Consider this your ultimate tailgate menu.
It’s never too early to get to planning so you’re sure to score come football season.
Poblano peppers are grilled right into the burger patties for incredible texture and flavor.
Credit:Morgan Hunt Glaze; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless; Food Stylist: Sally McKay
Baby Back Ribs With Coffee-Bourbon Barbecue Sauce
Its not gameday without barbecue!
Coffee and bourbon make for an ultra-rich barbecue sauce thats sweet and tangy.
Breakfast tacos are the easiest, most portable way to get everyone geared up for the day.
Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
If youre short on time, swap for boxed brownie mix but keep the homemade frosting.
Dont forget the ketchup and mustard!
Florida State Fried Chicken
A drizzle of honey is the secret that makes this chicken recipe irresistible.
Credit: Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Theyre surprisingly simple to make with just a few ingredients.
Pigs In A Blanket
If youre looking for a no-fail snack, here you go!
These Pigs In A Blanket also freeze beautifully for make-ahead purposes.
Credit:Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Dailey
Slow-Cooker Chipotle Brisket Sliders
Absolutely fabulous!
wrote a reviewer who left five stars.
Thank you for such a great dinner!
Credit:Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Dailey
Homemade bacon jam sets them apart from your usual burger recipe.
Southerners will instantly recognize this handheld staple, made with ham, cheese, and Hawaiian rolls.
This recipe elevates the basic ham-and-cheese with an amazing homemade bechamel sauce and Gruyere cheese.
Credit:Frederick Hardy II; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke
Set a container of toothpicks next to the slow cooker and let your guests do the work.
It’s melty, creamy, cheesy, chicken-filled, and packed with a kick of Buffalo flavor.
Flat pretzel chips or crusty bread make excellent scoops.
Credit:CAITLIN BENSEL; FOOD STYLIST: TORIE COX
The tangy dipping sauce puts this special tailgate appetizer over the top.
These will be the first to go at the party.
Buffalo Chicken Bites
These practically mess-free chicken bites are boneless, letting guests indulge with a fork.
Credit:Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Dailey
For variety, offer a bowl of both ranch and blue cheese dressings on the side.
Top with lettuce and cherry tomatoes to make it look just like the sandwich.
Pulled Pork Nachos
It’s not game day without a hugeplate of nachos.
Credit:Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
The pinwheels are topped with blue cheese dressing and chopped fresh celery leaves or parsley.
Spicy Bisquick Sausage Balls
Did someone say sausage balls?
We can hear the people running from other tailgates already.
Credit:Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall
Garnish with bright green basil.
As is, this recipe makes 24 crackers, so we recommend doubling (or tripling!)
The crackers need to bake on low heat for 90 minutes to achieve a nice and crisp bowtie shape.
Credit:Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel
This recipe is heavier on the artichokes than many, so we used frozen for the best flavor.
The leftovers are great on a baked potato or chicken, too.
Classic Deviled Eggs
Simplicity is key in this tasty make-ahead recipe.
Credit: Will Dickey
It comes together with just five ingredients in less than 20 minutes.
You’ll love the classic flavor, and you might spice things up with a jar of hot sauce.
Oh, and did we mention it all starts with abox of brownie mix?
Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
Chill the dough before baking so the cookies stay in cookie form.
The fragrant, orange-hued rub is predominantly due to paprika, enhanced with a few other spices.
It comes from pitmaster Wade Reich ofButts To Goin Alabama, so you know it’s good.
Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
What can go wrong?
Keep it in an airtight container and serve it in waffle cones during the game.
Classic deviled eggs get a festive spin from cilantro, serrano peppers, diced green onions, and cheese.
Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Rebecca Cummins
Sprinkle on chili powder to taste.
Top with extra olive oil, lemon zest, and paprika for an extra zing and pop of color.
Serve with pita chips.
Credit:Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Dailey
Georgia-Style Boiled Peanuts
This easy snack is always a crowd-pleaser at a Southern tailgate.
They go down especially well with an ice-cold beer.
