8 Essentials for a Winning Game-Day Party

Save shopping for the last minute and the odds you’ll find perfectly ripe avocados are slim to none. For fresh flavor without playing the “is it ripe?” game, guacamole is our go-to—it comes in classic, chunky, and spicy varieties from ALDI to suit your preference.

When you’re hopping out of your seat on every play, you might as well drink a hoppy beer. Hopping Nomad Session IPA packs citrusy and tropical flavors into every sip.

Go global with Cucumber Dill Tzatziki. It’s great on chips or crudités and helps extinguish even the spiciest of wings.

This flavor combo is a classic for good reason. It’s great straight from the fridge or warmed in the oven (or microwave) with some extra cheese on top, if you want to go the extra mile.

No one can resist a meatball on a toothpick—it’s simply a fact. Go classic with a side of marinara or mix it up with sweet-and-sour or another favorite.

You didn’t think we’d forget the most quintessential of all game-day foods, did you? This is the one place where we do encourage you to do the cooking yourself, but that doesn’t mean you need a deep fryer and a gallon of oil. Try oven-roasting or air-frying your wings before dousing them in your favorite sauce(s). Buffalo is, of course, the classic, but we’re partial to shaking things up with salsa verde or an Asian-style barbecue sauce.

For the friends who prefer their brew to be limited-edition, try State of Brewing Pumpkin Ale. It’s got a hint of sweetness and provides a good reminder that football season is truly the best season.