We think getting together with friends and family is more than half the fun of watching the big game. Our ideas for hearty, traditional snacks with a tasty twist or two will make this year’s party a snap—so you can spend less time prepping and more time jeering at the refs.

Keep it casual with ready-to-serve snacks

The big game may be a big deal, but your party should be relaxed and low-key. Serve lots of easy-to-eat snacks on hefty paper plates with a large stack of dinner-size napkins. Keep it simple for you, too, by using packaged appetizers and ready-made platters.

For quick, better-for-you crowd pleasers, check out the variety of prepared platters in our produce department. Guests will love munching on a rainbow of crunchy vegetables matched with a few fresh-tasting dips. But don’t stop there: Round things out with a deli meat tray and a basket heaped with artisan breads, including hearty whole-grain varieties. Place some jars of condiments within easy reach on the coffee table, and you pretty much have a meal.
No party is complete without pizza. Make things more interesting by offering pre-made thin-crust pies with surprising toppings, such as prosciutto and salami, butter chicken or spinach, along with the traditional pepperoni or all-cheese pizza.
Chips are an absolute must for football fans. Place a few bowls in convenient spots and keep ’em full—no one likes to scoop up the crumbs. Add a couple of tubs of prepared dips in flavours like roasted garlic or chipotle aioli. And don’t forget chips’ best friend: popcorn. We love the savoury, slightly sophisticated taste of aged white cheddar kettle corn.
One of our favourite finger foods? Shrimp appetizers. Warm them up in the oven, present them on a large plate and watch them disappear.

Serve up fan favourites

Cheering on your team generates quite the appetite, doesn’t it? Whip up these effortless munchies that everyone can share.

Demand for Tex-Mex flavour seems to kick in along with the football-game spirit. Get their mouths watering with a platter of nachos topped with spicy turkey mini-meatballs for extra heat. (We love these better-for-you nachos because they feature turkey instead of beef, switch up full-fat cheese for part-skim cheese and use black beans in place of refried beans.) Or, roughly mash fresh avocados for a quick and easy guacamole, and try our guac secret: Lightly grill avocado slices for added smoky flavour. Serve with tortilla chips and a heaping bowl of spicy salsa.
Got some vegetarians in your crowd? Ratatouille Tarts are a tasty, eat-with-one-hand option, as is Rustic Bruschetta or Devilled Eggs with Chives. Add some unexpected flavour on the side with Aged Cheddar Cheese and Apple Dip – perfect with crunchy celery sticks or spread on crostini. And Classic Spinach Dip, with hunks of bakery-fresh bread, is popular with vegetarians and meat eaters alike.
It’s always a good idea to have one entrée-size dish on hand for hungry football fanatics. For that, the answer is obvious: chili. Bring on the comfort food with hearty Slow Cooker Beef Short Bib Chili – and don’t forget the garlic bread for sopping up every last drop. Or use your slow cooker to make sweet-and-sour meatballs, and serve with steamed rice to soak up the gooey-good sauce.

Set up a self-serve beverage station

Beer may be synonymous with football, but make sure to serve a good selection of non-alcoholic drinks, too.

Pick up a metal washtub from the dollar store, fill it with ice and load it up with a selection of beer and coolers so guests can serve themselves.
Stock up on plenty of juice, pop and mineral water. We find Italian-style sodas to be a refreshing change from the usual colas.
Mix things up with a citrus-flavoured punch. We like the tangy taste of a Prairie Sunset with clementine and pink grapefruit juices. Prep two big bowls and spike just one with alcohol.

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