• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
101 Cooking For Two
  • RECIPES
  • About
  • FAQs/Help
  • Shop
  • Chicken Recipes
menu icon
go to homepage
  • RECIPES
  • About
  • FAQs/Help
  • Shop
  • Chicken Recipes
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • RECIPES
    • About
    • FAQs/Help
    • Shop
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    🏠Home » Recipe Roundups

    Game Day Party and Tailgate Recipes

    Sep 14, 2022 · Modified: Dec 26, 2022 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan · 1 Comment

    Put on that team jersey, practice the fight song, and get the best parking spot or seat in front of the TV. Then you can open the snacks and dips, serve the drinks, and spread your favorite game day dishes to enjoy with your friends and family.

    College of food for tailgating
    Jump To:
    • Game Day Chili Recipes
    • Let Them Eat Nachos—But Only the Best Will Do.
    • Wings and Dip
    • Pulled Pork, BBQ Chicken, or Brisket Sandwiches/Sliders.
    • Sweet Endings
    • Food Safety Tips
    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    Let the games begin. Whether you are genuinely tailgating, having a game party, or just enjoying the game at home, you deserve great food without all the work.

    Everybody's menu will vary. Most will include beer and soft drinks, but please obey your local rules and indulge with care.

    The foods will start with finger foods like potato chips or corn chips, cubes of cheddar or other cheeses, vegetable trays, and dips are always favorites. Traditional hot dogs, brats, and burgers are mandatory if you are grilling.

    I'm picking recipes you can cook ahead and take to the game or party. While I have many great grill recipes, many people will opt for a simpler fare.

    Game Day Chili Recipes

    I have a lot of great chili recipes, but this two are our family favorites.

    First is the easiest white chicken chili recipe you can make, but it is also one of the absolute best chicken chili recipes you will ever eat. The added bonus for tailgating is that the cheese will stay hot for several hours to serve.

    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.
    Check Out This Recipe
    White Chicken Chili on a spoon over bowl

    Our second chili is that great everyday chili you always want to have in your recipe box. We call it our everyday chili. It is not bland but not too spicy. As the baby bear would say, it is just right.

    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.
    Check Out This Recipe
    orange bowl with chili with cheese

    Let Them Eat Nachos—But Only the Best Will Do.

    My first offering is the best taco meat you will ever make. You will never buy that envelope again. I consider this one of my best recipes and make it frequently.

    How to Make the Best Taco Meat in 25 Minutes
    Learn how to make the best taco meat in only 25 minutes. Once you have the best ground beef taco meat, Taco Tuesday will never be the same. Great Mexican for all!
    Check Out This Recipe

    Recipe number two is an excellent choice for chicken tacos or nachos.

    Crock Pot Chicken Tacos
    With only three ingredients, a crock pot, and 5 minutes of prep, you can make delicious shredded chicken tacos or nachos. So simple, cheap, and healthy, you will repeat this recipe over and over.
    Check Out This Recipe
    Chichen taco meat on a chip

    I can not do a tailgating roundup without recipe number three. Serve it as chili or make some excellent game-day nachos.

    Chuck Roast Chili with Chili Nachos
    Chuck Roast Chili makes perfect Chili Nachos. As chili, it is thick with wonder spicing and tender shredded chuck roast. As nachos, it provides tender shredded beef with beans and all the right spices. Make a pot full today for the next party or game day gathering.
    Check Out This Recipe
    Chuck roast chili and chili nachos collage

    Wings and Dip

    I only have one recipe for wings, but one is enough since it is a perfect one. No need to fry, do these oven-baked chicken wings, and you will never go back.

    Extra Crispy Baked Chicken Wings
    The crispiest chicken wings are baked, not fried. No greasy frying mess and it is so easy with this baked chicken wing recipe. You get extra crispy wings by using baking powder, a rack, and a convection oven. Then coat with homemade Buffalo sauce and serve with dipping sauce, carrot, and celery sticks.
    Check Out This Recipe
    Crispy Baked Chicken Wings from 101 Cooking for Two
    Homemade Blue Cheese Dip
    This Homemade Blue Cheese Dip is perfect for game day with buffalo wings and veggies. A 5 minutes dip recipe that's creamy and irresistible with an excellent fresh taste and no preservatives.
    Check Out This Recipe
    blue cheese dressing on a celery stick

    Pulled Pork, BBQ Chicken, or Brisket Sandwiches/Sliders.

    These are the classic tailgate dish. I'm just giving you the meat since you can handle the serving.

    I'm suggesting my oven version of pulled pork to keep things super simple but check out my Pulled Pork Recipe Roundup for something like an excellent crock pot pulled pork.

    Oven Pulled Pork - Low & Slow Pork Butt
    The best pulled pork is baked in the oven for most home cooks. Just a dry rub and bake a pork butt low and slow in your oven. Everybody can have perfectly moist and tender pulled pork with great flavor.
    Check Out This Recipe
    pulled pork sandwich with BBQ sauce

    I love simple, and I love good. Serve up some awesome shredded BBQ for those sandwiches.

