Football season is almost here, and game day grilling is ready to return with it. Soon, weekends will once again bring the sound of the game, friends gathering outside, cold drinks within reach, and something irresistible sizzling over the flame. Whether you are hosting the season opener in your backyard, setting up a Saturday tailgate, or settling in for a full Sunday of football, the grill has a way of becoming part of the celebration.
The Summerset Game Day Grilling Series brings together more than 40 recipes made for those weekends. Smoky ribs, juicy burgers, loaded sandwiches, crisp quesadillas, steak tacos, wings, skewers, and plenty more give you options for nearly every kind of gathering. Some are built for passing around before kickoff. Others deserve the spotlight at halftime. All of them give you another reason to gather outdoors, fill the table, and savor football season with the people who make it worth watching.
This year, the collection grows with three more recipes: a hearty Tailgate Strip Steak Sandwich layered with peppers, beer cheese, and chipotle mayo; golden quesadillas made across the broad surface of the griddle; and sticky Grilled Pineapple Mango Chicken Wings with a sweet, tangy finish.
So wear your colors, invite the crew, and get the outdoor kitchen ready. Football is nearly back, and there is an entire season of Saturdays, Sundays, rivalry games, and watch parties ahead.
A Better Game Day Starts Before Kickoff
A memorable spread does not require spending four quarters standing over the grill. A little preparation gives you more time around the table, more time watching the action, and fewer interruptions once guests arrive.
Use these abbreviated game day grilling tips to keep the food coming without missing the best plays:
- Prep early. Shape burger patties, marinate wings and kebabs, slice toppings, and prepare sauces before guests arrive.
- Create two heat zones. Keep one area hot for searing and another at a lower temperature for slower cooking, holding finished items, or moving food away from flare-ups.
- Cook in rounds. Start wings, skewers, and appetizers before kickoff. Bring out burgers, sausages, sandwiches, or other substantial dishes later in the game.
- Leave room on the cooking surface. Crowding makes temperature management harder. Work in batches that match your available space and serving pace.
- Add sugary sauces near the end. Barbecue glazes can scorch over prolonged heat. Brush them on during the final minutes for a glossy, caramelized finish.
- Arrange an easy serving station. Place mains first, followed by sides, toppings, sauces, plates, and napkins so guests can serve themselves while you tend the fire.
For more ways to organize the menu, manage heat, control flare-ups, and time each round of food, read Summerset’s complete Game Day Grilling Tips: A Playbook for Flavor and Ease.
The Game Day Grilling Series
Tailgate Strip Steak Sandwich
A sandwich worthy of two hands, the Tailgate Strip Steak Sandwich layers sliced New York strip steak onto grilled ciabatta with sautéed onions and red peppers. Warm beer cheese adds creamy richness, while chipotle mayo finishes each bite with smoky heat.
Quesadillas on the Griddle
Golden tortillas and bubbling cheese are hard to resist, especially when the first batch comes hot from the griddle. Quesadillas on the Griddle turn a familiar favorite into a versatile option for feeding guests throughout the afternoon.
Grilled Pineapple Mango Chicken Wings
Sweet fruit, tangy vinegar, savory Worcestershire, and smoky grilled chicken come together in Grilled Pineapple Mango Chicken Wings. The homemade sauce combines mango and pineapple for a bright contrast to the seasoned wings.
Filipino-Inspired Pork Party Ribs
Perfect for game-day gatherings, these ribs are seasoned to perfection and glazed with a delightful homemade BBQ sauce, creating a mouthwatering balance of sweet, savory, and tangy. Fire up the grill and serve up these delicious ribs that will leave your guests cheering for more!
Grilled Chicken, Tomato, and Onion Sandwiches
These delicious sandwiches are perfect for grilling season and feature chicken cooked to perfection on the grill. The tomatoes add juicy sweetness to the sandwich, while the onions give it a nice savory flavor.
Grilled Beef Gyros
This sandwich is sure to please even the most dedicated football fan, featuring marinated sirloin strips grilled to perfection. Served on grilled flatbread with fresh veggies and a refreshing cucumber sauce, these one-handed sandwiches will leave you free to cheer on your team in style.
Smoked Pork Belly Burnt Ends
This succulent, fatty pork belly is expertly smoked and perfectly rendered, resulting in a glorious caramelized exterior. Tossed in a sticky, garlicky-sweet barbecue sauce, the Game Day Grilling Series Smoked Pork Belly Burnt Ends are guaranteed to be the MVP of your next gathering.
