27 Make-Ahead Game-Day Recipes That Will Make You the MVP
When you need game-day recipes that are ready when you are, use these make-ahead football food ideas
Game-changer: Many of the best game-day recipes can be made ahead of time, leaving you more time to relax and enjoy the action. Draft any of our MVP make-ahead football foods onto your party lineup, including a versatile game-day wings recipe, cozy casseroles, game-day chili recipes, crowd-pleasing brownies, and spirited punches.
Chicken Wings Five Ways
Load up your slow cooker with wings and crank up the heat to high for two hours before your fellow cheerleaders arrive. At halftime, broil the game-day wings recipe and toss with one of our five sauce options (we're partial to the smoky barbecue). The ultimate halftime entertainment is of the edible variety, don't you think?
Related: Our Best Buffalo Chicken Recipe Ideas to Give Game Day a Kick
One-Pot Cuban-Style Barbecue Pulled Pork
This football Sunday recipe looks like a classic pulled pork sandwich, but it tastes a lot like a pressed Cuban sandwich, thanks to pickles and mustard in the mix. Prep it in your slow cooker (10 hours on low or 5 hours on high) for a low-stress feast.
Pickle Poppers
The original recipe calls for cooking these poppers, but this game-day recipe is just as good wrapped, rolled, and eaten chilled. Up to two hours before your party, assemble the cheese-stuffed pickles, layer on the ham and jalape?o jam, and refrigerate until party time. (Simply skip step three in the instructions.)
Texas Chuck Roast Chili
This meaty, spicy game-day chili recipe is the perfect pairing for a gridiron match, be it professional, collegiate, or a heated high school rivalry. Featuring a whopping three pounds of hearty beef chuck roast, this satisfying dish will fuel your home team for all four quarters. It preps conveniently in your slow cooker—or pressure cooker if you're crunched for time.
Deep-Dish Cheeseburger Pizza Casserole
If you're struggling to decide between deep-dish pizza or cheeseburgers, turn to this prep-ahead casserole. It combines the best elements of both into one make-ahead game-day recipe. Pizza crust, sauce, sausage, and toppings team up with beef, cheese, ketchup, mustard, and pickles. Best of all, you can build the 12-serving feast up to 3 months before the big game and keep it on ice.
Tangy Molasses Barbecue Ribs
A sweet and spicy dry rub combined with a low-and-slow 10-hour braise in the slow cooker and a zingy homemade barbecue sauce glaze make these saucy pork ribs irresistible. Time it so they finish cooking right around the time guests arrive. Then all that's left to do to complete the make-ahead Super Bowl food feast is to slice into individual ribs and serve with extra sauce. Don't forget plenty of napkins.
BBQ Chicken-Pineapple Pizza
This semi-homemade slow cooker pizza beats delivery every time. Bonus: It makes your whole house smell incredible, too. Stack thawed store-bought pizza dough high with barbecue sauce, rotisserie chicken, cheese, and pineapple and "bake" the game-day slow-cooker recipe for a few hours during the pregame party.
Peppery Italian Beef Sandwiches
Wake up and pregame in style to cut down on party time stress. This football Sunday recipe is designed to simmer in the slow cooker for 10 to 12 hours, which ensures flavorful, tender beef. For a midday match-up, set and forget the beef mixture overnight; then turn to "keep warm" to keep the succulent sandwich filling toasty until you need it.
Chocolate Almond Butter Fruit Dip
Beat the clock with this 15-minute nutty Greek yogurt dip. If that's not quick enough for you, blend the game-day recipe up to 24 hours prior to kickoff and store it in the fridge until it's time for a healthy-ish snack or dessert. Pair with sturdy pieces or slices of fruit or our fave: graham cracker sticks.
Sangria
Punch recipes are ideal for parties. You can focus on the game and your guests instead of playing mixologist. We're particularly fond of this fruity red sangria because it gets tastier and more infused as it chills for up to 24 hours. Top off each serving of this make-ahead game-day recipe with a splash of lemon-lime soda or sparkling water just before taking the first sip.
Make-Ahead Taco Salad Cups
No need to order tacos for delivery. Plan ahead to get a jump on this crowd-pleasing make-ahead football food option. Sauté the turkey topping and bake the cute little tortilla bowls; then freeze them both for up to three months, so you're never far away from a handheld snack. Then it's just a matter of warming and loading on the veggies and cheese.
Related: 15 Tasty Taco Recipes to You Have to Try
Cookies and Cream Cookies
Do you root for the chocolate cookie or the creamy filling? Both share the stage in these kid-friendly sugar cookies that can be baked in advance and stored at room temp for three days (or frozen for months). To make this game-day recipe even better, serve it ice cream sandwich-style with a scoop of vanilla, chocolate, or cookies and cream ice cream tucked between two cookies.
