Get Ready for Game Day Recipes!

If you like this recipe, please share!

You’re having friends over to watch sports, so you need great recipes to keep them satisfied while you cheer on your favorite team. This collection of Game Day Recipes is sure to score big points with the fans.

A photo collage of game day food.

Going out to a pub or restaurant to watch sporting events can be loads of fun. Friends and family can cheer on their favorite team while enjoying a variety of food options.

But it can also be expensive. If you plan and shop with your budget in mind, you can feed the gang great food for much less than if you all went to a pub. Plus, if everyone brings something, you can keep costs in check.

Plus, keep food warm in crock pots or chafing dishes, so guests can serve themselves, allowing you to enjoy the game and your guests.

Best Game Day Recipes When Serving Beer and Wine

Guys like beer, it’s a well-known fact. Ladies prefer wine, but if you’re like m,e you enjoy both. Here are some snacks that work in this situation, in addition to many of the recipes below.

Then there’s chili! Because a game day when the weather is brisk needs a good chili recipe. If you want quick and easy, made on the stove, try this easy chili recipe. If you prefer a slow-cooker method, where guests can serve themselves, slow-cooker chili is the recipe you need.

And when chili is one of your game day recipes, you need cornbread! Try my delicious maple cornbread, my son’s favorite world’s best cornbread, or cornbread muffins.

Game day recipes Twitter image.

Game day recipes are perfect for any gathering, including potluck parties or to watch any sporting event, such as the Final Four in basketball, The Daytona 500, The World Series, the race for the Stanley Cup, or the All-Star game, whatever your favorite may be.

Game day recipes Pinterest image.

Game Day Grilling

Throw these delights on the grill for your main dish and sides.

Red Wine Marinated Flank Steak
Grilled to perfection, this flank steak makes an occasion special. Use
Check out the recipe
Overhead view of red wine marinated flank steak on a white cutting board sprinkled with Italian parsley.
Bacon and Cheddar Smash Burgers
Juicy, moist, and perfectly cooked, these bacon and cheddar smash burgers will be your new favorite dinner.
Check out the recipe
A double patty smash burger with bacon and cheese on a bun.
Herb Grilled Lobster Tails
Take game day to the next level if you're watching from home. Grill lobster tails!
Check out the recipe
Flavorful herb grilled lobster tails are a treat.
Bacon Cheddar Potato Packets
Throw potato packets on the grill alongside your entree.
Check out the recipe
Bacon Cheddar Potatoes on a plate.
Gigi’s Baked Beans
Gigi's baked beans are a delicious side dish for any party that includes burgers.
Check out the recipe
Close-up view of baked beans in a bowl.
Linguine Salad
Easy, delicious, and able to be made in advance, this Linguine Salad goes with all of the game day food.
Check out the recipe
Overhead photo of pasta, red onion, cucumber and tomato in a colorful bowl ready to be mixed into linguine salad.

Every Game Day Party Needs Appetizers

Whether you offer appetizers like dips or make finger foods, here are delicious ideas.

Sloppy Joe Cups
An easy way to serve a classic sandwich with less mess.
Check out the recipe
Overhead view of Sloppy Joe Cups on a blue platter.
Artichoke and Sun-Dried Tomato Spread
Artichoke and sun-dried tomato spread is a little something to tide you over at brunch.
Check out the recipe
Pimiento Cheese Pinwheels
Pimiento cheese pinwheels are perfect for game day or holiday parties.
Check out the recipe
Baked Artichoke Squares
Game day or party these baked artichoke squares are a great appetizer.
Check out the recipe
A baked artichoke square on a serving utensil with more on a platter in the background.
Easy Homemade Fried Cheese
Fried cheese is the perfect game day party food.
Check out the recipe
Easy homemade fried cheese is an appetizer that works for any party, whether it's game day, New Year's Eve or hungry teenagers.
Baked Onion Dip
If you're looking for a dish for a pot luck, game day food, aka football food, look no further. This baked onion dip comes together quickly and bakes while you prepare other dishes.
Check out the recipe
Skillet Pizza Dip
Skillet pizza dip is perfect for any sporting event get together such as bowl games, game day, baseball, World Cup and NASCAR and others.
Check out the recipe
A pizza dip surrounded by bread in a cast iron skillet.

