Game day is all about good food, good company, and great flavors. Whether you're hosting a crowd or just settling in for the big game, we've got your big game spread covered with these six crowd-pleasing recipes featuring premium Nolan Ryan Beef. From sweet and tangy meatballs to spicy jalapeño poppers, there's something here for everyone.
The Game Plan:
These aren't your average meatballs. We're talking sweet, tangy, and glazed to perfection with a secret ingredient: Dr Pepper. The iconic Texas soda adds a unique sweetness to the sauce that pairs perfectly with savory ground beef.
What Makes Them Great:
The Play:
Mix ground chuck with breadcrumbs, egg, garlic, and spices, then form into 1-inch meatballs. Brown them in a skillet, then simmer in a sauce made with ketchup, Worcestershire, Dr Pepper, and tomato paste until the sauce thickens and coats every meatball in glossy goodness. Keep them warm in your slow cooker and watch them disappear.
Pro Tip: Make a double batch - these always go faster than you think.
Get the full Dr Pepper Meatballs recipe here
The Game Plan:
You can't have a Texas game day without chili. This True Texan Chili is rich, hearty, and loaded with beef - the way chili should be. Made with both Nolan Ryan Beef Ground Chuck and Ground Beef for Chili, plus Shiner Bock beer for depth, this is the chili that'll have everyone coming back for seconds.
What Makes It Great:
The Play:
Brown the beef, sauté onions until caramelized, then build your flavor base with garlic, chili powder, cayenne, and cumin. Add Shiner Bock, diced tomatoes with green chiles, tomato sauce, and more green chiles. Let it simmer low and slow for an hour, then stir in cornmeal to thicken. The result? A rich, complex chili that tastes like it's been simmering all day.
Serving Suggestion: Set up a chili bar with toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, diced onions, jalapeños, and of course, Fritos.
Get the full True Texan Chili recipe here
The Game Plan:
All the flavors of your favorite cheeseburger, wrapped up in a handheld package. These roll ups are easy to eat with one hand (keeping the other free for your drink), making them perfect game day food.
What Makes Them Great:
The Play:
Season and cook Nolan Ryan Beef ground beef with your favorite burger seasonings. Roll out crescent dough or pizza dough, fill with the seasoned beef and cheese, then roll up and bake until golden brown. Serve with ketchup, mustard, and pickles on the side for dipping.
Pro Tip: Make a variety - some with pickles and onions inside, some plain for the picky eaters.
Get the full Cheeseburger Roll-Up recipe here
The Game Plan:
Tender, slow-cooked chuck roast seasoned with Italian spices, piled high on slider buns with melted provolone, banana peppers, and Parmesan. These sliders are juicy, flavorful, and absolutely irresistible.
What Makes Them Great:
The Play:
Season a Nolan Ryan Beef Chuck Roast with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Layer it in your slow cooker with sliced onions and garlic cloves, then let it cook low and slow until it shreds easily. Build your sliders by brushing buns with Italian dressing, piling on the shredded beef, topping with banana peppers and provolone, then finishing with more Italian dressing and Parmesan before baking until toasty.
Game Day Hack: Make the beef the day before and just assemble and bake the sliders right before kickoff.
Get the full Italian Beef Sliders recipe here
The Game Plan:
Creamy, cheesy, spicy, and wrapped in bacon - these jalapeño poppers check every game day box. Made with seasoned Nolan Ryan Beef Ground Chuck mixed into the cream cheese filling, they're hearty enough to be a substantial snack.
What Makes Them Great:
The Play:
Cook and season your ground chuck (the recipe suggests trying their Chorizo seasoning for extra kick). Mix it with cream cheese and sharp cheddar, then stuff halved jalapeños with the mixture. Wrap each one in bacon and grill on low heat until the bacon is crispy and the peppers are tender.
Spice Tip: Remove all the seeds and membranes for mild heat, or leave some seeds in for people who like it hot. Label them accordingly!
Get the full Grilled Jalapeño Poppers recipe here
The Game Plan:
These aren't your basic sliders. We're talking juicy Nolan Ryan Beef Ground Chuck patties basted with herb-loaded cowboy butter, topped with pepper jack cheese and fresh jalapeños. They're rich, they're flavorful, and they're absolutely crave-worthy.
What Makes Them Great:
The Play:
Form ground chuck into 2-inch slider patties. Make your cowboy butter by mixing melted butter with garlic, paprika, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, lemon juice, parsley, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Grill the patties while basting them with the butter mixture. Once they hit 145°F internal temp, build your sliders with toasted buns, pepper jack cheese, and sliced jalapeños.
Extra Credit: Make extra cowboy butter to serve on the side for dipping or drizzling.
Get the full Cowboy Butter Gameday Sliders recipe here
The Timeline:
2 Days Before:
1 Day Before:
Game Day Morning:
2 Hours Before Kickoff:
30 Minutes Before:
During the Game:
Create stations to keep things organized:
Hot & Hearty Station:
Slider Station:
Grill Station:
Extras:
When you're feeding a crowd, quality matters. Nolan Ryan Beef is known for its superior marbling, tenderness, and flavor - which means every recipe on your game day spread will taste better. Whether you're using ground chuck for meatballs and sliders or a chuck roast for Italian beef, you're starting with premium Texas beef that delivers consistent, delicious results.
Find Nolan Ryan Beef exclusively at Kroger locations throughout Texas.
The secret to a successful Super Bowl spread isn't just good recipes - it's variety. With these six options, you've got:
Mix and match based on your crowd size and preferences. Going big? Make all six. Keeping it simple? Pick your top three and call it a day.
With these six recipes in your playbook, you're set up for Super Bowl success. Each one features premium Nolan Ryan Beef and brings something different to the table. Whether your guests are there for the game or just the food (let's be honest, it's both), they'll be talking about your spread long after the final whistle.
Find all the recipes and more at nolanryanbeef.com/blogs/recipes
Find Nolan Ryan Beef exclusively at Kroger.
Now get cooking - game day is coming. 🏈