It’s the most wonderful time of the year! And yes, I do mean football season.
Whether you’re watching college, pro or your nephew’s pee-wee games, weekends for the next few months are completely blocked off so you can witness all the action. But us football fans must recognize that not everyone hoots and hollers for the conversion on a long third down or a legendary pick six. Some of us are just here for the tailgate.
A tailgate, for any sport, is the best pre-party you will ever go to. It sets the tone for the day and gets you and all your friends hyped up, even if you don’t know the difference between a field goal and a punt return. A tailgate is only as good as its food (and its playlist), so here’s a list of certified weather-friendly tailgate food for the ultimate pump-up party.
Bean salad
Whether you call it bean salad, cowboy caviar or something else entirely, this is a tailgate must have. Cream-based dips can get coagulated in the heat and stiff in the cold, especially if you don’t have a portable heating device, so a neutral mixed bean dip is definitely the way to go.
It’s super easy to throw together and can be pretty customizable. Just mix any combination of beans (black, garbanzo, pinto; whatever suits your tastes). You can add other vegetables like diced peppers, onions or corn; for a creamy aspect, add some avocado, and toss together with fresh cilantro, lime and a simple vinaigrette.
You can make this well ahead of time, and it doesn’t really need to be refrigerated. It’s great as a dip with tortilla chips or on its own.
Charcuterie board and skewers
A simple charcuterie board or antipasto skewers are both a total tailgate win, but often overlooked. Charcuterie might sound “fancy” in the realm of tailgate food, but trust me it’s the easiest thing to put together and your guests are sure to be impressed.
Go to your local grocery store or farmer’s market and pick up three to four assorted cheeses, one or two meats, and two to three cracker varieties. A good starting place is a classic, neutral cheese like cheddar, a hard cheese like Parmigiano Reggiano, and a soft cheese like brie. For meat, a classic hard salami and a thinner meat like prosciutto should do. For the carb factor, a simple water cracker or a whole wheat cracker plus a more seasoned, flavorful bread like a crostini or Triscuit will add a nice variety.
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For added flair, you can include fruits like grapes or dried apricots, nuts like almonds or pecans and dips or toppings like fig jam and honey.
If you want to go the skewer route: pick one cheese and one meat, attach them to a long toothpick separated by some sort of produce like a tomato, strawberry, grape or basil leaf. Voila! Easy grab-and-go tailgate snack that you can throw in a plastic bag or container and bring straight to the game.
Focaccia sandwiches or long hoagies
Sticking with the Italian route, another easy make-ahead tailgate meal is focaccia sandwiches. You can usually buy large rectangular loaves at your local bakery or grocery store.
Simply, split the loaf in half and fill it up with your favorite sandwich ingredients, put the other half of the loaf on top, cut into single-serve squares and you’re done! (Check out this recipe from Senior Food editor Ashlie Stevens for some inspiration).
Some good options here are a classic caprese; prosciutto and gruyere; thin-sliced turkey with sundried tomato and pesto; or even chicken parm. Similarly, you can never go wrong with a hoagie. The classic toasted sesame roll, drizzled with olive oil, and stuffed to the brim with meat, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion — delicious.
You can make the hoagie yourself, or most delis offer catering-size hoagies and sandwich trays, if you’re not in the cooking mood.
Bacon and gruyere palmiers
I discovered this recipe concept when looking for a quick appetizer to bring to a dinner party, and it was a massive hit. I loved them so much that I actually made them again a few days later just to snack on at home.
Defrost a sheet of puff pastry, layer with crumbled cooked bacon and shredded cheese, add seasoning, roll both ends toward the middle so it makes the classic “butterfly” palmier shape, slice and cook in the oven until golden brown.
This is another one that can be pretty customizable. Just add whatever protein, cheese and vegetables works best for your group. You can do pizza-inspired with sausage and marinara, vegetarian with mushroom and onion, pesto and goat cheese, buffalo chicken, anything!
Pigs in a blanket
Those palmiers share the same crowd-pleasing spirit as another tailgate classic: pigs in a blanket. They’re just as easy to make, too. Pick up some puff pastry or Pillsbury Crescent dough from the store, cut it into small triangles, wrap each piece around a pre-cooked mini hot dog, and bake until golden brown.
The best tailgate foods are simple, handheld, and built for grab-and-go snacking. No one wants to juggle a flimsy plate or fuss with utensils in a parking lot. Bite-sized finger foods let guests snag something as they walk by, without hovering around the table or searching for a spot to set their plate down.
A note on keeping things warm
If you’ve spent any time in the meal-prep corners of the internet, you’ve probably seen those portable electric lunchboxes and slow cookers making the rounds. For people who really need a hot meal, the office microwave just doesn’t cut it — no one wants their pho coming out smelling like popcorn and old pasta sauce.
These gadgets are a game-changer for tailgates. No generators, no mile-long extension cords. Just charge them overnight and they’re ready for game day. If your team plays somewhere cold, they’re especially handy. You can serve classics like buffalo chicken dip or chili without worrying about the food turning cold (or, frankly, unappetizing) after a couple of hours.
I tried one at a friend’s tailgate recently — she made a dip inspired by Mexican street corn and esquites — and it was fantastic. The slow cooker kept it warm the whole time we were outside, and it was just as delicious at the end of the game as it was at the start.
Walking tacos
A small, portable heating device opens the door for other tailgate classics like walking tacos. You can make the ground beef or other protein ahead of time and heat it in the slow cookers when you get to the game.
This is one of my favorite options for tailgating because it’s very individual. You can buy single-serve bags of Frito’s or Doritos at your local store and people at your tailgate can customize their chips with whatever toppings they want, like shredded cheese, tomato, lettuce or hot sauce.
As someone who tends to get a little skittish about communal chip bowls or dip platters, the individual chips bags are really appealing. It helps avoid the potential problem of cross contamination and germs from double-dippers and just in general everyone taking from the same plates.
No-cook tailgating
If it’s late in the season and you just can’t be bothered with another round of cooking, packing, and hauling gear to the lot, don’t worry! You can still pull off a tailgate to remember.
Bagel shops are an easy first stop: most offer catering trays or baker’s dozen boxes. Slice the bagels into halves or quarters and serve with cream cheese or butter. Add a few pastries, and you’ve got a perfect spread for a morning game.
For afternoon kickoffs, a soft pretzel tray with mustard or cinnamon dip goes a long way. Or keep it classic with those pre-bought hoagies or deli sandwiches—low effort, high payoff.
And don’t forget dessert. Brownies, cookies or any other tray-bake make crowd-pleasing options. Skip the cupcakes (cute, but messy), and try something easier but still fun: dip Oreos in melted white chocolate tinted with your team’s colors, then finish with sprinkles. It looks festive and feels special with almost no extra work.
Here’s to another football season full of cheers, surprises, and — most importantly — unforgettable tailgates.