Our Favorite Pimiento Cheese
Hector Manuel Sanchez
Need we say more?
Credit:Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Dailey
It’s not a Southern daytime party without at least one batch of pimiento cheese.
Hot tip: Serve with crackers and a jar of Wickles on the side.
Tortilla scoops will come in handy for this one.
Credit: Photography and Styling: Karen Rankin
Everyone loves the simple combination of broccoli, grapes, pecans, and bacon.
The result is a perfect balance of sweetness, tartness, and crunch.
Pecan Pie Bars
Hannah Zimmerman
Serve up fall’s favorite pie without any fuss.
Credit: Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke
These chewy, bite-size bars are baked in a casserole dish and require just 20 minutes of prep time.
The easy crust is simply patted into place.
Keep your fondue pot over a Sterno to keep the dip from clumping.
Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Ali Ramee; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland
Serve with sliced cooked bratwurst for extra fun.
Mini Muffulettas
you might easily make these mini muffuletta sliders the day before the party.
Just assemble, place in zip-top plastic freezer bags, and refrigerate overnight.
Credit:Monica Farber
Store-bought craft paper and simple twine create clever sandwich wrappers.
Smoked-Tomato Salsa
What’s a party without salsa?
If you have a smoker, make yours one to remember.
Credit:Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Pair it with our homemade guacamole and warm chips and you’re set.
Simply stir together seven ingredients and cook, then top with crumbled bacon and scallions.
Tortilla chips will do, but extra-salty corn chips are even better.
Credit: Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke
Texas Caviar
Texas caviar has been a hit at dinner parties since the 1950s.
Something like tangy salsa, the veggies are dressed with a bottle of Italian dressing.
We like adding green tomatoes for their bright, citrusy flavor.
Credit: Skyler Burt
Philly Cheesesteak Dip
Enjoy everything you love about the classic sandwich, without the bun.
This cheesy, meaty party dip is started on the stove and finished in the oven.
Baked pretzel bites nestle in beer cheese made with sharp Cheddar and creamy Havarti.
Credit: Antonis Achilleos
Serve extra pretzels on the side.
Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars
This no-fuss dessert has a crust of graham cracker crumbs and crushed pretzels.
The bars become downright decadent when you drizzle caramel sauce over top.
Credit: Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner
They’re crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and perfect for topping as guests hey.
Bacon-Wrapped Smokies
Bacon makes everything better.
Everyone loves a grab and go recipe and this one is perfect for feeding a crowd.
Credit: Photography: Caitlin Bensel Food Styling: Ali Ramee Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland
Bacon Snack Mix
Tailgates always need those snack mixes that are easy to munch on between plays.
This mix adds in cereal squares, almonds, and bacon.
Tailgate Margaritas
House drink at the tailgate tent?
Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christina Daley
Mix up a margarita that everyone will enjoy sipping.
All-You-Can-Eat BLTs
Sandwiches are always a great idea because you won’t worry about keeping them warm.
Give your go-to BLT a facelift on this toasty bread.
Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Tami Hardeman
These will be the talk of the crowd.
This recipe features turkey and comes together in no time.
Bacon Pimiento Cheese
Bring the dip that everyone will devour.
Credit: Caitlin Bensel
This recipe gives a flavorful twist to the basic pimento recipe with bacon in the starring role.
Using food-safe gloves for handling raw meat is a good idea when serving meat products.
Also, consider bringing tables and chairs.
Credit: Photography: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Credit:Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist Shell Royster
Credit: Jennifer Causey
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Katie Jacobs
Credit:Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Matthew Gleason
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez
Credit: Alison Miksch
Credit:Hector Manuel Sanchez
Credit:Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Credit: Caitlin Bensel
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez
Credit:Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall
Credit:Hannah Zimmerman
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Amy Burke
Credit: Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Anna Hampton; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez
Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Credit:Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn
Credit: Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Credit:Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Credit:Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
Credit:Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
Credit:Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
Credit:Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
Credit:Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall
Credit:Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
Credit:Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel
