Big-Game Playbook: Main Dishes

Don’t be forced to throw a Hail Mary! With a little bit of planning and these crowd-pleasing main dishes, your Super Bowl party is guaranteed to be a winner.

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California Turkey Chili

Football and hearty chili go hand-in-hand. Try Giada's spicy turkey and cannellini bean version and serve with a side of her simple quinoa and pine nut rice pilaf. The fluffy quinoa will help to soak up the savory chili broth.

Get the Recipe: California Turkey Chili

Sausage and Mixed Mushroom Lasagna

Don't want to think about cooking on game day? You can assemble this lasagna up to 1 day before serving and refrigerate.

Get the Recipe: Sausage and Mixed Mushroom Lasagna

Chili Cheese Dog

This top dog is perfect for game day. With minimal ingredients (and time!) you can make a slightly spicy beef chili and keep it warm in a slow cooker on the warm setting. Double the recipe for a hungry crowd and serve with extra toppings like chopped raw onion, relish or French fried onions.

Get the Recipe: Chili Cheese Dogs

Wingless Buffalo Chicken Pizza

Rachael uses store-bought pizza dough to make this party food a breeze.

Get the Recipe: Wingless Buffalo Chicken Pizza

Beef Sliders for a Crowd

This recipe redefines sliders with its easy press-in-a-pan method for forming and cooking individual patties. When building your sliders, take a cue from the classic burger joints: onions on the bottom, beef on the top. You can prepare the meat mixture on the cookie sheet a few hours ahead, refrigerate and cook just before serving.

Get the Recipe: Beef Sliders for a Crowd

Taco Lasagna

Equal parts lasagna and taco, this dish is comfort central, with layers of classic taco meat and toppings nestled between tender lasagna noodles and melty cheese. Use your favorite salsa to build the sauce — milder to keep it kid-friendly or spicier to liven it up.

Get the Recipe: Taco Lasagna

Sloppy Joes

Messy, meaty and utterly delicious, Ree’s sloppy joes are the ultimate game day meal.

Get the Recipe: Sloppy Joes

Mushroom Cheesesteak Sandwiches

You won’t miss the meat in Ree’s hearty sandwiches. She layers sautéed mushrooms with onions and peppers, then smothers the filling with a gooey cheese sauce.

Get the Recipe: Mushroom Cheesesteak Sandwiches

Turkey Burger Patty Melts

Guy recommends forming the ground turkey into oblong patties when preparing these juicy turkey melts. This way, you'll get the perfect bread-to-meat ratio in these sandwiches.

Get the Recipe: Turkey Burger Patty Melts

Rachael's Super Nachos

Make a meal of these meaty nachos from Rachael.

Get the Recipe: Super Nachos

Excellent Meatballs

Anne Burrell's ultratender meatballs live up to their name, thanks to a three-meat combination of ground beef, veal and pork. Serve them with pasta, or on their own, with a classic marinara sauce.

Get the Recipe: Excellent Meatballs

Dragon's Breath Chili

You can't beat the complex flavor of Guy's Southwestern-inspired chili that's filled with spices.

Get the Recipe: Dragon's Breath Chili

Cheeseburger Pizza

As in a classic diner cheeseburger, mustard tops the ground beef in this pizza, which bubbles with melted American cheese, fresh red onion and dill pickles. Serve it with shredded lettuce on the side to complete the burger experience and make this a "one-crust" meal that comes to the table in an hour flat.

Get the Recipe: Cheeseburger Pizza

Asian Meatball Subs With Hoisin Mayonnaise

Crusty baguettes are perfect for soaking up the juices from the gingery pork meatballs and spicy hoisin mayonnaise layered with crunchy sprouts and scallions.

Get the Recipe: Asian Meatball Subs With Hoisin Mayonnaise

White Bean and Chicken Chili

Giada's chicken chili comes together all in one pot. Sprinkle each serving with Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley.

