TC Guide to Game Day
By Ashley Sugar
Football is a sport and tradition that’s basically an American civic duty to partake in. With football season comes lots of food, tailgates, and screaming fans. A pre-kickoff soiree before the game is a fun way to get together with friends and family without having to invest an arm and a leg. But hosting these gatherings can be stressful. From food to activities, it’s overwhelming to have so many people depending on you to make the experience fun and memorable. Have no fear: TC has prepared the ultimate game day party guide.
The Food
Arguably the most crucial part of any game day event is the food. Appetizers are a must. There are the usual suspects: salsa, wings, and spinach dip, but TC has some new appetizers for you to debut at your event. Here is a tip: divide your party size by three to determine how many appetizers you should have. It is important to have a variety of options, including meat, vegetarian, and spicy. With a game day party, you are looking for two things when deciding which finger foods to make: fast and delicious. These finger food recipes meet our criteria.
Dips
Dips are a classic selection at game day events, but no need to buy the standard premade spinach or ranch dip. Throw together buffalo sauce, chicken, and other fixings in a crockpot to make this Buffalo Chicken Dip. Pair it with vegetables, crackers, or chips for a great snack. This dip can be prepared with dairy-free options, which is great for those who are lactose intolerant. Another awesome dip option is this Enchilada Dip. This recipe has everything you look for in a dip; it's meaty, cheesy, and beany. This option is great for your guests looking for a healthy, lighter option. A fun twist on a dip, this pizza fondue is both unique and fun. The fondue pizza sauce is easy to make with only three ingredients; pasta sauce, cream cheese, and mozzarella cheese. The fun part is assembling the great fondue dipping options. The recipe has some fantastic recommendations, like meatballs, salami, and bread.
Finger Foods
Everyone loves a slider, but it is time to shake up the classic recipe. This Chicken Parmesan Slider recipe takes a fan favorite and transforms it into the best finger food. This slider recipe packs a mouthful of flavors in a small bite-sized sandwich. These sliders can be assembled and cooked in thirty minutes or less, making them the ideal game-day snack. This next easy-to-make buttery, doughy treat will make you the MVP of the party. Soft pretzel bites are the perfect game-day snack. They are cheesy bites of goodness that everyone is sure to love. A cult favorite and southern cuisine, chicken and waffles is a great choice. Grab some frozen waffles and chicken tenders to throw together this recipe. Not all potatoes are created equal; tater tots are definitely the best form of the potato. These Sloppy Joe Tot-Chos bring your childhood favorites together; sloppy joes and tater tots to make a mouthwatering spin on the nacho.
Drinks
What is a party without a signature drink? We at TC love a great cocktail. A fun, crowd-pleaser to make is a spicy margarita. This Hot Honey Margarita recipe is smooth, and it packs a fiery kick. The hot honey adds the perfect amount of heat. This Apple Rosemary Whiskey Cocktail tastes like fall. The highlighted fall flavors mixed with the whiskey make for a perfect drink during this time of year. This recipe makes enough for a whole pitcher, so you definitely will have enough for everyone to join in on the fall delight. Beer is also a very popular choice for any game day event. A great option would be to go to a local brewery and pick up some options for guests. They will love trying out new things, and you are supporting local businesses!
Make It Fun
Of course the main event of any game day party is the game itself, but that doesn’t mean you can’t shake it up and throw in some more party fun. The ideas below are great ways to mix it up and make your party unique.
Make it Competitive
Everyone loves a little healthy competition. It is natural to crave competition, and that’s what football is all about. One fun way to involve everyone and help reduce some of your workload is to host a dip competition during your party. Have every guest or household bring a dip. Everyone can enjoy them and then you can select a judge to crown the winner. You can also do this with cocktails. If food and drink competitions are not your thing, try a standard 100 square football pool. The best part about this pool is there is no expertise needed to join in, and it is very simple to set up. All you have to do is create a chart of ten squares by ten squares, numbered on each axis 0-9. You also want to label each axis home or away to distinguish between the teams. You then sell the squares. After all are sold, you randomly place all the buyers on a square, which may vary if they bought more than one. You may also draw names from a hat and allow individuals to pick their squares if you prefer that method. At the end of the first quarter, halftime, third quarter, and the final score, whoever’s square matches the score will be awarded.
Make your own pizza table
If you love to cook, it is fun to prepare appetizers for others, but it can feel like more of a chore if cooking is not your thing. An option that is both creative and interactive is to have a pizza night. If you have a large kitchen island or table, you can lay out some butcher paper to serve as your base. From there, place ingredients on the paper, either in bowls or directly on the paper. Feel free to take a sharpie and write on the butcher paper to label your ingredients. You can also place some decorative to-go pizza boxes, like these, on the table to elevate the activity. Pop the pizzas in the oven, or you can snag a really fun pizza oven, such as this one, and you are done. This is a great activity for adults and children. Your guests will love customizing their own meals.
Photo via @Laraleatrump
