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30 Easy Football Party Food Ideas

ByTiffany Dahle Published: Last Modified:
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Need some easy football party food ideas to feed your friends for the big game? From hot sandwiches and Crockpot main dishes to chilis and a build your own taco bar, I've got the best football party recipes for you right here.

The photo collage shows several easy football party food ideas like hot dogs, pizza, tacos, and chili

Football season is finally here! If you're like my family, you're looking forward to hosting friends and family to watch the big game during a relaxing Sunday at home.

These hearty football party food ideas are perfect for filling everyone up and fueling all the football fun.

Get my best recipes including hot sandwiches, easy pizzas, slowcooking Crockpot meals, and fun build your own taco or chili bars.

No one is going hungry here!

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Football Cheese Ball

This adorable jalapeño popper cheeseball shaped like a football is the perfect football party snack.

Jalapeño Popper Cheese Football
This easy make-ahead jalapeño cheese ball is perfect for Game Day fun! Have the kids pat it into a football shape and top it with sour cream laces. Serve with tasty WHEAT THINS Original Snacks for crunch.
5 from 1 vote
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A football-shaped jalepeno popper cheeseball has a sour cream decoration for the laces and is surrounded by Wheat Thin creackers.

More Football Party Appetizers

This list of football party foods focuses more on the main dishes you'd want to serve at your football party.

If you love that jalapeño popper football appetizer, you won't want to miss my entire list of easy football party appetizers here:

Baked Slider Recipes

One of my favorite party sandwiches to serve is a pan of baked sliders.

They are so easy to prep in advance. Just get all the fillings ready to go and then you just need to assemble and bake the sliders before serving.

Here are a few of my favorite slider recipes:

Ham and Cheese Sliders

You can't go wrong with a hot pan of fresh ham and cheese sliders with a mustard and butter sauce brushed over the top.

Gooey Ham and Cheese Sliders
These totally easy, utterly delicious, Hawaiian roll ham and cheese sliders are perfect for making for your next party. Make a big pan in minutes and watch them disappear.
4.93 from 38 votes
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A filled baking pan of mini ham sliders with butter dripping off the top and a sprinkle of poppyseeds on each one.

Cuban Sliders

Got some leftover pork? Add some deli meat ham and you've got everything you need to make the base for these easy Cuban sliders.

TOP TIP: Make one pan with the pickles and one pan without. The kids at the party might thank you.

Cuban Sliders
Use up leftover pork to make these easy Cuban pork slider sandwiches with ooey gooey cheese and a crispy pickle. They make a delicious family dinner or easy appetizer for friends. This is the party size version of the smaller kid-friendly recipe featured in The Totally Awesome Ultimate Kids' Cookbook.
5 from 47 votes
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A white platter of mini slider sandwiches.

Buffalo Chicken Sliders

These easy chicken sliders are great for a party because the shredded cheese holds all the filling together which makes them easier to eat.

You could make some with blue cheese and some without if that's your preference.

Buffalo Chicken Sliders
Bake a pan of easy buffalo chicken sliders as a fun party appetizer or a delicious family dinner. Shredded chicken mixed with spicy buffalo sauce has melted cheese and a hint of ranch all tucked in a sweet Hawaiian bun.
5 from 1 vote
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The baking pan of buffalo chicken sliders is sitting on the stovetop, they just came out of the oven.

Pesto Chicken Sliders

If you prefer to use a rotisserie chicken instead of deli meat, these delicious pesto chicken sliders are filled with ooey gooey cheese and have a delicious basil pesto sauce.

Pesto Chicken Sliders
Easy pesto chicken sliders get a golden brown top when baked in the oven and are such an easy make ahead party food. You may want to double the recipe because leftovers make a fun lunch surprise for the kids to take to school.
5 from 1 vote
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A white platter is filled with shredded chicken sliders with a pesto sauce.

BBQ Chicken Sliders

I made these easy BBQ chicken sliders using my BBQ Crockpot chicken thighs but you could substitute pulled pork to make pulled pork sliders if you prefer.

BBQ Chicken Sliders
These easy to assemble BBQ chicken sliders have just the right amount of filling, melting cheese, and a deliciously buttery crisp topping. They will fly off the baking pan at your next party or family game night.
5 from 1 vote
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A metal baking pan has 3 rows of baked bbq chicken sliders showing the melted cheese oozing out.

Chicken Parm Sliders

These chicken parm sliders start with frozen chicken tenders or chicken nuggets. You can make them full-sized sandwiches if you prefer to use a larger chicken patty and a hamburger bun.

