For those of you out there who are looking to have a BCS Championship game party or a NFL Playoff party and need ideas for food, you’ve come to the right place. Here I will break down for you the best foods that you can make your guests at your party happy even if their team isn’t winning.

These games are going to be HUGE and could go into multiple overtimes before they’re all over; much like in 2003 when the Buckeyes beat Miami, or in 2004 when Seattle lost to Green Bay in overtime. That means you’re going to want to have plenty of food just in case.

I’ve broken down the quarters of the game, along with pre game, to give you options on what people might like at certain points of the game.

Pre Game Snacks- Most people aren’t going to want to carry around a plate with a fork while they are talking to their buddies during pre game. This means that you should try offering finger foods, bite sized foods, or foods that can sit in a bowl for use by everyone.

Veggie Tray- For those health freaks out there, a vegetable tray is a perfect way to have something healthy that everyone can enjoy. Try putting some carrots, celery, cucumbers, broccoli, radishes, along with a dip in the center; ranch seems to be the most popular. This will allow people to have a carrot or two without having to get an entire plate.  

Bruschetta- Take one loaf of sliced French bread. Put diced tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, basil, and olive oil on top of each slice of French bread. Season with salt and pepper and put in the oven to broil until cheese melts and bread turns to toast. Bruschetta is something that is fast, easy and tasty; something that anyone can make.

Trail/Chex Mix- These mixes are always popular with football fans. Both can be bought at any local grocery store or can be made at home. Trail mix is just a combination of peanuts, M&M’s, raisins, and dried fruit. Chex Mix consists of nuts (whatever you prefer), pretzels, and chex cereal. Pour melted butter and Worcestershire sauce, along with seasoned salt and garlic powder, over the mixture onto cookie sheet and bake at 325° for 25 minuets or until crispy. Let cool before serving.

Triscuit Snacks- A little thing I like to make for my friends and family for the big game can be made in less than 15 minutes. Put a slice of mozzarella cheese on a triscuit cracker, and then put a pepperoni on top of that. Some people might like a mushroom or green pepper on top also. Put multiple crackers on a cookie sheet and bake in the oven at 300° for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.  

Cheese & Crackers- This is easy. Put your favorite types of crackers on a plate and serve with an assortment of cheeses and meats. I prefer American, mozzarella, and provolone cheeses, and salami, ham, and corned beef for the meats. Some people might like ranch with their cheese so consider that also.

Come kickoff time, most people will want something that they can sit down and enjoy rather than just try. Here are some of the best foods to serve during the first quarter.

First Quarter Foods- For the first quarter, you don’t want to set out anything that is going to be too hot. Soups, wings, and ribs will ALL ruin your furniture if served at this time. With the tension and excitement of the opening quarter, hot foods may not be the best idea. Look for something that requires a plate; something that people can take to their seat and sit down with. Tortilla chips seem to be a fan favorite that also makes it easy on the chef due to the possibility of many dipping sauces. 

Chips & Salsa- Whether you like to make your own salsa or just buy it from the store, Salsa and tortilla chips are ALWAYS a big hit when it comes to feeding people during a big championship game. Make sure you always have an extra bag of chips because they will go much faster than you think.

Bean Dip- Bean Dip is an easy substitute for salsa that will keep your guests happy; and it’s easy to make too! Just combine, ½ cup of salsa, a can of refried beans, 1 package of cubed American cheese, and a little hot sauce to taste. Heat over a stove and stir for about 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.  

Mexicali Dip- This is, by far, the easiest dip for tortilla chips ever. Take about a cup of salsa, and a cup of sour cream and mix them together. Add taco seasoning and cilantro to taste. This will be a huge hit and might bring in more guests than you’ve invited.  

Cheese Dip- A hot dip can always change the pace when it comes to dips for tortilla chips. A simple combination of half a block of Velveeta cheese and a cup of salsa melted over the stove will keep ‘em comin’ back. To give it a little more flavor, try adding browned ground beef.  

French Onion Dip- Since French onion dips don’t go well with tortilla chips, a bag or two of original potato chips will be needed. I recommend buying the French onion dip from the store, but you can also buy packets that can be added to sour cream that will do just fine.

Second Quarter Foods- This is the time that you want to bring out some of your hot foods. Try setting out foods that don’t take a knife to cut or utensils to eat with. 

Chicken Fingers- Chicken fingers are a good food to have out at a big game party because they can be dipped in so many sauces. The best bet is to set out multiple sauces so that everyone is happy. If you keep the chicken plain, provide a variety of dipping sauces, such as ranch, blue cheese, hot sauce, or sour cream to provide each guest with an option.