Easy Sandwiches and Sliders

If you need something a bit heartier, here are some sandwiches and sliders to serve the crowd.

Easy Buffalo Chicken Sliders with Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing
Easy Buffalo chicken sliders with homemade blue cheese dressing is great for tailgate or game day parties.
Check out the recipe
Easy Buffalo chicken sliders with homemade blue cheese dressing is great for tailgate or game day parties.
Ham and Swiss Sliders
Ham and Swiss Sliders are perfect game day grub!
Check out the recipe
A single ham slider on a white platter with another slider in the background.
Pulled Pork Sandwiches
An easy game day sandwich that's made in the slow cooker.
Check out the recipe
Pulled pork sandwich with barbecue sauce dripping off the bun.
Hot Colby Ham Sandwiches
An easy sandwich for a weekend lunch or quick weeknight dinner.
Check out the recipe
Hot Colby Ham Sandwich on a spatula over a blue plate.
Parmesan Chicken Sandwiches
These Parmesan Chicken Sandwiches are a quick weeknight dinner or weekend lunch. Bake them ahead of the game and keep warm.
Check out the recipe
Chicken Parmesan Sandwich cut in half.

Pizza Choices

Pizza is always a great choice for game day, and here are a number of different ways to make it for a crowd.

Crescent Roll Pizza Bites
Crescent Roll Pizza Bites are so easy to make. The recipe can easily be scaled for more servings if you're entertaining a crowd.
Check out the recipe
An overhead photo of crescent roll pizza bites on a blue platter with a small bowl of marinara sauce.
Easy French Bread Pizzas
Slice up pieces of French Bread Pizzas and arrange on a platter to serve as finger food.
Check out the recipe
Hoagie roll pizza on a baking sheet.
Pepperoni Cheese Pizza Sliders
Pepperoni Cheese Pizza Sliders are perfect for many occasions like game day, sleepovers and anytime a snack is needed.
Check out the recipe
Pepperoni Cheese Pizza Sliders are perfect for many occasions like game day, sleepovers and anytime a snack is needed.
Cheesy Pizza Meatball Cups
Cheese, pepperoini, and a meatball in a tasty crescent roll package topped with sauce.
Check out the recipe
Pizza Meatball Cups on a white plate on a marble counter.
Garlic Bread Pepperoni Pizza
Take pizza to a new level by making it on frozen garlic toast.
Check out the recipe
Two slices of garlic bread pizza on a blue plate.

It’s All About the Wings!

Many people would agree that you can't have a game day celebration without chicken wings. Save money and make your own!

Polynesian Chicken Wings
Polynesian chicken wings are full of flavor and are delicious for a tailgate party.
Check out the recipe
Hawaiian chicken wings on a blue platter.
Cranberry BBQ Chicken Wings
Cranberry BBQ chicken wings are perfect as an appetizer for game day or a weeknight dinner. Our FAVORITE wing recipe.
Check out the recipe
Overhead photo of chicken wings on a blue platter.
Raspberry Glazed Chicken Wings
These wings are slightly sweet but totally delicious.
Check out the recipe

Desserts

Every game day party needs something sweet. These individual and easy to pick up treats will really score!

Cowboy Cookies
Cowboy cookies are chock full of chocolate chips, oats, pecans and coconut.
Check out the recipe
Cowboy cookies are chock full of chocolate chips, oats, pecans and coconut.
S’mores Cookies
A favorite summer treat made into a delicious cookie.
Check out the recipe
The very best s'mores cookies will become a new favorite.
Homemade Brownie Cookies
Soft and slightly chewy, these homemade brownie cookies make a sweet after school treat.
Check out the recipe
Brownie cookie on a cookie sheet.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside.
Check out the recipe
Ultimate Double Chocolate Brownies
Check out the recipe
A slice of brownie on a blue plate.
Cookies and Cream Fudge
Fudge is always a hit. Perfect for gift giving.
Check out the recipe
Pieces of White Chocolate Oreo Fudge stacked in a crystal candy dish.

Originally posted on January 22, 2017, and updated on February 6, 2021.

Similar Posts

6 Comments

  1. This is quite the tailgate collection! I’m stuffed just looking over everything! Great Post! Thanks for sharing at Celebrate 365 Football Party round up!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *