Regardless of weather, traffic, your team’s odds of winning, or any other game-day variable, a tailgate is only as good as its menu (and your parking spot’s proximity to the stadium, but we digress). Serving the right BBQ dishes will leave victory-hungry fans feeling satisfied well before kickoff — and might even attract nearby tailgaters hoping to get a taste. Yes, a tailgate is undoubtedly easier to tackle when your grill game is on point, so we’re stuffing your playbook with the best tailgating recipes from our deep bench of culinary creators. From quick-and-easy tailgate recipes and shareables to big BBQ dishes and crowd-pleasing co*cktails, we’ve got you covered for winning tailgates this season and beyond.
Easiest Tailgating Recipes
Grilled Beef Satay Skewers
by: Chef Tony Matassa
Bring a taste of Southeast Asia to your tailgate with these grilled beef skewers. Whether you’re eager to try a new recipe or want to surprise guests with a trick play at your big-game BBQ, 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
by: BBQGuys Staff
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. Sometimes the best strategy is to zig when everyone else zags, and we’re confident the mention of “tequila-lime” will cause at least a few ears to perk up.
Grilled Pork Skewers with Chili Lime Sauce
by: BBQGuys Staff
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! Of course, there’s some prep work on the front end, but that’s also a 20-minute job. 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
by: Laura Miner
“Cook At Home Mom” becomes “Cook At The Stadium Mom” with these delicious 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 on the Weber Kettle Grill
by: Paris Frederick
Chicken wings have earned their place in the Tailgate Appetizer Hall of Fame, but what if you upped the ante to chicken legs instead? And what if you made them devilishly spicy, with just the right amount of counteracting sweetness? We answered those pressing questions with this game-changing chicken lollipop recipe that’s sure to turn heads and tempt taste buds at the tailgate. In short, this kickin’ chicken would be worth 6 points if we wrote the rulebook.
Stuffed Sweet Mini Peppers
by: Chef Tony Matassa
Don’t overlook the impact of good tailgate finger food recipes — especially one as hot, juicy, and sweet as this. 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
by: Chef Tony Matassa
While your fellow fans discuss the importance of quarterback sacks, you can focus on making a humble sack of potatoes into a perfect tailgate appetizer. 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 with Rosemary Horseradish Cream
by: Chef Tony Matassa
Wish your quarterback would slide more? 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 and onion marmalade put a new twist on the classic dish, while homemade horseradish cream will delight the home team. It’s finger-licking good! (Now if only we could get the QB to take fewer licks on the field…)
Best Tailgating Recipes to Prep in Advance
Homemade All-American Hotdog
by: Sean Richardson
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 all tastes, or the voters may not be so kind with their accolades.
Crispy Lemon Scotch Bonnet Pepper Wings on the Blaze Kamado
by: Rasheed Philips
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. We recommend playing it safe with only 1 or 2 peppers when you roll out this recipe; you don’t want the fiery Scotch bonnets to overpower your guests.
Pulled Pork on the Traeger Ironwood
by: Diva Q
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 none other than Diva Q, one of the most decorated BBQ competitors alive. We know you tailgate for the love of the game, but serving a winning dish never hurt anyone, either.
Smoked Brisket on the Primo Oval XL
by: Grill Master Randy
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. It might even win over fans of the opposing team willing to put rivalries aside; it’s hard to talk trash with a mouthful of dripping brisket.
Best Tailgating co*cktails
Smoked Cinnamon Old Fashioned with a Flash of Orange Essence
by: BBQGuys Staff
Few things are better than taking in the crisp fall air, sitting in the shadow of the stadium, and sipping a tasty co*cktail. 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. If you’re in need of a drink to warm everyone before those late-season games, this is your ticket.
Cider and Smoked Sage co*cktail Recipe
by: BBQGuys Staff
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. Even your most beer-devoted buddies will be drawn to the tantalizing scent and gorgeous color of this co*cktail.
Bloody Mary
by: BBQGuys Staff
A properly executed Hail Mary is one of the rarest and most difficult plays in football, but you can make this simple Bloody Mary recipe a regular at your tailgate serving station. 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
by: BBQGuys Staff
When the heat sets in during those early-season tailgates, whip out this fruity twist on the classic Moscow Mule co*cktail. Muddled blackberries make it equal parts fall and 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; thankfully so, considering you’ll probably field requests for multiple rounds.
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