It’s game day, and all you can think about is the food. Whether you’re heading to the stadium or watching from home, these 10 tailgate ideas are sure to get your stomach growling and satisfy those pre-game cravings.
1. Spicy Hot Wings
Spicy hot wings are a great option for tailgating because they’re easy to make and you can cook them on the grill.
Instructions:
- Use a deep fryer or deep pan for cooking the wings, which will help keep them crispy. This is important because when it comes to spicy hot wings, crispy is key!
- The sauce should have some kick (and plenty of flavors), but not be so spicy that the flavor of the chicken is lost in it. Make sure you get a thick sauce but not too thick!
2. Mini Pigs in a Blanket
These are mini pigs in a blanket. They’re bite-sized hot dogs wrapped in crescent rolls, and you can use any kind of cheese you like. But if you want to keep your dinner guests happy, go with the classic American: cheese whiz!
Instructions:
- First, preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Next, cut the crescent rolls into circles that are about 2 inches wide and 1/2 inch deep.
- Place a small amount of cheese whiz on one side of each circle, then place the raw hot dog inside the other half of the dough circle you may need to use toothpicks to keep everything together as you wrap it up tightly into what looks like an infinity sign (or some other symbol).
- Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown on top; enjoy!
3. Mini Meatball Sliders
Tailgating is a great way to get the party started, and what better way to start it up than with some delicious mini meatball sliders? These puppies are super easy to make but will have everyone coming back for seconds.
Start by making your own DIY barbecue sauce: simmering tomatoes, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and spices until thickened. Add fresh cilantro before serving over these mouthwatering little buns from The Pioneer Woman.
Mini Meatball Sliders Recipe Ingredients:
- 1½ pounds lean ground beef
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup milk
- 2 eggs beaten lightly
- Salt & pepper – To Taste
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F/175 degrees
- C/Gas Mark 4 In a large bowl mix all ingredients together except for the egg whites until well combined
- Stir in egg whites into mixture Shape into small balls about ½ inch diameter Place onto lined baking sheet Bake for 15-20 minutes until cooked through Cool slightly before serving
4. Bacon and Blue Deviled Eggs
Instructions:
- To make blue deviled eggs, you’ll need to hard-boil the eggs and then cut them in half. Scoop out the yolks and mix them with mayo, mustard, and a little bit of water (you can also add a pinch of salt). Toss in some crumbled blue cheese for good measure!
- Next, cook your bacon either by frying it or baking it in the oven then crumble it into bits once cooked. You can also use strips instead if that’s what you prefer!
- Mix together some ranch dressing with sour cream before adding a bit of shredded cheddar cheese and mixing again until smooth (this will be your ranch dressing base). Add dill pickle juice to taste; most people like about 2 teaspoons for every cup of dressing but feel free to experiment around with this ingredient until you get the right level for you!
- Now comes time to assemble all these delicious ingredients together: spread some of your ranch dressing on each egg white before sprinkling on crumbled bacon bits followed by finishing off with another dollop more over the top so everything sticks together nicely when eaten later on down during tailgating festivities later today afternoon/evening after 6 pm PST.)
5. Jalapeno Poppers
In the mood for something spicy? Try these jalapeno poppers. They are simple to make and are great for tailgating because they can be stored in an airtight container and kept at room temperature until you are ready to eat them.
Ingredients:
- 10-12 Jalapeno peppers, cut in half lengthwise, seeds removed (leave some seeds if you want it spicy)
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened at room temperature for about 30 minutes
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or any other kind of cheese you like)
6. Margarita Shrimp Skewers
Ingredients:
- Preheat oven to 450°F.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine the tequila, lime juice, and salt until the salt dissolves into the liquid. Add shrimp and stir to coat evenly; set aside for at least 30 minutes (or up to 1 hour).
- Thread shrimp onto skewers that have been soaked in water for 30 minutes (this will prevent them from burning on the grill). Grill for 2 minutes per side or until lightly charred and cooked through, about 4-5 minutes total cooking time per side depending on how hot your griddle is set at this point you can also use an indoor grill pan if you are looking for an alternative way instead of grilling outdoors
7. Slow Cooker Corn Dip
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 2 cups sour cream, divided use
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (sharp or mild) or Monterey Jack cheese, divided use Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl except 1 cup of the shredded cheese. Mix well until thoroughly combined. Place in the slow cooker and cook on high for 3 hours or low for 4-6 hours, stirring occasionally. Add the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese about 10 minutes before serving if you want it melted and mixed into your dip rather than sprinkled on top. Serve with tortilla chips or veggies!
8. Mini Cheeseburger Sliders
Mini cheeseburger sliders are a great tailgate food option for those who like to eat small bites. You can make these mini burgers for your guests or even just keep them in the freezer and reheat them at home before you head out.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce (see note)
- 1/4 cup ketchup (see note)
- 2 teaspoons mustard powder (or Dijon mustard)
9. Buffalo Chicken Dip
Here’s a crowd-pleasing dip that will keep your guests coming back for more.
Ingredients
• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cubed
• 1 cup ranch dressing (or as much as you like)
• ½ cup blue cheese crumbles (or enough to sprinkle over the top)
• ¼ cup Frank’s Red Hot Sauce or other hot sauce of choice (you can also mix it up and use some regular hot sauce and some spicy buffalo wing sauce)Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix together the chicken, ranch dressing, blue cheese crumbles, and buffalo wing sauce until well combined. Bake in an 8×8 inch casserole dish for 30 minutes or until bubbly on top – if your casserole dish isn’t oven safe you’ll need to transfer it into one before baking so be sure there’s no plastic touching any part of the mixture! If desired serve with celery sticks and carrot sticks on the side
10. Classic Chicken Wings with Spicy Ranch Dipping Sauce
This classic chicken wing recipe is a must-have for any tailgate. The fried wings are crispy and delicious, with the sauce adding just the right amount of kick. For best results, make sure to buy quality chicken wings, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different sauces. Celery sticks and carrot sticks are great for dipping into any extra sauce that you have leftover!
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed these tailgate food ideas! The best part about them is that they’re all easy to make, easy to transport, and most importantly, they taste great. So whether it’s a football game or any other sports event, don’t be afraid to get creative when planning what kind of food you want to take with you out into the world.