Chicken Parm Sliders
Easy baked chicken parm sliders use frozen chicken tenders and slider buns to make a delicious party sandwich that tastes just like your favorite Italian restaurant entree. The recipe makes enough for 6 appetizer servings or 3 - 4 heartier portions.
5 from 45 votes
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A white platter of chicken parm sliders shows the tomato sauce and melted cheese.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders

Got a rotisserie chicken on hand? You can make these easy chicken bacon ranch sliders with prepared ranch dressing and cooked bacon in just minutes.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders
Easy baked chicken bacon ranch sliders with a golden brown buttery topping and ooey gooey melted cheese filling are a delicious appetizer for a football party or family movie night snack.
5 from 45 votes
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A white platter has several of the chicken bacon ranch sliders with melted cheese and golden brown tops.

Easy Meatball Recipes

Meatballs are a fun football party food because you can serve them like an easy munchable snack and just keep them warm in the Crockpot.

You could also turn them into sub sandwiches or an entree depending on the sauce you use.

Here are a few of my favorite meatball recipes for football party menus:

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Keep a batch of these sweet and sour meatballs in the Crockpot on your buffet table, your friends will love nibbling them all throughout the game.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs in the Crockpot
Classic cocktail meatballs keep warm on your buffet table for hours in the slowcooker. This wildly popular sweet and sour sauce is made from ketchup and grape jam but is elevated by a dash of hot sauce to keep it from being too sweet.
5 from 46 votes
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The white serving bowl is filled with sweet and sour meatballs in a rich glaze.

Baked Meatballs Subs

Use either a bag of frozen meatballs or my homemade Italian meatballs in tomato sauce as the base for these big batch baked meatball subs.

Baked Meatball Subs
This delicious and heart meatball sub recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight. You can have a hearty meal on the table in just minutes.
5 from 46 votes
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A blue plate has a long baked meatball sub with tomato sauce and melted cheese.

Teriyaki Meatballs

You can toss your favorite frozen meatballs with my homemade teriyaki sauce and keep them warm in the crockpot.

If you want a heartier meal to serve, make a batch of my Instant Pot jasmine rice and a batch of roasted pineapples and peppers. Add the peppers to the meatballs in the slowcooker and let everyone make easy teriyaki rice bowls.

Pineapple Teriyaki Meatballs Stir Fry
This quick and easy dinner recipe uses Aidells pineapple and teriyaki chicken meatballs from Costco with a few simple ingredients to make a delicious family dinner in minutes.
4.96 from 47 votes
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A serving of teriyaki meatballs with pineapple and vegetables over rice.

Easy Pizza Recipes

Football and pizza go hand in hand.

If you want to offer something a little more delicious than stacks of delivery pizza boxes, why not try a couple of these easy homemade pizza recipes instead?

Philly Cheese Steak Pizza

My homemade Philly cheese steak pizza can be a super fast and easy recipe if you cook the flank steak the day before. Just slice it up and bake the pizzas before serving.

Philly Cheese Steak Pizza
This delicious flatbread Philly cheese steak pizza is a fun twist for family dinner. Use a store bought naan bread for an easy pizza crust or take the time to make my homemade pizza dough if you have just a little more time.
5 from 3 votes
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A flatbread pizza with strips of steak and red peppers is covered in melted cheese and fresh parsley.

Buffalo Chicken Flatbread

Chop up some cooked chicken or shred a rotisserie chicken and use it to make my easy buffalo chicken flatbread.

Slice it in squares for an appetizer for the party or cut it into pizza slices for a heartier serving.

Buffalo Chicken Flatbread
Spicy buffalo chicken flatbread made on a crispy pizza dough crust has ooey gooey cheese topping. Sprinkle fresh green onions and blue cheese over the top and cut it into squares for a delicious appetizer or light dinner.
5 from 42 votes
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A sliced buffalo chicken flatbread has chunks of chicken, green onions, and melted cheese.

Pizza Buns

The easiest upgrade to delivery pizza would be to make a few batches of these homemade pizza buns with different fillings.

Our favorite involves pepperoni but you could make some with sausage or all-veggies, too.

Homemade Pizza Buns
These easy stuffed pizza buns are made with a homemade pizza dough and then rolled like cinnamon buns and baked in the oven with your favorite pizza toppings. The recipe features an easy dough that can be made in a stand mixer as well as my favorite bread machine pizza dough variation.
4.50 from 2 votes
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A dinner plate with two pizza buns and caesar salad.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza

For a smaller football party, this chicken bacon ranch pizza is a great choice.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza
This savory chicken bacon ranch pizza is made with a homemade pizza dough crust and topped with crispy bacon, creamy ranch dressing, and tender chunks of leftover chicken for a quick and easy pizza dinner. Cut it into square-shaped pieces and you have a flatbread appetizer!
5 from 44 votes
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A baked chicken ranch pizza has chopped bacon and chicken chunks on top.