Bacon-Wrapped Smokies
Sweet, salty, and utterly delicious, these sugary meat skewers won't last long at your game-day buffet. We recommend making a double batch of this toothpick appetizer. Assemble the uncooked game-day recipe up to 24 hours before kickoff. Then store the skewers in the fridge until you're ready to bake them.
Chicken Cobb Wraps
If you're tailgating, this wrap recipe is always a solid play. The make-ahead game-day food idea takes less than half an hour to prep—which you can do up to 24 hours early—and yields eight servings. Like the classic dinner salad, the filling includes chicken (we call for the rotisserie variety to save time), hard-boiled egg, bacon, avocado, tomatoes, and blue cheese. The easy green onion aioli is a spreadable twist on green goddess dressing. Score!
Caramelized Onion Dip
Kick off your sporty party with a revamped classic: onion dip. Caramelizing the onions infuses sweet, rich flavor in this creamy spread. This is another make-ahead game-day recipe that gets better with time; the garlicky onions permeate every last scoop of the sour cream mixture once it chills for 24 hours.
Related: 21 Make-Ahead Dips No One Will Be Able to Resist Dunking Into
Cinnamon Nuts
Two weeks. Nope, that's not the time until the championship game or until there's another overtime match. That's how far ahead you can prepare this make-ahead game-day food idea so you can nibble on the cinnamon-spiced walnuts or pecans all playoff season long.
All-American Sloppy Joes
Dish out all-American flavor for the biggest game(s) of the year. The zingy tomato sauce is key: We call for mixing in molasses, mustard, hot pepper sauce, and even beer! To get a headstart on this game-day slow-cooker recipe, marinate the cooked meat mixture in a bag overnight with all the additional ingredients, then dump the contents in your cooker in the morning.
Fudgy Football Brownies
No make-ahead football food menu would be complete without at least one pigskin-inspired dish. And these rich chocolate brownies deliver—while being a breeze to DIY. Make these brownies three days in advance and store them in your fridge or freeze them for up to three months.
Roasted Corn and Crab Dip
"I made this as my contribution to a large party. Of all the things there, this is what the hostess got the most rave reviews on. I'll be making it again for sure," raves one BHG home cook. Treat your guests to a fan-favorite dip filled with smoky roasted corn, jalape?o-spiked Monterey Jack, and luscious crabmeat. Chill this game-day recipe up to 24 hours before baking the hot dip to bubbly perfection.
The Porcupine
Keep the peace with this make-ahead game-day recipe. Since it's spiked with both pale ale and Prosecco, beer and wine fans will cheer about this tropical fruit punch. Make the pineapple-rosemary shrub up to two days early; then invite the spirits to come at party time.
Salad Russe
Carson Downing
This Haitian twist on potato salad is flavored with marinated carrots, sweet pickle relish, pickled beets, and hard-boiled eggs. Prep the make-ahead side dish up to 2 days before you plan to serve.
Saucy Apricot 'n' Spiced Meatballs
These aren't your ordinary meatballs. Bits of dried apricots mixed into these tender, sauce-coated meatballs add an extra dose of bright, fruity flavor. The fact that they're make-ahead is just a sweet bonus.
British Sausage Rolls
Rachel Marek
Each bite of this classic British appetizer is filled with juicy sausage and flaky pastry. We'll walk you through how to make this easy appetizer up to 2 months ahead. They're easy to bake right from frozen!
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Kelsey Hansen
Pasta salad is a great make-ahead side dish for game day! This dill pickle and bacon riff pairs well with grilled chicken, hot dogs, and more. Just before serving top the dish with chopped dill pickles and hard-boiled eggs.
Loaded Baked Potato Salad
Rachel Marek; Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman
This potato salad recipe is loaded with all the classic baked potato toppings, including shredded cheddar, bacon, green onions, and sour cream. A bit of crispy bacon on top is the perfect finish.
Million Dollar Dip
Rachel Marek
This cream dip cheese is loaded with flavor thanks to bacon, almonds, cheddar cheese, and green onions. Make a batch up to 3 days ahead, and serve with crackers, chips, and fresh veggies.
Related: Our Best Million Dollar Recipes Are Rich and Decadent
Classic Broccoli Salad
Carson Downing
This broccoli salad recipe stays true to the picnic classic. The mix of broccoli, bacon, and raisins is the perfect savory-meets-sweet combination. It'll keep well in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
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