Easiest Tailgating Recipes

Grilled Beef Satay Skewers Our spin on this popular Asian street food is an excellent way to shake up your typical tailgate menu. The fresh, fruity flavors shine through in these beef satay skewers, which are safe to share after receiving a delectable sear from the grill.
Tequila Lime Chargrilled Oysters Call an audible on traditional tailgating fare with these chargrilled oysters topped with lump crab meat, a tequila-lime compound butter, and a cheesy breadcrumb blend. They’re incredibly easy to make (especially when you prepare the compound butter in advance) and sure to lend a delightful twist to typical tailgate cuisine.
Grilled Pork Skewers with Chili Lime Sauce Pigskin, meet pork tenderloin. Skewered pork tenderloin, to be more specific, with a chili lime dipping sauce for good measure. If you need another reason to dig into this alluring appetizer, it takes only 20 minutes to grill! We’ve seen big-game halftimes last longer than that, making this an ideal tailgating appetizer when the clock is ticking.
Grilled Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans This traditional Thanksgiving appetizer from lifestyle blogger Laura Miner, aka “Cook At Home Mom,” doubles as a tasty tailgate treat that can be prepared in advance and thrown on the grill once hungry guests start huddling up. If anything, it’s a simple way to get everyone warmed up for the main attractions still to come.

Best Tailgating Dishes to Share

Mango Habanero Chicken Lollipops Chicken wings have earned their place in the Tailgate Appetizer Hall of Fame, but what if you upgraded to chicken legs instead? And what if you made them devilishly spicy, with just the right amount of sweetness? We answered those pressing questions with this game-changing chicken lollipop recipe that’s sure to tempt taste buds at the tailgate.
Stuffed Sweet Mini Peppers You’ll earn points for pizazz with these stuffed mini peppers, a scrumptiously shareable appetizer for any tailgate. Better still, this is a tailgate recipe you can start a few days early and wrap up just in time to still come out fresh. Why cut into that primo pregame time with friends and family when you can run a 2-minute drill to a tasty touchdown?
Stuffed Mini Baked Potatoes Baked potatoes don’t exactly scream “finger food,” but this recipe transforms them into one-handed grab-and-goes that’ll surely catch on with your tailgate guests. Safe to share and topped with bacon, these mini baked potatoes will see you through the eager hours before kickoff.
Caramelized Steak Sliders Rather than raising your blood pressure every time the star signal-caller takes a risky hit for a few extra yards, bite into one of these caramelized steak sliders instead. Caramelized bell peppers & onion marmalade put a new twist on the classic dish, while homemade horseradish cream will delight the home team.

Best Tailgating Recipes to Prep in Advance

Homemade All-American Hotdog All-American honors aren’t just for the players. This tailgating hot dog recipe is also worthy of that title, plus it’s a great excuse to try making hot dogs from scratch. Of course, this means you need to put in the work during the week — a favored cliché among coaches everywhere — to achieve success come game time. Just make sure you have enough toppings to satisfy the whole team.
Crispy Lemon Scotch Bonnet Pepper Wings The Wing-T formation is ancient history at this point, but grilled wings are still a staple of tailgates across America. But if you’re looking to add a wrinkle to the playbook, these lemon Scotch bonnet pepper wings will bring the heat with tons of spiciness and a subtle tang.
Pulled Pork on the Traeger Ironwood Does it get any more classic than pulled pork? It’s a favorite tailgating dish that never fails to feed the usual crowd and their tag-alongs, with that smoky BBQ flavor we all know and love. Even if pulled pork is already in your tailgate recipe rotation, we encourage you to give this one a try — it’s from one of the most decorated BBQ competitors alive, Diva Q!
Smoked Brisket on the Primo Oval XL Another tried-and-true tailgating food, BBQ brisket is one of the easiest ways to feed the masses milling about before kickoff. This 17-pounder will ensure no one goes hungry (apologies to the stadium’s concession stands) while delivering delicious notes of apple wood and bourbon-infused smoking liquid.

Best Tailgating Cocktails

Smoked Cinnamon Old Fashioned Few things are better than taking in the crisp fall air, sitting in the shadow of the stadium, and sipping a tasty cocktail. The Old Fashioned just so happens to be one of our favorites, though we took some liberties with this recipe: aromatic cinnamon smoke and a pop of orange essence, to be more specific.
Cider and Smoked Sage Cocktail Recipe Take your typical cider to the next level with this excellent tailgate refreshment, which adds gins and fresh lime juice to the mix for some delicious pregame hydration. Guests will be wowed when you smoke sage leaves for the finishing touch, while apple slices serve as the perfect game-day garnish.
Bloody Mary Perfect for those early kickoffs that make tailgating more like outdoor brunch, our Bloody Mary will ensure everyone is up and ready to go for game time. Feel free to dogpile any toppings you’d like — that’s how most successful Hail Marys end, after all.
Blackberry Moscow Mule When the heat sets in during those early-season tailgates, whip out this fruity twist on the classic Moscow Mule cocktail. Muddled blackberries make it equal parts fall & refreshing, with a dangerously delicious flavor that might warrant a designated tailgater if you’re not too careful. The recipe is incredibly simple and can be quickly thrown together on the spot.