Best Game Day & Tailgate Grilling Recipes

Are you ready for some football, food, and fun? This is my go-to list of the Best Game Day & Tailgate Grilling Recipes. Everything you need to have a tasty season with your family and friends at home or at the stadium.

Here I share more than 10 simple favorites like Grilled BBQ Chicken Breasts and classics with a fancy upgrade like my recipe for Grilled Wagyu Burgers. All grill quick enough so you don't miss a play.

Whether you want beef, chicken, or something vegetarian - there is something for everyone. If you love a ton of flavor, do not miss my section for dry rubs and marinades at the end.

Many of these I have made for decades. These go back to my tailgating days in the 90s at Oakland Coliseum when I sat in the Black Hole cheering on my Raiders.

These are tried & true parking lot recipes and many I starting making on my little Smokey Joe Weber charcoal grill. All can be cooked on a propane, electric, gas, or small tabletop hibachi. Ok, grab a beer and let's get grilling!

Grilled Chicken Recipes

Grilled BBQ Chicken Breasts

For juicy, sauced, & seasoned grilled bbq chicken breasts, this summer easy recipe is the best. The crispy crust & tender meat is ready in 30 minutes. Only 3 ingredients for a sweet, spicy, & bold cookout chicken recipe.

Grilled BBQ Chicken Breasts

Vietnamese Grilled Chicken Breasts

Thin chicken breasts are marinated for at least one hour in a salty, tangy, and sour marinade. When grilled the Asian basting sauce adds the final punch of flavor.

Spicy Vietnamese-Style Grilled Chicken Breasts

Grilled Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs

The best grilled boneless skinless chicken thighs are easy to make for summer cookout perfection. They have a sweet and spicy dry rub that adds so much flavor. These yummy chicken thighs come out juicy and cook in less than 15 minutes for a quick meal. Chicken thighs are great for meal planning to add to salads, soups, sandwiches, and wraps for lunch or dinner.

Grilled Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs

Grilled Beef Recipes

Grilled Wagyu Burgers

Top-quality delicious Wagyu burgers cooked on the grill are not just for fancy restaurants, enjoy them at home with this easy recipe. For all the melt-in-your-mouth flavor you get from ground Wagyu without the high price, grill these juicy patties at home & elevate any cookout into a special occasion. Gluten-free, keto, low-carb, & perfect for summer on the grill or skillet for a smash burger.

Grilled Wagyu Hamburgers

Grilled Tri-Tip

Perfectly grilled tri-tip is so easy with this recipe. The seasoned beef roast is tender, juicy, & a steak lover's dream. Everything you need to know to sear, grill, rest, slice, & serve the best tri-tip you have ever had. Recipe for how to cook tri-tip over indirect heat slowly on a gas or propane grill. Plus info on charcoal, pellet, or a smoker.

Grilled Tri-Tip Roast

Teriyaki Flank Steak

This easy recipe for Grilled Teriyaki Flank Steak is a summer favorite. The quick Asian-inspired marinade is salty, sweet, & savory.

Teriyaki Flank Steak

Other Recipes to Make on the Grill

Try these yummy appetizer, sides, & desserts you can make on the grill. Perfect for backyard cookouts or tailgate parties. Why have just a main dish when you want a complete meal!?

Grilled Jalapeño Poppers

The best grilled jalapeno popper recipe is only 3 ingredients. Bacon-wrapped with artichoke dip for a salty, crispy, creamy & spicy appetizer. In just 30 minutes is ready. The keto & low-carb snack or finger food is great for summer BBQ cookouts, parties, Super Bowl game day, or camping.

Grilled Jalapeno Bacon & Cheese Poppers

Grilled Peach & Goat Cheese Salad

Sweet grilled peaches, creamy avocado, tangy goat cheese, and spicy arugula are a summer salad sensation. This recipe for Grilled Peach, Avocado, and Goat Cheese Arugula Salad is fresh, sweet, crisp, & juicy. This simple summer salad is easy & perfect for bbq, cookouts, & parties.

