Light Tailgate Recipes

There's no need to sacrifice your favorite tailgating recipes just because you're trying to eat healthy. Enjoy the bold flavors of chicken wings, deviled eggs, potato salad, chili, and cupcakes without any guilt. These recipes have the same great flavor as their traditional counterparts but with a fraction of the fat and calories.

Making your own chips gives you the same crunchy flavor without all of the fat of regular tortilla chips. These chipotle–flavored chips highlight the fresh ingredients in the guacamole. Serve guacamole for a creamy dip that is rich in heart-healthy fats.

Recipe: Guacamole with Chipotle Tortilla Chips

Black beans are packed with nutrients such as protein, fiber, and iron, so you don't have to worry about empty calories when you dip into this spicy hummus. Serve with baked pita chips or carrot and celery sticks.

Recipe: Spicy Black Bean Hummus

Potato flakes add bulk to the filling so you can use less yolk and decrease the overall fat, calories, and cholesterol. The shrimp, bacon, and parsley add extra color and flavor, resulting in an impressive finish.

Recipe: Shrimp and Bacon Deviled Eggs

For those early morning games, stuff these biscuits with ham and pair with a Bloody Mary to kick off the game-day festivities.

Recipe: Potato-Sour Cream Biscuits

Transport the slaw, pork, and rolls separately and allow fellow fans to assemble their sandwiches at the tailgate. Making your own creamy slaw results in less fat and calories than a store–bought counterpart.

Recipe: Barbecue Pork-and-Coleslaw Hoagies

Ditch the bucket of cold, greasy chicken and load up on these extra–crispy chicken breasts, drumsticks, and thighs. If you want a spicier kick, add a few drops of hot sauce to the buttermilk coating. If you prefer chicken fingers, you can use this same coating mixture on boneless chicken tenders.

Recipe: Cajun Oven–Fried Chicken

With flavors from salty bacon, caramelized onions, oven-roasted potatoes, and tangy Dijon mustard, no one will ever guess that this recipe is light. Make the potato salad before the game, store it in an airtight container and then pack it in your cooler until it's time to eat. The recipe makes 8 cups, so double it if you're serving a big crowd.

Recipe: Roasted Potato Salad with Mustard Dressing

When the temperature starts to drop, a warm bowl of this hearty chili does just the trick to put you in the football mood. Transfer the chili to your tailgate in a slow–cooker and keep it warm in there throughout the day. Substituted chopped cooked chicken for the turkey, if desired.

Recipe: White Bean and Turkey Chili

For a fourth quarter treat, give these rich, chocolatey cupcakes a try. Not only are they packed with antioxidants, they are lower in fat and calories than their store–bought counterparts.

Recipe: Dark Chocolate Cupcakes

Stud these cookies with white chocolate morsels and dried strawberries for a flavorful twist on the traditional oatmeal cookie. Pack the cookies tins to keep them fresh and prevent them from crumbling on the drive to the game.

Recipe: White Chocolate, Strawberry, and Oatmeal Cookies

Fuel game–day spirits with this healthy tailgating fare.