Get the Recipe: White Bean and Chicken Chili

Slow-Cooker Chicken Thighs

Soy sauce, honey, garlic and ginger (along with the natural juices of the chicken) become an irresistible sauce to serve over chicken thighs and rice. If you like a thicker sauce, simply add cornstarch at the end and cook a little longer.

Get the Recipe: Slow-Cooker Chicken Thighs

Slow-Cooker Macaroni and Cheese

Trisha Yearwood's easy macaroni recipe can be made right in your slow cooker. If you don't have a slow cooker, grease a pan with butter, add the mixture and bake.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Macaroni and Cheese

Chicago Italian Beef (Pot Roast Style)

Jeff cooks boneless beef chuck eye roast until it's tender in a Dutch oven. For the sandwiches, place the beef on a roll with sweet peppers and Homemade Hot Giardiniera. Take the whole sandwich and quickly dunk in hot jus.

Get the Recipe: Chicago Italian Beef (Pot Roast Style)

Pat's Famous Beef and Pork Chili

The Neelys make a beef-filled hearty chili that's the perfect centerpiece for a serve-yourself chili bar. Set out garnishes like lime wedges, sour cream, shredded cheese and scallions.

Get the Recipe: Pat's Famous Beef and Pork Chili

Alton's Mini Man Burgers

Follow Alton Brown's lead for classic sliders, a perfect football-party food.

Get the Recipe: Mini Man Burgers

Valerie's Very Best Gumbo

Go the whole nine yards with Valerie’s game day gumbo. She loads up her stew with sausage, chicken and okra, then serves the dish with rice, scallions and a dash of hot sauce.

Get the Recipe: Valerie's Very Best Gumbo

Mac n Cheese Bar

Molly’s recipe satisfies the three C’s: it’s creamy, cheesy and totally customizable. Set out a variety of ingredients, like kale chips and bacon, for guests to use as toppings.

Get the Recipe: Mac n Cheese Bar

Fish Sandwiches with Jalapeno Slaw

Fried tilapia fillets make great sandwiches topped with spicy jalapeno slaw.

Get the Recipe: Fish Sandwiches With Jalapeno Slaw

Sunny's Game-Day Chili

In a large stock pot, Sunny Anderson uses a potato masher to break down smoky Mexican chorizo, the star ingredient in her game-day chili.

Get the Recipe: Sunny's Game Day Chili

Michael Symon's Bratwurst Stewed with Sauerkraut

These brats are easy to make and full of flavor.

Get the Recipe: Bratwurst Stewed with Sauerkraut

Fully Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Get all of the great flavors of a fully dressed baked potato in Guy's game-day soup.

Get the Recipe: Fully Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Guy's Chicken-Tequila Tailgate Sandwiches

Guy Fieri knows how to tailgate, and to make this sandwich he takes foil-packet cooking to extremes.

Get the Recipe: Chicken-Tequila Tailgate Sandwiches

Roasted Meatballs with Garlic Bread

Rachael’s classic meatballs are ready in just 30 minutes and served with a loaf of crusty, buttery garlic bread. What more could you want in a game day dish?

Get the Recipe: Roasted Meatballs with Garlic Bread

Buffalo Chicken Pizza

Sandra Lee uses chicken tenders and refrigerated pizza dough to cut down on prep time for this wing-inspired pizza that's ready in just 30 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Pizza

Tyler's Beef Chili

Tyler Florence's ultimate chili recipe uses large chunks of beef shoulder cooked to tender perfection with a ton of flavorful spices.

Get the Recipe: Beef Chili

Oven-Roasted Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Tyler takes barbecue indoors with dry-rubbed pork roast and cider-based barbecue sauce.

Get the Recipe: Oven-Roasted Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Skillet Chicken Parmesan

Tender chicken cutlets topped with mozzarella, Parmesan and breadcrumbs are served in a zesty tomato sauce for a comforting game-day main dish.

