No matter what time of year it is, there always seems to be a reason for tailgating! Whether it’s your favorite sports team, a concert, or even a polo match, people are tailgating. So the question is – what do you bring for Tailgating Food? Stick around because we’ve got the recipes you need to satisfy everyone from kids to adults!
Tailgating Food Recipes From Hot To Cold!
We’ve got everything from hot food to cold recipes, and we like to make a combination of both for our tailgates. Not only are we going to share these fun recipes with you guys, but we’ll tell you how we transport our food and keep it fresh!
Whether you’re tailgating for your favorite team or at a concert, the food, drinks and hanging out with friends in the parking lot are some of the funnest times we’ve had. There’s been a time or two where the tailgating was so fun…we didn’t make it into the event. And that’s ok – a fun time is a fun time no matter where you spend it.
How We Keep Hot Food Hot
Transporting hot food to tailgate parties can sometimes be a challenge. If your car is equipped with power outlets, bringing a slow cooker or a warming tray is an easy way to do it. But there’s other options, too! Here are some of our favorites:
- Hamilton Beach 10 Quart Slow Cooker: This powerhouse slow cooker can hold ALL your hot tailgating food. It comes with a locking lid for easy transporting without any spills.
- Insulated Casserole Carrier: If you’re only traveling a short distance, an insulated carrier may be right for you. Place your entire dish into this carrier and your food will stay warm for hours.
- Stanley Thermos: This large, 1.5 quart thermos can keep food hot for up to 24 hours. You can put anything in here from hearty chowders to these tasty spiked hot cider cocktails.
How We Keep Our Cold Food Cold
Obviously a giant cooler with ice is a no brainer. Our coolers are usually full of ice cold beer and some spirits and we bring a separate cooler for food.
- Dip Chiller Bowl: When we have cold dip to bring, like our popular boat dip or a freshly made guacamole, this chilled metal bowl comes in handy.
- Party Mat Chiller: We love this party mat, it keeps everything cold from shrimp cocktail to cold desserts at the perfect temperature. Just slide it under your food and serve.
- Yeti Hopper: This Yeti backpack cooler has saved us more times than we can count. When you’ve have to walk to your tailgate over some not so smooth turf, like a random field or into the woods, this backpack cooler is the way to go.
Low Carb BLT Bites
These delicious low carb appetizers taste like your favorite BLT sandwich! Our suggestion is to prepare the elements for this recipe and assemble at your tailgate.
Potato Skins with Pimento Cheese
These Potato Skins with Pimento Cheese are a delicious appetizer that your friends will gobble up! Assemble these on a platter and wrap them with plastic wrap and they’ll be ready to serve!
Antipasto Salad Kabobs
A fun way to serve antipasto for tailgating! Assemble these kabobs with your favorite ingredients and bring some dressing to serve on the side.
Avocado and Corn Salsa
We absolutely love this avocado salsa recipe! Because there’s fresh lime juice in the recipe the avocado won’t turn brown on you. Grab a bag of tortilla chips and get dipping.
Tequila Cowboy Caviar
We took a classic cowboy caviar dip and spiked it up with a little tequila. Of course, you can leave that out if there’s kids coming along. Or make a double batch, one spiked and one virgin!
Roasted Shrimp Cocktail
This Roasted Shrimp Cocktail will be a hit at your tailgate. Roasting the shrimp brings our the sweet shrimp flavor and the homemade dipping sauces are top notch!
Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad
Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad is tangy, crunchy and creamy all at once! For tailgating, bring the chicken salad in a container with the sliced apples separate. Your guests can assemble and eat at the party.
Ham and Pub Cheese Crackers
Homemade pub cheese is always a hit. Spread it on crackers with a thin slice of ham for a ham and cheese experience you’re going to love.
How To Make A Cheese Board
Bringing along a cheese board to a tailgate is a super easy way to impress your friends. You can fully assemble your board and wrap it tightly with plastic, or add the cold ingredients when you get there.
Italian Deli Roll Ups
Just like an Italian sub without the bun! Nothing to get soggy on you here, just all the Italian sub flavors you love, ready to be enjoyed.
Creamy Jalapeño Dip
A creamy, but super mild dip that’s perfect with your favorite chips. We also love this jalapeño dip for drizzling on sandwiches in place of mayonnaise.
Chicken Caesar Bruschetta
Chicken Caesar Bruschetta is a fun way to have a Caesar salad on the go! Chicken salad made with our homemade Caesar dressing piled onto toasted slices of bread of bagel chips.
Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Eggs
These delicious stuffed eggs are always a hit! A creamy buffalo chicken salad stuffed into hollowed out hard boiled eggs. A two-bite appetizer that leaves a hand free for your beer.
Salmon Salad Recipe
This salmon salad is made with fresh, baked salmon (great for leftovers!) but you can swap out canned salmon too in a pinch. Eat it with crackers or pile onto a roll. We love making this for brunch tailgates!
Italian Sub Bruschetta
Like our deli roll ups, this Italian Sub Bruschetta has all the flavors of your favorite sub sandwich! Add the topping to crusty toasted sliced bread or serve it on a roll like the popular chopped subs we’ve been seeing all over.
Crab Salad Sliders
These delicious, easy to make sliders are perfect for parties. Keep the crab salad cold and assemble onto buns when you’re ready to serve.
Homemade Guacamole Recipe
This easy to make guacamole recipe is our go to appetizer! Just a few simple ingredients and those coveted ripe avocados is all you need!
Roasted Artichoke Salad
This tangy Roasted Artichoke Salad is a delicious side dish to your steak, chicken or seafood or burgers!
Classic Deviled Eggs
Classic deviled eggs are always a hit, especially for those early morning tailgates. Make sure to make a few bloody mary cocktails for sipping on!
Boat Dip (Viral TikTok Recipe)
Have you seen this viral Boat Dip Recipe?? Only 5 ingredients and 5 minutes to make. Super creamy, zesty and perfect for parties!
Feta Bruschetta Recipe
This Whipped Feta Bruschetta Recipe is a delicious addition to your appetizer platter! Spread this creamy, whipped feta on toasted crostini topped with tangy and sweet tomatoes.
Buffalo Chicken Celery Sticks
Everyone loves these buffalo chicken appetizers. Another one-handed snack that leaves your other hand free for drinks.
Spicy Drunken Shrimp
This spicy, addicting shrimp are a coveted family recipe. Make sure to bring along lots of bread for dipping into the sauce.
Cheeseburger Meatballs
These fun meatballs recipe are like biting into a loaded cheeseburger…perfect for appetizers or a fun dinner!
Crack Beef Tips
These Crack Beef Tips are one of our most viral recipes on Pinterest. Perfect for tailgating, keep them warm and bring along the sauce on the side for dipping.
Crock Pot Sriracha Honey Kielbasa
This easy appetizer recipe is going to be a hit with everyone! A little sweet and a little spicy is all you need!
Perfect Crab Cake Recipe
This crispy crab cake recipe has been recipe tested tons and tons of times. We found the perfect combination of breadcrumbs to crab ratio for the freshest crab flavor, and your friends will feel super special.
Dry Rub Chicken Wings
These delicious, dry rub wings are perfect for tailgating. So delicious on their own, even without the sauce. But you can definitely bring sauce on the side.
Everything Pigs In A Blanket
These fun and classic snacks are always gone in minutes. A classic pigs in a blanket recipe kicked up with everyone’s favorite bagel seasoning!
Big Mac Sliders
This beef slider recipe has all the flavors of your favorite fast food sandwich! Keep the filling warm and assemble right before serving.
Sausage Cheese Dip
Keep this sausage and cheese dip warm in a slow cooker or a thermal carrier so it stays dippable at your tailgate.
Crab Balls
These Crab Balls are a delicious, one-bite appetizer that’s sure to be a party favorite! Our crab balls are baked, not fried, and they couldn’t be easier to make!
Sausage Bread
Our Sausage Bread Recipe is packed full of sausage and cheese. Slice and serve at your tailgate so the inside stays warm and gooey.
Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs
These Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs are our favorite way to make hot dogs for tailgates! Super crispy, bacon wrapped hot dogs with a sweet and spicy glaze!
Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprouts
These Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprouts are always a hit at parties! A one-bite appetizer with a sweet and salty flavor combination.
Bacon Wrapped Smokies
Bacon Wrapped Smokies are a quick and easy appetizer that everyone loves! Perfect for game days, parties and holidays!
BBQ Party Meatballs
These BBQ Party Meatballs are tasty appetizers for any party or holiday. Juicy baked meatballs tossed in a sweet and spicy BBQ sauce that are just the right size for popping in your mouth.
Asian Chicken Wings
These sticky Asian Chicken Wings have the most addicting glaze and are super easy to make! A great recipe for appetizers, dinner and large crowds!
BEST Little Smokies Recipe
These crock pot hot dogs are a classic appetizer recipe! Once you start eating these Little Smokies you won’t be able to stop!
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