Winning Game Day Recipes & Easy Party Food Hacks

Get ready to elevate your game day food spreads to new heights! Are you hosting or heading to a big game watch party and need easy party food for a crowd? Or do you just want some simple snack ideas for family game night? With these clever party food hacks, your simple and delicious game-day appetizers will have them cheering for more. So, huddle up, and let’s prepare some recipes for game day that are as impressive as the action on the field! 

The ultimate list of game day recipe ideas 

Are you ready to unleash your inner sports fanatic and prep some simple, delicious game-day appetizers and treats? These easy game day recipes will have your guests waving their pennants and foam fingers in no time. Let the party begin!

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. 
• Roll 8 foil sheets (about 10–12" long) to make cylinders for roasting the bacon. 
• Line a 13" x 9" baking sheet with Reynolds Wrap^® Everyday Foil or use a Reynolds Kitchens^® Disposable Bakeware Pan to catch the bacon drippings. 
• Wrap the bacon loosely in a spiral pattern around the foil cylinders. Add brown sugar, maple syrup, pepper flakes, or other seasonings if desired. 
• Place the bacon cylinders close together on the baking sheet or disposable aluminum foil bakeware pan, using the pan edges to support them. 
• Bake for 20 minutes, then flip the cylinders over. Continue to bake for 18–20 minutes until the bacon is done to your liking. 
• Remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes. 
• Carefully slide the bacon spirals off the cylinders.¹ 
• Enjoy!

You just can’t beat these simple melt-in-your-mouth parmesan cheese crisps. They’re a crowd-favorite! 

• Preheat your oven to 350°F 
• Line two baking sheets with non-stick aluminum foil or parchment paper. 
• For best flavor, freshly grate four ounces of parmesan cheese. Grate two ounces of fresh parmesan cheese using the side of the box grater that finely grinds the cheese. Grate the other two ounces using the box grater side that makes long shreds of cheese. Combine the cheeses together. 
• Drop rounded tablespoons of parmesan on the baking sheet and shape it into a tortilla triangle-shaped mound. If desired, you can form an aluminum foil cookie cutter to shape your mounds. (Keep reading to see how to make DIY cookie cutters out of aluminum foil.) 
• Bake for six minutes until golden 
• Cool slightly and loosen with a metal spatula. 
• Serve at room temperature.²

• Heavy Duty Foil 
• Needle nose pliers (optional) 
• Parchment-lined baking sheet 
• Pre-made sugar cookie dough or our Homemade Sugar Cookie Dough 
• Cookie icing, decorations, and toppings of your choice 

How to make DIY cookie cutters out of foil 

1. Tear a foot-long sheet of Reynolds Wrap^® Heavy Duty Foil. 
2. Lay the sheet on a flat surface. 
3. On one side, fold the foil up ½ inch. Wrap the foil over itself until you have a long, thick foil strip. 
4. Crease the foil in different directions to form the strip into footballs and jerseys. Optional: Use needle-nose pliers to help make creases. 
5. Once your cookie cutter shape is formed, cut off excess foil, leaving about 1 inch to fold and crimp your cookie cutter together. 
6. Use cookie cutters to cut your rolled-out dough. Because the cutters do not have sharp edges, even the kids can help. 
7. Place cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake according to the package or recipe.^3,4

Want more hacks like these? Check out our aluminum foil hacks.

Keeping food warm (and safe!) for a party is easy to do with the right gear and techniques. Food should not be held or served in the “danger zone (between 40-140°F)” for longer than 2 hours. So always have a food thermometer on hand. Here are a few tips and products to keep your food warm: 

• Aluminum foil covers: For short-term warming of casseroles and baked dishes, use a sheet of aluminum foil or flip a disposable bakeware pan upside down to act as a lid to keep in the heat. 
• Slow cookers: Setting your slow cooker on low or warm setting will keep your dips, chili, soups, and other dishes at the right temperature. Never hold foods in an unplugged slow cooker. 
• Oven: Set your oven to warm, about 170-200°F. 
• Chafing dishes: Follow the manufacturer's directions and use a chafing dish set with fuel. Always use a water bath underneath your serving pan to help spread the heat evenly. 
• Warming trays: electric warming trays are flat, plug-in appliances that can keep multiple dishes warm for parties and buffets. 

Before warming food, be sure it is fully cooked and heated to the minimum internal temperature. For instance, if you're reheating a pre-made dish, always ensure it’s heated to a minimum internal temperature of 165°F before serving it . Check your food’s internal temperature to ensure it stays above 140°F. If you have questions about food handling safety for parties and holidays, get details at food safety tips or the USDA. 

We’re rooting for you! We hope you find these party food hacks helpful in making your occasion more special. And may your game day recipes make the party the talk of the town!

Resources: 

1. Hoover, M. (2022, April 22). Oven Bacon Twists. Unbound Wellness. 

2. Garten. I. Parmesan Crisps. Food Network. 

3. Huntsberger. J. (2019, August 12). DIY Cookie Cutters: 3 Easy Ways to Make Your Own. Whisked. 

4. Yazawa, M. (2023, October 30). How to Make DIY Cookie Cutters at Home: 4 Methods. Real Simple.