Gearing up for the Big Game? Throw the best tailgating party ever with these Football Party Finger Food recipes!
The Big Game is coming up and I cannot wait!
Oh, not because I’m a huge football fan. I enjoy watching the game, and it’s fun to have an excuse to yell nonsensical randomness at the television.
But really, I’m most excited about The Big Game because it means Football Party Finger Food!
Table of contents
Best Game Day Recipes
What do you like to serve when you’re feeding a crowd?
I have to admit: I love classic tailgating food. Give me a table full of salty pretzels, messy wings, indulgent dips, and of course, some decadent desserts and drinks, too.
Here is a recipe collection of tasty finger food recipes including some of my fave from fellow food bloggers. Any of these would be perfect for you to serve for the Big Game.
You will love these recipes because
- They are all easy to make, even for the novice home cook!
- All of these football party finger foods are easy to eat with your hands.
- Most of these recipes can be made with 10 ingredients or less, and many are 5 ingredients or less.
- Each of these fast recipes can be whipped up in 30 minutes or less!
Game Day Appetizers
Best Game Day Appetizers
These appetizers are all easy to make and easy to eat while you cheer on your favorite team on Game Day! No forks required :)
These air fryer popcorn shrimp are #1 on the blog and Google for good reason: they are easy to make, the recipe makes two batches (eat one now and freeze the other for later!), and they are SO delicious! These are always a big crowd-pleasing appetizer!
Use wonton wrappers to make fun little homemade air fryer pizza rolls!
Muffin pan pizza cups are a fun and delicious, easy-to-eat game day food!
Buffalo chicken is a game day staple, and these Buffalo Chicken Bites are easy to eat, two-bite appetizers that are perfect for the big game!
Forever a tailgating favorite, these Air Fryer Pigs in a Blanket are super fast and easy to make. They're always a crowd pleaser!
Loaded with cream cheese, cheddar cheese, green onions, and a savory Cajun spice, these bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers are simply irresistible!
These Vegan Jalapeno Poppers are made with just 5 ingredients and full of flavor!
Buffalo chicken stuffed mini peppers pack a ton of big flavors in this delicious two-bite Game Day appetizer.
Bacon-wrapped shrimp is always a crowd favorite! And this Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp recipe makes everyone's Game Day fave food even easier and faster to make!
Love the salty crunchy bacon and sweet pineapple in every bite. This sweet and spicy appetizer is so easy to make!
These crispy air fryer buffalo cauliflower pack a lot of flavor into each and every bite! These are fast and super easy vegan appetizers perfect for Game Day.
Wings are a MUST for Game Day! You just need 3 ingredients and 30 minutes and you can make these easy Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings.
If you love jalapeños, you'll love these super crispy, tasty jalapeño bites!
Succulent crispy pork belly cooks up beautifully in the air fryer. These are fast, tasty Game Day finger foods!
Caprese bites get some added protein in these Keto Balsamic Caprese Steak Bites. Yummy way to get your veggies in!
Steak bites are the ultimate Game Day food, and easy to serve with toothpicks and the garlic butter sauce drizzled over each bite. Yum!
These cheeseburger sliders are a great way to feed a hungry crowd!
Get all of the best parts that you love about cheeseburgers, without the calories!
Stuffed mushrooms help elevate classic Game Day food, and these healthy spinach and artichoke stuffed mushrooms are hearty and satisfying.
These vegan cauliflower wings have a bold BBQ flavor and are perfect for Game Day!
All of your favorite taco fillings in a fun wonton cup!
Chips are a requirement for Game Day eats, and these are healthier, tasty chips you can feel good about eating!
This version of jalapeño poppers is baked and coated with sweet brown sugar bacon. Yum!
Meatballs are awesome Game Day bites. How to make them even better? Wrap them in bacon!
With big Buffalo chicken flavors, these meatballs are made for Game Day.
You can make these cranberry meatballs in the Instant Pot/Ninja Foodi or the slow cooker. They are so flavorful and perfect football party finger food!
You can make these Slow Cooker Honey Bourbon Meatballs a few hours before the big game and then keep them heated up in the slow cooker until the guests arrive.
If you need a meatless Game Day appetizer, try this bright, colorful, vegetarian Tex-Mex sheet pan nachos recipe! Makes enough to feed the whole crowd on Game Day!
Loaded nachos are always a hit! These are made with slow cooker pulled pork and piled high with everyone's favorite nacho toppings.
Garlic parmesan knots are SO yummy and awesome Game Day food to enjoy with a side of pizza sauce for dipping.
This take-out favorite of cream cheese crab rangoon is super easy to make at home, thanks to the air fryer! Serve it with sweet chili sauce or soy sauce.
Mexican street corn salad is gluten-free and perfect for dipping chips into on Game Day!
It's not Game Day without pretzels! These soft pretzel bites are easy to make at home, and delicious when served with beer cheese dip!
This fast Game Day recipe is gluten-free and so delicious! Serve these air fryer coconut shrimp with sweet chili sauce or cocktail sauce.
Crispy potato wedges cooked in the air fryer are perfect Game Day finger food!
Best Game Day Dips
Best Game Day Dips
Chips and dips are a must for Game Day! But dips are also a great way to get kids (and adults!) to eat their veggies, getting some balance on that tailgating table. Here are a few yummy dips you can make ahead of time, perfect for the football party finger foods listed here.
Creamy and cheesy, but without the cheese, this Dairy-Free Queso Dip is perfect for dipping your chips into, or slathering on top of nachos. A delicious, dairy-free game day appetizer!
This vegan queso is thick and chunky, but you can make it creamier if you'd like! Perfect dip for tortilla chips.