Grilled Peach Salad

Grilled Pineapple Sundaes

Rum raisin caramel sauce drizzled over ice cream and grilled pineapple is the boozy tropical treat to enjoy all summer. This dessert is the best for BBQ backyard cookouts & pool parties.

Grilled Pineapple Sundaes

Dry Rubs & Marinades too!

Got your own favorite cut of poultry, beef, pork, veggies, or seafood. Try these homemade spice blends and DIY marinades before you throw it on the grill!

Spice Rubs & Seasonings

Brown Sugar Dry Rub for Pork

The sweet, spicy, savory, & salty blend of seasonings in this spice rub pairs perfectly with pork chops. The combo of dried herbs & spices adds so much flavor to any cut of pork including boneless or bone-in chops whether thick or thin. Rub this all over the meat, let is set, & then cook pork chops your favorite way - great for BBQ grilling, smoking, baking, pan-frying, or roasting.

Brown Sugar Dry Rub for Pork

Easy Smoked Chicken Dry Rub

For an easy dry rub for smoking chicken, this flavorful recipe will be the only one you will ever need again. This homemade seasoning blend is the best way to add so much flavor to the skin of any chicken. It has sweet, spicy, and bold seasonings that are great whether you smoke it in a smoker or roast your chicken in the oven. Enough to cover 2-3# of chicken pieces - wings, thighs, drumsticks, etc.

Easy Dry Rub for Smoking or Grilling Chicken

Spice Rub for Turkey

This easy recipe for homemade Spice Rub for Turkey is the secret to the best Thanksgiving meal. It's savory, sweet, spicy, & salty. Great for Christmas or any holiday whole bird or turkey breast.

Spice Rub for Turkey

Seasoning for Green Beans

For the best seasoning for green beans, try this easy homemade blend of herbs & spices. It is salty, savory, & a bit spicy with garlic, pepper, & onion. The dried thyme pairs perfectly with green beans. Great on fresh, cooked, canned, frozen, steamed, boiled, roasted, air-fried, or blanched.

Seasoning for Green Beans

Marinades

The Best Lemon Pepper Marinade

This quick and easy homemade marinade recipe is bursting with lemon pepper flavoring. It is perfect with vegetables, chicken, seafood, pork, and steaks! Great for anything you want to grill, smoke, or bake. Gluten-free & made with real fresh ingredients.

Homemade Lemon Pepper Marinade

Keto Steak Marinade

Keto steak marinade is the perfect low-carb boost of flavoring that goes great with any cut of steak. This easy recipe is a great base and the only steak marinade recipe you will ever need.  It is fantastic as is without any tweaks or changes.  However, if you do wish to make a spicy or paleo marinade, I got you covered for that recipe too.

Keto Steak Marinade

Final Notes & Grilling Top Tips

I hope you enjoyed this list of the top 20 ideas that make up the Best Game Day & Tailgate Grilling Recipes. These simple, easy, & tasty fan favorites to make all season.

Become a grillmaster and king or queen of the BBQ with my tips on knowing when to grill with the lid open or closed. This ensures you have juicy meat - nothing dried out - every time!

Also please have the right tools. Sharp knives that can cut through raw meat is important so you are not at risk at hurting yourself. Also, an instant meat thermometer makes sure your food is cooked to your liking and safe to eat.

More Game Day Recipe Ideas

Check out these other recipe roundups to keep the partying going while watching your favorite professional or college teams for football, baseball, basketball, hockey, and beyond! Make these sides, cocktails, & desserts so all your guests are satisfied & raving about your cooking.

• BEST BBQ SIDE DISHES
• 50 PARTY FOOD & DRINK IDEAS
• 60+ BEST SUNDAY SUPPER DINNER RECIPES
• EASY NO-BAKE DESSERTS