47 Game Day Recipes for the Grill or Smoker - 2024 (2024)

Looking for some of the Best Game Day Recipes for your smoker or grill? There is no better time to cook outside. Look no further for some game day food classics and jaw dropping appetizers! All of these can be made on your grill or smoker, or adapted to your kitchen if you don’t have a grill.

This roundup was started in February 2017 and updated in January 2024. We just keep adding our favorites to the Game Day recipe round up.

Game Day Food: Chicken Wing Recipes

Buffalo Style Wing Sauce

This two-ingredient Buffalo Wing Sauce Recipe is a nod to the original Buffalo Wing. Butter and Frank’s RedHot is all you need to whip up the Anchor Bar classic sauce. And it has to be Frank’s.

Smoked Buffalo Chicken Wings

Any Game Day party wouldn’t be complete without some wings! Make the ULTIMATE Smoked Buffalo Chicken Wings. Learn what it takes to make the perfect wings on the smoker, with crispy skin, smoky flavor, and the perfect sauce.

Grilled Buffalo Style Chicken Wings

For a quicker version of the Buffalo style wings, these Grilled Buffalo Wings are IT! Easy to prep, quick to cook, and with a simple hack to get the deep fried texture but with the flavor of wood fire grilling.

Crispy Grilled Chicken Wings

The best Grilled Chicken Wings with crispy skin using corn starch. We’re finishing this game day recipe with a honey barbecue sauce.

Smoked Wings with Thai Chili Sauce

This game day recipe was inspired by Buffalo Wild Wings Asian Zing sauce, these Smoked Chicken Wings are crispy, smokey, and finished in a Thai Sweet Chili and soy sauce.

Grilled Chicken Wings with Spicy Peanut Sauce

Jazz up your grilled chicken wings with an inspiring spicy peanut sauce that combines the classic Frank’s RedHot hot sauce and peanut butter for a mind blowing flavor explosion!

Buffalo Hot Honey Wings

These Hot Honey Chicken Wings combine classicBuffalo style wingflavors with the tangy and sweet flavors ofhot honey, all cooked on a grill for crispy wing perfection. Check out this incredible grilled chicken wing recipe for your next wing craving.

Honey Bourbon Wings

Take Grilled Chicken Wings to the next level with an amazing Honey Bourbon BBQ Sauce Glaze. The wings are crispy and the 20-minute sauce adds a sweet and savory flavor perfect for your next tailgating party or wing night.

Burnt Ends Recipes

Pork Belly Burnt Ends

These are the ULTIMATE GAME DAY FOOD! This Pork Belly Burnt Ends recipe went VIRAL back in 2017 for good reason. Over 21 million have viewed the video, and hundreds of thousands have made this recipe, now dubbed “meat candy.” This recipe is a must on your game day spread!

Brisket Burnt Ends

Beef Brisket Burnt Ends are one of the ultimate treats in BBQ and a true game day reward for your hours of hard work in low and slow cooking.Burnt Ends BBQ is like meat candy with soft texture and a sweet and tangy sauce finish.

The Best Dips for Game Day

Smoked Buffalo Chicken Dip

Smoked Buffalo Chicken Dip combines magical flavors of Buffalo wings with shredded smoked chicken and a creamy cheese dip. You’re gonna want to make a double batch because this is THE MOST sought after and quickly devoured dip at any party or game day spread!

Jalapeño Popper Dip

If you love a classic popper, you are going to love this Jalapeño Popper Dip Recipe. It can begrilled or made in the oven, and it is so EASY, and oh-so-tasty. But easy does not mean lacking in flavor.Did I mention this game day recipe is topped with crispy bacon?!

Smoked Sausage and Hatch Chili Beer Cheese Dip

Smoked pork sausage. Beer. Cheese. More cheese. Melted into gooey deliciousness. What’s not to love about this?! Make our Smoked Sausage Beer Cheese Dip.

Smoked Bacon & Tomatillo Guacamole

Guacamole is a mustfor a Game Day watch Party. Don’t disappoint your guests, and don’t buy the store bought mushy kind. Smoke up some bacon and get on this dip!

Baked Brie on the Grill

ThisBaked Brie Cheese Recipefeatures a simple combination of cheese, white wine, thyme, salt, and pepper andcooked directly on the grill. The cheese is grilled over direct heat for minutes for an elegant (yet easy!) brie appetizer that will wow your guests at your next dinner party.

Beer Cheese Dip with Bacon

ThisBeer Cheese Dip is creamy, cheesy, and indulgent, and is perfect for any appetizer cravings you have for beer and cheese and is the ultimate game day dip. The best part is that this recipe is also super easy to make! Make this Beer Cheese Dip.

