Football and snack food are a match made in sports-watching heaven. Americans’ tradition of snacking during football games culminates on Super Bowl Sunday, a national day of snacking that fans prepare for in advance, shopping for and prepping their favorite game-day foods to turn watching the game into a certified event. Fans indulge in a wide range of fare from regional variations of chili to bacon-wrapped everything while their teams battle it out. From elaborate tailgating traditions to extravagant spreads, you don’t even need to enjoy watching sports to feast on a buffet of the country’s top game-day food.
On Sunday, Feb. 7, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs will duke it out in Tampa Bay, Florida. The Super Bowl LV comes after a season marked, like everything else, by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Super Bowl will have limited attendance, with more cutouts than fans filling seats at the Raymond James Stadium, making Super Bowl LV the lowest-attended Super Bowl ever. Some 25,000 fans will join some 30,000 cutouts, according Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Those fans will comprise in part 7,500 vaccinated health care workers, who are attending as part of an all-expenses paid on behalf of the NFL. All fans will receive a PPE kit included with their ticket, and are required to wear masks during the game.
Fans watching from home will also have a different experience than previous years. The CDC warns against the usual parties this year, encouraging viewers to watch the game with their household members or virtually with larger groups of people. If you insist on gathering, the CDC recommends masks, hosting outdoor parties, and keeping 6 feet apart. “The safest way to celebrate events is at home with the people who live with you,” the CDC writes on its guidance for gatherings. “If you plan to host or attend a small gathering, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of getting or spreading COVID-19.”
With the virus infection rates still high, it’s a good idea to watch the game from the safety of your own home, without inviting more people in. Isolating fans can at least take some comfort in the traditional game day snacks. Most sports fans have their tried-and-true favorites, but with novelty at a premium these days, consider looking through the following list to try some new game-day foods.
Stacker mined three General Mills-owned food sites—BettyCrocker.com, Pillsbury.com, and Tablespoon.com—for data on the most searches for a food item in each state. Each dish is linked to its recipe, for your convenience. Some states stick to classics like wings and hearty dips, while others nosh on seafood dishes and decadents desserts. Read on to feast on the details.
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BettyCrocker.com
Alabama: Slow-cooker Mississippi roast sandwiches
Favorite game day food: Slow-cooker Mississippi roast sandwiches
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Alaska: Creamy potato salad
Favorite game day food: Creamy potato salad
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Arizona: Slow-cooker chili
Favorite game day food: Slow-cooker chili
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Arkansas: Beefy queso skillet dip
Favorite game day food: Beefy queso skillet dip
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
California: Hot and spicy chicken wings
Favorite game day food: Hot and spicy chicken wings
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Colorado: Impossibly easy taco pie
Favorite game day food: Impossibly easy taco pie
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Connecticut: Slow-cooker teriyaki chicken wings
Favorite game day food: Slow-cooker teriyaki chicken wings
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Delaware: Ooey gooey butter cake bars
Favorite game day food: Ooey gooey butter cake bars
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Florida: Sausage cheese balls
Favorite game day food: Sausage cheese balls
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Georgia: Barbecue chicken and squash sliders
Favorite game day food: Barbecue chicken and squash sliders
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Hawaii: Crescent sloppy Joes
Favorite game day food: Crescent sloppy Joes
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Idaho: Mini bacon-wrapped sausages
Favorite game day food: Mini bacon-wrapped sausages
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Illinois: Original Chex Party Mix
Favorite game day food: Original Chex Party Mix
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Indiana: Pulled chicken sandwiches with root beer barbecue sauce
Favorite game day food: Pulled chicken sandwiches with root beer barbecue sauce
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Iowa: Mini crescent dogs
Favorite game day food: Mini crescent dogs
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Kansas: Dill pickle soup
Favorite game day food: Dill pickle soup
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Kentucky: Buffalo chicken casserole
Favorite game day food: Buffalo chicken casserole
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Louisiana: Creamy crab au gratin
Favorite game day food: Creamy crab au gratin
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Maine: Creamy clam dip
Favorite game day food: Creamy clam dip
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Maryland: Chicken-bacon-ranch pizza sticks
Favorite game day food: Chicken-bacon-ranch pizza sticks
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Massachusetts: Buffalo chicken dip
Favorite game day food: Buffalo chicken dip
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Michigan: Loaded potato soup
Favorite game day food: Loaded potato soup
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Minnesota: Tater tot hot dish taco boats
Favorite game day food: Tater tot hot dish taco boats
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Mississippi: Classic beef stew
Favorite game day food: Classic beef stew
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Missouri: The classic hamburger
Favorite game day food: The classic hamburger
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Montana: Buffalo chicken dip
Favorite game day food: Buffalo chicken dip
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Nebraska: Hot and spicy chicken wings
Favorite game day food: Hot and spicy chicken wings
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Nevada: Sausage cheese balls
Favorite game day food: Sausage cheese balls
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
New Hampshire: Slow-cooker chili
Favorite game day food: Slow-cooker chili
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
New Jersey: Slow-cooker chili
Favorite game day food: Slow-cooker chili
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
New Mexico: Seven-layer bean dip
Favorite game day food: Seven-layer bean dip
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
New York: Buffalo chicken wings
Favorite game day food: Buffalo chicken wings
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
North Carolina: Sausage cheese balls
Favorite game day food: Sausage cheese balls
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
North Dakota: Mini bacon-wrapped sausages
Favorite game day food: Mini bacon-wrapped sausages
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Ohio: White chicken chili
Favorite game day food: White chicken chili
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Oklahoma: Crab and fontina-stuffed mushrooms
Favorite game day food: Crab and fontina-stuffed mushrooms
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Oregon: Taco soup
Favorite game day food: Taco soup
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Pennsylvania: Loaded potato soup
Favorite game day food: Loaded potato soup
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Rhode Island: Slow-cooker chili
Favorite game day food: Slow-cooker chili
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
South Carolina: Cowboy caviar
Favorite game day food: Cowboy caviar
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
South Dakota: Hummus
Favorite game day food: Hummus
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Tennessee: Beefy queso skillet dip
Favorite game day food: Beefy queso skillet dip
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Texas: Sausage cheese balls
Favorite game day food: Sausage cheese balls
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Utah: Slow-cooker pulled pork
Favorite game day food: Slow-cooker pulled pork
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Vermont: Bruschetta
Favorite game day food: Bruschetta
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Virginia: Zesty deviled eggs
Favorite game day food: Zesty deviled eggs
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Washington: Jalapeño popper dip with panko
Favorite game day food: Jalapeño popper dip with panko
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
West Virginia: Barbecue chicken and squash sliders
Favorite game day food: Barbecue chicken and squash sliders
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Wisconsin: Ham and cheese crescent roll-ups
Favorite game day food: Ham and cheese crescent roll-ups
Link to recipe
BettyCrocker.com
Wyoming: Barbecue chicken and squash sliders
Favorite game day food: Barbecue chicken and squash sliders
Link to recipe