Football Food Ideas for Your Restaurant: High-Profit Game Day Menu Items

Kick off has happened and we’re getting into the most important sports season of the year. Game days always bring in a crowd of people to enjoy eating out while watching the big screen. Keeping your restaurant as the hotspot for game day means having the right menu items that everyone can enjoy. Sure, atmosphere, friendly staff, and plenty of channels for those fantasy football parties are all important, but coming up with solid football food ideas for your restaurant could mean the difference between a fumble and a touchdown. If you need to refresh your menu with better football food options than a plain cheeseburger, check out our ideas below.

What Makes a Great Football Menu?

Football fans typically want food that’s:

• Easy to share


• Fast to serve


• Flavorful


• Affordable


• Perfect for pairing with drinks

Easy Football Food Ideas

You know that football works up an appetite…even if you’re just watching. And whether you’re a sports bar or just a restaurant that owns a lot of TVs, you know the struggle of trying to provide fast service at peak hours, let alone during football season. Supplementing your menu with fast and easy game-day foods will lower wait times and increase sales.

Buffalo-Style Wings

Buffalo-style wings are an easy game-day food money maker and a must-have menu item. It also pairs well with pale ales or IPAs, which are beers that are already offered at most establishments. Just be sure to offer a non spicy option for your patrons who can’t handle the heat but still want in on some of that wing action.

Popular Wing Flavors

• Buffalo


• Garlic parmesan


• Honey BBQ


• Nashville hot


• Lemon pepper


• Teriyaki

Upsell opportunities:

• Extra sauces


• Combo platters


• Pitcher specials


• Wing flight samplers

Nacho Platter

What’s hungrier than a 250-pound linebacker after a tackle? Football fans on game day. Nachos are the go-to option for the sharers and the snackers. And the great thing about nachos? They’re super easy to make, have a high-profit margin and can be easily customized into a house special. Remember those buffalo chicken wings? Repurpose the excess for a spicier topping alternative that will keep the diners reaching for their drinks.

Topping Ideas

• Pulled pork


• Buffalo chicken


• Ground beef


• Queso


• Jalapeños


• Avocado crema

Game Day Sliders

Sliders are a staple for any sporting event, but perhaps football most of all. (Since baseball has already claimed the hotdog). The good news? Most restaurants already offer this American favorite, so no seasonal menu changes here. Consider offering them as an appetizer to make it a game day food for two. Or three. Or four…

Potato Skins & Sour Cream

Potato skins are an especially easy game-day food to make. Just slice the potato in half, top it with cheese and green onions and pop them in the oven. Tell your patrons to wash it down with full sail amber for a hearty finish.

Other popular toppings include:

• Bacon


• Cheddar cheese


• Green onions


• Sour cream


• Pulled pork

Football Party Platters and Shareable Foods

Try putting some of these artfully displayed dishes on your menu to see if these statistics ring true.

Game Day Sampler Platter

Include:

• Wings


• Mozzarella sticks


• Onion rings


• Chicken tenders


• Pretzel bites

Tailgate Charcuterie Boards

Modern football menus increasingly feature elevated shareables.

Include:

• Smoked meats


• Cheeses


• Pickles


• Crackers


• Dips

Loaded Fry Boards

Loaded fries can be customized with:

• Cheese sauce


• Bacon


• Pulled pork


• Buffalo chicken


• Ranch dressing

Football-Themed Food Presentation Ideas

Did you know consumers are willing to pay three times the amount for thoughtful food presentations? That means football-themed snacks can actually be quite lucrative for your business.

Football-Shaped Pigs in a Blanket

This one is a fantastic idea for an appetizer. All you have to do is serve a platter full of pigs in a blanket in the relative shape of a football. Top it off with lacing made of mustard and, walla, you have an edible football your guests will go all nine yards for.

Football-Inspired Deviled Eggs 

Luckily, eggs are not only a price-conscious menu option, but they also come pre-manufactured in the approximate shape of a football. A deviled egg recipe will complement the beer drinker’s pallet and make a tasty prelude to kickoff! Only this time, instead of mustard, create the lace using chives and top it off with bacon to give it that authentic football color.

Football Cookie Extravaganza 

You’re in for a little Sunday treat with a cookie after a football fan’s heart. Make it on the house, and your guests will surely remember the good deed the next time they’re looking for a restaurant to watch their football games. A little extra touch can go a long way in converting a one-time customer into a Sunday regular.

Healthier Football Food Options

‘Healthy’ might not immediately come to mind when you think of football food, but since an estimated 45 million Americans are on a diet at any given time, you should probably include some menu items that cater to their demographic. It’s super easy, and guests will surely appreciate that they can still eat healthy while eating out.

Below is a list of healthy football food ideas for your restaurant:

Guacamole and Fresh Vegetables

Everyone loves guacamole, but it has a special place at the table on game day. Instead of chips, pair it with an assortment of carrot sticks, celery and peppers. Not only that but guacamole pairs especially well with Vienna lagers.

Baked Sweet Potato Fries 

Sweet potatoes are a healthier alternative to the beloved French fry and will still curb that junk food craving. Instead of frying them, you can bake them in olive oil and season them with salt and paprika. They’ll be so good that your guests might forget they’re actually healthy.

Light Spinach & Artichoke Dip

Artichokes are full of antioxidants and are considered heart-healthy food. The cream cheese base will help absorb all those vitamins while filling up your health-conscious guests. Recommend a blonde ale to serve alongside this dish for a light-bodied aftertaste.

Grilled Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Add a modern, lower-carb option with:

• Grilled chicken


• Fresh vegetables


• Avocado


• House-made sauces

Football Catering Menu Ideas

Another way to profit during the game is to make catering and takeout packages for those who prefer to enjoy the game from home.

Popular Football Catering Options

• Wing trays


• Slider platters


• Nacho bars


• Sandwich trays


• Dessert assortments


• Family-style appetizer bundles

How to Increase Football Food Sales

Maximize game-day revenue by pairing menu items with promotions:

Food and Drink Bundles

• Wings + beer specials


• Slider + cocktail combos


• Appetizer sampler packages

Limited-Time Offers

• Rivalry-week specials


• Team-themed menu items


• Championship game promotions

Social Media Marketing

Promote:

• Weekly specials


• New menu items


• Catering packages


• Football events


• Fan photo contests