Smoked Onion Dip

Smoked Onion Dip is an easy recipe that starts with a base of smoked white onion, then layering in sour cream, chives, and cream cheese for the ultimate game day or party snack. It’s a fantastic smoky twist on the classic French Onion Dip (but so much better!). Try our Smoked Onion Dip.

Green Chile Yogurt Dip

Inspired by the flavors of New Mexico – this green chile yogurt dip is so simple and yet so full of flavor. Just pair with chips or bread and you are ready to go.

Smoked Sausage and Queso Bean DIp

A jazzed up Queso Bean Dip featuring ground sausage, green chilies, smoky chipotle pinto beans, and real shredded cheese. Smoky Chipotle Bean and Sausage Queso dip is a fantastic dip for summer cookouts, game day, tailgating, or even camping.

Smoked Fish Dip

This Smoked Fish Dip Recipe will rival some of the best restaurants in the country, but cooked in your backyard. We use white fish (like trout or sole) that is slowly smoked, and then added to the citrus and tangy base, and serve with taro or sweet potato chips.

Goat Cheese Dip With Shiitake Mushrooms

What is better than the creamy texture of warm baked goat cheese dip?A goat cheese dip recipe with sautéed shiitake mushrooms, fresh tomatoes, stone ground mustard, and pickled red peppers. This creamy dip recipe is incredibly easy to make, and makes for an easy appetizer or part of a snack board.

Smoked Salmon Dip

Smoked Salmon Dip is the perfect appetizer for smoked salmon lovers. This dip combines flavorful and tender chunks of hot smoked salmon (not lox, but you can use lox too) a mix of cream cheese and crème fraîchebase, seasoned with a little dill and lemon.

Baked Brie with Blackberry Jam

Grilled Baked Brietopped with a delicious homemadeBlackberry Jamis a decadent recipe for any party! This dish is grilled making it one of the easiest and festive appetizers you will ever make with melted cheese and the amazing rich flavors of the blackberry jam.

BBQ Classics for Game Day

I like to call these three classics “The Holy Trinity” of BBQ. Brisket, Ribs, and Pulled Pork!

Smoked Brisket

Go big or go home!

I’m just kidding. But seriously, if you smoke a brisket for game day, especially this recipe, you’ll have the party people will be talking about for decades! Find the best Smoked Brisket recipe and tutorial right here!

3-2-1 Smoked Ribs

We’ve learned a think or two about different styles of ribs from competitions and catering. Find one of the easiest ways to smoke ribs in our 3-2-1 ribs recipe.

Smoked Pulled Pork (& Pulled Pork Sandwiches)

Read everything we’ve learned about smoking pork butt (shoulder) and making the best pulled pork sandwiches for a crowd?

Jalapeño Popper Recipes

Smoked Jalapeño Poppers

These are the kinds of things food dreams are made of. Creamy, spicy, crunchy, and, of course, smoked! Smoked Jalapeno Poppers Recipe

Grilled Buffalo Chicken Jalapeño Poppers

Because there’s no such thing as, a.) too many jalapeño poppers at a party, or b.) too many “Buffalo Chicken” inspired game day recipes for this holiday. A spicy Buffalo chicken mix is used as a filling for these out-of-this-world poppers! Find Grilled Buffalo Chicken Jalapeño Poppers!

Grilled Poppers with Brie and Prosciutto

Grilled Jalapeño Poppersstuffed with Brie, Cherry Jam, and wrapped in Prosciutto are a decadent treat! It’s as if the perfect cheese and charcuterie plate and jalapeños got together to create the ultimate summer appetizer. These poppers are cooked on the grill for a great smoky twist resulting in a crispy, creamy, savory and incredibly flavorful appetizer for summer or as game day food.

Salsa Recipes

Easy Blender Salsa

This salsa is neither smoked nor grilled,BUT you’ve gotta have a wide range of salsas and guac options at your party. And this one has never failed, ever. 30+ years and still going strong, this blender salsa has won the hearts of everyone it has encountered. And you’ll never guess the secret ingredient.

Fire Roasted Grilled Salsa

Fire Roasted Tomato Salsais an easy way to add fire roasted flavor to your next backyard cookout. It’s the perfect game day recipe for those fresh summer tomatoes and peppers. Simply char and roast the ingredients on the grill, add to ablender, and enjoy. This salsa recipe is easy to make or modify, and is vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy free, and no added sugar!

