October 2023
Football season is in full-swing and I couldn’t be happier! Being a Kansas City native the sport has a special place in my heart (Go Chiefs)! In addition to watching games, food is also a big part of the experience. I’d like to share my top 15 foods for tailgating before a game. The criteria I used: (1) taste, (2) is it simple to make and bring to a tailgate, (3) costs and (4) how much of mess do they leave behind.
Let’s go!
15. Salads
Tailgates aren’t known for healthy eating, but some kind of greens helps to mix things up and gives you a break from the meat sweats! In addition to green salads, potato and macaroni salad are easy to make and distribute to folks.
14. French Fries
Fries go with pretty much anything which is what makes them such a great choice. Curly, straight, even potato fries and you can’t go wrong. If kids are around even better.
13. Cheese Plate
Like fries, you need some finger foods to keep hungry people busy while they wait for some of the other things to cook. A nice cheese plate fancies things up and keeps people occupied.
12. Mac & Cheese
Carbs and more cheese. How can you go wrong? Even tastes good a little on the cold side.
11. Pulled Pork
If we’re going strictly on taste Pulled Pork would be higher on the list. No doubt. But good pulled pork takes time and energy (and a slow cooker). All things hard for a tailgate. But man some pulled pork with KC Finest sauce hits the spot all the time.
10. Chili
This really works best in those colder months. Can also use the cheese (from above) and chips (from below) to make it better.
9. Chips & Dip
C’mon no way you leave this out of Top 10. Easy, convenient and tasty – make sure to bring a lot of bags and grab the BOGOs when you can!
8. Nachos
A classic for sure. Just be warned that every nacho you eat raises the probability of ruining your new, authentic jersey by at least 40%.
7. Brownies
Finally something for the sweet tooth. Homemade brownies never miss the mark. Cookies are a close 2nd in the category.
6. Subs
Just shy of the top 5 comes subs. Turkey, roast beef, ham, it don’t matter. No one can pass the magic of the sub.
5. Burgers
We are in the top 5! Some people might want burgers higher but tailgates aren’t the best time to experiment and try new toppings. So for the sake of this list, they are no higher. You also tend to have everyone request a certain temp (rare, well done, etc.) which makes it tough.
4. Brats
Upscale hot dogs is what these are. Extra points as you can eat them without a bun.
3. Wings
Wings have everything a perfect tailgate food needs. It’s meat, easy to eat with hands, and you can use any sauce you want to make them even better. Of course I prefer the KC Finest Red Label to add a little more heat to mine! Only knock on wings is having to clean up all those bones.
2. Ribs
Pretty much the same good stuff as wings but an easier and less messy clean-up.
And #1: Hot Dogs
And here we are. So why #1 you ask. Well they are hand-held, can include all kinds of sauces and dips, no messy clean-up, goes great with beer (or any drink) and super easy to make. All those things and reliable taste make em’ number 1.
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