Breadsticks and Marinara Sauce

Bake a batch of frozen bread sticks or try my homemade pokey sticks and serve them with a buffet of dipping sauces:

Chicken Nuggets and Dipping Sauces

Bake a batch of frozen chicken nuggets or broiled chicken tenderloins and serve them with a buffet of chicken dipping sauces.

You could serve them alongside pans of baked tater tots or french fries, they'd taste great with these dipping sauces as well.

Mexican Food for Football Parties

Tacos and nachos and chips and salsa all make awesome football party food ideas.

Why not serve a build your own taco bar with a few different protein options?

Or you can make big batches of these easy Mexican snacks to fill in the menu.

Baked Taquitos

My family loves these baked turkey taquitos but the truth is you could use ground beef, ground pork, or shredded rotisserie chicken to make them, too.

Serve them with a big bowl of my homemade salsa on the side.

Baked Turkey Taquitos
These baked turkey taquitos are a quick and easy weeknight dinner. Light ground turkey seasoned with taco spices is rolled up with diced tomatoes, peppers, and shredded cheese. Baked to a crisp in minutes, they are perfect for dunking in sour cream and salsa.
5 from 4 votes
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A platter of rolled-up turkey taquitos sits next to a bowl of sour cream and a bowl of salsa.

Baked Chicken Chimichangas

You can assemble and bake these chicken chimichangas in advance. Reheat them on big pans in the oven or in the air fryer for crispy outer edges.

Air Fryer Chicken Chimichangas
These make ahead chimichangas are filled with shredded chicken, shredded cheese, and easy vegetables for a quick and easy dinner in a pinch. You can prep them in advance and freeze them for an even faster dinner on a busy night.
5 from 34 votes
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A crispy chimichanga has been sliced open to show the melted cheese inside. Sour cream and salsa are on top.

Mexican Pulled Pork Carnitas

Making this Mexican pulled pork carnitas recipe can be an all-day project but oh will your house smell AMAZING. You can cook the pork shoulder in advance and even freeze it. Just serve it warm in a crockpot for building your own tacos.

Mexican Pulled Pork Carnitas
Slow roast this tender Mexican pulled pork carnitas recipe and then shred the meat for the most delicious street tacos you've ever had. This large roast makes a generous amount of meat that you can serve for a party or freeze in smaller portions for easy family dinners.
5 from 35 votes
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The shredded pork has been added to street taco tortilla shells. Green onions are sprinkled over the top and wedges of limes are on the side.

Mexican Shredded Chicken

For an easier protein for your taco bar, you could also make my favorite Instant Pot Mexican shredded chicken with green salsa and poblano peppers. My kids think these make the best tacos ever.

Instant Pot Mexican Shredded Chicken
This easy Mexican shredded chicken taco recipe is so ridiculously easy to make, even your kids could cook it! Dump everything in the Instant Pot (or slow cooker / crockpot) and you're ready to go. Leftovers freeze well, so be sure to make a big batch.
4.50 from 2 votes
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A bowl full of shredded chicken with a spoon. There's a bowl of red tomatoes, a green napkin, and a bottle of hot sauce sitting nearby.

Big Batch Quesadillas

Did you know you can cook quesadillas family-style to serve a crowd? We love my jerk chicken quesadillas recipe in particular.

Jerk Chicken Quesadillas
These fast and easy jerk chicken quesadillas are perfect for a busy night when you start with prepared jerk chicken filling that can be kept in your freezer or made in advance and kept in the fridge for 5 days. Leftover quesadillas reheat well in the oven!
5 from 1 vote
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A family platter is filled with jerk chicken quesadillas, a bowl of sour cream, and a bowl of salsa.

Football Party Sandwiches

Set out a football party sandwich station with different hot fillings kept warm in a slowcooker next to big trays of fresh buns or rolls.

Add several sandwich condiments like my yummy chow chow relish or a sandwich spread like my spicy sandwich sauce or creamy sour cream horseradish sauce.

Crock Pot Sloppy Joes

The perfect way to serve a sandwich at a football party is to keep the classic sloppy joes mix warm in a slowcooker and let your friends and family build their own sandwich when they're hungry.

Want a fun alternative? Try my easy Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes. They'll keep warm in the slowcooker, too.

Crock Pot Sloppy Joes
Prepare this Crock Pot Sloppy Joes recipe for a make ahead dinner on a busy night or freezer meal for dinner down the road. Serve it on hamburger buns, over a baked potato, or with tater tots for a family-friendly dinner.
4.41 from 5 votes
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A sloppy joe sandwich on a soft bun has some filling dripping onto the plate and potato chips on the side.

Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches

This seasoned Crock Pot Italian beef recipe is the perfect choice for feeding a crowd. Toast the buns under the broiler and serve them with pickled pepper relish.

