Everyone needs a crowd-pleasing main that’s easy to make ahead for game day (or reheats well if you forgot to make it ahead). Ideally it can keep low on the stove or be served from a crockpot because nobody wants to be stuck cooking during overtime!
1) Crockpot Classic Beef Chili
Chili can cook on low for up to 9 hours so it’s the perfect game day recipe, start it before kickoff and it’ll be ready to go for halftime (or beyond!). Simmer on low for 6 to 8 hours and the flavor really deepens and is totally worth the wait. Serve with lots of toppings (like cheese and onions) and bowls so folks can serve themselves.
2) White Bean Chicken Chili
Chili for meat lovers who hate the idea of having another bowl of beef. White beans, shredded chicken and green chiles give this chili a creamy feel (without using any actual cream!). Finish with a squeeze of lime juice just before serving to brighten the flavor, don’t skip this step! Crushed tortilla chips also make an interesting and crunchy chili topper.
3) Turkey Chili
Yes, you can use lean ground turkey in chili! Chili powder and cumin give this lean chili plenty of flavor. I typically double this recipe because it freezes well but I also like the fact that it’s not as filling as some other chili recipes.
4) Three-Bean Vegetarian Chili
There’s no meat in this recipe but nobody will notice! Three types of beans make this thick enough to eat with a spoon. Smoked paprika gives this bean chili some extra smoky flavor reminiscent of bacon. Make sure to simmer this chili for at least 45 minutes so the beans have time to get nice and starchy (this will also thicken up the chili). Cornbread is the perfect side dish to turn this into a whole meal.
5) No-Bean Texas Chili
This chunky beef chili tastes more like a stew than a soup. There are no beans in this chili, it’s just beef simmered with chiles. Serve this hearty chili over rice or eat it straight out of the bowl. Note: you want the beef to fall apart easily with a spoon so make sure to give this chili a good 3 hours on low.
6) Chili Mac
Chili mac is a marriage between two of my favorite game day dishes: chili and mac. I like to cook the pasta right in the chili so it soaks up all of the flavor (plus it makes the whole dish a little thicker so you can literally eat it out of the bowl one handed). This is hands down the most requested recipe I make in the fall!
7) Sloppy Joes
The secret is to make sure it’s simmering in liquid so it doesn’t dry out. The trick to a great sloppy joe is in the sauce, simmer it down so it coats the meat (instead of pooling on the bottom of the pan) and your bread will stay intact! I like to toast the buns for this reason as well. Slather on the filling and prepare to use more than one napkin.
8) Pulled Pork
Plan ahead and rub some pork shoulder the night before. Cook low and slow until it can be shredded with two forks. Be sure to mix the bark throughout the pulled pork.
9) BBQ Pork
Serve with your favorite barbecue sauce on the side (I like to keep mine unsauced). This is like the quick version of pulled pork, perfect for a last minute Sunday (like the one I made this recipe for). I use cubed pork shoulder and simmer it in barbecue sauce until it’s glazed and fork tender (about 2 hours on the stove). Serve over soft rolls.
10) Baby Back Ribs
Rub the ribs with a spice mix and wrap in foil tightly before baking in a low oven (300°F/150°C) until fork tender (about 2 1/2 hours). Before serving, you can brush them with sauce and broil to caramelize the sauce. Let the ribs rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
11) Barbecue Ribs
These ribs can totally be made ahead! These are my go-to ribs for game day especially if I’m planning on grilling other things. To make sure your ribs turn out tender make sure to remove the membrane on the back of the ribs. I like to cook ribs over indirect heat and only add barbecue sauce during the last 20 minutes so it doesn’t burn.
12) Beef Ribs
Beef ribs are like steak off the bone. Keep the seasoning simple (salt and pepper) so you can taste the beef! Cook for a few hours to allow the fat to render making the ribs tender. Heads up, a rack doesn’t serve as many as you think it will!
13) Braised Short Ribs
The secret to tender beef ribs is low and slow cooking. Sear short ribs on all sides to develop flavor and brown color. Add to your dutch oven with red wine and stock then simmer for 3 hours until tender and falling off the bone. Serve over potatoes or rice or whatever will allow you to soak up that sauce!
14) Ham and Cheese Sliders
These mini sandwiches with ham and swiss disappear the fastest! Brush with poppy seed butter before baking and bake until the cheese is melty and the butter glaze is browned and glossy. Serve warm straight from the oven (don’t be afraid to slice into these!).
15) Slider Burgers
Mini burgers are great to serve alongside all your other game day dishes. Instead of cooking burgers at the grill and having to wait, make a burger bar! I like to press mine thin so they cook quick in the bun. You can also press an onion on top of the patty while it cooks for flavor and to create a diner style burger. Not into grilling?
