Thank you to Sam’s Club for sponsoring today’s post and helping me get ready for tailgating this Football Season.
I grew up in Pittsburgh. Steelers fans take their tailgating very seriously.
You go downtown and tailgate, even if you don’t actually have tickets to the game. You go for the celebration of it and to show off your black and gold pride.
Now that I live in eastern NC, nowhere near a football stadium, we do most of our “tailgating” at home. Sometimes we prefer it that way because we can see the field better on our tv screen than we could if we were at the game(or so we tell ourselves).
But we can still have all the fun of a tailgating party in the comfort of our own home. Though whether our tailgating party is at home or near the stadium, we still need the same basic tailgating essentials.
I head to Sam’s Club to do my shopping for our tailgating parties because we tend to make a lot of food for a bunch of people, so we get the best value there.
When tailgating, I think easy-to-serve and eat: finger foods, what you don’t need silverware to eat or even plates to serve it on. We need a portable grill to grill burgers and hot dogs.
Another favorite is meatballs in the slowcooker, with BBQ sauce and grape jelly(2 parts BBQ sauce to 1 part grape jelly), served with toothpicks so you don’t have to use silverware.
Soda is a must. Pass me the Coke Zero please! And maybe with a splash of a little something-something.
Round it out with chips and an easy dessert like cookies and we’re set to watch the game, though it’s even better if we can watch on one of the best tvs.
Don’t forget to add some fan gear to your tailgating party. We’re Steelers fans when it comes to the NFL and Tarheels fans if we’re talking college.
We don’t tailgate, or watch football but we do make tailgate themed food on the weekends. We have friends over and cook out. I like making wings, dips, and my husband makes ribs. We are always cooking out.
We do not tailgate but we do love a good little snack party while watching some tv :).
We do the portable grill thing for hot dogs and burgers and we bring a variety of chips and cold water bottles and yeah – a little something-something for the Coke Zero.
Mostly, we have to bring a good attitude because here in Southern California, it is HOT when we tailgate.
Good times are had by all…but also a lot of sweating!
🙂
Us Pats fans take it pretty seriously, too. As long as we have full coolers, tons of food and a grill – we are golden.
I haven’t tailgated since I lived in a college town back home. I wish I could get back to it. It was so much fun.
My husband makes sure we have Coke Zero for every event. It’s not a party unless he has his Coke Zero!
Tailgating is half the fun. I prefer to be indoors away from precipitation!
I like those easy to eat foods as well. It’s just the way to go, and it feels like you’re eating a lot but the portions are smaller. Also, I like the splashes of something-something.
We don’t tailgate, but it looks like y’all know how to have a great time!!
We don’t tailgate, we do it all from home. I love making meatballs in the crockpot and I agree about food… anything that doesn’t need silverware is perfect party food.
Hi Shell,
I LOVE those meatballs too! We grab a big bag of frozen meatballs from Sams, they have the best ones, and then toss them in the crockpot! They are sweet and amazing! Best tailgate food ever!
Have a wonderful weekend,
Victoria (Go Dolphins!)
Mom Does Reviews
We don’t tailgate but we’ve seen some pretty cool tailgate parties. Grilled foods would be awesome along with plenty of snacks and drinks.
Growing up in Chicago, this is pretty much a genetic thing. Football, tailgate, Da Bears…. and nice warm jackets! 😉
Well, we don’t have Steelers stuff! LOL. I live in Baltimore, so that says a lot, but I’m also a Broncos fan since I am originally from Denver, CO. We always have a case of Miller Lite, chile rellenos and nachos- the Mexican food gets its roots from so many Latin families in Colorado.
A great tailgate party for me would be velveeta and rotel. And Boulevard Wheat beer. And the Kansas City Chiefs win!!
I’ve never tailgated, but thanks to you, I’m ready! Seriously, I really would love to some day…. or maybe I need a friend who tailgates and will invite me! 🙂
I don’t really tailgate but I love the food! Especially caramel popcorn and any sort of dip!
A good tailgate is worth a lot. Sometimes it is more fun than the game, it is where the bonding takes place.
Coke Zero, cold beer, and a game like ladder ball are my essentials! Oh, and good music!
We don’t actually tailgate these days but when we’re in game mode, we have to stock up on finger foods. Wings, potato skins, jalapeno poppers, etc. We grab most of those at Sam’s Club!
I hope we get to tailgate at our home games this year! We love freshly grille meats
I’ve never tailgated, but I want to just for the food alone! Yum!
Beer, Jell-O shots and chips and salsa. We rarely go to football games but we tailgate concerts.
I’m liking those steelers gear. Lol I’m getting ready for our party alraady.
I make meatballs with a similiar recipe. They are so easy to make and very tasty!
We’ve never tailgated but as the kids get older I know we have lots in our future. Thanks for the ideas!
These are definitely some great items to have for your Tailgating Party! I love crockpots for dips and hot dishes and Famous Amos cookies for a snack.
I really have to get on this tail gate band wagon. If for no other reason.. the food!
How did I not know you were a Steelers fan?
Pittsburgh born and raised. So even though I live down South now and for the majority of my adult life, that Steelers thing doesn’t go away. 😉
We are HUGE hockey tailgaters.. we have tents for the sunny days, and we have such a blast. It is always nice to add a few new things each season to enhance our fun:)