Slideshow: Favorite Game Day Foods From Every Corner Of America

The sport Americans call football, more accurately called gridiron football, has been around since the late nineteenth century and is said to have originated at universities in North America. It's related to rugby and soccer (also known as association football), and the first intercollegiate football game was between Princeton and Rutgers in New Jersey on November 6, 1869. The soccer-style game they played was soon adopted by other colleges in the Northeast. Walter Camp, who attended Yale from 1876-1881, helped refine the sport into the precise form of football Americans enjoy today — he was behind ideas like an 11-man team, the current scoring scale, and the position of quarterback.

Today, football is an institution in the United States. Upwards of 114 million Americans watched the 2015 Super Bowl, and Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers, currently the highest-paid football player in the NFL, enjoys an income of $48.9 million annually. Needless to say, the country loves football — but Americans also love a good game day snack while they watch their favorite teams compete. Game day food can be considered almost as much of a traditional institution as the sport itself. We've rounded up some of the country's favorite game day foods, so make sure you pick some up for your next tailgate or viewing party.

Arthur Bryant's is a go-to for barbecue in the city — the eatery has been working on its recipe since it opened in the early 1920s.  

Unsalted butter, garlic, and hot sauce all appear in the recipe. If you're in New York, make sure to pick up this game day favorite for the big tailgate. 

The recipe includes beer, salt, eggs, and corn oil for frying, and it results in a legendary Wisconsin game day snack.

Gene & Jude's wins for the best Chicago-style hot dogs in the city, according to Serious Eats. The snacks are usually served topped with relish, mustard, onions, sport peppers, and fresh hand-cut fries. 

The recipe calls for tenderized steak, buttermilk, and cracked pepper gravy. Before the big game, consider enjoying the dish "cowboy-style" — with chili.

This famous chili is made with lean ground beef, chili powder, cayenne pepper, garlic, tomato sauce, and unsweetened chocolate.

G & M Restaurant & Lounge in Linthicum Heights is known for its crab cakes, so make sure you don't pass it up.

Zagat lists Enriqueta's as the best Cuban sandwich in Miami, and we can't argue — the venue takes the typical ingredients and stuffs them inside croquetas, or fried rolls.

Try the fried chicken nachos at STATS on Marietta Street before the big game. They come complete with sweet heat peach barbecue sauce.

The stew is often served with tortillas. Don't miss out on this staple if you're getting ready for a big game in Arizona.

If you're looking for a pre-game bite of this delicious dish, look no further than Island Creek Oyster Bar, according to Serious Eats. House-cured bacon makes an appearance in the recipe.

Christie's on the Square has a hand-breaded version of the sandwich that locals frequently order, so make sure not to miss out on this food icon on your next trip to the Midwest.  

Joe's Pizza in the West Village is frequented by celebrities, with even Kevin Bacon proclaiming he would choose a pie from the place as his last meal. Di Fara Pizza was ranked the number two pizza place in America by The Daily Meal this year, with its Classic Pie coming in first place on Time Out's list of the best New York pizzas.

Po' boys are almost always made with New Orleans French bread, and their other ingredients often include sliced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, and Creole mayonnaise.