Are you looking for food for tailgate party enthusiasts who just can’t wait to bring their latest recipe to the next big game? I have a treat for you. Below are over 20 ideas that you can use to make your next tailgate party unforgettable.
20+ Best Food Ideas for Tailgate Party You Have to Try
1. Blackstone Fried Mozzarella
Serve with a side of marinara sauce for dipping. For this recipe, you’ll bread the mozzarella and freeze it before frying it. The author of this recipe recommends using a Blackstone griddle, but you can use anything you like.
Once done, serve with the sauce you make from olive oil, minced garlic, tomato puree, salt, pepper, onion powder and red pepper flakes.
2. Turkey Bacon Ranch Sliders
Sliders are always great before any game, and this variety is even more flavorful than most. Cut your Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally and place the bottom buns on a baking sheet. Spread Ranch dressing over the buns, and then add your deli turkey.
Add cheddar cheese slices on top, followed by chopped bacon and green onions.
Put the tops of the buns on, brush on melted butter with garlic powder, onion powder and dill weed. Cover with foil and bake until the buns brown and the cheese is melted.
3. Bacon-wrapped Potato Bites
Two-ingredient dip is all you need for these tasty bites, which are simple potato cubes wrapped in bacon, skewered and cooked. For the dipping sauce, all it consists of is sour cream and hot sauce, mixed together.
Precook your potatoes, drain and season.
Wrap the potatoes in bacon, secure with a toothpick and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Roast until the bacon is crispy.
4. Mac and Cheese Bites
Mac and cheese tops the list of food for tailgate party lovers. You’ll need whole wheat elbow macaroni (or any type you wish), butter, Parmesan cheese, flour, milk, shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheese, egg yolk, paprika and a muffin tin.
Cook your macaroni as directed, remove and drain.
Spray your muffin tin with non-stick spray and sprinkle Parmesan cheese on the bottom of each muffin cup.
In a saucepan, melt butter and whisk flour for about two minutes. Add milk and continue stirring until the mixture boils. Once it boils, add in your shredded cheese. Remove from the heat, add an egg yolk and paprika and stir.
Fold in the pasta until it’s fully coated. Scoop the mix into each muffin tin, add more cheese on top and bake for 10 – 12 minutes.
Related: 20+ Coastal Grandmother Party Ideas That Are Taking Over Pinterest
5. Ground Beef Philly Cheesesteak Sliders
Preheat your oven to 350F. While heating, add the following to a large skillet:
- Diced onion
- Ground beef
- Chopped green pepper
Brown the beef and cook until your veggies are tender. Whisk together ketchup, salt, pepper, cornstarch, beef broth and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl until it’s smooth.
Pour the mixture into your skillet with the beef, stir and cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Toast your Hawaiian rolls in a 9×13 baking dish, after cutting them in half and then spoon your beef mixture on top. Layer American and provolone cheese on top.
Brush your rolls with a mix of butter and minced garlic. Bake until the cheese melts, let cool and serve warm.
6. BBQ Bacon Smokies
Sizzling smokies like these are always welcomed when tailgating. Simply buy Lil’ Smokies, wrap them in bacon and bake until they’re done cooking, which should be about 20 minutes or so.
7. Million Dollar Crack Dip
Crack dip is one of the must-have dips at every party. You’ll make this dip with bacon, cheese and ranch dressing. Using an electric mixer, combine the following ingredients before chilling in the refrigerator:
- Cream cheese
- Sour cream
- Ranch seasoning
- Seasoned salt
Slowly stir in your other ingredients, bacon, cheese and green onions, ensuring that they’re mixed well together.
8. Hot Dog Burnt Ends
Burnt ends are a delicious food for tailgate party enthusiasts, and it’s comprised of skewered hot dogs that you make with a thick sauce on top. First, cook your hot dogs with mayo and mustard on top.
Cut your hot dogs into multiple pieces. Create a sauce, slather on top with some butter and heat until melted.
Skewer with toothpicks and serve.
9. Italian Pinwheel
Zesty Italian pinwheels like these are flavorful delights filled with:
- Cream cheese
- Red pepper spread
- Pepperoncini peppers
- Italian seasoning
- Provolone cheese
- Salami or soppressata
- Flour tortillas
In a large mixing bowl, make your spread from black pepper, onion and garlic powder, salt, Italian seasoning, cream cheese and sandwich spread. Spread on top of each tortilla, add cheese and meat, roll tightly in plastic wrap and chill for at least an hour in the refrigerator.
Slice into 1-inch slices and serve.
10. Smoked Cream Cheese
Quick, easy and delicious, this smoked cream cheese requires you to:
- Score a block of cream cheese
- Cover with barbecue rub
- Smoke for 20 – 30 minutes
- Drizzle hot pepper jelly on top
- Serve with scoops, chips, crackers or pretzels
If you want to substitute the hot pepper jelly, you can use hot honey or candied jalapenos.
