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There’s no point in throwing a game day party if you spend it scrimmaging in the kitchen. Instead, recruit a team of touchdown foods you can whip up in a snap, buy frozen to heat and serve, or order in from your favorite local restaurants. The real all-star move for a football party like no other? Mix and match all three for a winning spread — and get it all delivered through DoorDash.
If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve got recommendations right here for making the most of your game-day food strategy:
Super-Quick Football Party Recipes
Add any or all of these game day foods to your party playbook and you’ll quickly sprint into the effortless-hosting hall of fame.
Half-Homemade Chili
Everyone loves a hearty bowl of chunky, spice-kissed chili. It’s easy to scale up or down depending on the number of guests.
To serve four in appetizer portions, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add ½ pound ground beef, turkey, or chicken and stir to break up the meat and cook through. Add 2 (15-ounce) cans of your favorite chili and 1 diced tomato. Season to taste with salt and chili powder if you have some. Serve with sides of grated cheddar cheese, diced onions, and sour cream.
Fully Loaded Nachos or Nacho-Style Fries
Nachos are snack party MVPs: always irresistible and nearly effortless to make with a base of tortilla chips or french fries.
To serve four as a hearty appetizer, stack a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet with one crowded layer of tortilla chips or cooked crinkle-cut fries (previously frozen works best!). Evenly top with 2 cups shredded cheddar or jack cheese, 2 cups shredded cooked chicken or seasoned and cooked ground beef, and 1 (15-ounce) can drained and rinsed black beans. Sprinkle with ½ cup sliced black olives (optional) and ½ teaspoon salt and cook under the broiler until the cheese is just melted, 1 to 3 minutes. Carefully slide the parchment paper and its goodies onto a platter, garnish with any combo of ¼ cup chopped cooked bacon, 1 sliced jalapeno, 10 halved cherry tomatoes, and 1 avocado cut into small chunks. Serve immediately.
Party Hummus
Put store-bought hummus into the end-zone with layers of flavor, colors, and texture.
To serve eight as an appetizer, spread 2 cups store-bought or homemade hummus in a shallow bowl. Smear Greek yogurt over the hummus with the back of a spoon. Top with 8 halved cherry tomatoes, ½ cup cucumber chunks, ¼ cup rinsed canned chickpeas, a drizzle of ½ cup store-bought pesto, and 1 tablespoon toasted pine nuts (optional). Serve with pita chips and bite-size raw vegetables like baby carrots, red bell peppers, and celery sticks.
Ham and Cheese Sliders
With a little advance prep, these luscious mini sandwiches are quick and easy to cook, platter, and serve during a commercial break! Sliders are a classic football finger food that always get eaten.
To make 12 portions, preheat the oven to 350°F. Cut a 12-roll slab of King’s Hawaiian sweet rolls in half, horizontally. Place both slabs of tops and bottoms cut-side up on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. In a microwave, heat 4 tablespoons of butter until just melted. Mix in 2 teaspoons yellow mustard, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon onion powder, and, if you have it, 1 teaspoon miso paste. Spread the flavored butter onto the cut side of the tops and bottoms. Top the bottoms evenly with 12 ounces of very thinly sliced ham, followed by 12 overlapping slices of Swiss cheese. Place the other half of the buttered rolls on top and loosely cover with foil. Bake until the cheese is melted and centers are warm, 10 to 15 minutes. Cut into single servings, plate, and serve.
Frozen Foods for Feasting
You don’t need recipes if you go with tried-and-true frozen appetizers. Just heat ‘em up, serve ‘em, and watch partygoers tackle the goods. The best food to serve for football games is often the easiest to prepare!
Wings
Finger-lickin’ fun every time, crispy chicken wings are a perfect party food. Serve them with store-bought blue cheese dressing and a bowl for the bones. These are our favorites.
Nuggets
Resistance is futile! Heat some golden chicken bites, serve them with your favorite sauces — ranch, honey-mustard, barbecue, or whatever else you love — and watch them disappear. Discover our favorite store-bought chicken nuggets.
Dumplings
Choose the best frozen dumplings from the grocery store freezer section, add sides of soy sauce and hot mustard, and discover why when you dim some, you win some.
Pizza
While it’s awesome to order piping hot delivery pizza from your favorite joint, having a few of the best frozen pizza pies in the freezer means you’re always ready to pie one on. Want to fancy it up? Throw on extra cheese or toppings.
Popcorn Shrimp or Chicken
Add to the finger-food fest with freshly heated frozen popcorn shrimp or chicken with a side of store-bought sweet and sour or buffalo sauce.
Potato Skins
There’s no need to bake, dig out, and fill your own boats of stuffed potato goodness. Instead, heat up some frozen potato skins, set out sides of sour cream and store-bought or homemade guacamole, and dig in!
TaquitosEverybody loves rolled-up fried tortillas stuffed with goodies. Heat them up, pile them high on a plate, and serve with guacamole.
Pigs in Blankets / Cocktail Franks
Cute mini hot dogs wrapped in crispy, flaky pastry are a perennial hit for a reason. Serve them with your favorite mustard.
Order In for the Win
Why not punt the prepping and cooking altogether? Leave it to the pros and order in football-friendly foods from your favorite local restaurants.
Freshly Baked Pizza
A few pies from your favorite spot is a no-brainer. Make the most of your order with our 5 tips for perfecting your pizza order every time.
Barbecued Ribs
Master the art of making the most of barbecue delivery for winning ribs every time.
Fried Chicken
Plunk down a bucket of fun without lifting a wing or a finger. Find out how to order so it stays crispy — and don’t forget the extra napkins.
DIY Tacos
Your favorite Mexican restaurant probably offers a party package featuring family-size portions of meat, rice, beans, tortillas, salsa, guacamole, and more. Put it out, add spoons for serving, and let your guests build their own tacos or plates.
Dessert
While there’s nothing as sweet as victory, an array of pies, cookies, cupcakes, or bars from your favorite bakery will more than satisfy in a pinch and make for a low-maintenance finale.
PHOTO CREDIT:
Photographer: Paul Quitoriano
Food Stylist: Mieko Takahashi
Art Direction: Sarah Ceniceros Gomez
