Meal Ideas
Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Brat Burgers, sloppy joes, Egg McMuffins, steak, omelets, BBQ Beef, Sandwiches, Breakfast Burritos, Chili, Kabobs, Pork Loin, Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Spaghetti Bake, muffins, Philly cheese steak, chicken fingers, popcorn chicken, Beef Stew, tenderloins, chicken breast sandwiches, fajitas, BLT’s, chicken wings, BBQ Chicken, bagel bite pizzas, scrambled eggs, hash browns, pancakes, walking tacos
Sausages with fried onions and peppers are a favorite and have been known to attract many hungry people to a tailgate.
Kabobs are great because you can prepare them the night before and on game day, you just pop them on the grill.
If you're in a pinch, you can always pick up fried chicken, barbecue, or deli sandwiches.
Packet dinners are always a hit too and you can prep them the night before
SIDES
Fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, trail mix, dried foods, cookies, peanuts, crackers, Potato Salad, Taco Salad, Chips (Doritos, tortilla, kettle crisp), Salsa, sour cream dip, taco dip, Tri-Colored Pasta Salad, Potatoes on the Grill, Deviled Eggs, Hash Brown Casserole, cheesy potatoes, Cheese/Crackers/Summer Sausage, Beer Bread and dip, Chips/Dip, Chex Mix, fruit salad, veggies and dip, grapes, pretzels, tortilla roll ups.
Desserts
Puppy Chow, Cookies, Rice Crispy Treats, Scotcharoos, cupcakes, granola bars, M&M’s, Reece’s Pieces, cinnamon rolls (you can put cinnamon rolls in the crockpot after they're done baking to keep them warm. Bring a squirt bottle for the frosting.)
Anything with frosting probably will make a mess. I generally avoid it or bring it along to add individually.
Drinks
pop, beer, water (12 frozen h2o to cool cooler = less melted ice mess after the game), lemonade, wine
Condiments
Ketchup, Mustard, Pickles, Mayo, Ranch Dressing or dip, BBQ sauce, buns, cheese, onions, mushrooms, salt, pepper, hot stuff, pickles, miscellaneous toppings, etc.
Salt, garlic salt, Lowreys, etc for grilling
SELECT RECIPES (Search the category "tailgating" for more)
Chocolate mess: In a crockpot, mix 1 box cake mix, 1 cup water, 4 eggs, ¾ C oil, 1pkg choc chips, 1 pkg pudding. Cook for 2-3 hours on low. Tastes like lava cake because the middle is still squishy. Top with caramel or hot fudge sauce.
Bacon wrapped smokies: cut bacon strips into pieces, wrap around smokies, then roll them in brown suga, place on a cookie sheet, bake until the bacon is cooked.
Buffalo Wing dip: In a crock-pot add – 2-8oz cream cheese, 1 C ranch dressing, ¾ C hot sauce, 10 oz can of cooked chicken, 2 C Shredded Cheese. Serve with tortilla chips or celery
Other “Things” to bring
Grill
Propane / Charcoal Lighter Fluid
Grill Utensils - spatula, tongs -Cooking utensils
Electric Griddle
Lighter – Plug adapter
Hot/Cold Coolers
Ice
Plastic Utensils
Serrated knife
Ziplocs
Bottle Opener
Koozies
Mini Table and/or Card Table
Lawn Chairs
Water Jug (for cleanup)
First Aid kit
Flag & pole
Paper Towels
Napkins
Cups
Paper Plates/bowls
Trash Bags
Wet Wipes
Aluminum Foil
Tickets
Cell Phone
Car Charger for Cell Phone
Radio / TV
Lighter – power adapter
Extension cords
Football
Playing Cards
Sunglasses
Rain Gear
Blanket
Sunblock
Tums
Advil
BugSpray
Jumper Cables ;)
TIPS
-Use two coolers -- one for drinks and ready-to-eat foods, and one for raw meats. A full cooler will maintain its low temperature longer than one that is partially full. Instead of loose ice, consider freezing water in lightweight plastic containers. Placing containers of frozen water in your cooler won't flood the cooler, and will leave you with a clean supply of cool drinking water post-game
Chill beer and wine in the fridge the night before, then transfer them into a cooler filled with ice right before leaving for the game. Don't forget cups (with your team's logo on them) and ice for soft drinks.
The night before the game, try to get as much work done as possible. Cut up vegetables and marinate meat; pack the car with tables, chairs, soap, water, trash bags and towels.
Sandwiches. Make and freeze these ahead of time using course-textured bread that doesn't get soggy when thawed. Pack the mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, pickles, etc. separately to add at mealtime.
Perishable foods. Lunch meats, cooked beef or chicken, tuna, potato, egg, and pasta salads all need to be packed in a cooler with several inches of ice. Make sure you store these items in watertight containers to prevent those oh-so-nasty leaks.
Raw meat. Store these and the marinades in a separate cooler. Double pack meat in plastic bags or put them into a plastic container to prevent juices from leaking out. Store meat right next to the ice.
Containers. Use shallow containers (two inches or less is perfect) with tight lids to pack prepared foods because with deep containers, the center doesn't get as cold.
Drinks. Store drinks in a separate cooler away from food.
Coolers. Keep coolers out of direct sun and covered. Keep the lid closed as much as possible to slow the melting of the ice.
Packing. Pack foods in reverse order so that the last ones in are used first.
Mind your Momma … be prepared to wash your hands frequently. Bring a dispenser of wipes.
When the party is over, you may have leftovers. The following tips are great for handling leftovers.
Put any leftovers in coolers as soon as you can because food that sits out for more than two hours isn't safe to eat. If the temperature is above 90ยบ, food should be put up after one hour.
There should be ice left in the cooler to store the perishable items, if not, throw the food out.
When in doubt, throw it out!
Single serving or pre-packaged portions to minimize the number of people who come in contact with the food. Use baggies or plastic wrap to store the food.
Processed foods such as lunch meats and hotdogs spoil quickly, so use caution with them. Watch the temperature of casseroles, especially those that contain egg, milk products, or meat in them because they tend to spoil quickly.
Buy reasonable quantities.
Ground meat is done when it is brown or gray inside. Poultry is ready when the juices run clear, and fully cooked fish flakes with a fork. Sausages take patience, so cook them at least 25 minutes or so.
For more tailgating tips and fun, visit these sites:
The Tailgaters Handbook
Joe Cahn is Tailgating America!
FanStop's Tailgate Party
NFL's Tailgate Party
How to Clean Up After a Tailgate Party
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