This post is about tailgate food ideas.
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Hosting a tailgate is all about the food! We shared tailgate food ideas that are truly easy! All of these recipes are either make ahead cold ideas or super easy hot food.
You will want to copy all of these recipes for your tailgates! No need to look any further because we shared our favorites that the whole crowd loves.
This post is about tailgate food ideas.
Tailgate Food Ideas: Cold
Taco Dip
Ingredients: Sour Cream, Taco Seasoning, Lettuce, Cheese, Tomatoes, & Black Olives
How To: Mix sour cream with taco seasoning and layer it in the dish. Add shredded lettuce on top. You can add tomatoes and cheese on top after the lettuce. I typically make mine with olives on half, so everyone can enjoy. Chill until serving and serve with tortilla chips!
Ham & Cheese Sliders
Ingredients: Hawaiian Rolls, Sliced Ham, Sliced Cheese, & Mayo or Mustard
How To: Slice your rolls in half, so you keep all of the sliders connected. Layer with ham, cheese, and your choice condiment. Put the tops back on and cut into individual sliders. Wrap tightly and chill until ready to serve.
Turkey Pinwheels
Ingredients: Flour Burrito Tortillas, Cream Cheese, Sliced Turkey, Spinach, & Shredded Cheese
How To: Spread cream cheese on tortillas. Layer with turkey, spinach, and cheese. Roll up tightly and slice into pinwheels. Store in the fridge until you are ready to pack up your cooler. I like to keep mine in the fridge for a couple hours before or even the night before!
Fruit Skewers
Ingredients: Strawberries, Grapes, Pineapple Chunks, Blueberries, & Melon, Wood Skewer
How To: Prep all your fruit by washing and cutting it up! Place each piece of fruit on the wooden skewer. I like to chill mine in the fridge before, so it's super cold for the tailgate!
Italian Pasta Salad
Ingredients: Rotini Pasta, Cherry Tomatoes, Mozzarella Balls, Salami, Black Olives, & Italian Dressing
How To: Cook and cool the pasta noodles. Toss with tomatoes, mozzarella, sliced salami, olives, and italian dressing. Chill in the dridge before serving. I like to leave mine in the fridge for a couple hours before because it seems to taste better the longer it sits.
Caprese Skewers
Ingredients: Cherry Tomatoes, Mozzarella Balls, Fresh Basil, Balsamic Glaze
How To: Add a cherry tomato then a mozzarella ball onto a skewer. You can add a small piece of basil after the tomato and cheese. Keep chilled in a cooler until ready to serve. Right before serving drizzle a balsamic glaze over the top.
Tailgate Food Ideas: Easy
Beer Cheese & Pretzel Bites
Ingredients: Pre-made Pretzel Bites & Store Bought Beer Cheese
How To: Put your beer cheese dip in a small crockpot to warm up. Serve together for an east and no-fuss appetizer that feels fancy with little effort!
Spinach & Artichoke Dip
Ingredients: Spinach, Canned Artichoke Hearts, Cream Cheese, Sour Cream, Shredded Mozzarella, Grated Parmesan, & Garlic Powder.
How To: Mix spinach, chopped artichokes, cream cheese, sour cream, mozzarella, and parmesan. Add a hint of garlic powder for flavor. Heat in crockpot on low for 1-2 hours until melted and bubbly. Serve with bread, crackers, or even chips!
Pigs In A Blanket
Ingredients: Crescent Rolls, Mini Hot Dogs, & Nonstick Spray or Oil.
How To: Wrap mini hot dogs in a small strips of crescent roll dough. Lightly spray a grill-safe pan or foil tray with nonstick spray. Place the wrapped dogs on the tray and grill over medium heat for 10-12 minutes while turning occasionally until the dough is golden. Serve with ketchup and mustard!
Looking for something else?
Walking Tacos
Ingredients: Ground Beef, Taco Seasoning Fritos or Doritos, Lettuce, Tomatoes, & Cheese
How To: All you need to do is season your ground beef with taco seasoning and cook! You could make this ahead of time & heat it up on the grill right before serving. Everyone can assemble their own bag!
Crockpot Meatballs
Ingredients: Frozen Meatballs, BBQ Sauce, & Grape Jelly
How To: Add frozen meatballs to a crockpot and pour BBQ sauce and grape jelly (about 1 cup of each for a 2 pound bag of meatballs. Stir the meatballs to coat all of them evenly. Cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours until heated through. Keep on warm setting during the tailgate to serve hot.
Guac & Salsa
Ingredients: Tortilla Chips & Store Bought Guacamole & Salsa
How To: It's that simple! Serve on a tray with guac and salsa for everyone to enjoy while the grill is heating up. Don't forget the chips!
Queso & Chips
Ingredients: Tortilla Chips, Velveeta Cheese, Canned Diced Tomatoes, Green Chiles, & Tortilla Chips
How To: Cut Velveeta cheese into cubes and add to a crockpot with the can of diced tomatoes and chilies (don't drain). Heat on low while stirring occasionally until the cheese is fully melted. Keep warm during the tailgate and serve with plenty of tortilla chips!
Tailgate Food Ideas: Grill
Cheeseburgers
Ingredients: Ground beef, Buns, Burger Toppings (lettuce, pickles, onions, tomatoes, & condiments), Seasoning
How To: Add seasoning to your ground beef and shape them into burger patties. Throw them on the grill and cook between 5-7 minutes flipping halfway through. You can add all of the toppings on the side, so everyone can make their own.
Hot Dogs & Brats
Ingredients: Hot dogs, Brats, Buns, & Condiments
How To: A You can cook your hot dogs and brats at the same time on the grill. It's that simple! Add condiments on the side for everyone to make their own. Our family loves a Chicago style dog, so we add pickle spears, tomatoes, etc. on the side.
Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeños
Ingredients: Cream cheese, Jalapeños, & Bacon
How To: Cut Jalapeños in half and fill half up with cream cheese. Put the other half of the Jalapeño back on top. Wrap bacon around the Jalapeño and secure with a toothpick if needed. Turn the Jalapeños on the grill often, and they should take around 10 minutes to cook!
Grilled Corn on the Cob
Ingredients: Corn, Olive Oil, Butter, & Seasoning
How To: Brush the corn with olive oil, so they don't burn. Place corn directly on the grill and cook for about 10-15 minutes turning occasionally. Add butter, salt, and pepper once removing from grill.
Chicken Skewers
Ingredients: Chicken Breasts, Wood Skewers, Aluminum Foil, BBQ Sauce
How To: Cut chicken into cubes & add olive oil and seasoning of your choice. Put the wood skewer through each piece of chicken. Add aluminum foil at the bottom of the wood skewer before placing directly on the grill. Turn the skewers a couple of times throughout cooking until the temperature reaches 165 degrees. Add BBQ sauce & serve!
This list of tailgate food ideas are meant to save you time looking & cooking! We understand that feeding a crowd is never easy, so easy is always good.
All of these tailgate food ideas for a crowd are super easy and quick to make. We also shared several make ahead tailgate food option that everyone will enjoy.
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