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27 Delicious Football Dinner Ideas

Here are 27 delicious football dinner ideas including appetizers, desserts, and drinks. They’re perfect for a crowd and so easy to make!

Planning a football dinner?

We’re sharing 27 of the best game-day food ideas including classic football fare like party dips, sliders, and cheesy finger foods.

We’ve also included flavorful desserts and drinks that are great for a crowd.

Use these ideas for a Superbowl party, tailgating, or a more civilized sit-down dinner.

Below you’ll find everything you need to host the perfect football dinner!

The Best Football Dinner Ideas

Appetizers

Every great football party starts with delicious appetizers. Here are some simple and flavorful recipes that are great for a crowd.

These amazing finger foods, dips, spreads, and salsas are sure to please!

Woman hold Frito chip with chili cheese dip spilling off.
3-Ingredient Crock Pot Chili Cheese Dip
You'll just need 3 ingredients to make this delicious Crock Pot Chili Cheese Dip. It's so easy to throw together you'll want to serve it at all of your parties and potlucks!
Woman lifts artichoke dip from casserole baking dish with yellow tortilla chip.
Artichoke Parmesan Dip
This is the best Artichoke Parmesan Dip ever! You'll only need 3 ingredients to make this delicious and creamy baked artichoke appetizer.
Fresh salsa with tomatoes and cilantro in white bowl surrounded by tortilla chips.
The Best Fresh Garden Salsa Recipe
This fresh garden salsa recipe is mild and just a little sweet, so it's perfect for those with a sensitive palate. It's the best way to use up the tomatoes, veggies, and herbs from your garden!
Cowboy caviar with avocado, black beans, onions and tomatoes in white bowl.
Cowboy Caviar with Avocado
Cowboy Caviar with Avocado is a delicious dip featuring three kinds of beans, colorful veggies, and a tangy Italian dressing. Whether you serve it with tortilla chips or eat it on its own, it's a flavorful bean salsa you can't get enough of!
Gray bowl of whipped feta dip with roasted tomatoes surrounded by crackers, slices of bread, and a gold spoon all on wood cutting board.
Whipped Feta Dip with Roasted Tomatoes and Honey
Whipped Feta Dip is a delicious and tangy appetizer that features roasted tomatoes, pine nuts, and honey. Serve it alongside your favorite crackers and bread at your next party!

And here are some other popular game day appetizers to add to your list:

  • Pizza rolls
  • Chicken wings
  • Nachos
  • Chips and queso
  • Buffalo chicken dip
  • Sausage dip
  • Potato skins

Sandwiches

Sandwiches and sliders are the perfect addition to a football dinner menu. They work great as appetizers or snacks.

And if kids don’t like the main course, you can serve them sandwiches instead!

Two Monte Cristo sliders on white plate with fresh raspberries and raspberry jam.
The Best Monte Cristo Sliders
These sliders are the party version of the popular sandwich made with turkey, ham, swiss, and powdered sugar. I've adjusted the recipe for maximum flavor to make these the best Monte Cristo Sliders ever!
Mozzarella stuffed burger on bun with lettuce and tomato, all on wood plate.
Italian-Style Mozzarella Stuffed Burgers
These Mozzarella Stuffed Burgers feature two seasoned patties stuffed with melty cheese and grilled to perfection. It's an Italian twist on the traditional cheeseburger.
Two turkey sandwiches with avocado stacked on each other sitting on wood cutting board.
Turkey Sandwich with Avocado, Bacon, and Special Sauce
Layers of meat, fresh veggies, cheese, and a special sauce make this Turkey Sandwich with Avocado a scrumptious choice for your next meal!
Grilled cheeseburger wrap cut in half surrounded by French fries on wood plate.
Deluxe Grilled Cheeseburger Wraps
These deluxe Grilled Cheeseburger Wraps feature a savory ground beef filling and all of your favorite cheeseburger toppings wrapped in a toasted tortilla. You’ll get all the flavors of a traditional cheeseburger without the mess!
Three sandwiches full of grape and apple chicken salad in parchment paper lined pan with bunch of grapes nearby.
Grape and Apple Chicken Salad
This grape and apple chicken salad is a quick and easy meal that features a creamy dressing, delicious fruit, savory chicken, and an extra special crunch. It's the best chicken salad recipe ever!
Hawaiian turkey burger with pineapple slices on plate with potato chips and teriyaki sauce in background.
Hawaiian Turkey Burgers with Pineapple
These Hawaiian Turkey Burgers feature a juicy patty glazed with teriyaki sauce and topped with melted cheese and a sweet pineapple ring. It's a delicious break from the traditional burger that will leave you wanting seconds!

You can also try:

  • Meatball subs
  • Pulled pork sliders
  • Buffalo chicken sliders
  • French dip sandwiches
  • Philly cheesesteak sandwiches

Main Dish

And now for the main dish!

Here are several hearty and yummy recipes to serve for your football dinner main course.

These recipes make a ton, so they’re perfect for a large gathering.

