a hot dog stand where people can buy one of the dogs with their favorite toppings.
Another is to have an ice cream station where you can choose from various toppings for the ice cream and mix in some chocolate sauce for good measure! This will make for an entertaining game at your next football party!
Dessert Recipes
Football is a sport that gets better with alcohol, so it stands to reason that your party will be no different. You can make these desserts ahead of time and serve them when you need an extra burst of energy in the fourth quarter!
Butterfinger Chocolate Chip Cheesecake:
This recipe contains a delicious chocolate cheesecake combined with Butterfinger cookies. It would be perfect for any football night party!
- Nutella Swirl Coffee Cake: If your guests feel more indulgent, this recipe will satisfy their cravings!
- Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls: Yes, you read that right. Giant chocolate chip cookie dough balls! These treats are a game-night must-have.
- Frozen Footballs: For those who want something as easy as possible, this dessert will satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth. Simply grab some ice cream and pop it into the freezer for a few hours before serving!
These desserts are easy to prepare and bring an extra sparkle to the party. Plus, guests will be returning for seconds and thirds because they are so delicious!
Appetizers
Whether hosting a football party for the first time or it’s the fourth, you can never go wrong with appetizers. For starters, try some mini quesadillas topped with jalapenos and cheddar cheese. Or if you want to serve something more inventive, whip up some deviled eggs stuffed with bacon crisps. If you have a few more ingredients on hand, then try dipping chips in hummus instead of salsa to make everyone feel like they’re at an upscale restaurant.
Jalapeño Popper Wonton Bites
Jalapeño Popper Wonton Bites
Ingredients
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup diced jalapeños
- 24 wonton wrappers
- 1/2 cup buffalo sauce
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a medium bowl, mix cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and jalapeños.
3. Place wonton wrappers on a baking sheet.
4. Top each wrapper with one tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture.
5. Bake for 10 minutes until the wontons are golden brown.
6. Serve with buffalo sauce.
Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels
Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels
Ingredients
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup diced chicken
- 1/4 cup buffalo sauce
- 10 flour tortillas
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Mix cream cheese, cheddar cheese, chicken, and buffalo sauce in a medium bowl.
- Spread the mixture onto tortillas.
- Roll up each tortilla, and slice into 1-inch pieces.
- Place on a baking sheet, and bake for 10 minutes.
- Serve with ranch dressing or bleu cheese dressing.
Chili
Touchdown Chili
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 green pepper, diced
- 2 (15-ounce) cans of diced tomatoes
- 1 (15-ounce) can of kidney beans
- 1 (15-ounce) can of black beans
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a large pot, cook beef over medium heat until browned.
- Add onion and green pepper, and cook for 5 minutes.
- Add tomatoes, kidney beans, black beans, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Simmer for 30 minutes.
- Serve with shredded cheese and sour cream.
Main Dishes
These main dishes will keep your guests full and satisfied all game long.
Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken, cooked and shredded
- 1 (16-ounce) package of macaroni noodles
- 1 (12-ounce) can evaporate milk
- 1/2 cup buffalo sauce
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Cook noodles according to package directions.
- Mix evaporated milk, buffalo sauce, butter, and cheddar cheese in a large pot.
- Add chicken and noodles, and mix until well combined.
- Pour into a 9×13-inch baking dish, and bake for 20 minutes.
- Serve with bleu cheese dressing or ranch dressing.
Pizza Roll-Ups
Touchdown Pizza Roll-Ups
Ingredients
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup pizza sauce
- 10 flour tortillas
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a medium bowl, mix cream cheese, mozzarella cheese, and pizza sauce.
- Spread the mixture onto tortillas.
- Roll up each tortilla, and slice into 1-inch pieces.
- Place on a baking sheet, and bake for 10 minutes.
- Serve with marinara sauce or garlic bread.
BBQ Chicken Pizza
Touchdown BBQ Chicken Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken, cooked and shredded
- 1 (12-ounce) can barbecue sauce
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1/2 cup diced green pepper
- 1 (16-ounce) package pre-made pizza dough
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix barbecue sauce, onion, green pepper, and chicken in a large pot.
3. Roll out pizza dough on a baking sheet.
4. Spread the chicken mixture over the dough.
5. Top with cheddar cheese.
6. Bake for 20 minutes until the crust is golden brown.
7. Serve with ranch dressing or bleu cheese dressing.
Sides
Pigs in a Blanket: the classic football party appetizer. Cut a hot dog into bite-sized pieces and wrap them around mini hot dogs. Dip the wrapped mini hot dogs in batter, then deep fry until they are golden brown. Place on a plate and top with ketchup, mustard, and relish or other condiments of your choice.
