Game Day

There is an undeniable magic to autumn weekends. As the air turns crisp and the leaves shift colors, a new season is ushered in.   One of our favorite parts of the season is settling in for one of America’s favorite weekend pastimes: football!  

While going to a stadium live has its thrills, there is truly no better place to experience game day than from the comfort of your own living room. Cozied up on the couch with loved ones, whether you are fully engrossed in the game or only half watching it – there’s nothing like a football Saturday or Sunday at home. 

 

We love to create a warm, inviting atmosphere where our teenagers are around and their friends are all welcome. We have found that the best way to do that is to have food – and lots of it (we have 3 boys.) Football season at home isn't just about football, it’s about creating an environment to come together around.  Here is your guide to creating the perfect game day at home.  

Effortless Game Day Entertaining 

The secret to a successful home tailgate is keeping things relaxed but make it feel special enough that it’s not just another day at home. To pull off a seamless game day gathering without spending hours in the kitchen, lean into these simple entertaining strategies so that you (as the host) can also enjoy the day: 

• Embrace the Self-Serve Station: Instead of individually plating food or serving complex multi-course meals, build a central snack zone. Set out a mix of finger foods, dips, and bite-sized treats on the coffee table or kitchen island. A self-serve setup keeps the energy casual and lets everyone graze at their own pace.  We often make sliders. From bbq chicken sandwiches or burgers, sliders are the perfect size and game day food. 

 

• Master the Mix of Homemade and Store-Bought: You don't need to make every single item from scratch. Pair a signature homemade dish with high-quality store-bought shortcuts. Buy pre-cut vegetables, artisan potato chips, and pre-made salsas, then focus your effort on one standout hot snack that brings the room together.  We’ve found that Walmart’s queso is better than anything we can make or get at a restaurant. Try it and find out! 

 

• Keep the Decor Simple and Warm: Michael’s recently had 2 or 3 endcaps with football themed décor. We stocked up on serving trays, paper decorations, napkins and more. We love our personalized football themed serving tray that is ideal for serving sliders or fried chicken.  Shown below are a couple of great personalized and non-personalized football themed items that we offer at More Than Paper. 

You can even go so far to have personalized football themed napkins at your at-home tailgate! 

 

• Set Up a DIY Beverage Bucket: Fill a galvanized tub or deep cooler with ice, canned sparkling waters, local craft beers, and sodas. Place it near the living room so guests and family members can grab a fresh drink without missing a single play. We use our personalized servingware  found at More Than Paper when entertaining our guests (football games or otherwise.)  These virtually unbreakable personalized wine glasses, beer glasses, and tumblers work well for day drinks.  

Mix up a pitcher of margaritas or a non-alcoholic mocktail and have it ready to go: 

 

 

Serve drinks in these lowball personalized glasses: 

Invest in the entire set and have a personalized ice bucket, pitcher, serving tray, and 4 high ball glasses! On-sale for 10% off at More Than Paper: 

Sheet Pan Loaded Queso Nachos

Nothing brings a room together during kickoff quite like a piping-hot, shareable pan of nachos. This recipe takes traditional nachos up a notch by combining rich, melty queso (mentioned before from Walmart!) with classic baked toppings. Making them on a single sheet pan ensures every layer gets maximum cheese coverage and keeps cleanup to a bare minimum.

 

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 15 minutes

Servings: 6–8 continuous grazers

 

Ingredients

For the Nacho Base:

 

• 1 large bag (13–15 oz) restaurant-style tortilla chips
• 1 lb ground beef or turkey (cooked with 1 packet of taco seasoning)
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup sweet corn (canned or thawed from frozen)
• 2 cups shredded Mexican blend or sharp cheddar cheese

 

For the Quick Warm Queso – store bought from Walmart, or try making yourself:  

• 8 oz white American cheese, cubed (from the deli counter)
• 1/4 cup whole milk
• 1 can (4 oz) diced green chilies

 

Fresh Toppings for Serving:

• 1 avocado, diced (or 1/2 cup fresh guacamole)
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup pico de gallo or salsa

 

Instructions

1. Prep the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
2. Make the Warm Queso: In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the cubed American cheese, milk, and diced green chilies. Whisk frequently until the cheese is completely melted and smooth. Keep warm on the lowest setting.
3. Layer the Chips & Fixings: Spread half of the tortilla chips evenly across your prepared baking sheet. Top with half of the seasoned cooked meat, black beans, corn, and 1 cup of the shredded cheese. Repeat with a second layer using the remaining chips, meat, beans, corn, and the rest of the shredded cheese.
4. Bake to Melt: Place the sheet pan in the oven for 8–10 minutes, or until the shredded cheese is completely melted, bubbly, and the chips are lightly toasted at the edges.
5. Drizzle & Decorate: Remove the nachos safely from the oven. Immediately drizzle the warm queso generously over the entire pan. Finish by scattering the fresh avocado, sour cream, cilantro, sliced jalapeños, and pico de gallo across the top.
6. Serve Right Away: Place the sheet pan directly on a heat-safe trivet on your coffee table or counter, hand out the napkins, and let everyone dive in together while it's warm!

 

Settling In for Game Day

Once the food is hot and the drinks are cold, the only thing left to do is kick back, wrap yourself in a blanket, and enjoy the rhythm of the afternoon. We love the revolving door of teenagers in and out on game day and wouldn’t trade it for the world!  It may be neighbors or friends or other family for you! Whether your favorite team is winning or losing, a home filled with people, food and good times always feels like a victory.