Easy recipes for your next game day party

Football season isn’t just about the big game — it’s also about good food, cold drinks and spending time with friends and family. You don’t need complicated recipes to put together a good spread, either. A few simple ingredients and some of your favorite sauces can turn basic game-day foods into something a little more interesting. 

Here are a few easy ideas to bring to your next tailgate or watch party. 

BBQ chicken sliders
Pulled chicken is an easy option for a crowd. Cook shredded chicken in a slow cooker with Navajo Mike’s Barbecue Sauce, then serve it on slider buns with coleslaw or your favorite toppings. 

You can prepare the chicken ahead of time and keep it warm until it’s time to eat. 

Loaded nachos
Nachos are a tailgating classic and easy to customize. Start with tortilla chips and shredded cheese, then add your favorite toppings. Try seasoned ground beef or pulled chicken, black beans, onions and jalapeños. 

Serve with Santa Fe Seasons Fire Roasted Salsa on the side. The Roma tomatoes are roasted over an open flame, giving the salsa a smoky flavor, with chipotle chiles adding a little extra depth. 

Hot sauce wings
Chicken wings are another easy game-day favorite. Toss cooked wings with your favorite sauce, or set out a few different sauces so everyone can choose their own. 

Sakari Farms Fire Roasted Hot Sauce is a good option for anyone who likes a smoky flavor without a lot of heat. Made with fire-roasted jalapeños, tomatillos, onion and garlic, it has a heat level of 2 out of 5. 

For something a little different, try Sakari Farms Blueberry Sweetgrass Hot Sauce. Made with blueberries, maple sugar, sweetgrass and habaneros, it has a mild heat level with a sweet and slightly spicy flavor. 

Build-your-own snack board
Not everything at a tailgate needs to be cooked. Put together a simple snack board with crackers, cheese, fruit, nuts and Nemi Snacks for an easy option people can grab between plays. 

Add Pemmican Patty bison and beef bars for another protein-packed option. It’s an easy addition to a snack spread and doesn’t require any preparation. 

Don’t forget the dips and sauces
A few good sauces can make it easy to put together a tailgate spread without making everything from scratch. Keep Santa Fe Seasons Fire Roasted Salsa, Navajo Mike’s Barbeque Sauce and Sakari Farms hot sauces on the table for dipping, topping or adding extra flavor to your favorite game-day foods. 

Tailgating doesn’t have to mean spending all day in the kitchen. Pick a few easy foods, add some good sauces and snacks, and you’ll have plenty to share when the game starts.