- Sweet Potato Wedges: For this side dish, you’ll need sweet potatoes, olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, crushed red pepper flakes, and sliced green onion. Toss the ingredients together in a bowl and bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes or until soft. Let cool before serving with ranch dressing (or make some yourself).
- Cheesy Broccoli: To make this side dish, you’ll need broccoli florets, butter, milk or half-and-half (as needed), salt and pepper to taste, and cheddar cheese grated on top—steam broccoli for about 10 minutes over boiling water until bright green. Add cheese to broccoli for the last few minutes of cooking time so that it melts into the florets without sticking to them too much. Gently stir until all cheese is melted into the broccoli; serve with ranch dressing if desired.
These delicious sides will complement any main dish.
Buffalo Chicken Tater Tots
Touchdown Buffalo Chicken Tater Tots
Ingredients
- 1 (32-ounce) package tater tots
- 1 cup buffalo sauce
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
- 1/2 cup bleu cheese dressing
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spread tater tots in a single layer on a baking sheet.
3. Bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown.
4. Mix buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, and bleu cheese dressing in a large bowl.
5. Add tater tots, and toss until well coated.
6. Serve with celery and carrot sticks.
Desserts
No football party is complete without some delicious desserts!
Many people enjoy keeping the party going with a few desserts. One of the easiest and most popular desserts is cake. It’s easy to make, requires no cooking skills, and never goes out of style–it fits every occasion.
Here are some cake recipes that will fit in at your next football party:
Touchdown Fresh Strawberry Cake This cake is sure to be a crowd pleaser!
Touchdown Fresh Strawberry Cake
Touchdown Fresh Strawberry Cake
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup softened butter
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- two eggs
- two cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups fresh strawberries
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- one teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 6 tablespoons brewed coffee or espresso
- two tablespoons of milk
Instructions
- Just preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, cream together 1/2 cup softened butter, 1 1/4 cups sugar, two eggs, and two cups all-purpose flour until light and fluffy, then stir in 2 cups fresh strawberries.
- Once everything is mixed, it’s time for the final mix-in: 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and one teaspoon baking powder. Next pipe or spoon the batter into a greased 8×8-inch pan
- Sprinkle on 2 tablespoons brown sugar before placing in the oven for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
- Coffee Buttercream Frosting If you need something more sophisticated than chocolate cake or strawberry cake for your next dessert, then coffee buttercream frosting might be just what you need!
- You can also use this frosting as a cupcake filling or as icing on top of a layer cake. To start off with this recipe, beat two sticks of softened unsalted butter until smooth; gradually add 3/4 cup powdered sugar until well combined. Then whisk in 6 tablespoons brewed coffee or espresso along with two tablespoons of milk.
- Finally, add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1/2 teaspoon salt; mix until everything is combined and smooth. If you want a stiffer frosting, add more powdered sugar; if you want it to be runnier, add more coffee or milk.
Notes
You can also use this frosting as a cupcake filling or as icing on top of a layer cake. To start off with this recipe, beat two sticks of softened unsalted butter until smooth; gradually add 3/4 cup powdered sugar until well combined. Then whisk in 6 tablespoons brewed coffee or espresso along with two tablespoons of milk.
These are just some ideas for cakes and frostings, but feel free to be creative and come up with your variations!
Football Drinks
Football is a sport that requires lots of water. So, how do you keep your guest’s hydrated while at your party? Football drinks are great to serve at a football party! You can make them simple by just filling a glass with ice and adding lemonade, or you can make them more complicated by adding crushed ice and a splash of liquor to the lemonade.
Football drinks are perfect for parties because they are easy to make, and everyone will love them. Whether you are looking for something fruity, refreshing, or alcoholic, there is a drink that will be perfect for your football game night party!
Here are some recipes:
Tropical Touchdown
Tropical Touchdown
Pour the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
Pour it into glasses over ice. And Enjoy!
Ingredients
- Coconut Juice 1/2 cup
- coconut water 6 tablespoons
- sugar 6 tablespoons
- honey 3 cups
- ice cubes
Instructions
- Pour the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
- Pour it into glasses over ice. And Enjoy!
Touchdown Fruit Punch
Touchdown Fruit Punch
Ingredients
- Fruit Punch 1 quart
- cranberry juice 2 cups
- orange juice 2 cups
- pineapple juice 3/4 cup
- sugar 1 tablespoon
- vanilla extract 6 drops
- almond extract 4 drops
- ice cubes
Instructions
- In a punch bowl, combine all ingredients.