Barbecue Bacon Cheddar Smokehouse Burgers
This gourmet creation fuses the classic flavors of a juicy seasoned patty, homemade barbecue sauce, beer-infused cheddar cheese sauce, and crispy bacon. It’s a culinary extravaganza you won’t want to miss!
Tacos al Pastor
This classic Mexican street food will tantalize your taste with its sweet and spicy marinated pork. Impress your crowd by prepping these tacos ahead of time and quickly grilling the ingredients whenever it’s game time.
Jerk Pork Tenderloin Sliders
Seasoned with a unique blend of spices, slow-cooked on the grill, and topped with a sweet and spicy glaze, these sliders are bursting with flavor. To take it to the next level, serve them on Hawaiian rolls with a Caribbean coleslaw featuring fresh mango and habanero pepper.
Grilled Porterhouse Steak with Chimichurri
This hearty and savory feast is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. You only need a few quality ingredients, a little prep time, and a trusty grill. The homemade Chimichurri sauce’s vibrant flavors will take your porterhouse to a new level.
Manchego-Stuffed Pork Burgers
These delicious burgers are made with juicy pork and stuffed with flavorful Manchego cheese. So fire up the grill and enjoy delightful football fare with the Game Day Grilling Series!
Grilled Pepper Poppers
These tantalizing bites are bursting with flavor and are sure to ignite the team spirit of even the faintest of heart. They’re perfect for sharing with friends and make an excellent appetizer for any game-day feast.
Grilled Sausage & Pepper Deep Ball Grinders
These delicious sausage sandwiches will score big with your friends and family. Perfect for any size crowd, these easy-to-make sandwiches will be the star of your tailgate.
Grilled Shrimp with Oregano and Lemon
With a sauce featuring diced capers, garlic, and oregano combined with olive oil, lemon juice, and lemon zest, these shrimp are addictively salty, tangy, and refreshing.
Grilled Chicken Skewers with Toum (Shish Taouk)
Resounding with bold spices, garlic, and lemon, Lebanese Grilled Chicken Skewers with Toum (Shish Taouk) explodes with flavor in every bite for an addicting chicken and garlic treat that you can’t get enough of, kind of like football.
Chile-Spiced Skirt Steak Tacos
No matter who you’re rooting for, these Chile-Spiced Skirt Steak Tacos featuring lime and spice marinated steak are sure to be a big hit.
Grilled Hot Dogs with Hatch Pineapple Salsa
Grilling hot dogs may seem like an obvious choice when hosting a party, but the crispy bacon, pepper jack cheese, and Hatch pineapple salsa make these stand out from the crowd.
Asian Salmon Burgers with Avocado and Hoisin Sauce
These salmon burgers feature Asian flavors of garlic, ginger, and hoisin sauce and are topped with mashed avocado and veggies for an epic experience to match the game.
Grilled Strip Steak with Blistered Tomatoes and Green Beans
A fresh salad of grilled ingredients offers mesquite aroma and charred goodness. With a delightful smoky element, this salad shows how a couple of extra steps can add a lot of flavor and fun.
Mixed Grill with Roasted-Garlic-and-Pepper Salsa
Can’t settle on a protein for the big day? Grill them all with a multiuse spicy-citrus marinade and a salsa that pairs well with shrimp, chicken, and sausages. With beautiful color and aroma, this mixed platter will become a game-day favorite for your football frenzied feast.
Pork and Onion Kabobs
Pork and Onion Kabobs are super quick and straightforward to get you ready for the action, featuring a marinade of honey, soy, and chili sauce also used for basting. These kabobs are a delight to savor with golden caramelization and succulent moistness.
French Onion Stuffed Burgers au Gratin
There’s nothing like enjoying the heart-stopping mayhem at home with friends and a fistful of tasty goodness. These fistfuls will keep you fueled and feeling good no matter how your team is faring.
Cola Hot Wings
Sports and hot wings are about as American as hot dogs and baseball, and these Cola Hot Wings are perfect for an all-day Sunday-football-wing-fest.
Terrific Teriyaki Burgers
Featuring a unique homemade teriyaki mixture mixed into the patties and brushed on as a glaze during cooking. Fitting for any weekend barbecue, these burgers won’t disappoint, even if your fantasy football score does.
Tecate Skirt-Steak Tacos
Featuring hearty steak marinated in pale lager and sliced thin, these tacos pack in the flavor, raising the bar on game day pub food.
