Ready-to-Serve Tailgating Recipes

These make-ahead recipes are ready to eat straight out of the cooler. Simply open up containers, and you’ll have a crowd-pleasing spread.

Mini Muffulettas

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Amy Burke

Mini Muffulettas

You can easily make these Mini Muffulettas the day before the party. Just assemble, place in zip-top, plastic freezer bags, and refrigerate overnight. Store-bought craft paper and simple twine create clever sandwich wrappers.

Deviled Eggs

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Deviled Eggs

A staple of any Southern tailgate, deviled eggs are easy to make and easy to transport. Better yet, top them with team-inspired ingredients!

Turkey-Cheddar Kabob

Turkey-Cheddar Kabobs With Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

Save time by making crowd-pleasing Turkey-Cheddar Kabobs the night before. The kabobs are easy to pick up and eat even if you don't have a plate handy. 

Graham Nut Clusters

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Graham Nut Clusters

You can never have too much snack mix at a tailgate! Serve Graham Nut Clusters in megaphones plugged with foil. Look for them at party-supply stores.

Guacamole

Guacamole

This tasty delight has become one of our most preferred staples in Tex-Mex cuisine. Fresh avocado and lime juice are essential to this delicious guacamole recipe.

Tip: While storing in the cooler, keep your guacamole from changing color by placing a layer of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the mixture.

Grilled Salsa

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Grilled Salsa

What's a party without salsa? Make yours one to remember.

Jalapeño-Mustard Dipping Sauce

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Jalapeño-Mustard Dipping Sauce

Just before the game, stop by a grocer's deli counter or the drive-through of your favorite restaurant for fresh, hot chicken tenders and serve with Jalapeño-Mustard Dipping Sauce. Make them festive with team spirit skewers. Simply cut flags from scrapbook paper in the shape of pennants, and tape them to wooden skewers.

Confetti Pasta Salad

Confetti Pasta Salad

Feta cheese, grape tomatoes, and red onion give this salad Greek flair, and star ingredient dill adds a punch of flavor to the combination. Even though this salad is delicious immediately after it comes together, we recommend chilling it for a few hours in the refrigerator to enhance all the flavors.

Bacon-Cheese Dip

Bacon-Cheese Dip

Keep your game day party easy by making this tasty dip ahead of time.

Tailgating Recipes: Italian-Style Sandwiches

Italian-Style Sandwiches

Take your sandwiches a step up from ham and cheese with this out-of-the-ordinary recipe. Before heading to the game, spread goat cheese and pesto on ciabatta rolls and then add slices of pork, peppery arugula, roasted red bell peppers, and sliced red onion.

Warm Gumbo Dip

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Warm Gumbo Dip

Just like any good Louisiana gumbo, this dip is thick and full of flavor.

Southern-Style Cuban Sandwiches

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Southern-Style Cuban Sandwiches

Here's a smoky spin on a classic sub. Pick up sliced pork from your favorite barbecue restaurant.

Cobb Salad Sandwiches

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Cobb Salad Sandwiches

Start with 1 12-oz. French bread loaf cut in half horizontally; scoop out soft bread from center of each half, leaving a 1/2-inch-thick shell to make filling the sandwich easier.

Chicken & Honey Sandwiches

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Chicken & Honey Sandwiches

This sandwich falls under the "hearty fare" category. It'll satisfy your hunger to win.

Eggs Benedict Sandwiches

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Eggs Benedict Sandwiches

This brunch sub is ideal for a late-morning kickoff.

Beer-Cheese Spread

Beer-Cheese Spread

This recipe makes a lot. Freeze up to one month in advance in 4 (10-oz.) ramekins, and pull out for game day. Try it over French fries, hot dogs, and chili too.

Layered Spicy Black Bean Dip

Layered Spicy Black Bean Dip

Layered Spicy Black Bean Dip uses a store-bought dip to add flavor and shorten the ingredient list.

Lemony Spinach-Artichoke Dip

Lemony Spinach-Artichoke Dip

Lemon juice adds fresh zip to this tasty dip. Use team colors for your table decor.

Tailgating Recipes: Chicken-and-Vegetable Stew

Chicken-and-Vegetable Stew

Perfect for chilly games later in the season, this savory stew keeps warm in thermoses until you are ready to chow down before the game.

Tailgating Recipes: Smoky “Pimiento” Cheese Sandwiches

Smoky “Pimiento” Cheese Sandwiches

Smoked Cheddar and Gouda cheeses and sun-dried tomatoes provide a terrific twist on traditional pimiento. Spread on sourdough and dark wheat bread and cut into smaller sandwiches for easy pickup. Serve with grapes and apples.

Best Cookies Recipes: Oatmeal-Toffee Cookies Recipes

Oatmeal-Toffee Cookies

Buttery toffee adds a delicious flavor to these chewy oatmeal cookies.

 

Spicy-Sweet Deviled Eggs

Spicy-Sweet Deviled Eggs

Mango chutney is the secret ingredient that makes these deviled eggs so irresistible. Snip and arrange chives for a fun garnish.

Blue Cheese Ranch Dip

Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Blue Cheese Ranch Dip

Blue Cheese Ranch Dip requires only four ingredients and five minutes prep time. Serve it with carrot and celery sticks, sturdy potato chips, and hot wings.

Fourth of July Menu: Fipps Family Potato Salad

Fipps Family Potato Salad

Round out your meal with this classic mixture of potatoes, eggs, mayo (Duke’s of course!), and spicy mustard. Make the recipe your own by adding sweet pickles, onion, celery, bacon, and fresh herbs.

Chile-Cheese Spread

Chile-Cheese Spread

Make this zesty starter up to three days ahead. Serve leftovers on sandwiches.

Blue Cheese Ranch Dip

Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Easy Snack Mix

Stack cups in your team's colors next to this simple snack mix so that guests can help themselves.

Tailgating Recipes: Caramelized Onion Dip

Caramelized Onion Dip

Try this cool, creamy dip filled with the warm flavor of just-caramelized onions, and you won’t ever want to go back to store-bought French onion dip again. Serve with potato chips and raw veggies.

Red Pepper Hummus

Red Pepper Hummus

Roasted red bell peppers add a kick of color and flavor to traditional hummus. Go ahead and double the recipe; leftovers make a tasty sandwich spread.

Best Cookies Recipes: Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipes

Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies

Dark brown sugar adds surprising richness to this cookie dough. Bake each batch 8 minutes for soft and gooey cookies, or up to 14 minutes for crisp results.

 

Italian Skewers

Italian Skewers

Italian Skewers are the perfect pickup appetizers for a crowd. The best part? They can be made ahead.

Wedding Shower Recipe Ideas: Ham-Stuffed Biscuits With Mustard Butter

Ham-Stuffed Biscuits With Mustard Butter

Yeast biscuits—also called angel or bride’s biscuits—hold together well, so they’re a good choice to serve at gatherings. These will be the first to disappear—the so-Southern combination of ham and biscuits is always a hit!

Best Cookies Recipes: Chunky Chocolate Brownies Recipes

Chunky Chocolate Brownies

Chocolate chunks make these brownies fudgy; use the 23-minute baking time to make them extra gooey.

 

Printed from:
http://www.southernliving.com/food/entertaining/tailgate-party-recipe-ideas-00417000068759/

Copyright © 2013 Time Inc. Lifestyle Group. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy ( Your California Privacy Rights). Ad Choices