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September 17, 2014 by: Shell

Must Haves for Your Tailgate Party

Thank you to Sam’s Club for sponsoring today’s post and helping me get ready for tailgating this Football Season.ย 


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.

Tailgating essentials for this football season.

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 sauceย 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.

What do you have to have at your tailgate?

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Comments

  1. Janel (A Mom's Take) says

    September 18, 2014 at 11:44 am

    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.

  2. Kay Adeola says

    September 18, 2014 at 12:06 pm

    We do not tailgate but we do love a good little snack party while watching some tv :).

  3. julie gardner says

    September 18, 2014 at 12:24 pm

    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!

    ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. Robin (Masshole Mommy) says

    September 18, 2014 at 1:21 pm

    Us Pats fans take it pretty seriously, too. As long as we have full coolers, tons of food and a grill – we are golden.

  5. Chrystal @ Yumeating says

    September 18, 2014 at 4:16 pm

    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.

  6. Pam says

    September 18, 2014 at 4:55 pm

    My husband makes sure we have Coke Zero for every event. It’s not a party unless he has his Coke Zero!

  7. Brett says

    September 18, 2014 at 8:34 pm

    Tailgating is half the fun. I prefer to be indoors away from precipitation!

  8. Liz Mays says

    September 18, 2014 at 9:44 pm

    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.

  9. deb says

    September 18, 2014 at 10:07 pm

    We don’t tailgate, but it looks like y’all know how to have a great time!!

  10. Danielle @ We Have It All says

    September 18, 2014 at 11:04 pm

    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.

  11. Victoria says

    September 18, 2014 at 11:59 pm

    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

  12. April @ Everyday Fitness and Nutrition says

    September 19, 2014 at 5:59 am

    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.

  13. Stacie says

    September 19, 2014 at 8:55 am

    Growing up in Chicago, this is pretty much a genetic thing. Football, tailgate, Da Bears…. and nice warm jackets! ๐Ÿ˜‰

  14. Jessica (Savory Experiments) says

    September 19, 2014 at 9:14 am

    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.

  15. Beth@FrugalFroggie says

    September 19, 2014 at 10:34 am

    A great tailgate party for me would be velveeta and rotel. And Boulevard Wheat beer. And the Kansas City Chiefs win!!

  16. Donna says

    September 19, 2014 at 10:45 am

    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! ๐Ÿ™‚

  17. Marybeth Hamilton says

    September 19, 2014 at 12:16 pm

    I don’t really tailgate but I love the food! Especially caramel popcorn and any sort of dip!

  18. Jack says

    September 19, 2014 at 12:21 pm

    A good tailgate is worth a lot. Sometimes it is more fun than the game, it is where the bonding takes place.

  19. Krystal says

    September 19, 2014 at 1:40 pm

    Coke Zero, cold beer, and a game like ladder ball are my essentials! Oh, and good music!

  20. Nicole Brady says

    September 19, 2014 at 2:41 pm

    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!

  21. Christie says

    September 19, 2014 at 2:43 pm

    I hope we get to tailgate at our home games this year! We love freshly grille meats

  22. Tracey says

    September 19, 2014 at 4:31 pm

    I’ve never tailgated, but I want to just for the food alone! Yum!

  23. Julia says

    September 19, 2014 at 9:20 pm

    Beer, Jell-O shots and chips and salsa. We rarely go to football games but we tailgate concerts.

  24. Tess says

    September 19, 2014 at 10:45 pm

    I’m liking those steelers gear. Lol I’m getting ready for our party alraady.

  25. Ann Bacciaglia says

    September 20, 2014 at 10:38 pm

    I make meatballs with a similiar recipe. They are so easy to make and very tasty!

  26. Racquel says

    September 22, 2014 at 2:17 pm

    We’ve never tailgated but as the kids get older I know we have lots in our future. Thanks for the ideas!

  27. Shannon Gosney says

    September 22, 2014 at 5:40 pm

    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.

  28. Cam | Bibs and Baubles says

    September 23, 2014 at 3:48 pm

    I really have to get on this tail gate band wagon. If for no other reason.. the food!

  29. John (Daddy Runs a Lot) says

    September 24, 2014 at 10:35 am

    How did I not know you were a Steelers fan?

    • Shell says

      September 26, 2014 at 12:19 pm

      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. ๐Ÿ˜‰

  30. itzybellababy says

    September 28, 2014 at 3:06 pm

    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:)

Welcome to Things I Can't Say: Tips and Tales from an Introverted Mom. I'm Shell. Boy mom, beach girl, bookworm, ball games, baker, brand ambassador, Thinking yoga, food, and travel should start with "b," too. Finding the easiest way to do some things while overthinking so many others. Read Moreโ€ฆ

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