Southern BBQ Pork Burgers
Perfect for a festive tailgate with your team’s fan base, Southern BBQ Pork Burgers bring the taste of the south to a fistful feast. Made with ground pork and topped with refreshing buttermilk coleslaw, these burgers will get you ready for the big game.
Grilled Skirt Steak with Charred Corn Salad
This dish is an all-out blitz of flavor, featuring sweet corn, beautifully charred and mixed with fresh citrus and cilantro, served over succulent steak with warm tortillas.
Ginger, Garlic, and Honey Grilled Baby Back Ribs
Enjoy the game with these ribs, featuring zesty and nutty notes with addicting sweetness in each bite. These ribs are a bit messy and may smear your face paint, but they are worth it!
Grilled Sausage and Apple Slaw Subs
These subs are a serious upgrade to standard hot dogs or fan food, featuring rich bratwurst links topped with a sweet and tangy slaw that is both refreshing and addicting.
Grilled Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches
Featuring boneless grilled chicken marinated in hot sauce and topped with a refreshing Blue Cheese and Apple Slaw, these sandwiches bring the flare and excitement needed for opening day festivities.
Caribbean Grilled Ribeyes
Another football season is here, and the Game Day Grilling Series is set to bring exciting recipes fit for weekend revelries. Next up is Caribbean Grilled Ribeyes, a robust and spicy preparation that pairs well with this favorite cut of marbled, succulent beef.
Grilled Pulled Pork Pizza
These pizzas are a unique take on traditional party foods. While they could be cooked in a conventional oven, using the grill adds mesquite and nuance of flavor that takes these pizzas to the next level.
Bacon-Wrapped Grilled Chicken Skewers
An excellent combination of salty bacon, thin-cut chicken strips, and sweet barbecue sauce, these skewers are perfect as an appetizer or the featured dish; these skewers are full of flavor and addicting.
Favorite Barbecue Chicken
The Game Day Grilling Series continues with Favorite Barbecue Chicken, featuring a well-balanced sweet and tangy sauce that will become your favorite.
Chile-Glazed Hanger Steak
Featuring a chile rub to penetrate the thick steak and finished with a sweet-chile glaze, this steak not only raises the bar on your football culinary experience but also has a lot of protein to kick start that mid-afternoon food coma.
Sausages with Grilled-Onion Chowchow
Next is a fun take on a football favorite – Sausages with Grilled-Onion Chowchow. Featuring tasty, robust sausages served with sweet and sour relish, this simple recipe is perfect for halftime refueling.
Country-Style Ribs with Apple-Bourbon Barbecue Sauce
Featuring rich smoky flavor, a spice rub, and a hot and sweet hot glaze, these ribs are savory and addicting, perfect for any rabid fan on game day.
Grilled Shrimp and Chorizo Skewers
Designed to sparkle and sizzle with each bite, these skewers are perfect for long afternoon football binges, featuring citrus marinated shrimp and spicy chorizo.
Barbecue Beef Kebabs
Beautifully marinated, grilled, and served with sweet and savory coleslaw, these kebabs are perfect for celebrating the game-winning drive.
Sweetly Hot Baby Back Ribs
A fairly simple preparation featuring sweet chili sauce and ginger lightens the taste buds with every bite. With each bite as sparkling and unforgettable as the game-winning drive, these ribs are the perfect companion to your football Sunday.
Grilled Buttermilk Chicken
With a soak in herb-laced buttermilk that imparts a slight tang to the chicken while tenderizing the meat, this is an easy way to make grilled chicken spectacular while rooting for your favorite team.
Make Every Weekend Worth Gathering For
Football gives us the schedule, but the people around the table make the day memorable. An outdoor kitchen gives those weekends a setting of their own, where the aroma of steak hitting hot stainless steel mingles with conversation, platters move from grill to table, and nobody has to leave the gathering to prepare the next round.
A Summerset outdoor kitchen can bring grilling, griddle cooking, side burners, refrigeration, sinks, dry storage, ventilation, and more into one beautifully appointed space. Instead of moving between the house and backyard, you can keep ingredients chilled, prep nearby, manage several dishes, and serve guests from the heart of the action.
Opening weekend is only the beginning. From early-season afternoons under warm skies to rivalry games and the final championship, keep this collection close whenever friends and family come together.
Fire up the grill, fill the table, and make this football season taste as good as it looks.