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    🏠Home » Recipe Roundups

    Easy Tailgate Recipes

    Sep 4, 2023 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan · Last modified: Sep 11, 2023 · 1 Comment

    September is tailgate season—great football and nice weather. So, put on that team jersey, practice the fight song, and get the best parking spot or seat in front of the TV.

    College of food for tailgating
    Jump To:
    • Game Day Chili Recipes
    • Let Them Eat Nachos—But Only the Best Will Do.
    • Wings and Dip
    • Pulled Pork, BBQ Chicken, or Brisket Sandwiches/Sliders.
    • Sweet Endings
    • Food Safety Tips
    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    Let the games begin. Whether you are tailgating, having a game party, or enjoying the game at home, you deserve great food without all the work. Open the snacks and dips, serve the drinks, and spread your favorite game day dishes to enjoy with your friends and family.

    Everybody's menu will vary. Most will include beer and soft drinks, but please obey your local rules and indulge carefully.

    The foods will start with finger foods like potato chips or corn chips, cubes of cheddar or other cheeses, vegetable trays, and dips are always favorites. Traditional hot dogs, brats, and burgers are mandatory if you are grilling.

    I'm picking recipes you can cook and take to the game or party. While I have many great grill recipes, many will choose a simpler fare.

    Game Day Chili Recipes

    I have a lot of great chili recipes, but these three are my favorites.

    First is the easiest white chicken chili recipe you can make, but it is also one of the absolute best chicken chili recipes you will ever eat. The bonus for tailgating is that the cheese will stay hot for several hours to serve.

    Easiest Crock Pot White Chicken Chili
    Award-winning Crock Pot White Chicken Chili only needs five ingredients and 10 minutes of prep time. It's thick and creamy with tender chicken and mild spiciness.
    White Chicken Chili on a spoon over bowl

    Our second chili is that great everyday chili you always want in your recipe box. We call it our everyday chili. It is not bland but not too spicy. As the baby bear would say, it is just right.

    Small Crock Pot Chili
    Super easy to make and one of the best homemade chilies you will ever have. This versatile chili is perfect in a small crock pot but can easily be adjusted to your taste and needs.
    orange bowl with chili with cheese

    And lastly, a wonderful change of pace recipe.

    Salsa Verde Chicken Chili
    Making this great change of pace chili is easy in a crock pot or on the stovetop. With just a few pantry ingredients and precooked chicken, everybody will be impressed with the results.
    spoonful of Salsa Verde Chicken Chili over a white bowl

    Let Them Eat Nachos—But Only the Best Will Do.

    My first offering is the best taco meat you will ever make. You will never buy that envelope again. I consider this one of my best recipes, and I make it frequently.

    The Best Ground Beef Tacos—Quick and Easy
    The Best Ground Beef Tacos only needs ground beef, pantry ingredients, and 25 minutes. You can keep it mild or make spicy taco meat, your choice—Taco Tuesday will never be the same.
    taco meat on nachos on a white plate

    Recipe number two is an excellent choice for chicken tacos or nachos.

    Crock Pot Chicken Tacos
    With only three ingredients, a crock pot, and 5 minutes of prep, you can make delicious shredded chicken tacos or nachos. So simple, cheap, and healthy, you will repeat this recipe over and over.
    Chichen taco meat on a chip

    Don't tailgate without this versatile recipe. Serve it as chili, or make some excellent game-day nachos.

    Chili Cheese Nachos
    Chili Cheese Nachos with shredded beef chili smothered in melted cheese is perfect for tailgating and game-day parties. Easy to make ahead and serve both chili and nachos at the party.
    plate of cheese chili nachos topped with tomatos and sour cream

    Wings and Dip

    I only have one recipe for wings, but one is enough since it is perfect. No need to fry; do these oven-baked chicken wings, and you will never go back.

