20 Football Meal Ideas Perfect for Game Day Hosting

While most people associate teriyaki with chicken, this time beef takes center stage.

This 4-ingredient burger is tangy, delicious, and so simple to make.

Sliders are a great alternative to normal burgers, since they are small enough to eat as many (or as few) as you like.

This recipe is a fast, easy way to make them just as good as normal cheeseburgers, but in slider form.

There’s nothing quite like a hot BBQ sandwich while watching a football game, but barbecue joints are expensive.

Set this slow cooker BBQ up in the morning, and have a fantastic, tender, shredded beef sandwich ready to go at dinnertime. 

Chili is a fantastic comfort meal, and it’s ideal for game day as well.

This versatile recipe uses ground turkey, but has room for things like ground beef and beans as well.

Take all the magic of sloppy joes, and add in Texas toast for a surefire win.

\Plus, they only take 30 minutes, so these can be thrown together at halftime.

Trying to please a crowd without missing kickoff?

Set up this slow cooker nacho bar, so everyone can make their own nachos, just how they like.

Nothing beats ribs, cooked low and slow on the grill, but there isn’t always time to set all that up and monitor it for hours.

This slow cooker recipe takes out all the extra work, while still producing mouthwatering, tender ribs.

Wings pair naturally with football and are tough to rival.

These are oven-roasted until crisp, then coated in sauce right before serving.

Combine two favorite game day foods into one super menu item with these pizza sliders.

They are quick and easy to make, which is good because they are bound to disappear fast.

Everyone with a Raising Cane’s in driving distance knows how good their chicken is, but not everyone wants to wait in line just to get their hands on some.

This copycat recipe not only makes the chicken, but also that signature sauce, too.

There’s nothing quite like a great cheeseburger, but the best part is that you don’t have to stop at just cheese.

Adding bacon and homemade guacamole means this is one burger recipe that will stay in the rotation.

This flatbread pizza comes together quickly, making it an easy option for sharing.

Tangy, rich barbecue chicken sets the tone, with bold flavors carrying through every bite.

Anyone who knows brats knows that they belong on any proper game day table.

This recipe takes things back to basics, with a classic German oven-baked Bratwurst and sauerkraut recipe.

Of course, chili is a game time favorite, but this adds a slight spin without sacrificing flavor.

This white chicken chili recipe is soothing, warm, and rich. 

A juicy burger pairs naturally with football, but a change of pace keeps things interesting.

This burger bowl skips the bun and delivers all the familiar flavors in a hearty, satisfying bowl.

Meatball sandwiches are another great option, since they’re quick, easy to prepare, and delicious.

Even better, this recipe offers scaling options, depending on how much time is available to make the sandwiches.

A big pan of cheesy nachos is always a welcome sight, but this recipe takes things one step beyond.

Adding in some BBQ chicken elements makes it into a proper meal.

This recipe just sort of takes everything and throws it together, but to great effect.

The naan taco pizza sounds wild, but the flavor can’t be beat.

For some reason, football foods trend toward finger food, or seriously hearty.

This slow cooker beef stew is definitely in the second category, and will fill up (and warm up) everyone watching the game.

While the air fryer isn’t the first choice for making burgers, this recipe avoids the most obvious issue.

Stuffing the burgers with cheese means that the center doesn’t need to cook, so the whole thing comes out perfect.