Football Party Food for Big Fans on Small Budgets

If you’re hosting a football party at home this season, you probably have a lot on your to-do list: disposable plates, jumbo ice bags, adult beverages, picky-eater drinks, and, “Are there enough seats for everyone?” But perhaps the most important item on your list is FOOD! After all, you’re feeding a big crowd (with linebacker appetites) on a small budget! Don’t lose possession of your good vibes. From kickoff appetizers to overtime desserts, these football party food ideas will fuel your team.

Football Party Appetizers

Get the squad warmed up for game time with these easy-to-make starters.

Slow Cooker Chili Queso

The temperature might be cooling down outside, but your football party’s heating up inside thanks to this slow cooker queso’s zesty kick! The Brown Eyed Baker writes detailed instructions on how to create a touchdown-worthy batch of queso with yellow cheese, canned tomatoes, fresh jalapenos, and spicy ground beef. Plus, making it in the slow cooker means you can easily keep it melty throughout all four quarters. Just don’t forget the chips!

Pineapple Barbecue Meatballs

Do some of your guests prefer sweet over spicy? In that case, whip up these three-ingredient Pineapple Barbecue Meatballs. You’ll only need fully cooked meatballs, your favorite barbecue sauce, and a ripe pineapple.

Little Pizzas

Ordering pizza is convenient, but doing it every Saturday night for the seventeen-week regular season can get pricey! Drop the order and pick up whole wheat wraps, canned pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and your favorite pizza toppings. These simple ingredients and a muffin pan are all you’ll need to make little pizzas that calm big cravings!

Football Party Main Dishes

Crispy Baked Chicken Wings

For a flavorful yet lower-fat serving of protein, ditch the deep fryer and bake your chicken wings in the oven. Bon Appetit has the inside scoop on achieving crispy chicken wings without frying. Plus, they’ve got a homemade buffalo recipe that will make your guests’ taste buds do a touchdown dance. Keep in mind that part of the “secret” to crispy wings is baking them in a high-quality oven that heats quickly and uniformly, like one of Rent-A-Center’s all-in-one kitchen ranges.

Game-Day Chili

With pinto beans, ground chuck, and a touch of dark beer, this Game-Day Chili from MyRecipes.com is sure to satisfy. Plus, you can easily refrigerate any leftovers for Monday night football! Get fan-favorite chili toppings like thick-cut cheese, sour cream, and chopped green onions, too! You can even draw inspiration from How Sweet Eats and create a chili bar where your guests can draft the chili bowl of their dreams.

Football Party Desserts

Chocolatey Cereal Treats

It only takes three ingredients to make your guests 100% satisfied — marshmallows, rice cereal, and chocolate candies! No baking required. Melt the marshmallows in a nonstick pan and sprinkle in the cereal and chocolates. Then, stir it all up with a wooden spoon and transfer the mixture to a glass baking pan. Let it cool down for at least 20 minutes and then cut into squares for serving. Need exact measurements and video instructions? Check out this demo video from Tasty.

Oreo Cookie Balls

Feel like going the extra mile for your team this season? These fancy football-shaped cookies from House of Yumm only look hard to make (cause they’re so cute). Plus, they only take five ingredients in total, which means you don’t have to break the bank buying an entire aisle of baking ingredients!

Host the Best Football Party of the Season

Now that you’ve got football party appetizer, entree, and dessert ideas—don’t let anything else put a damper on your game time, especially an unreliable TV! Take your football party to the next level with the perfect rent-to-own home theater setup that’ll keep your guests entertained for many seasons to come. Check out Rent-A-Center’s top deals online or at your local store now!