This restaurant-style salsa is my fave! I make this often and it just takes 15 minutes, with ingredients you probably already have on hand. SO yummy!
This ground beef queso dip is rich and creamy, and easy to make!
Pico de Gallo is great for chips but also use this on top of the sheet pan nachos listed above and on tacos!
Smoked Salmon Artichoke Dip is great for dipping bits of big chunky bread and veggies.
Spinach dip without the dairy! So easy to make and perfect for that veggie tray.
BLT in dip form! Such a great Game Day snack.
This hearty buffalo chicken and bacon dip is always a crowd pleaser! Great for Game Day tailgating.
Game Day Desserts
Game Day Desserts
Don't forget dessert! These sweet treats are delicious Game Day snacks to enjoy while cheering in your favorite team.
Football and apple pie go hand in hand - but even more so, these Air Fryer Apple Hand Pies! Feeling especially festive? You can cut out puff pastry in football shapes to create football-shaped apple hand pies!
These chocolate chip bars are super duper easy to make and you can make them up to two days ahead of the Big Game!
Brownie bites decorated as footballs are yummy, finger food desserts for Game Day!
These Churros Bites are SO yummy, and the crunchy, sugary treats make great tailgating food!
Apple pie in bar form is easy to eat while cheering on your fave team on Game Day!
This crunchy, yummy snack mix is an easy and fast snack to make for your tailgating party!
This chocolate dip is great for any party, but make it into a football shape to watch the Big Game and you've got a super fun football party dessert dip!
If you need a super fast and easy snack for Game Day, you can whip up these sweet & salty snack mix in just 2 minutes!
Another fun take on a dessert dip perfect for Game Day: this cookies and cream football cheese ball is great for dipping graham cracker cookies!
These brownies are the ultimate mint plus chocolate pairing. Decadent, rich, and easy to make ahead of the Big Game!
These candy truffles are so cute and will surely be a big hit at your tailgating party at home!
Turn two fave candies - Snickers and Starburst - into football themed snacks for Game Day!
Game Day Cocktails
Game Day Drinks
Beer is fine, but these cocktails made with beer, cider, or whiskey are even better! Enjoy these tasty Game Day cocktails in moderation while cheering on your team during the big game.
A little bit sweet, a little bit tart, this classic Whiskey Sour cocktail is the perfect way to kick off your Big Game get together!
This cool weather Maple Whiskey Sour requires just a few ingredients to make, and the maple and cinnamon make this an unforgettable Game Day drink.
A bourbon cocktail with a lemonade twist, the Citrus Bourbon Buzz is refreshing and light. And an oh so tasty way to celebrate the Big Game!
You can make these hot or cold. Either way, it's always a party when Fireball cocktails are served!
Kick up your football party with The Boulevardier -- a sophisticated take on the classic Negroni that uses your choice of whiskey or rye instead of gin.
Warm apple cider, bourbon, brown sugar? Yes, yes, and yes! Heat up your tailgating with this Apple Cider Old Fashioned.
Sure Tom Brady may be in his mid forties, but the Old Man River cocktail isn't named after him. That said, this bourbon drink is a surefire Game Day winner!
A classic old fashioned gets a citrus and herb boost in this Rosemary Citrus Old Fashioned.
This trick play on the traditional Bourbon Sour adds hazelnut for a slightly sweet and nutty flavor. Score!
This Apple Whiskey Sour with Ginger is crisp and tangy. Serve it on the rocks, kick back and watch the Big Game.
A shandy is usually a warm weather drink, but you're not someone who follows the rules. Make this Summer Shandy Cocktail on Game Day and watch your friends cheer.
Kitchen tools and party decor for the big game
- An electric buffet server helps keep your food warm before guests arrive and throughout the game.
- Crisp white serving platters are great for placing all of the yummy appetizers you’ll make.
- This dip bowl set is perfect to hold any of the dip recipes above.
- Appetizer plates are perfect for holding all the small bites for the big game.
- These IPA Beer Glasses are perfect for beer as well as many of the beer/cider/whiskey cocktail recipes listed above!
This post was first published on January 27, 2017 and was updated January 20, 2022 with new recipe links.
Which of these Football Party Finger Food recipes would you like to make to feed your hungry crowd watching the Big Game?
What an amazing collection of recipes. Thank you for including my Mixed Berry Punch as well. :) Scheduling this for the share.
OMG those little football dippers are so cute! You could take that idea and fill them with anything your heart desired.
Great ideas for our annual super bowl party. Thanks!
I’m not really into football, but I do watch the Super Bowl every year as an excuse to chow down on yummy snacks. What a great spread, and these spicy potato wedges look heavenly! :D
I’m not that into sports but I’m definitely into the food around sports especially at tailgating and sports viewing parties!
those football pockets are SO Cute and now I am starving!! I want to make all of these. And that corn. holy moly.
My husband thanks you! Yum!
Oh soooooo many goodies!!! I’m so glad I’ll be finished with my Whole30 by the time Super Bowl rolls around. I need to try some (or let’s face it, all) of these!!
Good timing with Whole30, Chrissa! :)
I’m a big fan of dips and that spinach dip looks delicious!
I can’t help myself around dips either. Crackers, veggies, crusty bread… I’ll use whatever is there just to eat the dip! :)
What a great roundup! We are all big football fans in my home so I can’t wait to try some of these out for the Super Bowl!
Thanks so much, Nicole! Hope you have a fabulous Super Bowl party!
This is a great roundup for any kind of get-together! I love those pretzel bites. Would definitely make those for my part.
Pretzel bites are always a crowd pleaser :) Thanks, Kimberly!