Game Day Party Ideas, Food, & Drink

This game day party is full of inspiration and recipes for a party at home. Gather with friends and watch the big game with these football party decoration ideas and game day snacks.

Game Day Party Ideas

Who’s ready for the big game? Today I’m going to show you how I put an entire party together with cool football theme decorations and easy football food ideas.

All around the country, parties are very popular for the BIG GAME! They’re usually very “interactive” meaning guests bring food or drink to share.

As a hostess I like to set the scene with a few base items like my prepared party sandwiches, munchies, and a signature drink like white pear sangria. I’m sharing the recipe below and it makes enough to serve a small crowd.

Here are some tips and recipes for the best game day party at home. 

Host a Big Game Party at Home

Party decoration and food presentation help set the scene for a football party.

• I set the scene with black and white, with stripes to match the referees. This way your party will coordinate with whatever team is playing in the game.
• I made my own snack mix of popcorn, pretzels, and tortilla chips. They’re easy to carry in these striped snack boxes.
• A veggie tray is always a welcome palette cleanser as well as a lighter choice to have available. This football party snack board is full of ideas.
• Pre-made sandwiches are a terrific way to fill up your guests. Have two different selections to choose from: roast beef and turkey melt.
• My southern style pimento cheese spread is perfect for a game day party. Use sturdy crackers to spread it onto. 
• Guests will bring their own favorite recipes to share so make sure you have room on the table to spare.
• Set up some sweet treats on the sidelines and decorate the table with pennants, and football paraphernalia.
• Make my white pear sangria ahead of time and let guests help themselves. Using copper mule cups is a unique and attractive vessel to serve it in.

Sangria is always a good choice for serving a party full of people; keep reading for the recipe. 

Football Party Food

Here are some more classic game day party recipes to try.

• Chicken Jalapeno Poppers wrapped in bacon
• Saucy kielbasa medallions 
• Smoked Sausage Appetizer bites
• Jalapeno poppers with blue cheese
• Brown Butter-Honey Chicken wings
• Easy Baked Artichoke Dip with chicken

Game Day Party Desserts

These sweet treats are perfect for guests to pick up and enjoy while they’re watching the game.

• Chocolate Marshmallow Nut bars
• Sweet & Salty Mix
• Best Glazed Lemon Bars 
• Saltine Cracker Toffee

Game Day Party Drinks

This white sangria is delicious, easy to make, AND you make it ahead. It’s perfect for a football party.

It starts with a large bottle of Chardonnay but you could also use Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio instead. 

PARTY TIP: For a family-friendly punch option just use white grape or apple juice instead of the chardonnay.

Here are some other drink recipe ideas.

• Set up a football theme beer tasting table or beer & food bar.
• Mix up this delicious spiced sangria made with red wine.
• This whiskey sour punch is out of this world delicious!

White Pear Sangria

• 1 large {1.5 liter} bottle chardonnay
• 1/2 cup white rum
• 1/2 cup pear juice {from the juice aisle, not from a can of pears}
• 2 – 12 oz cans ginger beer soda
• Sliced pears & apples, and blackberries

In a large pitcher add wine, rum, pear juice, and fruit. Cover and refrigerate over night.

Add ginger beer when ready to serve for the party.

Serves a small crowd.