16) Smash Burger Sliders
To make a smash burger, cook a ball of meat on a hot griddle, smashing for about 30 seconds until the edges get brown and crispy.
17) Baked Potato Bar
Bake potatoes at 400°F/200°C for about 1 hour (until crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside). For crispier potatoes rub with oil and sprinkle with salt. Top with toppings like sour cream, cheese, bacon, and chili. Serve family style with toppings on the side and watch TV. Bake potatoes then slice open and fluff. Planning on cooking for the whole family for the big game?
18) Loaded Baked Potatoes
Add cheese and cover to melt. These are the burgers that get gobbled up! Instead of setting up a potato bar, make loaded baked potatoes! Top with scallions, cheese and bacon and bake again until the cheese is melty. These stay warm enough to last at least through the 1st quarter!
19) Enchilada Casserole
Think of these like enchiladas, minus all the rolling! Add layers of tortillas, meat, cheese and sauce then bake until browned on top. To start, bake covered for about 20 minutes (this softens the tortillas) then uncover and bake until browned. Serves many and easy to cut into squares! Cut into smaller squares so everyone can have a taste!
20) Cheeseburger Casserole
Who knew that cheeseburger could be turned into casserole form!? This casserole combines tangy cheese sauce, pasta and beef and tastes like a bacon cheeseburger minus the bun. Bake until bubbly and lightly browned.
21) Creamy Mac and Cheese
The key to creamy macaroni and cheese is in the cheese sauce. Make sure to add cheese off heat a handful at a time (if added while the pot is still boiling it could turn out grainy). Undercook your mac by 1 minute so it will continue to cook in the cheese sauce. Mac and cheese may be a side dish, but it’s the dish people fight over!
22) Baked Meatballs
Instead of frying, try baking your meatballs for game day! Roll into even sizes so they bake evenly and be sure not to overcrowd (otherwise they won’t brown). Bake at 400°F/200°C for about 20 minutes for crispy edges. Serve with sauce, over pasta or stuffed in a sandwich!
23) Cracker Barrel Meatloaf
This recipe for meatloaf tastes just like takeout meatloaf! The key is in the glaze, ketchup with a splash of brown sugar creates a sweet tangy flavor that browns nicely. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before cutting into (otherwise it will fall apart). The next day use leftover meatloaf to make sandwiches!
24) Meatloaf with Mushroom Gravy
Looking for a steak house level of meatloaf? Try this one topped with a mushroom gravy sauce. For a rich gravy, don’t stir the mushrooms too much, allow to brown in between stirring. Serve over mashed potatoes!
25) Prime Rib
A perfectly cooked prime rib is the move. For even cooking, be sure to remove from the fridge ahead of time to rest and allow to come to room temperature. Salt the night before then roast at a low temperature before cranking up the heat at the end for browning. Allow to rest for at least 20 minutes before cutting!
26) BBQ Chicken Flatbreads
Simply top with bbq sauce, chicken, red onion and cheese then bake on a baking stone until cheese is melty and crust is crispy. Cut into sticks to share (make 2 because 1 will not be enough!).
27) Tomato Basil Mozzarella Flatbread
Lighter than ribs and chili, this margherita-inspired flatbread is topped with fresh mozzarella, tomato and basil. Add the basil after it comes out of the oven so it doesn’t turn black! Finish with a drizzle of olive oil.
28) Pear and Bacon Flatbread
Feed the masses with a BBQ Chicken Flatbread! Sweet meets salty on this Bacon and Pear Flatbread. Top with thinly sliced pear (make sure not to overcook or it’s going to get too soft), bacon and cheese.
29) Grilled Burgers
Be sure to make an indent in the center of the patty so they stay flat while grilling! Remove from grill slightly undercooked as they will continue to cook once off of the grill. Serve with toasted buns and fixings!
30) Grilled Steak
These Grilled Cheeseburgers are seasoned with salt, grilled then topped with cheese. These Grilled Steaks are salted ahead of time then grilled over high heat until cooked to preference. Remove, allow to rest, then cut against the grain before serving. Wondering what to do for a smaller get together where the game means everything? We suggest these Grilled Steaks! Salted ahead of time, they’re grilled over high heat until cooked to preference (try for a seared outside and a pink center). Allow to rest then slice thin against the grain!
31) Beer-Braised Bratwurst
These Beer Braised Bratwurst are poached in beer then browned in a pan. Serve topped with the cooked onions (they’ll get all caramelized and jammy, yum!) and stuffed in a bread roll.