    Easiest Crock Pot BBQ Chicken
    This is one of the easiest recipes ever—tasty BBQ chicken in under 4 hours. Great for family gatherings and parties or just when you want to be lazy for an easy family dinner.
    Check Out This Recipe
    a shredded BBQ chicken sandwich on a white plate

    One of the "kings" of BBQ meats is brisket. While smoking is not possible all-day long for most people, this easy oven recipe you can do a day or two ahead will get you close.

    Easiest Oven Baked BBQ Beef Brisket
    Everybody deserves great BBQ. Learn how simple it is to make smoky and tender baked BBQ brisket with this easiest baked brisket recipe—just two ingredients and 5 minutes of prep time—a never failed recipe we have used for 45 years.
    Check Out This Recipe
    Oven Baked BBQ Brisket from 101 Cooking for Two

    Sweet Endings

    Dessert bars are a great addition to any tailgate party. Here are a couple of easy cook-ahead bars that will make you look like the hero.

    Easy Lemon Bars
    Six ingredients are all you need for these easy (and best) lemon bars. Bursting with great sweet-tart lemon taste and a buttery shortbread crust, they are everything a lemon bar should be. Perfect for every day or take them to any special gathering.
    Check Out This Recipe
    two lemon bars 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.
    Cheesecake bars on a blue plate

    Food Safety Tips

    These gatherings are ready-made for food safety issues at the party and the leftovers. Let's plan for food safety and get it right.

    Food Safety
    My annual summer food safety review. Let’s learn to keep our friends and family safe from unsafe foods and potentially serious illnesses.
    Check Out This Recipe
    Food safety image licensed from Fotolia November 20, 2016. Copyright mybaitshop. Modifed per allow by licensed. DO NOT COPY
    two dog in Michigan bandanas

    Don't forget the party animals.

    Enjoy the fall.

    Wifo, Molly, Lilly, and DrDan

    Originally Published August 28, 2019. It will be updated and republished yearly about this time.

    More Recipe Roundups

    • Collage of small crock pot recipes
      Smaller Crock Pot Recipe Roundup
    • Valentines Day recipe graphic with dogs
      Valentine Day Recipe Roundup
    • grahic for Big Game Party Recipes
      Game Day Party Recipes
    • College of soup recipes
      Our Best Soup Recipes

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Comment (Policy Link in Footer) Cancel reply

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

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Linda Drews

      August 28, 2021 at 2:29 pm

      I absolutely love everything about your website: the variety, the attention to detail. Always look forward to your posts. Thought I'd give you a heads-up on this post. Your SWEET heading unfortunately says SWEAT ENDINGS. Thought you would want to know in case it's changeable.
      God bless

      PS Every doggy pictures is cuter than the one before!

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    DrDan image Hi, I’m DrDan, and welcome to 101 Cooking for Two, the home of great everyday recipes with easy-to-follow step-by-step photo instructions. About DrDan

    Join the club
    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Steak, Steak, and More Steak

    • cut ribeye steak on a gray plate
      How to Grill a Ribeye Steak on the Grill
    • filtet mignon with potatoes on a white plate
      Pan Seared Oven Roasted Filet Mignon
    • Grilled filet mignon on a white plate
      How to Grill Filet Mignon
    • NY strip steak cut on an orange plate
      Pan Seared Oven Roasted Strip Steak
    • a strip steak with grill marks on a gray plate
      How to Grill Strip Steak on a Gas Grill
    • porterhouse steak with fries on blue plate
      Grilled T-bone Steak and Porterhouse Steak

    Chicken, Chicken, and More Chicken

    • pile of chicken legs on a white plate
      Baked Chicken Legs - Quick and Easy
    • Large plage of chicken thighs
      Oven Baked Chicken Thighs
    • cut baked chicken on white plate
      How to Bake Chicken Breasts in a Convection Oven
    • Grilled Chicken Breasts on a blue plate
      How to Grill Chicken Breasts on a Gas Grill
    • grilled chicken drumsticks on a grill
      Grilled Chicken Drumsticks - Quick and Easy
    • grilled chicken thigh with some char
      Grilled Chicken Thighs on a Grill
    graphic of sites that I work with or have had recipes featured or referenced.
    SITES THAT I WORK WITH OR HAVE HAD RECIPES FEATURED OR REFERENCED.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top ↑

    About

    • About DrDan and the Blog
    • Business Questions
    • Comment Policy

    Content

    • Food FAQ
    • Kitchen Reference Sheets
    • Recipes Featured in the Videos
    • Guide To Cooking for Two
    • Saved Recipes Collections

    dogs by the pond

    Privacy Policy | Terms | Contact

    COPYRIGHT © 2010-2023 101 COOKING FOR TWO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | BASED ON FOODIE PRO THEME