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20 Tailgate Foods Everyone Will Love on Game Day

Football and snacks for the win!

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tailgate foods
Will Dickey

Football season isn’t just about watching your favorite team score the winning touchdown. It’s also a time to gather with friends and family and indulge in some of the best tailgate food! Whether you're cheering from the stands or tuning in from outside the stadium, whipping up some winning game day recipes will fuel everyone for the big event and make you the MVP of the day.

Here, you'll find everything you need for the ultimate football menu, from tasty tailgate appetizers to hearty main courses you can keep warm in your slow cooker. Each delectable dish is a breeze to prepare, fun to eat, and easy to transport. Score major points with your loved ones by serving up crowd-pleasing classics like buffalo chicken recipes, chicken wings, nachos, and more.

You'll also win over the group with flavorful finger foods like pigs in a blanket, hearty dips like queso and guacamole, and filling sandwiches that are easy to make ahead. Then, finish off the triumphant lineup with some delicious tailgate desserts. A platter of football-shaped treats like cookies will make the entire game day a winner, no matter who actually wins the game.

1

Grilled BBQ Chicken Nachos

grilled bbq chicken nachos
Ryan Liebe

If someone has a grill at the game, make the most of it and make nachos! You can prep the chicken in advance, get everything layered, and heat when you’re set up. It only takes ten minutes to heat.

Get Ree’s Grilled BBQ Chicken Nachos recipe.

2

3-Ingredient Buffalo Chicken Dip

the pioneer woman 3 ingredient buffalo dip
Allison Gootee

You can never have too many buffalo chicken recipes on game day! This one is especially welcome, because it doesn’t need to stay warm. It only takes five minutes of prep, so it can be made last minute, too.

Get Ree’s 3-Ingredient Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe.

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3

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

the pioneer woman's slow cooker pulled pork recipe
Caitlin Bensel

Low and slow is the way to go to make pulled pork super tender. Plus, you can make, carry, serve, and keep the meal warm right in your slow cooker. Serve it on buns or make tacos!

Get the Slow Cooker Pulled Pork recipe.

4

Football Sheet Cake

tailgate foods football sheet cake
C.W. Newell

Talk about a total touchdown of a dessert! Sheet cakes can easily feed a crowd, and this one is perfectly on theme. While it looks complicated to decorate, it's actually much easier than you'd think.

Get the Football Sheet Cake recipe.

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5

7-Layer Dip

7layer dip with a chip dipped into it
C.W. Newell

This multi-layered dip is tailgate food at its finest. It takes 15 minutes to make and has all the Tex-Mex flavors you know and love. Serve it with pita chips or veggie slices, and everyone will be competing for a scoop.

Get Ree's 7-Layer Dip recipe.

6

Cheeseburger Sliders

tailgate foods cheeseburger sliders
Will Dickey

Cheesy, juicy, and finger-licking good, cheeseburgers are the perfect tailgate food. But instead of worrying about making individual patties, use the genius hack of preparing ground meat on the stovetop before stuffing it in between dinner rolls.

Get the Cheeseburger Sliders recipe.

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7

Buffalo Chickpea Sandwiches

healthy christmas recipes buffalo chickpea sandwich
Ryan Liebe

Make sure the vegetarians in the group have something to munch on, too! These buffalo chickpea sandwiches are every bit as satisfying and flavorful as the real thing, thanks to hot sauce, creamy blue cheese, crunchy celery, and tangy dill pickles.

Get Ree's Buffalo Chickpea Sandwiches recipe.

8

Breakfast Burritos to Go

tailgate foods breakfast burritos
Hector Manuel Sanchez

If your tailgate is taking place first thing in the morning, you'll need to fuel up for the long day ahead. Take a page out of the Drummond playbook by making on-the-go burritos! They're loaded with sausage, potatoes, eggs, and cheese.

Get Ree's Breakfast Burritos to Go recipe.

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9

Easy Queso Dip

tailgate food
Will Dickey

Queso is a sporting event staple! The dip can be made on the stovetop or in the slow cooker. Either way, meltable white American cheese and flavorful additions like garlic, jalapeños, and green chilies solidify it as a fan-favorite.

Get the Easy Queso Dip recipe.

10

Honey Barbecue Chicken Wings

tailgate food
Will Dickey

One thing is for sure: you can never have too many wings on game day! These can be crisped up in either the oven or air fryer, before they're slathered in a sweet, sticky barbecue glaze.

Get the Honey Barbecue Chicken Wings recipe.

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11

Spicy Chex Mix

tailgate food
C.W. Newell

Solve those game day munchies with a scrumptious snack like this spicy Chex mix! The mix-ins are covered in butter, zesty hot sauce, Worcestershire, and lots of spice. It's basically guaranteed to be a hit worthy of multiple handfuls.

Get the Spicy Chex Mix recipe.

12

Homemade Potato Chips

tailgate food
C.W. Newell

You'll likely have a whole bunch of potato chips to munch on at your gathering, so why not make your own? To do so, you'll fry up thinly sliced potatoes until they're crunchy and golden, then toss them in a tasty spicy-sweet seasoning.

Get Ree's Homemade Potato Chips recipe.

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13

Guacamole

tailgate food
Will Dickey

No tailgate is complete without a big bowl of guacamole! This version calls for perfectly ripe avocados, onion, tomato, cilantro and lime juice. For a little kick, add some diced jalapeño, too.

Get the Guacamole recipe.

14

Football Cereal Treats

football cereal treats tailgate food
Ryan Liebe

Don't forget the sweet stuff: These adorable game day snacks have double the chocolate, with cocoa powder and chocolate cereal in the mix. Extra flavor for the win!

Get Ree's Football Cereal Treats recipe.

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15

Italian Sandwich

italian sandwich tailgate food
Caitlin Bensel

This sandwich is layered with meats, cheeses, and veggies so you know it'll feed a crowd. But the best part is that you can prep it ahead and it'll taste even better when it has time to sit.

Get the Italian Sandwich recipe.

16

Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip

bacon cheddar ranch dip tailgate food
Ryan Liebe

Who knew you could pack so much flavor into little cups? Well, Ree figured it out with this party dip. Of course, you could absolutely serve it in a bowl next to a bag of chips, too.

Get Ree's Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip recipe.

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17

Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Thingies

bacon wrapped jalapeno thingies tailgate food
Hector Manuel Sanchez

Ree says that these cheese-stuffed jalapeños are "absolutely addictive and it's easy to see why. For one thing, they're wrapped in crispy bacon. Plus, you only need three ingredients to make them.

Get Ree's Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Thingies recipe.

18

Football Cookies

football cookies tailgate food
Will Dickey

No matter what the final score is, these chocolate cookies shaped like footballs are the best way to finish off game day. They even have laces made with homemade icing.

Get the Football Cookies recipe.

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19

Million Dollar Dip

million dollar dip tailgate food
Hector Manuel Sanchez

You can't go wrong with a cheesy dip! This one is easy to customize to your party—add hot sauce if you like it spicy or swap out the type of cheese depending on your preferences.

Get Ree's Million Dollar Dip recipe.

20

Mediterranean Orzo Salad

mediterranean orzo salad tailgate food
Hector Manuel Sanchez

This twist on pasta salad uses tiny orzo for a rice-like dish. Load it up with fresh, bright ingredients and serve it alongside burgers, sandwiches, and hot dogs.

Get Ree's Mediterranean Orzo Salad recipe.

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