    Extra Crispy Baked Chicken Wings
    The perfect Oven Baked Wings recipe for all wing events. The crispiest chicken wings are baked, not fried—no greasy frying mess, and it is so easy to make at home.
    Crispy Baked Chicken Wings from 101 Cooking for Two
    Blue Cheese Dipping Sauce for Chicken Wings
    This Blue Cheese Dipping Sauce for Chicken Wings is the perfect complement to buffalo wings and veggies. A 5 minutes dipping sauce recipe that's creamy and irresistible.
    blue cheese dressing on a celery stick

    Pulled Pork, BBQ Chicken, or Brisket Sandwiches/Sliders.

    These are the classic tailgate dishes. I'm just giving you the meat since you can handle the serving.

    I'm suggesting my oven version of pulled pork to keep things simple, but check out my Pulled Pork Recipe Roundup for an excellent crock pot pulled pork.

    Oven Pulled Pork—Low and Slow Pork Butt
    Oven Pulled Pork from pork butt cooked low and slow is tender, moist, and delicious. This is the easiest recipe to get great pulled pork at home.
    pulled pork sandwich with BBQ sauce

    I love simple, and I love good. Serve up some awesome shredded BBQ for those sandwiches.

    Easiest Crock Pot BBQ Chicken
    This is one of the easiest recipes ever—tasty BBQ chicken in under 4 hours. Great for family gatherings and parties or just when you want to be lazy for an easy family dinner.
    a shredded BBQ chicken sandwich on a white plate

    One of the "kings" of BBQ meats is brisket. While smoking is not possible all day long for most people, this easy oven recipe you can do a day or two ahead will get you close.

    Easiest Oven Baked BBQ Beef Brisket
    Learn how simple it is to make smoky and tender Oven Baked BBQ Beef Brisket with this never fail brisket recipe—just two ingredients and 5 minutes of prep time—everybody deserves great BBQ. 
    Oven Baked BBQ Brisket from 101 Cooking for Two
    Crock Pot Pulled Pork Loin
    Moist and tender "pulled" pork from pork loin is easy to make using your slow cooker. This healthy low-fat shredded pork is great for parties, tailgating, and large gatherings. But is easy to store for your smaller household.
    shredded pork loin on a bun with sauce

    Sweet Endings

    Dessert bars are a great addition to any tailgate party. Some easy cook-ahead bars will make you look like the hero.

    Old Fashioned Lemon Bars
    This Old Fashioned Lemon Bar recipe is easy and quick but still uses a classic shortbread crust and a tangy and sweet custard filling of eggs and lemon juice. It's a small 8X8 recipe that is easy to double for more lemon squares.
    two lemon bars on a white plate.
    Easy Cheesecake Bars
    These Easy Cheesecake Bars are creamy and delicious with a Graham cracker crust and lemon—the quick small-batch recipe you need with great tasting cheesecake bars.
    Cheesecake bars on a blue plate

    Food Safety Tips

    These gatherings are ready-made for food safety issues and leftovers at the party. Let's plan for food safety and get it right.

    Food Safety
    My annual summer food safety review. Let’s learn to keep our friends and family safe from unsafe foods and potentially serious illnesses.
    Food safety image licensed from Fotolia November 20, 2016. Copyright mybaitshop. Modifed per allow by licensed. DO NOT COPY
    two dog in Michigan bandanas

    Don't forget the party animals and their treats, Homemade Dog Treats—Healthy & Low-Fat.

    Enjoy the fall.

    Wifo, Molly, Lilly, and DrDan

    Originally Published August 28, 2019. It will be updated and republished yearly about this time.

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      Fourth of July Recipes
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      The Best Steak Recipes for Father's Day
    • Memoral Day College-Image licensed from Fotolia May 26, 2016. Copyright igoror - Fotolia. Modified per allow by licensed.
      Memorial Day Recipe Roundup

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    1. Linda Drews

      August 28, 2021 at 2:29 pm

      I absolutely love everything about your website: the variety, the attention to detail. Always look forward to your posts. Thought I'd give you a heads-up on this post. Your SWEET heading unfortunately says SWEAT ENDINGS. Thought you would want to know in case it's changeable.
      God bless

      PS Every doggy pictures is cuter than the one before!

      Reply

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