Regional Game day recipes for the NFL 2026 championship games.
Get game day ready with our ultimate Championship Weekend menu! From New England’s Buffalo Chicken Waffle Cones to Denver Chili Bake or Mexican Lasagna, and from Seattle Salmon two ways to L.A. Mexican Street food Tacos and quesadillas, we’re serving up regional favorites for every fan. Taste the rivalry with these easy, crowd-pleasing recipes.
Welcome back, football foodies! The road to the Super Bowl has narrowed down to the final four. It is officially Championship Weekend, and the matchups on the field are as legendary as the regional recipes we are sharing to represent each city.
In the AFC, we have a classic showdown as the New England Patriots face off against the Denver Broncos. In the NFC, the battle for the West concludes with the Seattle Seahawks taking on the Los Angeles Rams.
To celebrate, we are bringing the stadium to your kitchen with a regional recipe showdown. Whether you are rooting for the East Coast, the Rockies, the Pacific Northwest, or SoCal, we have a dish to match your loyalty. Let’s cook!
🏈 The AFC Championship Menu
Representing New England: Buffalo Chicken Waffle Cones
Forget the fork—this is “walk-around” food at its finest. Inspired by the innovative food truck culture of the East Coast and the Patriots’ fiery spirit, we’re taking classic buffalo chicken and serving it inside a crispy waffle cone. It’s sweet, spicy, and impossible to put down.
To make buffalo chicken in waffle cones, substitute chicken tenders for the wings in the recipe below and smother the tenders with the buffalo sauce. Then, simply place the buffalo chicken tenders into a waffle cone, top with your choice of blue cheese or ranch dressing.
Dr John’s Saucy Grilled Chicken Wings
Difficulty: EasyGrilled wings, crispy and caramelized skin. All the taste without the frying.
Representing Denver: “Mile High” Chili Bake or Mexican Lasagna
For the Broncos, we are channeling the hearty, warming soul of the Rockies. This isn’t just a casserole; it’s a “Chili Bake”—a Denver-style twist on Mexican lasagna where pasta is replaced by soft corn tortillas, layered a mile high with zesty chili and cheese.
Southwestern Chili Bake
Difficulty: EasySouthwestern flavors, tortillas and bubbly cheese all wrapped up in a delicious casserole dish.
🏈 The NFC Championship Menu
Representing Seattle: Salmon Two Ways
The Seahawks bring the flavor of the Pacific Northwest. We are showcasing the jewel of Seattle—salmon—prepared two different ways to please every palate. A simple spiced salmon that can be grilled or baked, then placed in a roll and covered with your favorite condiment. The second, is a shrimp stuffed salmon that may be our favorite recipe on our recipe blog!
Option 1: Chili Lime Spiced Salmon Sandwich
Click on the recipe link below for A smoky, sweet, and spicy fillet that cooks fast and flakes perfectly. Place the salmon in a Kaiser roll with a twist of lime and your favorite accompaniments for gameday perfection!
Chili Lime Spiced Salmon
Cooks in 20 minutesDifficulty: EasyA healthy seafood entree packed with flavor, protein and Omega-3 fatty acids. This is a weekday meal idea you can prepare in under 30 minutes the whole family will love.
Option 2: Shrimp-Stuffed Salmon
Click the link below to create a decadent double-seafood threat! This will take a bit more time and talent than option 1, but if you have a smaller sized crowd this recipe is dynamite.
Grilled Wild Caught Stuffed Salmon
Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Mediumdelicious salmon filled with shrimp, sun dried tomatoes, spinach and pecorino Romano cheese. Grill it or bake it, you will love it!
Representing Los Angeles: L.A. Mexican Street Food Platter
Los Angeles food culture is street food culture, more specifically, Mexican street food! To represent the Rams, we are ditching the hard shells for authentic soft-taco vibes and crispy, gooey quesadillas.
Part 1: Slow Cooker Street Tacos
Mexican street food has never been this convenient. Drop all the ingredients from the recipe below into the slow cooker in the morning, then a few hours later shred the chicken. The result, game day perfection! Our technique includes a shortcut to create some authentic Mexican street food, allowing us time to enjoy the game as well as the food. Be sure to have all the traditional toppings such as lettuce, shredded cheddar, pico de gayo and salsa so your guest can create there own tacos.
Chicken Tacos
Difficulty: EasyCreate chicken tacos in minutes when made with our crockpot Mexican chicken.
Part 2: Oaxacan-Style Quesadillas
Who doesn’t adore a freshly made quesadilla. To make this recipe; click, then follow the recipe below and substitue Oaxacan cheese for the shredded cheddar.
Know that these aren’t your polite, microwave-melted snacks; these are Oaxacan-style quesadillas, and they are unapologetically seductive. Imagine a flour tortilla, kissed by the heat of the griddle until it develops a blistered, golden-brown skin that shatters upon contact. Inside, a sultry, tangled embrace of authentic Oaxaca cheese melts into a pool of molten ecstasy, stretching for miles with every pull.
To take it up another notch, you can layer in roasted poblano peppers (not in our recipe below) that bring a smoky, slow-burning heat, creating an intimate marriage of crunch and creaminess. One bite is purely decadent; a hot, gooey, stringy affair that demands you abandon your utensils and dive in with your hands. It’s messy, it’s intense, and perhaps the most passionate relationship you’ll have all weekend.
Chicken Quesadilla
Difficulty: EasyOnce our crockpot Mexican chicken is made, these quesadillas come together quickly. They are delicious and family friendly. Who says you have to go out for good Mexican food?
Championship Weekend Post Game Roundup
Whether you’re rooting for the your favorite team, have a wager, or just love a good party, we’ve got six touchdown-worthy recipes to fuel your NFL playoffs feast.
Craving classics? Add some simple nachos smothered in our chili bake or nibble on some spicy grilled chicken tenders smothered in our Buffalo sauce. Feeling for something more substantive? Try a salmon sandwich, or if more ambitious try making our shrimp stuffed salmon.
Some of these recipes can even be categorized as healthy! Looking for other healthy options? Go to our recipe blog and click on the healthy tab for a mountain of healthy food suggestions! So head to your Kitchen, grab your spatula, cheer your team, and let the culinary competition begin!
Enjoy the games and the food! If you prefer shopping, click here to check out the latest movers and shakers on Amazon!
Which Region Wins Your Taste Buds?
Whether you are Team AFC or Team NFC, this menu guarantees a win in the kitchen.
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