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🏠Home » Appetizer and Party Recipes

Smaller Recipes for a Big Game Party

Published: Jan 31, 2025 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan · 2 Comments

Not all recipes for the big game party need to be huge. Many are smaller watch parties, and small recipes for two or a small group that can be scaled to your needs are perfect. I have also included a section with a few great recipes for larger parties.

📋Table of Contents

Jump To (scroll for more)
  • 🖐️Finger foods
  • 🥣For dipping or chips
  • 🍜Top chili recipes
  • 🍬Sweets/Snacks Recipes
  • 🥳Larger Recipes for a Crowd
  • 🐕Don't forget food safety and the dog treats
graphic for Big Game Party Recipes.
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After Thanksgiving, big game day is considered the second most important "food holiday." Food is an essential part of any watch party—big or small.

Even if you are not a football fan, the Puppy Bowl and the ads are worth checking out. It is time for Americans to celebrate with a big food "pig out" party. Here are some easy and delicious recommendations, all with step-by-step photo instructions.

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🖐️Finger foods

If you are hosting a party, finger foods are great for watching the game and munching. Here are some of my best.

Crispy Baked Chicken Wings
Make these extra Crispy Baked Chicken Wings in your convection oven using baking powder and a rack. They're a healthy alternative to fried wings with about half the calories. Add your favorite seasoning for the best Buffalo hot wings you've ever made—you'll never want to fry again.
Crispy Baked Chicken Wings
Crispy Baked Chicken Wings from 101 Cooking for Two
Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites
These bacon-wrapped chicken bites are a perfect appetizer. The juicy chicken, crispy bacon, and a spicy brown sugar coating will make them the first finger food to disappear at any party. You can assemble them with toothpicks beforehand, then coat and bake them for the party—so easy, so good.
Bacon Chicken Wraps
Bacon-wrapped chicken bite on a toothpick,
Quick and Easy French Bread Pizza in 20 Minutes
Delicious Quick and Easy French Bread Pizza is the perfect 20 minute evening meal or a party. Full of your favorite toppings, browned melted cheese, and crispy crust. 
French Bread Pizza Recipe
French Bread Pizza on a gray plate
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bits or Bars
Make impressive Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars or Bits for finger food. It is simple and almost foolproof, using cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, and an Oreo crust. Please try our go-to recipe for parties or take-a-dish occasions. You can also make it as a full-size cheesecake.
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bits or Bars
Chocolate chip cheesecake bars on a platter square view.

🥣For dipping or chips

Blue Cheese Dip for Wings
This homemade Blue Cheese Dip for Wings is the perfect recipe for buffalo chicken wings, vegetables, salads, and many other dishes. No more store-bought dressing when you can have a fresh, made-from-scratch dip at your game party in five minutes.
Blue Cheese Dip for Wings
Blue cheese dip on celery.
Pineapple Mango Salsa Recipe
Sweet and savory with a touch of spice, this easy Pineapple Mango Salsa Recipe is a perfect fresh fruit salsa to serve as an appetizer or party dish. Or as a complement to tacos, fish, or other entree.
Pineapple Mango Salsa Recipe
pineapple mango salsa on white plate.
Memphis BBQ Sauce
The best Memphis BBQ sauce is perfect for chicken, pulled pork, pork ribs, and brisket. The sweet and tangy flavor of Memphis-style BBQ sauce complements smoky barbecues like pulled pork, pork ribs, or beef brisket.
Memphis BBQ Sauce Recipe
BBQ sauce on pork
Easy Guacamole Recipe
This Easy Guacamole Recipe is a basic recipe using only 4 ingredients and has many options to make it your own special homemade guacamole for parties or dinners.
Easy Guacamole Recipe
guacamole on a chip over a bowl
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🍜Top chili recipes

The watch party must have chili. Here are some of my favorites. All can be cooked in a 3-4 quart crock pot, are adaptable to 2-quart mini-crock pots, and quickly scale up for larger needs.

Small Crock Pot White Chicken Chili
This easy-to-make homemade chicken chili is my best chicken chili. Only 5 ingredients are needed: shredded chicken, white beans, salsa, cheese, and cumin to make this dump-and-go small-batch white chicken chili recipe, which can win the office chili cookoff.
Small White Chicken Chili
spoonful of white chicken chili.
Small Crock Pot Chili
Easy to make and one of the best homemade chilies, this small-batch crock pot chili recipe is versatile—you can make chili for two in a mini crock pot or larger for a crowd. It's a classic recipe with ground beef, a mildly spicy tomato-based sauce, and tender beans.
Small Chili Recipe
orange bowl with chili with cheese
Stew Meat Chili (Chili Con Carne)
This easy Texas-style Stew Meat Chili recipe, also known as chili con carne, has tender chunks of beef and beans in a delicious tomato sauce with multiple peppers and a touch of heat I love. It's a simple small-batch recipe made on the stovetop or in any size crock pot, from a 2-quart mini to a full-size one.
Stew Meat Chili (Chili Con Carne)
Stew Meat Chili in a spoon over a blue bowl
Salsa Verde Chicken Chili
You will love this Salsa Verde Chicken Chili recipe, a mildly spicy white chicken chili with salsa verde, shredded chicken, white beans, and a few pantry ingredients: a simple dump-and-go crock pot or fast stovetop recipe.
Salsa Verde Chicken Chili
Salsa Verde chili on a spoon.
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🍬Sweets/Snacks Recipes

No party is complete without something sweet. Give them something to talk about that you can make ahead.