Get the Recipe: Skillet Chicken Parmesan

Pizza Dough

Bobby's pizza dough is great to have on hand when hosting a Super Bowl party. Make game-day preparations easier on yourself by forming the dough the night before — that way, you can focus on the pizza toppings instead.

Get the Recipe: Pizza Dough

Spicy Pop Pulled Pork

Ree Drummond slow-cooks her pork until it's dark and tender. Shred the meat and keep it in the juice until you're ready to serve it.

Get the Recipe: Spicy Pop Pulled Pork

Beer Bratwursts

Fresh, meaty brats cooked in lager will set a celebratory tone for your Super Bowl feast. Top them off with bell pepper relish and smoky beer cheese — a combination of sharp cheddar, smoked Gouda, hot sauce and, of course, more lager.

Get the Recipe: Beer Bratwursts

Italian Sub Salad

This dish has all of the ingredients from an Italian sub — mortadella, prosciutto, capocollo, salami and provolone — but they're tossed with greens instead of served on a sub.

Get the Recipe: Italian Sub Salad

Pulled Pork Sliders

Pimenton (smoked Spanish paprika) and beer are two key ingredients in Anne's pulled pork recipe. It cooks low and slow (more than four hours), so plan ahead and start early.

Get the Recipe: Pulled Pork Sliders

Spicy Sausage Ragu Nachos with Pickled Onions

Anne makes a ragu with spicy Italian sausage to serve over tortilla chips. Cover with Parmigiano and fontina cheese plus pickled onions and chipotle mascarpone.

Get the Recipe: Spicy Sausage Ragu Nachos With Pickled Onions

30-Minute Turkey Chili

This is the quickest chili ever, with all ingredients thrown into a skillet and simmered away.

Get the Recipe: 30-Minute Turkey Chili

Cuban Po' Boy

Serve succulent, brined pork tenderloin on fresh rolls with sliced red cabbage, sweet pickles, Swiss cheese and other satisfying fixins.

Get the Recipe: Rum-Brined Pork Tenderloin Po' Boy

Party Burger

Sorry, sliders — Trisha’s massive main dish is guaranteed to steal the show. An entire bread loaf serves as the bun for her party-sized burger, which she tops with cheese, pickles and a special sauce.

Get the Recipe: Party Burger

Quick Chili

Ree proves you can whip up a satisfying, spicy chili in under an hour.

Get the Recipe: Quick Chili

Build-Your-Own Taco Bar

Take the stress out of game day cooking by having guests serve themselves. Trisha’s taco bar includes both vegetarian and meat fillings, which she sets out with tortillas, cheese, avocado and more.

Get the Recipe: Build-Your-Own Taco Bar

Braised Beans

In a Dutch oven, bring water, cannellini beans, smashed garlic cloves and fresh sage leaves to a boil before allowing the ingredients to simmer. That way, the earthy and aromatic flavors of the garlic and sage really come through in the finished dish.

Get the Recipe: Braised Beans

Fried Mortadella and Salami Sliders

The Sandwich King says it best: "When you fry mortadella and create those crispy edges, it becomes the king of all deli meats."

Get the Recipe: Fried Mortadella and Salami Sliders

Ranch-Style Turkey Chili

Poblanos are spicy but not too hot, making them the perfect kick for crowd-pleasing chili. Rachael Ray tops this tailgate favorite with shredded cheddar, crispy bacon and crumbled corn muffins.

Get the Recipe: Ranch-Style Turkey Chili

Spicy Cajun Seafood Stew

Cajun seasoning gives a nice spice to this hearty and warming stew.

Get the Recipe: Spicy Cajun Seafood Stew

Mini Meatball Sliders

Ree's Italian-inspired sliders come together in less than hour, thanks to store-bought marinara sauce.