Serving a smaller group? Go ahead and make the whole recipe, the shredded beef freezes so well.

Crock Pot Italian Beef
This zesty shredded Italian beef gets incredibly tender with a long, slow cook in the Crockpot. Serve it on toasted buns with melted cheese and spicy peppers for a deliciously easy dinner for a crowd.
4.92 from 49 votes
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Italian beef sandwich has toasted bread, melted provolone cheese, and pepper relish on top of the shredded beef.

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Make your football party a barbecue theme and serve a big batch of pulled pork for sandwiches or a barbecue plate with southern side dishes.

Pulled Pork
This is the best pulled pork recipe for the oven or slow cooker. Seasoned with a delicious pulled pork rub before it is cooked, enjoy it with or without BBQ sauce drizzled over the top.
5 from 2 votes
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A barbecue pulled pork sandwich is on a plate next to potato chips.

New Orleans Roast Beef Po'Boys

This hot New Orleans roast beef po'boy sandwich filling can keep warm in the Crock Pot during the game. Let everyone pile up all those yummy toppings for their own serving.

New Orleans Roast Beef Po'Boy
Seasoned and slow cooked for hours, this tender roast beef falls apart with a simple poke of a fork. Layer it into sandwich rolls with horseradish cream sauce, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, and pickles for a classic roast beef po'boy.
5 from 44 votes
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A large sub sandwich has shredded roast beef, melted provolone, shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes, and thin sliced pickles stacked for the filings.

Turkey and Gravy Sandwiches

Make my slowcooker turkey breast the day before your football party, then just serve the cubed turkey meat and gravy open face sandwich style.

They can keep warm right in the Crockpot.

Open Face Turkey Sandwich
These open face turkey sandwiches with gravy are the perfect way to use up leftover turkey breast and Thanksgiving gravy but also make a delicious and easy dinner any night of the year.
5 from 32 votes
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A piece of sourdough bread has chunks of turkey meat and gravy on top.

Bacon Ranch Cheesy Chicken Roll-Ups

Easy crescent roll dough roll-up sandwiches make a tasty smaller bite if you're planning a lot of food for your football party. I love these bacon ranch chicken roll-ups!

Cheesy Chicken Roll Ups
This quick and easy recipe is perfect for a busy night dinner. Sliced chicken and cheese are wrapped up in refrigerated dough and baked for a warm and delicious sandwich.
5 from 1 vote
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A serving of the chicken cheese roll up sits on a plate next to fresh carrots, tomatoes, and a veggie tray with dip.

Football Chili Bar

Serve at least one or two big pots of chili that you can keep warm in a slowcooker or simmering in a big pot on your stovetop.

Then put the rest of your attention to all the chili toppings:

  • Sour Cream
  • Shredded Cheese
  • Chopped Green Onions

And offer big baskets of fresh bread and/or biscuits as a simple chili side dish:

Ground Beef Chili Bowls

For hungry football fans, the obvious choice would be these hearty ground beef chili bowls served with lots of toppings and potato chips or Frito chips on the side.

Ground Beef Chili Bowls
This super-thick ground beef chili bowl recipe is delicious served with Frito chips for dunking but also makes an excellent chili dog topping or baked potato filling.
5 from 50 votes
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A white soup bowl filled with thick ground beef chili topped with shredded cheese and sliced green onions. There's a spoon and a pile of potato chips on the side.

Red Chicken Chili (NO Beans!)

For a lighter alternative, my red chicken chili is always a crowd pleaser at parties. I keep it simmering on the stove top so guests can ladle their bowls and top them with their favorite toppings. Tortilla chips are a must-have!

Red Chicken Chili with No Beans
Light and healthy red chicken chili with tons of tomatoes and fresh peppers but no beans. Top it with shredded cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and serve with tortilla chips for dunking.
4.43 from 28 votes
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A white bowl of tomato-based chicken chili has shredded cheddar and a dollop of sour cream on top.

Crockpot Chicken Taco Chili

Want to serve your chili over a potato? Keep a batch of my Crockpot chicken taco chili going and let guests use it with baked potatoes, sour cream, and fresh corn.

Crockpot Chicken Taco Chili
This quick and easy crockpot chicken chili is perfect for stuffing a baked potato or assembling a homemade burrito bowl with leftover rice.
5 from 1 vote
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A baked potato is stuffed with crockpot chicken taco chili and then topped with corn and a dollop of sour cream.

More Football Party Ideas

Looking for some easy party desserts or more dip recipes? I've got you covered.

Be sure to check out my easy football party appetizers but don't miss these other great recipes that would work perfectly for a football party:

The photo collage shows a football party table filled with hot dogs decorated with pennant flags next to photos of buffalo chicken pizza, chili bowls, an Italian beef sandwich, and pork carnitas tacos.

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