Big Game Watch Party Recommendations from 101 Cooking for Two

The BIG GAME is coming and is considered the second most important “food holiday” after Thanksgiving. Food is an essential part of any watch party, so it’s time to fire up with my annual watch party recipe roundup.

Jump to:

Introduction
🖐️Finger Food Recipes
🥣Chili Recipes
🥘Main Course Recipes
🍬Sweets Recipes

Introduction

Most of us are looking forward to the big game this week. God knows we need a distraction. I almost always enjoy the game. But even if you don't enjoy the game, there is no reason not to have great food and a party.

While I will admit to liking college football more than pro, I do enjoy professional sports during their playoffs. They seem actually to try harder. Personally, I’m a reformed Lions fan, which means I don't watch regular-season games. It is so nice not to waste that 3 hours every Sunday.

And is 7 hours of pregame programming really 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.

🖐️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.

Crispy Baked Chicken Wings

Easy to follow step by step photo instructions for crispy oven baked chicken wings. No need to fry to get the great crispy skin. Add a Buffalo coating, and you have an American favorite. Now you can do it at home. Plus it is healthier.

Blue Cheese Dip

A great homemade Blue Cheese Dip is just what you need for those buffalo chicken wings and the vegetables. It is the required dipping sauce. You can make this creamy dish with these easy step by step photo instructions.

Quick French Bread Pizza

Great tasting pizza perfect for that quick evening meal or a party. And at 20 minutes it's faster than a speeding pizza dude.

Sweet and Spicy Chicken Bacon Wraps

What could go wrong with bacon, sugar, and spices? Cubes of chicken wrapped in bacon and coated with brown sugar, chili powder, and cumin? Great finger food for that "bring a dish" party. A skill level of 3/10 (easy). Plus it is easy to double or triple if needed.

Mango Pineapple Salsa

Mango salsa is so simple to whip up. Wonderfully tasty and a great compliment to spicy Mexican foods. Just a little slicing and dicing and you're there. Perfect for a party and friends.

Mango Salsa with Pineapple from 101 Cooking for Two

Easy Guacamole

A quick and easy guacamole recipe that is healthy, creamy, a bit spicy, and delectable. Using only fresh ingredients and about 10 minutes, you will have one of the best guacamole you can make at home.

🥣Chili Recipes

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

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 smaller crock pot and can easily be adjusted to your taste and needs.

Ultra Simple Crock Pot White Chicken Chili

This is the easiest and best crock pot white chicken chili recipe you will ever taste. Dump, dump, dump, then cook for 4 hours. You are rewarded for your laziness with a great chili, and all your friends will demand the recipe.

White Chicken Chili on a spoon over bowl

Crock Pot Stew Meat Chili

Super easy dump and go chunky stew meat chili. This wonderfully tasty chili brings multiple levels of taste with the optional use of different types of chili peppers. Tender chunks of beef will make this chili a favorite.

Salsa Verde Chicken Chili a la Crock Pot

Just combine salsa verde, white beans, and chicken in a crock pot for great chicken chili that will be the star of any gathering. A wonderful change of pace chili that is super easy to make.

Close up of a spoonful of Salsa Verde White Chicken Chili

Low Fat High Taste Crock Pot White Chicken Chili

Great tasting healthy crock pot white chicken chili with only about 250 calories and 2 gram of fat per serving. Just follow these easy step by step photo instructions. No pre-cooking the chicken here.

Low Fat Crock Pot Chicken Chili on a spoon

Crock Pot Three Bean Turkey Chili

One of my best chili recipe ever. A wonderful crock pot three bean turkey chili that the whole family will love. Plus it's healthy. Now you can have it all.

🥘Main Course Recipes

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

The Best Ground Beef Taco Meat

Great Mexican for all. The absolute best ground beef taco meat you can make at home. Perfect for nachos, salads, or even tacos. So easy and good, you will never use store-bought seasoning again. And you made it from scratch with these easy step by step photo instructions.

Oven Pulled Pork from Pork Butt

Everybody deserves great pulled pork, but most of us don’t have smokers. This outrageously good pulled pork is as simple as rub and toss it in the oven for great low and slow goodness.

Crock Pot Pulled Pork the Right Way

Great melt-in-your-mouth pulled pork is now an easy economical dinner recipe. Cooked all day low and slow in your crock pot, pork butt becomes pull-apart tender for the family or a crowd.

close up picture of a BBQ Sandwich with sauce on a blue plate

Crock Pot French Dip

An easy recipe for crock pot French dip sandwiches that are melt in your mouth tender and bursting with wonderful taste. Easy to follow step by step photo instructions.

image of a French dip sandwich with dip on a gray plate.

Kansas City Oven Baked BBQ Beef Brisket

Great BBQ for everybody. The ultimate KISS recipe with only two ingredients and only about 5 minutes of total work time, what could be better? A never failed recipe we have used for 40 years.

Oven Baked BBQ Brisket from 101 Cooking for Two

Oven Baked Chicken Legs - The Art of Drummies

Oven baked chicken legs are a simple dinner the whole family will love. Just trim, pat dry, simple spices, and bake them in the oven. You will have perfect crispy, juicy chicken legs every time with these easy step by step photo instructions.

Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Thighs

Deliciously crispy skin and juicy inside, oven baked chicken thighs have it all. They are quick, economical, tasty, and require almost no skill — a great recipe for two or a crowd. Just one pan and a bit of seasoning will get you some of the best baked chicken you will ever taste.

🍬Sweets Recipes

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

Crock Pot White Chocolate Almond Clusters

Great white chocolate almond clusters are an easy crock pot candy with these step by step photo instruction for the perfect white chocolate candy.

white chocolate almond clusters on a white plate

Easy Oreo Fudge

Outstanding Oreo fudge that is packed with bits of crushed Oreo cookies in great tasting sweet white fudge that will practically melt in your mouth. Only four ingredients and ultra-simple. Great for the office holiday party or a gift.

Cheesecake Bars

Perfect for any occasion, these creamy New York cheesecake bars will impress your friends and family. Scaled to a smaller occasion but easy to double or freeze.

Crock Pot Chocolate Peanut Clusters

Just 5 minutes, 3 ingredients, and a little time in a crock pot or on a stovetop will get you great chocolate peanut clusters for holiday giving, a cookie exchange, or the office holiday party. This will become a family tradition.

Easy Lemon Bars

Six-ingredients are all you need for these easy lemon bars. Bursting with great sweet-tart lemon taste and a buttery shortbread base, they are everything a lemon bar should be. Perfect for every day or a special occasion.

Homemade Candied Nuts

Don't you just love the smell of the candied nuts at the mall or a fair? You can do it at home with these easy to follow step by step photo instructions.