Get the Recipe: Mini Meatball Sliders

Spicy Turkey Lettuce Cups

These hearty lettuce cups deliver on all Super Bowl expectations for something meaty and spicy. Chopped cashews, in addition to the romaine hearts, provide a satisfying element of crunch.

Get the Recipe: Spicy Turkey Lettuce Cups

Chicken Chili

Ina Garten's 5-star chili is chock-full of chunky chicken, peppers, tomatoes and basil.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Chili

Basic Pizza Dough

With active dry yeast plus a few pantry staples, you can prepare a basic pizza dough in roughly two hours. Make enough to freeze and have on hand for dinners and parties in the future.

Get the Recipe: Basic Pizza Dough

Philly Cheesesteaks with Melted Fontina and Sauteed Red Onions

By freezing this beef before slicing it, you're able to get ultrathin slices, perfect for authentic cheesesteaks at home.

Get the Recipe: Philly Cheesesteaks with Melted Fontina and Sauteed Red Onions

Chili Con Carne

This meaty chili, made with ground beef and bacon, gets a flavor boost from a bottle of amber beer.

Get the Recipe: Chili Con Carne

Italian Slow-Cooker Beef Sandwiches with Giardiniera Aioli

Valerie Bertinelli's chuck roast, bell pepper and onion sandwiches practically cook themselves, thanks to the slow cooker.

Get the Recipe: Italian Slow Cooker Beef Sandwiches with Giardiniera Aioli

Cajun Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork

Start your slow cooker in the morning so that the pork will be melt-in-your-mouth tender by the start of the first quarter. Make hosting easier by setting out buns, potato chips and toppings — that way, guests can assemble their own sandwiches.

Get the Recipe: Cajun Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork

Aaron McCargo, Jr.'s Steak Fajita Chili

Aaron sears flavor into his short ribs and then braises them until they’re tender. Bell peppers, onions, beans and a smart set of spices complete the dish. Garnish the chili with guacamole, sour cream, cheese and fried tortilla strips for a little something extra.

Get the Recipe: Aaron McCargo, Jr.'s Steak Fajita Chili

Lasagna

Ree's meaty lasagna is filled with hamburger meat and sausage. It's a great party option since it can be fully assembled and frozen, unbaked, in advance.

Turkey Picadillo Sandwiches

This is like a turkey sloppy joe sandwich topped with creamy avocado slices.

Get the Recipe: Turkey Picadillo Sandwiches

Melissa d'Arabian's White Chili With Quick-Roasted Garlic

Twelve cloves of garlic may seem like a lot, but roasting makes them tender and sweet and is the perfect base for Melissa’s white chili; navy beans, spinach and shredded chicken are flavorful and filling.

Get the Recipe: Melissa d'Arabian's White Chili with Quick-Roasted Garlic

The Ultimate Steak Sandwich

A creamy cheese bechamel sauce, arugula mayo and crisp fennel slaw make this steak sandwich stand out.

Get the Recipe: The Ultimate Steak Sandwich

Chicken Pie

Trisha's casserole combines cooked, shredded chicken with cream of chicken soup and is topped with a homemade crust.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Pie

Cornbread-Chili Casserole

Using corn muffin mix as a handy shortcut, Trisha's meaty casserole is the main dish and the side, all in one.

Get the Recipe: Cornbread-Chili Casserole

BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich

Melissa cooks her pork in a slow cooker with homemade barbecue sauce. Heap the finished pork onto buns and top with tangy carrots and extra barbecue sauce once you're ready to serve.

Get the Recipe: BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich

Chimichanga Alamo

Sunny makes a cilantro-avocado cream sauce to drizzle over her beef-filled chimichangas.

Get the Recipe: Chimichanga Alamo

Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breasts

Boneless skinless chicken breasts stay moist and flavorful when wrapped in bacon and roasted. Plus, a filling of cream cheese flavored with onions, garlic and Worcestershire sauce infuses the meat with even more flavor from the inside.