Meatballs- Here’s a food that can be set out in a crock pot all day long and, as long as it’s kept on low, will not burn or go bad. My advice for meatballs is to buy pre-cooked meatballs and make your own sauce. My favorite sauce is barbecue and can be made simply by adding 1 cup of ketchup, ½ cup of water, ¼ cup of brown sugar (more if desired), 2 T of vinegar, and 2 T of Worcestershire sauce. Bring these ingredients to a simmer over a hot stove and then pour them in the crock pot with the meat balls. This is something that’s effortless that everyone will thank you for.

Kabobs- These are loved by many because it combines your favorite fruits and vegetables, with meats and seafood. I prefer using shrimp for kabobs because it’s a little different than what most people would look for at a football party. Pineapple, green peppers, red peppers, onions, and tomatoes are all good options to add to any type of kabob.

Little Weenies- Little weenies are easy to eat between plays because they are bite sized and don’t require a fork or knife to cut them; a toothpick will do just fine. These “lil smokies” come frozen and require some type of sauce on them. Like on meatballs, barbecue is my favorite. The ingredients and measurements for this sauce can be found above.

Mozzarella Sticks- This is by far, my favorite food on the list. I haven’t ever made any mozzarella sticks homemade but I’ve heard that it’s not easy so I recommend just buying the frozen ones from the grocery store; TGI Friday’s seem to be the best.

Third Quarter Foods

Pizza- The people that make homemade pizza for occasions like this are crazy. I don’t see the purpose in going through all the trouble to make a pizza when you can spend less money to have one delivered. Just some advice- make sure you order your pizza the day before to ensure that you get it on time and get the right amount without having to wait.

Chili- Ok, everyone knows how to make chili and everyone has their own way of doing it, so just make it however you like and make sure to offer tortilla chips, sour cream, and cheese to add it. I actually tried putting “cheez-its” in my chili the other day and it was amazing, so you might want to try putting them out. 

Hot Dogs- Depending on where you live, you might want to make hot dogs by boiling them on the stove. Some parts of the country still have nice enough weather to make them on the grill but not in my state of Ohio. Make sure to provide plenty of hot dog buns and condiments- ketchup, mustard, relish, onions, cheese, and some may even want chili/coney sauce.

Hamburgers- Much like the hot dogs, depending on the weather, you might have to fry the hamburgers on the stove rather than cook them on the grill. Don’t forget to ask your guests how they like their meat cooked because it seems to matter to most people. Cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, mayonnaise, pickles, onion, ketchup, and mustard should be set out also.

Wings- Wings are a good idea for a football party because there are many different types and flavors of wings that can be made. You can have hot wings, teriyaki, barbecue, breaded wings, or bare wings. You might want to make a couple different types of wings so people have options. Ranch, blue cheese, and sour cream are good for dipping.

Fourth Quarter Foods

Puppy Chow- Although it sounds gross, this concoction tastes amazing. Mix 1 bag of chocolate chips, 1 stick of butter and ½ cup of peanut butter and melt them together. Mix these ingredients until they are the consistency of cream. Pour this mixture over top of 5 cups of Chex cereal. Mix gently to be sure you don’t crush the cereal. Put the cereal into a bowl with a lid, along with as much powdered sugar as you desire. Put the lid on the bowl and shake the mixture until the powdered sugar is distributed evenly.

Cookies- The best cookies for a football party are ALL cookies. It doesn’t matter if you have Christmas cookies or actual football shaped cookies. Homemade or store bought, feel free to put all types of cookies out because they WILL get eaten. 

Ice Cream Sundae- A create-your-own ice cream sundae is a good way to keep every guest happy. It allows them to add their favorite toppings to any type of ice cream. For toppings, don’t forget to set out chocolate syrup, caramel, peanuts, crushed Oreos and cherries, and don’t forget the whipped cream.

Apple-Snicker Salad- This simple dessert can be made by combining apple slices, whipped cream and crushed snicker bars. This is a very easy way to impress your guests. Use regular whipped cream, not the light version; it tastes much better.

Buckeyes- Whether or not Ohio State is playing, candied Buckeyes are always necessary to have at any party. For those of you who don’t live in Ohio, where you can’t get these candied treats at any grocery store, here’s how you make them. Mix together 1 ½ cups of peanut butter, 1 cup of softened butter, ½ tsp. of vanilla extract and 6 cups of confectioner’s sugar. Roll into 1 inch balls and place on a waxed paper-lined cookie sheet. Put a toothpick into the top of each ball to use for dipping later and chill in the freezer until firm (about 30 mins). Melt chocolate ships in a double boiler and stir frequently until smooth. Dip the frozen peanut butter balls in the chocolate holding onto the toothpick. Leave a small portion of the peanut butter showing so each ball looks like a buckeye. Put them in the refrigerator until serving. There’s nothing better to serve your guests when it comes to a football part.

Now that you have some ideas as to what you can make your friends and family for the big game, it should be easier to throw your own football party.