10 Game Day Dinner Ideas That Aren’t Just Snacks

By
Derek Jacobson
·

This website contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Game day food doesn’t have to mean a bag of chips and one sad bowl of dip. These game day dinner ideas are real meals that still feel like a party, and most of them come together while the pregame show is on.

You’ll find crockpot chili and white chicken chili that cook while you set up, sliders and tater tot nachos that feed a crowd, and a few casseroles that bake in about 20 minutes. Every recipe is made for grabbing a plate and getting back to the couch before kickoff.

Pick one for a Sunday football dinner, or line up two or three for a full game day spread. Want something to snack on before the food is ready? Set out a few of our easy game day dips.

Crockpot Chili with Ground Beef

Crockpot Chili with Ground Beef
Pin
Print

Crockpot Chili with Ground Beef

Servings

4

servings
Cook Mode

Keep the screen of your device on

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef

  • 1 small onion, diced

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed

  • 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

  • 1 can diced tomatoes

  • 1 can tomato sauce

  • 1 cup beef broth

  • 1 can tomato paste

  • 2 tbsp chili powder

  • 1 tsp cumin

  • 1 tsp smoked paprika

  • 1/2 tsp oregano

  • 1/2 tsp salt

  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional for heat)

Directions

  • In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until fully cooked. Drain any excess grease.
  • Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes, until softened and fragrant.
  • Transfer the beef mixture to a slow cooker. Add the kidney beans, black beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, and tomato paste.
  • Stir in the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper if using. Mix well to combine.
  • Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally.
  • Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve warm with your favorite toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions, or crackers.

Notes

  • This chili is even better the next day, making it perfect for leftovers. Serve it with cornbread for the ultimate comfort meal!
Pinterest

Like this recipe?

Follow @dinnerendeavor on Pinterest

What Makes a Good Game Day Dinner

A good game day dinner has to fill people up and still be easy to eat on the couch. That means food you can hold in one hand or eat from a bowl. It also needs to sit out for a while without going cold or soggy, since people eat when there is a break in the action, not all at once.

The best picks also keep the cook out of the kitchen. A crockpot that runs all afternoon or a casserole that bakes in 20 minutes means you get to watch the game too.

How to Plan Your Game Day Menu

I like to pick one slow cooker dish and one oven dish. The crockpot holds food warm for hours, and the oven dish comes out hot right before halftime.

  • Start in the morning: Crockpot Chili with Ground Beef, Crockpot White Chicken Chili, or Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken.
  • Feed a crowd on a budget: Sloppy Joe Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls and Chili Cheese Dog Casserole.
  • Something different: Korean BBQ Sliders and Taco Totchos (Tater Tot Nachos).
  • For wing fans: Spicy Buffalo Air Fryer Drumsticks and Buffalo Chicken Casserole.
  • Kid-friendly: Pepperoni Pizza Quesadillas are fast and easy to cut into wedges.

Tips for Feeding a Crowd

Set up a topping bar for the chili and pulled chicken. Shredded cheese, sour cream, green onions, jalapeños, and crushed tortilla chips let everyone make their own bowl. It also stretches one pot of chili to feed more people.

Keep hot food hot. Once the chili is done, switch the crockpot to warm. For sliders and casseroles, keep them in a 200°F oven until you serve. Don’t let food sit out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

Use a thermometer for meat. Ground beef should reach 160°F and chicken should reach 165°F. For drumsticks, check near the bone, since that part cooks last.

Make-Ahead Tips

Both chilis taste even better the next day, so you can make them on Saturday and reheat them on Sunday. The Buffalo Chicken Casserole and Chili Cheese Dog Casserole can be put together a day early and kept covered in the fridge. Add a few extra minutes to the bake time since they go in cold. Brown the meat for the sloppy joes ahead of time too, then just warm it and fill the rolls.

Game Day Dinner FAQ

How much chili should I make per person?
Plan on about 1 to 1.5 cups per adult if chili is the main dish. Plan less if you are serving two or three dishes.

Can I keep sliders from getting soggy?
Toast the cut sides of the rolls first and add the filling right before serving.

What sides go with these dinners?
Cornbread, coleslaw, a veggie tray with ranch, and a big bag of tortilla chips cover almost every recipe here.