Crock Pot country style pork ribs on brown parchment paper with fresh parsley leaves.
Crock Pot Country Style Pork Ribs (3 ingredients)
You'll only 3 ingredients to make these tender Crock Pot Country Style Pork Ribs. They're perfectly saucy and delicious, and couldn't be easier to throw together!
White bowl full of sweet and sour meatballs, bell peppers, pineapple, and green onions.
Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Meatballs feature frozen meatballs, pineapple chunks, and peppers all covered in a tangy sauce. It's an easy dinner to throw together that's perfect for a crowd!
Fork and spoon twirled around some spaghetti with chili all in green bowl.
Easy Spaghetti with Chili Sauce (Cincinnati Chili)
Spaghetti with Chili Sauce (or Cincinnati Chili) features a meaty chili served over spaghetti and topped with sour cream and cheese. Yum!
Pan of creamy chicken enchiladas with tomato and green onion garnish on table with bowls of toppings nearby.
Chicken Enchiladas with Sour Cream White Sauce
These Chicken Enchiladas with Sour Cream White White Sauce are filled with a creamy sauce, tender chicken, and lots of cheese and are so easy to make!
Several air fryer English muffin pizzas with pepperoni, barbeque sauce, and cheese on baking sheet.
Air Fryer English Muffin Pizzas
Air Fryer English Muffin Pizzas are the ultimate kid food; a mini version of their favorite dish! Here's how to make English muffin pizzas in the air fryer so they don't get soggy.
Bowl of white chicken chili with cream cheese garnished with lime wedge and tortilla strips.
White Chicken Chili Recipe with Cream Cheese
This White Chicken Chili recipe with cream cheese is perfect for a chilly evening. Just dump the 7 ingredients in your Crock Pot and in a few hours you'll have a deliciously creamy chili ready for dinner!
Wooden spoon with chicken macaroni casserole lifting out of baking dish.
Easy and Cheesy Chicken Macaroni Casserole
Elevate your macaroni and cheese with this Cheesy Chicken Macaroni Casserole featuring creamy chicken sauce, elbow pasta, and lots of cheese!

More main dish ideas:

  • Taco Bar
  • Chili macaroni
  • Beef and bean chili
  • Beer can chicken

Dessert

No football dinner would be complete without the perfect dessert.

Here are several sweet treats to serve after your meal!

Stack of broken German chocolate cake mix cookies with gooey chocolate chips on white plate.
German Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies
These German Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies feature a delicious cake-like cookie full of chocolate chips, oats, and flaked coconut. They're so easy to make and a real chocolate lover's treat!
Glazed apple pie bars on parchment paper lined cooling rack.
Glazed Apple Streusel Bars
These Glazed Apple Streusel Bars feature a delicious shortbread crust, spiced apple filling, streusel topping, and a sweet glaze. They taste like a piece of dutch apple pie, but only require half the work!
Four banana bars with cream cheese frosting stacked on each other on white plate.
Perfectly Sweet Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
These Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting are the ultimate sweet treat: a moist banana-bread-type bar covered in rich cream cheese frosting. The recipe makes a big pan so it's perfect for large gatherings, or to keep for yourself!
Cream bowl full of sticky Chex mix with sliced almonds.
Sweet and Sticky Chex Mix
Sticky Chex Mix features two different kinds of cereal and almonds covered in a delicious sugar syrup. It's sweet, crunchy, totally addicting, and the perfect holiday treat!
White bowl with peach crisp and scoop of vanilla ice cream with blue striped towel underneath bowl.
The Easiest Peach Crisp With Oats
This Peach Crisp with Oats features delicious homemade pie filling that bubbles up under a crunchy cake mix topping. It's a semi-homemade dessert that's delicious all year long!
Piece of raspberry pretzel Jello dessert on stack of white plates with fresh raspberries.
Raspberry Pretzel Jello Dessert
Raspberry Pretzel Jello Dessert is a delicious 3-layer dish that features a pretzel crust, cream cheese layer, and raspberry Jello topping. It's perfect for both barbeques and holiday dinners!
Several cherry bars cut into squares on light brown parchment paper with white frosting.
The Best Cherry Bars Recipe
This Cherry Bars recipe features a sugar cookie-like crust covered in lots of cherry pie filling, topped with more sweet batter and a sugar glaze. It makes a large pan of bars so it's perfect for a crowd!

You may also like:

  • Football cake pops
  • Chocolate covered popcorn
  • Football shaped cheesecake ball
  • Cupcakes
  • Brownies

Drinks

Don’t forget the drinks!

Here are some of the best drink recipes for big groups.

They’re easy to make and deliciously thirst-quenching!

Two glass mason jars of Meyer lemonade with white and gold striped straws.
The Best Meyer Lemonade Recipe
If you've never had lemonade made from Meyer lemons, you're missing out! This recipe for Meyer Lemonade is the best out there and makes the perfect drink for a hot summer day.
Glass mug of caramel apple cider with whipped cream in front of pumpkins and apples.
Salted Caramel Apple Cider
This Salted Caramel Cider features warm cider, flavored with spices and syrup and topped with whipped cream. It's the ultimate cozy drink, perfect for any fall night!
Orange Julius drink in glass with orange segment and striped straw.
Orange Julius Recipe with Powdered Milk
This sweet and refreshing Orange Julius recipe is sure to be a hit at breakfast time! Using powdered milk will give you a frothy drink and helps use up food storage.

You could also try:

FAQs

What food is good for a football party?


Football food is meaty, cheesy, and usually baked and fried. Guests usually enjoy finger foods like wings, sliders, and dips are popular along with main dish recipes like ribs, meatballs, and chili. Pick foods that are great for a crowd, easy to make, and full of flavor.

What is the most popular football food?


People usually think of foods like sliders, nachos, pigs in a blanket, buffalo wings, chili, and guacamole when it comes to game day. Here are the most popular football foods that people search for on Google:

-Buffalo chicken dip
-Seven-layer dip
-Chili
-Spinach artichoke dip
-Taco dip

Did any of those surprise you?

I hope you found some new and delicious football dinner ideas to try this season!

 

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