This Tailgating Menu Will Score Big

Meggan Hill

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Choose from these tailgating recipes to build a game day menu that will make you the MVP of the party, no matter what happens on the field!

A tailgating spread set up at the back of a car.


 

When it comes to a tailgate, it’s a toss-up as to which is the true MVP of the day: the game or the beer. Still, a tailgating menu of snacks and entrees is a must to stay well-fueled as you cheer (and chat; hey sometimes the company is more exciting than the game itself!).

You can’t lose with any of these low-fuss, prep-ahead, and crowd-pleasing recipes. So stock up on a 12-pack or two and select from these tailgate recipes to assemble a spread that will surely win you the award for entertainer of the year.

Table of Contents

  1. Tailgating Main Dish: Wisconsin Beer Brats
  2. Tailgating Side Dish: Slow Cooker Baked Beans
  3. Tailgating Dip: Cowboy Caviar
  4. More delicious dips
  5. Tailgating Dessert: Puppychow
  6. More sweet treats
  7. Tailgating Drink: Jello Shots

Tailgating Main Dish: Wisconsin Beer Brats

A plate of beer brats with ketchup, mustard, onions, and sauerkraut.

1

Wisconsin Beer Brats

It's not summer or tailgate season without beer brats. If you like the flavor of caramelized onions, then you'll love this easy 4-ingredient grilled brat recipe.
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Simmered in plenty of onions and (you guessed it!) beer, this is the quintessential tailgate main dish. Serve with a tray of condiments such as relish, sauerkraut, ketchup, and mustard so each guest can garnish as desired.

More main dish ideas

A tailgating spread set up at the back of a car.

Tailgating Side Dish: Slow Cooker Baked Beans

Baked beans (or as my mom calls them, “brown beans,”) are a staple at all tailgates, barbecues, and potlucks. This version is enough to make the day before and keep warm in a slow cooker at your event, and they really do taste better than the ones from a can.

Slow cooker baked beans in a small white bowl.

2

Slow Cooker Baked Beans

Homemade Slow Cooker Baked Beans are a tasty and inexpensive dinner menu addition. Skip canned baked beans and try this DIY side dish that's infused with bacon.
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More top-notch sides

Tailgating Dip: Cowboy Caviar

Cowboy caviar in a bowl on a white plate with tortilla chips.

3

Cowboy Caviar Recipe

This easy recipe for Cowboy Caviar is fun, fresh, colorful, and endlessly adaptable. It makes a great dip, salad, side dish, or even a topping for grilled meats. Always a potluck favorite!
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Every tailgate needs a dip recipe, and this fresh and colorful Cowboy Caviar is a Midwestern staple. Stir it together the day before and refrigerate until party time to allow the dressing to infuse into every bite. Serve with copious amounts of Homemade Tortilla Chips.

More delicious dips

Tailgating Dessert: Puppychow

Puppy chow on a beige platter.

4

Puppychow

Puppychow, also known as muddy buddies, this classic Midwestern dessert is my go-to no-bake treat for bake sales, parties, and food gifts. If you like peanut butter cups, you'll love this easy dessert recipe.
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Delightfully messy and loaded with chocolate and peanut butter flavor, this no-bake cereal treat is the Midwestern dessert to serve at your next tailgate. Be sure to make a double batch so someone else doesn’t intercept the last serving before you get your fix.

More sweet treats

Tailgating Drink: Jello Shots

For an extra festive touch to these sweet vodka shots, select Jello flavors that match your team’s colors. Prep them entirely up to 3 days ahead, then chill the “shot glasses” on a tray for easy transport to the tailgate party table.

Various colored jello shots in clear portion cups.

Bonus beverages

Slip on that jersey, grab the pop-up chairs and yard games, round up the ingredients for these tailgating recipes and get ready to take home the hosting trophy!

A tailgating spread set up at the back of a car.
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Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.

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