Football season is here and that means tailgating season. Be prepared this year to wow your friends and family with these delicious tailgate recipes. When you think of tailgate food, you want something handheld that’s easy to grab and walk around and eat. Tailgate recipes also need to include cheesy dips, saucy meats, and sweet, cute desserts. Basically an assortment of appetizers or small meals that allow people to munch on all afternoon without actually getting full. Tailgate recipes should be easy to make and stay good for hours. This list has got you covered! From sliders to football brownies to cheesy pigs in a blanket, you’re sure to find a recipe or two that you need to steal for your next tailgate party. It won’t matter which team wins, all partygoers will be over the moon with these fun tailgate foods.
1. Hot Dog Burnt Ends
Even though these are “poor man’s burnt ends” they are rich with flavor. Cooked low and slow, the hot dogs make the perfect vehicle for a dry rub and sweet and stick BBQ sauce. You can use these to feed a crowd without breaking the bank! They also stay good for up to 5 days so you can make them ahead of time and save yourself some prep time come game day.
2. Parmesan Dill Fried Pickles
These fried pickles are quick and easy because they’re fried in the air fryer. It makes for easy cleanup. Parmesan and dill add a fantastic bite of flavor, and the best part is, it just takes five ingredients. With the use of the air fryer and how crispy it can get these pickle chips, no one will have to know that they aren’t deep fried.
3. Five Ingredient Turkey Sliders
Another tailgate recipe that only requires five ingredients is these gooey turkey sliders. They’re all baked together in a sheet pan, so it’s easy to cook for a crowd. The Hawaiian buns add a bit of sweetness that pairs perfectly with the smoked turkey and the melted cheese. You can freeze batches ahead of time so that all you have to do is bake them before the party starts.
4. Crispy Baked Potato Skins
Baked potato skins are always the first to go because they are just that good. These crispy potato skins are filled with smoky bacon, green onions, and multiple melted cheeses. A little bit of sour cream dolloped in the middle will give it a beautiful presentation and will wow the guests before they even taste it.
5. Trader Joe’s Buffalo Chicken Dip
This take on Trader Joe’s buffalo chicken dip is actually a bit lightened up. With all the food that goes into a tailgate party, it wouldn’t hurt to have one not-so-heavy option. With non-fat Greek yogurt, reduced-fat cheese, a homemade ranch, and plenty of chicken, you will have a creamy, meaty party dip ready to feed a crowd.
6. Cheesy Pigs in a Blanket
Traditional pigs in a blanket are always a crowd favorite, and amazing just as they are. This recipe, however, is a step up from the original. Cheese always makes everything better, right?! Grated, sharp cheddar cheese is mixed into these pigs in a blanket to create a bite of flavor, but a gooey finish.
7. Easy Bean Dip
You’ve got to have a dip at a tailgate party, and this easy bean dip is loaded with creamy beans, cheese, and heaps of taco-inspired seasoning. It’s the perfect flavoring for a salty tortilla chip or a corn chip. This recipe adds jalapenos but if you don’t like heat, you can easily leave it out.
8. Slow Cooker Hawaiian Meatballs
Meatballs and tailgate food just go together. These meatballs can sit in the slow cooker while the game goes on, and you don’t have to worry about it. Cooked in a sweet and tangy sauce, each bite is just oozing with goodness. A hint of ginger gives it a much needed kick to balance the sweet pineapple.
9. Sheet Pan Nachos
Nachos are the party food, so plan to have sheets of them. That makes these sheet pan nachos perfect. You can stack nachos with your favorite toppings. This recipe features the standard toppings, which are classic for a reason- they’re delicious! Pick some sturdy chips and pile them high because that is the way to make tailgate nachos.
10. Tailgate Recipes: Layered Taco Dip
The key to this layered taco dip is the caramelized corn. It really brings out all the amazing Mexican flavors and makes this dip different from all the other dips provided at a tailgate. Each guest will rave about your layered taco dip for months, and will request it for each tailgate party!
11. Loaded Tater Tot Appetizer Cups
Think crispy potato skins, but made with crunchy tater tots instead! These tater tot cups get ultra crispy and that makes them the perfect vehicles for classic toppings. Sour cream, chives, bacon bits, and even extra cheese work as yummy fillings in these tater tot cups. The recipe uses frozen hash browns so there isn’t a ton of prep involved.
12. Tailgate Recipes: Baked Chicken Taquitos
Don’t buy chicken taquitos at the store- make this recipe at home. It’s so easy and way more delicious than the store-bought ones. Baked Chicken Taquitos freeze really well, so you can even make them ahead of time and have them stocked up for game day. These are great for the kids at the party too!
13. Three Ingredient Chili Cheese Dip
Chili Cheese Dip is a must at any tailgate party, especially in the winter months. It’s warm, cheesy, gooey, and meaty! You only need three ingredients – cream cheese, salsa, and chili with beans. The slow cooker melts the cheese, and as it melts the salsa and chili with beans come together to create a delicious, cheesy dip.
14. Easy Cheese Straw Cookies
Cheese straws are a fantastic party food, but these cheese straws in cookie form just make it easier! It’s a fraction of the work and they taste just as good. Nothing is better than baked sharp cheddar cheese. They just melt in your mouth, and the kick from the cayenne pepper gives it the perfect finish.
15. Football Brownies
You’ve got to have a little something sweet at your tailgate party! These football brownies are cute but not too fancy. You don’t have to do anything extra other than pipe a bit of frosting on the top of the brownies, and they are ready to serve and look super cute.
It’s party time, so get this list of tailgate recipes together and get ready to celebrate the big game. You’ll be the hit of the party with how delicious these recipes are- everyone will want to have the parties are your house!
15 Amazing Tailgate Recipes
Ingredients
- 4 oz light softened cream cheese
- 1 cup nonfat plain greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup homemade ranch, link in opening write up
- 1 cup 4oz cooked shredded chicken
- 1 garlic clove, diced
- 1/4 cup franks original hot sauce
- 1/2 cup shredded light mozzarella, 2oz, I used trader joes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F
- In a bowl mix together all of your ingredients, cream cheese, yogurt, ranch dressing, chicken, garlic, hot sauce and shredded cheese.
- Spoon into an oven safe dish, I used a 9×6 dish.
- Cook for 20 minutes, serve immediately with your favorite chips, naan bread, veggies.
- Makes approx 2 cups, 1 serving is 1/3 cup.