Get the Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breasts

Steak Sandwiches with Blue Cheese and Peppadew Mayo

Nothing's better at a sports party than a meaty, dressed-up steak sandwich.

Get the Recipe: Steak Sandwiches With Blue Cheese and Peppadew Mayo

Mortadella Stromboli

If you have cheese, store-bought pizza dough and cold cuts, you can make this stick-to-your-ribs main dish in less than an hour.

Get the Recipe: Mortadella Stromboli

Chile Chicken with Fries

Cook chicken in a cream sauce before spooning over french fries.

Get the Recipe: Chile Chicken With Fries

French Onion Burgers

A classic, comforting soup meets tender beef in this easy burger recipe. Top each patty with a combination of Parmesan and Gruyère for a truly decadent game-day experience.

Get the Recipe: French Onion Burgers

Buffalo Chicken Pot Pie

Here's a spicy twist on chicken pot pie: The flavors of Buffalo chicken are combined with a creamy sauce, then baked between two pie crusts and studded with blue cheese. To cut down on prep time we call for store-bought pie crusts and use shredded cooked chicken meat (you can use leftover roast chicken, or meat from a rotisserie chicken). Make this recipe a new favorite for Game Days or serve it on weeknights for a cozy family dinner.

Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Pot Pie

On Tonight

Super Bowl

Big-Game Playbook: Main Dishes

Related To:

California Turkey Chili

Sausage and Mixed Mushroom Lasagna

Chili Cheese Dog

Wingless Buffalo Chicken Pizza

Beef Sliders for a Crowd

Taco Lasagna

Sloppy Joes

Mushroom Cheesesteak Sandwiches

Turkey Burger Patty Melts

Rachael's Super Nachos

Excellent Meatballs

Dragon's Breath Chili

Cheeseburger Pizza

Asian Meatball Subs With Hoisin Mayonnaise

White Bean and Chicken Chili

Slow-Cooker Chicken Thighs

Slow-Cooker Macaroni and Cheese

Chicago Italian Beef (Pot Roast Style)

Pat's Famous Beef and Pork Chili

Alton's Mini Man Burgers

Valerie's Very Best Gumbo

Mac n Cheese Bar

Fish Sandwiches with Jalapeno Slaw

Sunny's Game-Day Chili

Michael Symon's Bratwurst Stewed with Sauerkraut

Fully Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Guy's Chicken-Tequila Tailgate Sandwiches

Roasted Meatballs with Garlic Bread

Buffalo Chicken Pizza

Tyler's Beef Chili

Oven-Roasted Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Skillet Chicken Parmesan

Pizza Dough

Spicy Pop Pulled Pork

Beer Bratwursts

Italian Sub Salad

Pulled Pork Sliders

Spicy Sausage Ragu Nachos with Pickled Onions

30-Minute Turkey Chili

Cuban Po' Boy

Party Burger

Quick Chili

Build-Your-Own Taco Bar

Braised Beans

Fried Mortadella and Salami Sliders

Ranch-Style Turkey Chili

Spicy Cajun Seafood Stew

Mini Meatball Sliders

Spicy Turkey Lettuce Cups

Chicken Chili

Basic Pizza Dough

Philly Cheesesteaks with Melted Fontina and Sauteed Red Onions

Chili Con Carne

Italian Slow-Cooker Beef Sandwiches with Giardiniera Aioli

Cajun Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork

Aaron McCargo, Jr.'s Steak Fajita Chili

Lasagna

Turkey Picadillo Sandwiches

Melissa d'Arabian's White Chili With Quick-Roasted Garlic

The Ultimate Steak Sandwich

Chicken Pie

Cornbread-Chili Casserole

BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich

Chimichanga Alamo

Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breasts

Steak Sandwiches with Blue Cheese and Peppadew Mayo

Mortadella Stromboli

Chile Chicken with Fries

French Onion Burgers

Buffalo Chicken Pot Pie

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