Power Rankings Thursday - Best Snacks/Apps for Gameday

Today is a very special PRT, because in addition to being everyone's favorite blog day, it's also the official start of the 2025 NFL Season. Thursday Night Football kicks off tonight with The Cowboys vs the Eagles, we got a Friday Night game in Brazil with the Chiefs vs the Chargers, and of course a big stretch of games on Sunday. And while it'd be easy to Power Rank the NFL Teams, or QB's, or most exciting games on this weekend's slate like every other Sports Media outlet -- we're instead going to talk about an equally important slate during Football Season -- the FOOD.

Today's PRT will be about the Best Foods to have at your NFL Watch Party. You can also think of this as the Super Bowl Sunday Spread, but this is essentially the best snacks and appetizers to have while rotting on your couch and watching 8 hours of football. Ball-watching favors "grazing" -- so you won't be seeing any meals on this list -- just the spread of little bites you can load up your plate with while you throw imaginary penalty flags, say "Big 3rd Down Here" to your less-than-interested girlfriend, and live-and-die by your Fantasy Team's score for the 1st out of 14 weekends in a row.

And yes -- I'm fully aware this is two food-related blogs in a row. And I stand by this decision. Food always plays. I'll change this entire blog page and only write food-related blogs for the rest of the year and my views will probably sky-rocket.

Lastly, these are all savory options -- no sweets on this list. Otherwise Double-Decker Cookie cake from IGA would be winning in a landslide (Shoutout Dan and Lindsay).

Honorable Mentions

Spinach-Artichoke Dip

French Onion Dip

Us Midwesterners love us some dip, and if there's a bag of Tostitos or Ruffles nearby, I'll evacuate an entire bowl of either one. Dips may be their own Top 10 in the future.

Nachos

Similar choice in the top 10, and no one likes a soggy chip (unless it's drowned in queso at a Mexican Restaurant).

Party Mix

Homemade Chex Mix over actual Chex Mix every day of the week, twice on Sunday.

Potato Skins

Some people love them, I can go without them.

Meatballs

A worthy Top 10 option, but I just wrote about meatballs and all their glory on Tuesday, so visit the recipe blog if you want more meatball content from Bean's Blog.

Bacon-wrapped Little Smokies

Another too similar option in the Top 10 -- but can be swapped for the Top 10 one and I won't tell you you're wrong.

Charcuterie Board

I love meats and cheeses -- sue me. And if there's a charcuterie plate, I'm always diving in. But they're a little too elegant for football watch parties in this Bean's opinion.

Tortilla Dip Wraps

I don't know how else to describe these, but my friend Rachel brings them to events and they go so fucking hard. I think I ate 17 at the Super Bowl Party this year.

The Top 10

#10 Sausage Balls

Kicking things off with one that very well may be too niche for the average Football Sunday Spread, but are too good to overlook. Sausage, biscuit mix, cheddar cheese -- mix it together -- bake it -- eat 75 of them. It's that simple. Sausage balls may not get the universal play they deserve, but they're always a hit when they show up to the party. They're like a well-timed Flea Flicker: seldomly utilized, but gets the blood pumping when you see one. Simple, hearty, and hammer-able -- make them next appetizer night and thank me later.

#9 Tacos/Mini Tacos

In the High School days, when our metabolisms were as fast as 2018 Tyreek Hill on a Go-route, I wasn't afraid to show up to the Super Bowl party with a bag of Jack-in-the-Box tacos and as much buttermilk ranch as the stoned drive-thru worker would allow me. Now just the thought gives me Justin Fields-playbook level runs. But I'll never turn down a taco -- whether someone's bringing a Taco 12-pack or two from T-Bell, or a big batch of mini tacos with salsa and cheese -- they're finding their way onto my plate every time.

#8 Pigs in a Blanket

My preferred choice to their cousin in HM's (bacon-wrapped smokies), pigs in a blanket are an easy Top-10 for me. These are a staple, a textbook football snack. Talk about running the damn football. They may not take the top off the defense like some of these other choices, but they're gonna give you 4 yards a carry and open up the passing game. They may not be a Pro Bowler every year, but add in some Honey Mustard and Barbecue sauce on the side -- they're making an All-Pro team. Pigs in a blanket are Inside Zone -- a necessary play in the Football Sunday playbook.

#7 Pretzel Bites

Sometimes, when you're in the War Room for your Fantasy draft, you gotta weigh the risk and reward of each pick. Do I take Isaiah Pacheco -- knowing exactly what I'm getting into? Or do I take RJ Harvey -- the unknown who could be a star, or just another guy? That's how I feel about pretzel bites. Sometimes you get a warm, salty pretzel with a nice beer cheese or spicy mustard dip. Sometimes you get a cold, hard, dense bite that can't even be saved by the dip. Risk/Reward appetizer, but when done right, is a higher-ceiling player than the options above it.

#6 Chili

Is there a meal or snack that embodies Fall/Football season more than a good Chili? I don't think so. When the weather gets cool and the leaves start changing color, Chili calls out to me like Car Keys call out to a Georgia Football Player after 10-12 alcoholic beverages. Chili's a versatile playmaker -- line it up in the backfield (in a bowl), out wide as a WR (over a hot dog), even under center to take snaps in the Wildcat (over noodles for chili mac). And you can even get versatile in the type of chili you chef up -- white chicken, spicy or mild. Chili is a gadget player that has a nose for the end zone (making you need to poop).

#5 Jalapeño Poppers

This is probably my most biased ranking (in a ranking list that is quite literally all my bias) but I think jalapeño poppers are an electric addition to a Sunday Spread. You can always go with the classic poppers -- the ones you might see on a fast food menu or Schnucks hot food bar -- breaded, cheese-filled, small amount of pepper. My preferred method -- dare I say the Final Boss Form -- is making them homemade with the full Jalapeño, slice it in half, fill it with cream cheese, and wrap that bitch up in bacon. If breaded poppers are Dan Orlovsky, homemade poppers are Dan Marino.

#4 Chips and Tri-Dip (Salsa, Queso, Guacamole)

Is this ranking cheating a little bit? Sure is. This is like taking Jahmyr Gibbs in a fantasy draft but claiming you get David Montgomery as well. But this is my list damnit. And if you're the guy that offers to bring chips and salsa to the party, just know every single person there is mad that you didn't get some queso or guac as well. So don't be that guy -- be the fucking legend that shows up with all 3 and a family-sized bag of On The Border chips and take this Sunday to the next level. No offense can be one-dimensional -- Salsa is the run, Queso is the pass, and Guac is the play-action.

#3 Hawaiian Roll Sliders

These have been my go-to the last few years for Super Bowl Sunday, and while I think they're usually a hit with the crowd, I mostly make them for myself to eat a full tray. We've talked versatility already, but the Hawaiian Roll Sliders are the epitome of this. Ham and cheese? Halfback Dive. Italian Sliders? Play-action rollout. Buffalo Chicken Sliders?? RED ALERT, ALL GO. These are absolutely perfect for a Football Spread because everyone can grab one or two for their plate and save plenty of room for the rest of the goodies. The most important factor -- gotta melt some butter with some garlic, Italian seasoning, parm to spread on top. Thank me later.

#2 Pizza

It feels a bit sacrilegious to rank what is not only my favorite food, but the one I've definitely eaten the most of while watching football, at #2 and not #1. It feels like arguing Tom Brady is in fact the #2 Quarterback of all time knowing it's not true. But I think Pizza is such a heavy-hitter based more-so on the ease of acquiring rather than it's criticality to a football spread. Any Schmuck can pick up a few $6 Dominos pizzas on their way over -- but it takes a true friend to go the extra mile and get Stefanina's for the people. That's the franchise-cornerstone Left Tackle that's going to protect your QB for 12+ years. So while Pizza will always be a 1st rounder, it's number #2 overall in this fantasy draft.

#1 Buffalo Chicken Dip

It could only be you, BCD. I couldn't make this completely irrelevant list of opinions no one asked for or cares about without being true to myself, and when I think of Football Food -- Buffalo Chicken Dip is the #1 option. No Super Bowl party is complete without it. No Sunday Spread reaches it's fullest potential without it. When someone takes it upon themself to make BCD, they're undertaking the burden of the entire party. It takes time, it takes effort -- and they do it anyways because they know how important it is. Bringing BCD to the party is good for at least 2 touchdowns for your fantasy team because the universe knows you've done a good deed. It's changed the game for the better in a similar, if not more influential way, than the forward pass. Or moving the field goal posts to the back of the end zone. Buffalo Chicken Dip is the Tom Brady of the Appetizer game, and now I'm gonna make some this weekend and eat the whole crockpot myself.