tailgate food

Be a Football Hero with These Tailgate Food Ideas and Recipes

Nothing beats a tailgate!

Drinks, foods and lawn games keep tailgaters entertained till the main event starts. However, if you have been to a few tailgates, there is one thing you already know: a good tailgate is far more memorable than the main game. I checked off one of my bucket list items with a trip to watch the Ohio Buckeyes play.  I had to have a party to celebrate that!

To throw a seamless tailgate

You need to select and prepare the food and drinks beforehand. Of course, certain foods like sausages and burgers are best grilled on-site, but there is no need to fret over preparing drinks or fiddling with food trays.

Below are a few easy tailgate food recipes for low-cost tailgating parties.

crispy cheesy chicken tenders

Crunchy Chicken Cheese Tenders – Tailgate Finger Food

Original crackers are combined with parmesan cheese to form a crisp coating over these chicken wings. They are great for the tailgate party or as a snack during the game.
Prep Time: Cook Time: Total Time: Yield: 6 servings Ingredients:
  •  1 1/2 lb skinless, boneless chicken breast cut in halves.
  • ¼ cup of multipurpose wheat flour
  • 1 tablespoon of water Two egg whites, partially beaten
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • One teaspoon of dry oregano leaves 1/2 cup of ranch salad dressing or spicy ranch salad dressing.
    1. Cut the chicken lengthwise into 3/4 wide strips then set aside.
    2. Put some flour on wax paper.
    3. Stir egg whites and water in a shallow dish.
    4. In a separate shallow dish, combine snack crackers with oregano and parmesan cheese.
    5. Roll the chicken strips, one after the other, in the flour.
    6. Shake off any excess flour then dip into your egg white mix.
    7. Coat the chicken with the cracker mix, gently pressing it into the flesh
    8. Place the chicken in a shallow baking pan lined with foil or coated with cooking spray in one layer.
    9. Bake at 425F for 20 minutes then serve

Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches  – Tailgate Finger Food

chocolate ice cream sandwiches homemade
Author: Greta Jenkins Preparation Time: Cooking time: Servings: 12Keep Chocolate ice cream sandwiches frozen until use.Ingredients:
    • One packet of soft round cookies
    • One ice cream container in your favorite favor
    • A bag of chocolate chips
Instructions:
    • Place two to three tablespoons of the ice-cream on one side of half the cookies. The ice-cream should be a little stiff.
    • Place the remaining cookies face down on the ice the press gently.
Refrigerate your ice-cream sandwiches in the camping fridge for two hours before the tailgate.

Creamy Buffalo Chicken Dip – Tailgate Snack Food

Creamy Buffalo Chicken Dip
Tailgating from home should ideally involve guests having quick little bites. This recipe has a bit of a kick that balances nicely with the blue cheese” tangy creaminess.
Author: Greta Jenkins Preparation Time: Cooking time: Servings: 12Creamy buffalo chicken dip is perfect for tailgate parties.Ingredients:
  • Roasted chicken from the supermarket
  • 8 ounces of softened cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup of crumbled blue cheese
  • A cup of ranch dressing
  • A box of crackers
  • One bunch of celery prepared and cut into four pieces.
  • 2/4 cup of hot pepper sauce.
Instructions:
    • Heat hot sauce and chicken in the skillet with medium heat until thoroughly heated.
    • Add cream cheese, stir and keep cooking till cream cheese is completely absorbed.
    • 3. Add crumbled blue cheese and ranch dressing, keep cooking and stirring till hot and bubbly.
Serve immediately with crackers and celery sticks. You can also leave the mixture in a slow cooker on low heat if you decided to cook before the tailgate.

Don’t forget the chili:

For a large crowd or just a few.
2 lbs. coarsely ground beef chuck
2 (16 oz.) cans red kidney beans,
drained
2 (14 1/2 oz.) cans tomatoes, drained
2 med. onions, coarsely chopped
1 green pepper, seeded and coarsely
chopped
2 cloves garlic, peel and crushed
2-3 tbsp. chili powder
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
In a large, preferably non-stick, saucepan brown the chuck and drain off the fat. Put the ground beef and other ingredients in a 3 1/2 to 4-quart crockpot. If you have a small crockpot, cut the recipe in half. Stir well. Cover and cook on low for 10-12 hours. Makes 12 cups of chili.

Video with 9 more  Tailgate recipes

Tailgate Tips:

Park near a landmark

It takes more than copious amounts of finger-licking food and beverages to plan a memorable tailgate party. The location you choose to hold the party should also be a big consideration when planning the tailgate. Park near a unique landmark and the party will linger in your memories for longer. Besides, it will be easier for your guests to find you. Guests only need to spot the landmark in order to locate the tailgate.

 Crack open a cold one

Everyone at the tailgate expects the food to be hot and the beverages cold. Moreover, you will also be responsible for food safety if you are bringing food. It is therefore essential to bring a good cooler to keep the drinks cool and the meats chilled. Some of these coolers can keep ice for up to five days. With inbuilt cup holders, it is easy o see why these fridges are super convenient to bring along to every tailgate.

Try these Spiked Hot Chocolate Drink Recipes for adults on cold weather game days. Huge list of 60 fun things to do this Fall      

1 thought on “Be a Football Hero with These Tailgate Food Ideas and Recipes”

  1. The landmark idea is a good one, I never thought of that before. It was always "Section 5. Row 4", or something like that. And thank you for the recipe as well.

    Good stuff you have here.

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