The Big Game is right around the corner and while the action on the field draws millions of viewers, snacking is the true MVP of the day. According to Instacart, when fans gather for watch parties nationwide, February consistently ranks as one of the biggest months of the year for game day food and drinks.
The Instacart Snacktime Report
Using Instacart purchase data from 2025, the delivery platform analyzed how customers stock up for the Big Game and uncovered the categories, flavors, and regional preferences that define game day shopping.
The Biggest Game Day Food Surges
When it comes to Big Game hosting, a few categories reliably anchor the spread and the data makes that clear. During Big Game weekend, chips and dips dominate carts nationwide, reinforcing their role as the backbone of game day snacking. Tortilla Chips took the top spot (+106% the order rate compared to the 12-month average), followed by Potato Chips (+32%), with Puff Chips coming in at a respectable #6.
Not far behind are pairings that bring those chips to life. Ranch, Salsa, Canned Diced Tomatoes, Scallions, Roma Tomatoes, Queso, and French Onion Dip spike significantly, rounding out the top ten surge items.
Together, these categories reflect a familiar and beloved formula: easy-to-assemble snacks that feed a crowd and keep fans fueled through every quarter.
Snacks with the Biggest Game Day Spikes
While many snack categories are staples for all kinds of get-togethers, a few see their biggest spike of the entire year around the Big Game, including Buffalo Sauce, Frozen Chicken Wings, Tortilla Chips, Ranch Dressing, and Hot Sauce. Here’s how demand for these tasty categories fluctuates throughout the year, and how their Big Game peaks stack up against other seasonal moments:
- Buffalo Sauce: In 2025, the share of Buffalo Sauce orders increased 201% during the week of the Big Game compared to the 12-month average, with smaller but notable upticks at the start of football season in September and another bump on New Year’s Day, when college football playoff games were in full swing.
- Frozen Chicken Wings: Frozen Chicken Wings see notable bumps throughout the year, with their most pronounced spike around the Big Game, when they are ordered 123% more often. Additional upticks appear throughout the football season, during March and April college playoff basketball games, and at the start and end of summer in June and September.
- Tortilla Chips: A year-round crowd-pleaser, Tortilla Chips have their shining moment around the Big Game, with the share of purchases surging 46%. Purchases also spike around New Year’s during college football playoff games, Cinco de Mayo, and the Fourth of July.
- Ranch Dressing: Beyond its Big Game peak increase of 34%, Ranch Dressing proves to be a versatile staple across seasons. Demand rises during college football season and again around Fourth of July celebrations.
- Hot Sauce: Hot Sauce orders peak around the Big Game, with people adding to cart 38% more often. There’s also a notable spike in early May, driven by strong ties to Mexican and Tex-Mex meals around Cinco de Mayo.
Snacking Preferences By State
Just as each region rallies behind its own team, each region also brings its own flavor preferences. Looking at the most uniquely popular game day snack category by state reveals how regional tastes shape Big Game spreads nationwide:
- Queso remains a game day staple with wide regional appeal, topping charts across the West and Upper Midwest. Whether warmed straight from the jar or dressed up at home, it’s an easy, shareable favorite that anchors any snack spread.
- Processed Cheeses like Velveeta, dominate across the South and Great Plains, reinforcing their role as the backbone of effortlessly creamy, melty cheese dishes fit for a crowd.
- Chicken Wings take the lead across much of the Midwest, Northeast, and parts of the West, signaling consumers’ preference for heat-and-serve proteins that deliver big flavor with minimal prep.
- Tortilla Chips show up as a top category throughout the Mountain West and Plains states, underscoring their role as the essential companion to dips, cheeses, and salsas on game day.
- Buffalo Sauces shine brightest in the Northeast – especially New York – a fitting show of hometown pride for a sauce born in Buffalo and still central to the region’s game day identity.
Whether You’re a Bills Fan or Not, Buffalo Rules
Rich, classic flavors are another defining part of Big Game snacking, and few flavors are as closely tied to game day as Buffalo Sauce. Whether mixed into dips or paired with wings, Buffalo Sauce sees a 201% increase in order share around the Big Game, and consistently appears alongside many of the weekend’s most popular foods.
Instacart data shows that Ranch Dressing is 886% more likely to be purchased alongside Buffalo Sauce than average across Instacart orders – confirming a classic pairing Americans can’t resist. Chicken Wings (956%) and Frozen Chicken Wings (740%) round out the top three companions, reinforcing Buffalo Wings’ enduring popularity.
Buffalo Chicken Dip also seems to play a starring role on snack tables, with key ingredients like Cream Cheese (319%) and Canned Chicken (693%) frequently appearing in the same carts as Buffalo Sauce.
Ranch Dip is the Midwest MVP
Ranch Dressing is a Big Game staple nationwide. In fact, it’s ordered 53% more often than the next closest dip, French Onion, underscoring how central Ranch Dressing is to game day spreads.
Given its popularity, Instagram took a closer look at where Ranch Dressing really shines – and the Midwest and Appalachia clearly lead the way. While Ranch Dressing may be a universal party condiment, it becomes especially central to Big Game spreads in the Heartland, where wings, pizza, and other bite-sized snacks dominate watch party menus.
In contrast, much of the West Coast and Southwest under-index on Ranch Dressing, highlighting how regional tastes shape Big Game dip and sauce choices. Hawaii is the least likely to add Ranch Dressing to game day spreads, ordering it 59% less often than the national average. Other warm-weather states trail closely behind, including Florida (-54%), California (-41%), and New Mexico (-41%).
How You Wet Your Whistle
With salty, spicy snacks on the table, beverages naturally follow. Instagram’s data shows the share of alcohol orders typically rise 10% during the Big Game weekend compared to the yearly average. A closer look at year-over-year growth in alcohol order share among 21+ consumers shows Mexican-style Lagers are gaining momentum, followed by Prosecco, Unflavored Tequila, Light Lager, and Canned Cocktails.
Together, these choices point to a rising demand for light and refreshing beers, celebratory bubbles, and easy-to-serve cocktail options, which are ideal for long watch parties.
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