Crock Pot Chocolate Peanut Clusters
Chocolate Peanut Clusters are easy to make in your crock pot, microwave, or stovetop. Use four ingredients for the best nut clusters—nuts, chocolate chips, almond bark, and Bakers chocolate to boost the quality. Nothing says love like a gift of delicious homemade candy, so give them your best.
Chocolate Peanut Cluster Recipe
Chocolate peanut cluster being held in a hand.
Easy Old Fashioned Apple Crisp
This easy Old Fashioned Apple Crisp is a small-batch recipe requiring only three apples and a few pantry ingredients. It's easy to make for two or a crowd. I love this delicious apple dessert, with cinnamon apples and a delicious crumble topping, just like Grandma would make.
Old Fashioned Apple Crisp
apple crisp on a white plate.
Easy Cheesecake Bars
These Easy Cheesecake Bars are creamy and delicious with a Graham cracker crust and lemon—the quick small-batch recipe you need with great tasting cheesecake bars.
Cheesecake Bar Recipe
Cheesecake bars on a blue plate.
Easy Lemon Bars
Easy lemon bars are delicious and simple to make in under an hour. These homemade lemon squares are a perfect dessert treat with a crispy, buttery shortbread crust and tangy and sweet lemon filling—a small batch 8X8 recipe you can scale to your needs.
Lemon Bar Recipe
Two lemon squares on a gray plate.
Candied Almonds
Candied almonds are easy to make at home. Sugar-coated with lots of cinnamon and vanilla, this simple roasted almond recipe can also be adapted to make candied cashews, peanuts, walnuts, or any mixture of these or other nuts. With six ingredients and 10 minutes of prep time, they are ready to roast to perfection.
Recipe for Candied Almonds
Roasted candied almonds fresh out of the oven.
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🥳Larger Recipes for a Crowd

Although several can be made smaller, these recipes are bigger for larger needs.

Oven Pulled Pork Butt—Low and Slow
Oven Pulled Pork from pork butt is cooked in the oven low and slow. Our best-pulled pork recipe is tender and moist with delicious bark. Super easy, with almost no work—you rub, bake at 250° for 8 to 9 hours, shred, and eat.
Oven Pulled Pork
pulled pork sandwich with BBQ sauce
Chicken for a Crowd
It is easier than you think to feed a crowd fresh baked chicken. From a small party to a large group of a hundred or more, this recipe for baked chicken is perfect for any size crowd. Start with skin-on chicken breasts and drumsticks. Trim to finger food size, season to taste, and bake. Also, learn to keep your party safe with the food safety tips.
Recipe
Pile of cooked chicken ready for a large party.
Easiest Oven Baked BBQ Beef Brisket
Learn how simple it is to make smoky and tender Oven Baked BBQ Beef Brisket with this never fail brisket recipe—just two ingredients and 5 minutes of prep time—everybody deserves great BBQ. 
Oven Baked BBQ Brisket
Oven Baked BBQ Brisket from 101 Cooking for Two
Pulled Pork Loin in the Oven
Pulled pork loin in the oven, baked in spicy braising fluid, is tender and easy to shred for healthier, low-fat pulled pork. Serve with BBQ sauce for easy shredded pork sandwiches for two or a crowd.
Pulled Pork Loin in the Oven
Pulled pork loin on a bun with BBQ sauce.
Spicy Tacos
This easy ground beef taco meat recipe has bold flavors and takes just 25 minutes to prepare.
Spicy Tacos
A plate full of ground beef nachos.
Easy Homemade Pizza Dough
Make one or have a pizza party for a crowd. This fast and easy Homemade Pizza dough recipe with only 5 ingredients—is perfect for a 13X9 sheet pan or a thinner crust 16-inch round pizza. Or scale up for a pizza party.
Easiest Homemade Pizza Dough
making out pizza dough

🐕Don't forget food safety and the dog treats

These gatherings are ready-made for food safety issues and leftovers at the party. Let's plan for food safety and get it right. Check out the USDA Food Safety recommendations.

Low-Fat Homemade Dog Treats—Healthy & Delicious
Low Fat Homemade Dog Treats are the perfect low-calorie treat for your dog. With only five ingredients, your dog will love the peanut butter and pumpkin taste. Much healthier than commercial treats—any veterinarian would approve.
Recipe for Low Fat Dog Treats
Pile of homemade dog treats on a wire rack

Have a great watch party, and enjoy the game!

Wifo, Molly, Lilly, and DrDan

Molly and Lilly are playing in the snow.

Editor note: Originally Published January 30, 2017. This post will be refreshed yearly with my current recommendations.

More Appetizer and Party Recipes

  • Baked chicken wings on a white platter
    Crispy Baked Chicken Wings
  • Blue cheese dip on celery.
    Blue Cheese Dip for Wings
  • Bacon-wrapped chicken bite on a toothpick,
    Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites
  • Two lemon squares on a gray plate.
    Easy Lemon Bars

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  1. Catherine says

    February 01, 2021 at 9:58 am

    . My Sunday menu has been planned, thanks to you. I’ve already tried many of these; not only easy but delicious.

    Reply
  2. Annette says

    January 26, 2020 at 4:35 pm

    Yum! I will be watching the game at your house! :O)

    Reply

DrDan imageHi, I'm DrDan.
Welcome to 101 Cooking for Two, the home of great everyday recipes with easy step-by-step photo instructions.
About DrDan

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