From chips to dips: What fans are serving for the Big Game

From chips to dips: What fans are serving for the Big Game

Each year, the Big Game ranks among the most food-centric events in the United States. In fact, Americans consume more on this day than on any other day of the year, besides Thanksgiving.

Millions of households will be preparing snacks for watch parties, and dips in particular have become a centerpiece of game day spreads, as party hosts are looking for shareable foods that are easy to serve and require minimal preparation.

Daisy Brand examines how refrigerated dips fit into football food traditions, what ingredient labels can reveal about these products, and why convenience and familiar flavors continue to shape consumer choices during large at-home gatherings.

Big Game food trends

On Feb. 8, 2026, it is estimated that more than 213 million Americans will be tuning in to the Big Game, and nearly 114 million of them will be hosting or attending a party.

Food is an essential element for any game day gathering. From snacking staples like chips and dip to hearty fan favorites like chicken wings and pizza, a football party should include an abundance of easy-to-eat items that fans can enjoy the entire game.

Menu items may vary across different regions of the United States, but there is one item that is sure to be in demand everywhere: dips. According to Instacart’s 2026 Snacktime Report: What Americans are Craving for the Big Game, orders for dips will be up 227% over the yearly average. According to the report, ranch is king: It is ordered 53% more than any other dip during the weekend. Other significant surges include queso (+196%) and French onion dip (+146%).

The versatility and shareability of dips make them an obvious go-to menu item, but not all dips are created equal. The ingredient list should be carefully considered before purchasing.

What consumers should look for at the store

Hosting a game day party doesn’t mean all concern about nutrition and ingredients goes out the window. There has been a shift toward ingredient transparency in recent years, and research is showing that consumers have a preference for recognizable ingredients over preservatives and artificial flavors.

According to a 2025 consumer survey from NSF, a trusted, third-party authority for health standards, Americans are more carefully looking at food labels. The survey of 1,000 Americans found that 83% of U.S. consumers read food labels before making purchase decisions. In addition, the ingredients are one of the first things consumers look for when reading food labels. Adults first look for the expiration date (86%); then, ingredients list (79%); health claims (78%); allergen warnings (77%); and country of origin (77%).

This increasing interest in what goes into the packaged food we eat has resulted in a demand for transparency from the food industry. That means a desire for clean label products: ingredient labels that contain only real ingredients that consumers are familiar with (i.e., those you can find in your own kitchen).

The problem is that many dips contain those added ingredients consumers are trying to avoid, including preservatives like potassium sorbate or thickeners like sodium phosphate.

Before you choose the items to serve at your Big Game gathering, take a close look at the food labels. Make sure you’re serving family and friends food that will taste great, without all of the preservatives and additives you normally stay away from.

Planning the Game Day menu

Now that you know what to buy (and what not to buy), start planning the menu with items that will feed a crowd but won’t keep you sidelined in the kitchen.

Utilizing a slow cooker for menu items like chili or pulled pork will allow hosts to prep in the morning and have time for other tasks throughout the day.

Every good party has a wide variety of snacks for guests. Opt for popular pairings like tortilla chips and salsa, potato chips and French onion dip, and crudité with ranch dip; snacks that will feed a crowd, but are quick and easy to prepare. These familiar flavor profiles will be fan favorites, and with no cooking or lengthy prep involved, they’re also major time-savers.

Another way to take some pressure off of hosting is by presenting a combination of homemade and store or restaurant-made foods. One practical option? Focus on the drinks, snacks and sides, and place a delivery order for pizza and wings.

If you’re feeling creative, plan a featured baked dish: something that you’ve made before and know will be a crowd-pleaser. A warm tray of loaded tater tots or homemade spinach-and-artichoke dip are two dishes football fans will be sure to cheer about. These baked dishes can be prepared ahead of time and warmed up just in time for kickoff.

When it comes to hosting a watch party for the Big Game, the recipe for success is simple: stick with foods that feel familiar, are easy to serve, and taste great; dips check all of those boxes.

Whether they’re scooped straight from the fridge or mixed into an easy, homemade-style recipe, refrigerated dips offer that “made-at-home” feel without extra prep, which is exactly what hosts are looking for. It’s no surprise dips keep earning their spot on Big Game tables year after year.

This story was produced by Daisy Brand and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.