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    🏠Home » Appetizer and Party Recipes

    Game Day Party Recipes

    Feb 4, 2023 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan · Last modified: Jun 1, 2023 · 2 Comments

    It's PARTY TIME. The big game is next week, time to make a plan and stock the fridge. Fire up that crock pot, oven, and grill—time to pig out.

    grahic for Big Game Party Recipes
    Jump To:
    • 🖐️Finger Food Recipes
    • 🥣Chili Recipes
    • 🥘Main Course Recipes
    • 🍬Sweets/Snacks Recipes
    • Don't forget food safety and the dog treats
    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    Special shout out to our old city, Kansas City (50 yrs ago), and Philidelphia, where my son lives. Have a great safe game, and congratulations to both teams.

    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.

    I almost always enjoy the game—but is 7 hours of pregame programming needed? We will be enjoying the puppy bowl part of that time.

    OK, I'm off task; back to the food. Let's divide the recommendations into four classes, finger foods, chili, main courses, and sweets/smacks.

    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    🖐️Finger Food Recipes

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

    Extra Crispy Baked Chicken Wings
    The perfect Oven Baked Wings recipe for all wing events. The crispiest chicken wings are baked, not fried—no greasy frying mess, and it is so easy to make at home.
    Crispy Baked Chicken Wings from 101 Cooking for Two
    Blue Cheese Dipping Sauce for Chicken Wings
    This Blue Cheese Dipping Sauce for Chicken Wings is the perfect complement to buffalo wings and veggies. A 5 minutes dipping sauce recipe that's creamy and irresistible.
    blue cheese dressing on a celery stick
    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 on a gray plate
    Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites—Sweet & Spicy
    Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites are the perfect party dish. It's easy to make with bacon-wrapped chicken, coated with brown sugar and spices, and baked to golden brown.
    chicken bacon wrap on a toothpick
    Easy Pineapple Mango Salsa Recipe
    Sweet and savory with a touch of spice, this Easy Pineapple Mango Salsa Recipe is a perfect fresh fruit salsa for an appetizer or with your favorite Mexican dish.
    pineapple mango salsa on tortilla chip
    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.
    guacamole on a chip over a bowl
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    🥣Chili Recipes

    To me, the watch party must have chili. You can check all my chili recipes in my chili category. But here are some of my favorites.

    Small Crock Pot Chili
    Super easy to make and one of the best homemade chilies you will ever have. This versatile chili is perfect in a small crock pot but can easily be adjusted to your taste and needs.
    orange bowl with chili with cheese
    Easiest Crock Pot White Chicken Chili
    Award-winning Crock Pot White Chicken Chili only needs five ingredients and 10 minutes of prep time. It's thick and creamy with tender chicken and mild spiciness.
    White Chicken Chili on a spoon over bowl
    Stew Meat Chili
    This Stew Meat Chili recipe is simple for even the non-cook—you only need a few knife skills. With this easy small-batch recipe, you can make chili for two or as much as you need.
    Stew Meat Chili in a spoon over a blue bowl
    Salsa Verde Chicken Chili
    Making this great change of pace chili is easy in a crock pot or on the stovetop. With just a few pantry ingredients and precooked chicken, everybody will be impressed with the results.
    spoonful of Salsa Verde Chicken Chili over a white bowl
    The Best Taco Chili—Crock Pot or Stovetop
    This is The Best Taco Chili recipe you can make at home. Full of spicy flavor with tender ground beef, beans, and thick tomato broth. Scale it down to make it "for two" friendly.
    Kick Tail Taco Soup from 101 Cooking for Two
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    🥘Main Course Recipes

    Maybe you are having more of a dinner. Here are some classics in all three food groups: beef, pork, and chicken.

    Oven Pulled Pork—Low and Slow Pork Butt
    Oven Pulled Pork from pork butt cooked low and slow is tender, moist, and delicious. This is the easiest recipe to get great pulled pork at home.
    pulled pork sandwich with BBQ sauce
    The Best Ground Beef Tacos—Quick and Easy
    The Best Ground Beef Tacos only needs ground beef, pantry ingredients, and 25 minutes. You can keep it mild or make spicy taco meat, your choice—Taco Tuesday will never be the same.
    taco meat on nachos on a white plate
    Crock Pot Pulled Pork from Pork Butt
    Pulled pork from pork butt is easy to make—you only need a dry rub, a pork butt (Boston butt) and your slow cooker. Everyone will love this melt-in-your-mouth BBQ pulled pork.
    Pulled pork with sauce in a bun on a blue plate
    Crock Pot French Dip
    Crock Pot French Dip sandwiches have tender beef and caramelized onions topped with melted cheese. Serve on a toasted roll with au jus for dipping.
    crock pot French dip with au jus
    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 from 101 Cooking for Two
    Baked Chicken Legs - Quick and Easy
    Crispy baked chicken legs (drumsticks) are a quick and easy meal the whole family will love. Just trim and pat dry some chicken legs, add simple spices, and bake them in the oven—perfectly crispy, moist, and tender.
    Baked chicken legs on a white plate
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    🍬Sweets/Snacks Recipes

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

    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 bars on a blue plate
    Crock Pot White Chocolate Almond Clusters
    Super easy and delicious white chocolate almond clusters are the perfect gift for the holidays or for any special occasion. Simple with these step by step photo instruction for the perfect white chocolate candy.
    white chocolate almond clusters on a white plate
    Old Fashioned Lemon Bars
    This Old Fashioned Lemon Bar recipe is easy and quick but still uses a classic shortbread crust and a tangy and sweet custard filling of eggs and lemon juice. It's a small 8X8 recipe that is easy to double for more lemon squares.
    two lemon bars on a white plate.
    Easy Oreo Fudge
    This super Easy Oreo Fudge recipe has only 4 ingredients and is packed with great flavor. It will melt in your mouth with chunks of Oreo cookies in sweet white chocolate fudge. 
    pile of oreo fudge
    Crock Pot Chocolate Peanut Clusters
    Chocolate peanut clusters are the best candy treat and are super easy to make at home in your crock pot. Lightly salted peanuts covered with sweet chocolate coating make the perfect gift, or keep them all for yourself—you can always make more with this smaller recipe.Only a few ingredients.
    red plate full of chocolate peanut clusters
    Candied Almonds or Other Candied Nuts
    This easy roasted candied almonds recipe makes the perfect holiday gift and a great crunchy party snack. Or make some delicious candied mixed nuts or other nuts with only a few ingredients and minimal skill.
    finished candied nuts on the cooking tray with white parechment paper

    Don't forget food safety and the dog treats

    Check out some food safety tips at Summer Food Safety.

    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.
    Pile of homemade dog treats on a wire rack

    Have a great watch party.

    Wifo, Molly, Lilly, and DrDan

    ↑Jump to Table of Contents

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

    Molly and Lilly playing in snow

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    1. Catherine

      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

      January 26, 2020 at 4:35 pm

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

      Reply

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