1 of 10

10 Game Day Dinner Ideas That Aren’t Just Snacks

Game day food doesn’t have to mean a bag of chips and one sad bowl of dip. These game day dinner ideas are real meals that still feel like a party, and most of them come together while the pregame show is on.

You’ll find crockpot chili and white chicken chili that cook while you set up, sliders and tater tot nachos that feed a crowd, and a few casseroles that bake in about 20 minutes. Every recipe is made for grabbing a plate and getting back to the couch before kickoff.

Pick one for a Sunday football dinner, or line up two or three for a full game day spread. Want something to snack on before the food is ready? Set out a few of our easy game day dips.

Crockpot Chili with Ground Beef

Crockpot Chili with Ground Beef
Pin
Print

Crockpot Chili with Ground Beef

Servings

4

servings
Cook Mode

Keep the screen of your device on

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef

  • 1 small onion, diced

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed

  • 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

  • 1 can diced tomatoes

  • 1 can tomato sauce

  • 1 cup beef broth

  • 1 can tomato paste

  • 2 tbsp chili powder

  • 1 tsp cumin

  • 1 tsp smoked paprika

  • 1/2 tsp oregano

  • 1/2 tsp salt

  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional for heat)

Directions

  • In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until fully cooked. Drain any excess grease.
  • Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes, until softened and fragrant.
  • Transfer the beef mixture to a slow cooker. Add the kidney beans, black beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, and tomato paste.
  • Stir in the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper if using. Mix well to combine.
  • Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally.
  • Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve warm with your favorite toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions, or crackers.

Notes

  • This chili is even better the next day, making it perfect for leftovers. Serve it with cornbread for the ultimate comfort meal!
Pinterest

Like this recipe?

Follow @dinnerendeavor on Pinterest

What Makes a Good Game Day Dinner

A good game day dinner has to fill people up and still be easy to eat on the couch. That means food you can hold in one hand or eat from a bowl. It also needs to sit out for a while without going cold or soggy, since people eat when there is a break in the action, not all at once.

The best picks also keep the cook out of the kitchen. A crockpot that runs all afternoon or a casserole that bakes in 20 minutes means you get to watch the game too.

How to Plan Your Game Day Menu

I like to pick one slow cooker dish and one oven dish. The crockpot holds food warm for hours, and the oven dish comes out hot right before halftime.

  • Start in the morning: Crockpot Chili with Ground Beef, Crockpot White Chicken Chili, or Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken.
  • Feed a crowd on a budget: Sloppy Joe Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls and Chili Cheese Dog Casserole.
  • Something different: Korean BBQ Sliders and Taco Totchos (Tater Tot Nachos).
  • For wing fans: Spicy Buffalo Air Fryer Drumsticks and Buffalo Chicken Casserole.
  • Kid-friendly: Pepperoni Pizza Quesadillas are fast and easy to cut into wedges.

Tips for Feeding a Crowd

Set up a topping bar for the chili and pulled chicken. Shredded cheese, sour cream, green onions, jalapeños, and crushed tortilla chips let everyone make their own bowl. It also stretches one pot of chili to feed more people.

Keep hot food hot. Once the chili is done, switch the crockpot to warm. For sliders and casseroles, keep them in a 200°F oven until you serve. Don’t let food sit out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

Use a thermometer for meat. Ground beef should reach 160°F and chicken should reach 165°F. For drumsticks, check near the bone, since that part cooks last.

Make-Ahead Tips

Both chilis taste even better the next day, so you can make them on Saturday and reheat them on Sunday. The Buffalo Chicken Casserole and Chili Cheese Dog Casserole can be put together a day early and kept covered in the fridge. Add a few extra minutes to the bake time since they go in cold. Brown the meat for the sloppy joes ahead of time too, then just warm it and fill the rolls.

Game Day Dinner FAQ

How much chili should I make per person?
Plan on about 1 to 1.5 cups per adult if chili is the main dish. Plan less if you are serving two or three dishes.

Can I keep sliders from getting soggy?
Toast the cut sides of the rolls first and add the filling right before serving.

What sides go with these dinners?
Cornbread, coleslaw, a veggie tray with ranch, and a big bag of tortilla chips cover almost every recipe here.