11. Texas Trash Dip
Offering the ultimate party dip, this Texas dip has you bake cream cheese, refried beans, green diced chilies, shredded cheese and taco seasoning together in one 9×13 baking pan. Bake until all of the cheese is melted and serve with your favorite dipping chip.
12. Jalapeno Popper Pigs in a Blanket
Slice the stems off the jalapenos, slice them in half and remove the seeds with a spoon. In a separate bowl, combine cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and onion and garlic powder. Scoop the mixture into the jalapeno halves and spread out evenly.
Place a cocktail sausage into each half, wrap in crescent dough, form the “blanket” for each, brush with melted butter and bake for 15 minutes.
13. Italian Grinder Sliders
Italian grinder sliders are the perfect food for tailgate party that takes all of 30 minutes to whip up. You’ll need Hawaiian rolls, layers of deli meat and a good melting cheese to go on top. For this recipe, the sliders include:
- Ham
- Provolone cheese
- Sliced pepperoni
- Sliced salami
For the glaze, you’ll use butter, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder and salt. For your topping, it will be a mix of diced tomato, pepperoncini peppers, shredded lettuce, mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and garlic powder.
Related: 21+ Fun Dinosaur Party Food Ideas Kids Will Go Crazy For
14. Bacon Jalapeno Popper Bites
Simple and easy to make, you’ll need less than 15 minutes for this recipe. Preheat your oven to 350F, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and then in a medium bowl, add the following:
- Cream cheese
- Green onions
- Jalapenos
- Bacon
- Cheddar cheese
- Pepper jack
Spoon the filling into your Tostitos Scoops and then top with more bacon and cheddar cheese. Bake until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
15. BLT Dip
An easy finger food idea, this dip consists of a cream cheese and sour cream mix with ranch dressing. Serve with layers of cheese, bacon, lettuce and tomato with some tortilla chips. It’s as simple as:
- Combining the cream cheese, garlic powder, sour cream and Ranch dressing together.
- Spreading the cream cheese on the bottom of your serving bowl.
- Adding diced tomatoes, crumbled bacon and shredded cheese.
16. Loaded Tater Tots on Skewers
Tatar tots on skewers are one of my favorite recipes on the list, but they need to be made properly. You’ll need appetizer skewers, frozen tots, bacon, shredded cheese, sour cream, ranch dressing, mayonnaise and all-purpose MSG seasoning.
Preheat the oven and mix the following in a bowl: mayo, sour cream and ranch seasoning. At the end, add your salt, pepper and MSG to taste. Allow to set in the refrigerator until it’s ready.
Spread your tots out and cook until crispy. In the meantime, cook your bacon and absorb the grease. Allow the tots to cool, poke skewers through them, layer cheese on top and spread bacon bits on top before returning to the heat to melt the cheese. Serve hot with your dip and any toppings you like.
17. Shredded Cheese and Chili Dip
Butter, canned chili, shredded Mexican cheese and tortilla scoops come together well with this recipe. Start by layering the bottom of the baking dish with cheese, followed by canned chilis and then top with your cheese.
Be sure each layer covers the entire dish.
Bake until the cheese melts well and serve with your tortilla scoops – or any chip of your choosing.
18. Sweet Chili BBQ Meatballs
The perfect food for tailgate party, these meatballs are super easy to make. Add frozen meatballs to a foil tin, top with spices, olive oil and cook as directed. Slather sweet chili barbecue sauce on top with a few other sauces, stir and serve. Plastic forks, skewers or toothpicks will do the trick.
19. Tailgate Tots
Perfect for a small cup, these tailgate tots require you to heat a grill on medium. Spray your pie plates with cooking spray, spread a package of frozen tots on them and grill for 20 minutes, being sure to stir occasionally.
While the tots are cooking, fry our bacon in a saute pan and drain on paper towels.
In a separate pan, melt butter, whisk in flour and pour in milk while whisking to make a slurry. Stir in your chili powder and cheddar until everything is well-combined. Layer your tots in small bowls and pour the sauce, chives, bacon and sour cream on top.
Related: 25 Boho Birthday Party Ideas For The Perfect Outdoor Celebration
20. Maple BBQ Hasselback Kielbasa Bites
Kielbasa bites like these are flavorful and delicious. In less than 20 minutes, you’ll be pulling these out of your air fryer and eating them. All you need to get started is:
- Kielbasa
- Barbecue sauce
- Dijon mustard
- Maple syrup
- Parsley
21. Smoked Queso
Gameday dip is always a party starter. Melty cheese and spicy sausage melt in people’s mouths. Add in the green chilies, diced tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, garlic and taco seasoning, and it’s a spicy dish that people can’t get enough of at any tailgate party.
Preheat your oven, add all of your ingredients into a grill-safe dish and place on the smoker grates.
Allow to cook for an hour, stir to mix up well and cook for another 30 minutes while the cheese melts fully. Serve with chips.