Smoked Tomatillo Salsa

If you’re smoking tomatillos for the guac you may as well throw on some extra for this salsa. For something different, yet deliciously smoky, try this salsa, made with smoked tomatillos, cilantro, and apple cider vinegar. Try it solo with chips, or served over smoked sausages. Smoked Tomatillo Salsa Recipe

Slider Recipes

Sliders are perfect as game day food! Satisfying and slightly filling, but not too filling that you can’t keep munching on all the other amazing recipes on the spread!

Grilled Buffalo Chicken Meatball Sliders

When you’re craving a classic chicken wing but want to change it up a bit. We deconstruct a classic chicken wing and turn it into a flavorful meatball for sliders. A healthier alternative to fried wings! Try our Buffalo Chicken Sliders.

Meatball Sliders

Grilled Meatball Sliders are quick and easy way to get a family dinner on the table that everyone will love. Frozen meatballs warmed up on the grill and served as a slider with tomato sauce and provolone cheese come together in less than 20 minutes for a great weeknight dinner.

Smoked Chicken Sliders

Pulled chicken is one of the easiest ways to smoke and serve chicken for a crowd. Smoke a whole chicken (or a chicken cut up into quarters) and then finished as sliders is the ultimate Easy Pulled BBQ Chicken Sliders to make.

Smoked Italian Roast Beef Sliders

ThisItalian Pulled Roast Beef Sliderrecipe starts with slowly smoked Chuck Roast finished in an amazing beef braise with Italian Seasoning. Pull the tender Beef and add to your favorite slider rolls for the perfect game day appetizer, tailgating treat, or even making into full Roast Beef Sandwiches. These may be easy, but they sure don’t compromise on flavor!

Cheeseburger Sliders

Cheeseburger Slidersare an easy way to make delicious food for a crowd. And they are so much better with melted cheddar cheese and the amazing flavor of caramelized onions. And we have a great hack that allows us to avoid making 12 individual slider patties. Read on to Vindulge in some incredible slider flavors.

Pulled Pork Sliders

This recipe for sweet and savorySmoked Pulled Pork Slidersis a take on Asian-meets-Hawaiian flavors with a dry rub ofChinese five spice, dry ginger, and brown sugar, topped with a soy based glaze and a bright pineapple citrus coleslaw. These pulled porksliders pair perfectly with one of our favorite white wines – dry riesling.

Finger Foods and Other Big Game Appetizer Recipes

BBQ Stuffed Meatballs

These smoked meatballs are stuffed with gooey mozzarella cheese, slowly smoked on the grill, and then finished with a BBQ sauce glaze. The ultimate game day food or appetizer for your next gathering.

Smoked Pulled Pork Nachos

If you’re going through the effort to smoke a pork shoulder for those pulled pork sandwiches (from above) you may as well go all the way and make the ultimate Pulled Pork Nachos!

Brisket Nachos

TheseAward-WinningSmoked Beef Brisket Nachosare the perfect way to use upleftover brisket! Easy to make and crowd friendly, these are sure to become your new favorite appetizer!

Steak Lettuce Wraps

These Grilled Steak Lettuce Wraps are made from tender steak bites marinated in a combination of Sake, soy, and ginger, and grilled on a skewer. Add pickled carrots, and some fresh veggies for a savory and delicious appetizer or even a main meal!

Smoked Deviled Eggs

Smoked Deviled Eggsmake for an amazing appetizer and pack a mouthful of flavor. Make hard (or soft) boiled eggs in advance and finish on the smoker for an amazing smoky twist on a classic game day recipe.

Main Dishes for the Big Game

Smoked Meatball Sandwiches

These Meatball Sandwiches are hearty, smoky, and outstanding covered in marinara sauce and melted cheese. Oh yeah!

Or make the same meatballs golfball size and serve them appetizer style.

Smoked Brisket Chili

All good game day parties need some chili! And you need this Brisket Chili Recipe in your life. Smoke a brisket on Saturday, then make this chili on Sunday morning. Your guests will love you until the end of time.

Texas Style Chili

Thisclassic Texas Chili Recipehas the fundamentals of an authentic Texas inspired meal. Meat (specifically chuck meat), chile, and beer. No beans, for all the bean haters.

Grilled Chicken Lollipops

ThisGrilled Chicken Lollipops Recipeis about flavor and texture. We’re grilling the chicken and then glazing with aKansas City style BBQbased sauce with honey and Sriracha. The presentation is elegant and makes a great appetizer course.

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About Vindulge

Mary (a certified sommelier and recipe developer) and Sean (backyard pitmaster) are co-authors of the critically acclaimed cookbook, Fire + Wine, and have been creating content for the IACP nominated website Vindulge since 2009. They live in Oregon on a farm just outside Portland.