- Stir until the sugar is dissolved.
- Add the ice cubes and serve.
Halftime Activities: Fun ideas to keep your guests entertained during halftime
Halftime is typically when you give your guests a break to catch their breath, have a few drinks, or simply get out of the room to visit with friends and family.
But you mustn’t just abandon your guests to suffer in boredom while they’re waiting for the game to start back up.
You must keep your guests entertained during halftime when hosting a football party. Here are some fun ideas to make sure everyone is having a good time:
- Make some popcorn into football shapes using a paper cone and a glue gun, then let everyone try to guess which team each one is patterned after.
- Have an art contest where guests create different designs for their team’s helmets or jerseys.
- Set up a buffet table with various food and drinks so everyone can help themselves.
- Play trivia games with questions about football players or statistics from past games, which will help pass the time and get everyone excited for kickoff!
- Set up a cornhole or Kan Jam game in the backyard.
- Put on a movie or TV show that everyone can enjoy.
- Make some snacks that everyone will love.
- Get everyone involved in a friendly game of charades or Pictionary.
- Hold a contest to see who can create the funniest football-themed joke.
Touchdown Drinks: Refreshing drinks to keep your guests hydrated during the game
Football games can be long, so it’s essential to keep your guests hydrated. Instead of reaching for overpriced premade drinks at the store, why not make your own for a fraction of the cost?
These Touchdown Drinks are delicious and refreshing.
Touchdown Drink
Ingredients
- 2 cups pineapple juice
- 1/2 cup lemon-lime soda
- 1/2 cup grenadine syrup
- 3 Tbsp sugar 1 lime, zested and juiced
Instructions
- In a large pitcher, combine all ingredients and stir until sugar dissolves.
- Place in fridge for 2 hours before serving.
- To create football shapes with the pineapple juice mixture, pour into a glass measuring cup or small bowl and freeze until hardened (about an hour).
- Once frozen, place upside down on top of a martini glass and, using the back of a spoon or small ladle, press out shapes until smooth.
- Continue with remaining cups until you have enough to fill them with you preferred number of servings leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
As the host of a football party, you must ensure your guests are staying hydrated. Here are some refreshing touchdown drinks that will do the trick:
- Homemade lemonade
- Fruit-infused water
- Sparkling water with fruit juice
- Iced tea
- Coffee or hot chocolate
With these football party ideas and recipes, your guests will surely have a good time!
Homegating
If you’re throwing a football party, you might want to consider using an EVITE invitation template. These football-themed invitations can be printed on paper and stuck on a pegboard. Homegating for football parties can be a great way to incorporate traditional tailgate party traditions. Here are some tips to make your homegating party a success. Use these tips to create a unique party plan for your next football party.
Prepare the house. Although you’ll most likely have cleaned the house for a party, a few extra things will make the experience more comfortable for everyone. Start by preparing the kitchen, den, and bathrooms. Prepare extra toilet paper and a plunger, and make sure you have a hand soap and air sanitizer available. Keep plenty of snacks on hand. Guests will appreciate these extra touches.
Advertisers are taking note. As NFL viewers shrink, homegating becomes more popular and representative of the game’s typical audience. For instance, Super Bowl audiences are 53% male and 47% female. In recent years, the gender gap has been narrowing. Homegating allows advertisers to reach a more diverse audience. Homegating has become an important part of the game-day celebration. The next time you’re hosting a football party, don’t let the opportunity pass you by.
Beverages. Beer is a staple homegating beverage. You can impress your guests with a colorful cocktail that matches your team’s colors. Then, you can use your drink as decoration. It will help keep the mood festive while everyone is watching the game. In addition to beer, you can prepare a fruit and veggie platter and a cheese and crackers platter. Chips and salsa are great snacks too. You can also incorporate a home theater system if everyone wants to hear the game.
Conclusion: Thanking your guests and sharing your favorite football party memories
A football party is the ultimate tailgate party, celebrating the game and all the fun that comes with it. Your guests can enjoy the day without worries with football-themed decoration, game-day eats, and halftime activities. Create your football party today!
Wrapping It Up
Throw a party for the big game! Whether you’re hosting it for family, friends, or co-workers, football is one of the most popular sports in America. It’s a great way to get people together and have a memorable time. If you’ve never hosted a game night before, remember these tips to throw an unforgettable event!
I’m Katie, and I’m the Editor in Chief of The Pretty Party Shoppe. I love throwing parties and helping others create beautiful celebrations that reflect their personality and style perfectly. Whether you’re throwing a bridal shower, baby shower, housewarming party, birthday party, or any other kind of shindig, we’ve got you covered!
