Football may be the main event on Super Bowl Sunday, but the real MVP is whatever’s on the snack table. For a lot of folks, game day isn’t just about touchdowns, it’s about tortilla chips. Instacart’s latest Super Bowl report reveals that Americans go all-in on classic, crowd-pleasing snacks, with a few regional twists. From queso in the West to Buffalo sauce in the Northeast, game day food is all about bold flavors, easy sharing, and plenty of dips.
Here’s what Instacart’s shopping data shows:
- Tortilla chips rule game day. Orders for tortilla chips more than double during Super Bowl weekend, making them the most popular snack nationwide. Salsa, queso, and French onion dip surged right along with them, proving that Americans love a good scoopable setup.
- Regional favorites still matter. Queso is most popular in the West and Upper Midwest, while processed cheese dips lead in the South and Great Plains. Buffalo sauce dominates in New York, which tracks since it’s the birthplace of Buffalo wings, and New Jersey and Pennsylvania love it, too.
- Ranch is the king of dips. Ranch dressing is ordered 53% more than any other dip during Super Bowl weekend and is especially popular in states like West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio. It is also far more likely to be bought with Buffalo sauce, usually alongside chicken wings.
- What’s in the Fridge. Alcohol orders rise about 10% during Super Bowl weekend, with Mexican-style lagers like Corona and Modelo topping the list. Prosecco, tequila, light lager, and canned cocktails follow close behind, giving hosts plenty of easy, crowd-friendly drink options.
The teams may change every year, but America’s snack habits stay comfortingly predictable. As long as there are chips, dips, and something cold to drink, game day is in good hands.
Source: Instacart