Tiny Tailgating Treats

Tailgate Tip: You could pile the chicken bites on a platter, but we suggest skewering them with toothpicks for a fun, less messy presentation. No sticky fingers here!

Tailgate Tip: Prepare sandwiches the day before the game. Place in zip-top plastic freezer bags, and refrigerate overnight. For a fun presentation, wrap the sandwiches in wax paper, then wrap again with old newspapers and tie with twine.

Even your most carnivorous meat-eating guests won’t be able to resist these crispy, spiced cauliflower bites. Offering the perfect balance of hearty crunch and bright, tangy sauciness, our cauli-bites are a grade-A vegetarian appetizer for entertaining, tailgating, and beyond. You can find berbere at supermarkets like Whole Foods or online; and if this Ethiopian spice blend is new to you, be prepared, you’re gonna wanna add it to everything. 

Tailgate Tip: Since this recipe requires very little prep time, use those extra minutes to whip up homemade condiments for dipping, such as this speedy barbecue sauce.

Tailgate Tip: These muffins taste best when fresh, so bake just before leaving for the tailgate.

Tailgate Tip: Food on a stick is always a fun idea! Find more inspiration on our Pinterest board.

These turkey and swiss roll ups are perfect for packing kids' lunches. 

These mini meatballs are perfect for holiday parties and tailgating. We made them healthier by forgoing sodium-heavy ingre­dients like the usual ketchup and chili sauce and including whole-grain bulgur in place of breadcrumbs. You can also serve a larger portion of these meatballs for weeknight dinner. To up the kid-friendly factor, omit the ground red pepper in the glaze and serve with mashed potatoes (à la Swedish meatballs).

Tailgate Tip: Serve the parfaits chilled in adorable mini mason jars, which have screw-on lids for easy transport and storage. Or, let your friends build their own parfaits for a fun, do-it-yourself dessert.

Tailgate Tip: For a festive presentation, cut out tiny flags with your team colors or logo and attach them to the sliders using toothpicks. Touchdown!

Tailgate Tip: Set up your own mini baked potato bar and let your friends choose their own toppings.

Tailgate Tip: Impress your friends by making homemade whipped cream on the spot. Just whisk very cold heavy cream with a little bit of sugar and vanilla extract until thickened. Watch our how-to video here.

Tailgate Tip: Where there's Southern food, there will never be a shortage of sweet tea or good times. Serve a Southern-inspired feast at your tailgate, complete with these biscuits, potato salad, baked beans, succotash, and banana pudding.

Tailgate Tip: If the football fans in your family aren't exactly "miniature", make big-boy versions of these burgers for the adults and sliders for the kids.

Tailgate Tip: When the weather gets cooler, pack blankets and a family-sized thermos of hot cocoa. Dip the donuts in the rich, chocolaty goodness as you cheer on your team to victory.

Tailgate Tip: Buy or make a refreshing iced drink to help everyone cool down. A tall glass of strawberry lemonade pairs especially well with this dish.

Tailgate Tip: Get creative when decorating your brownie bites! Toasted coconut, walnuts, candy pieces, and fresh berries all make great toppings. Or, arrange the brownies in the shape of a football and use white frosting to draw on the laces.

Tailgate Tip: These bitty popcorn balls are an ideal size for little hands. Package each serving of popcorn in colorful paper bags tied with ribbon, then label the bags with each child's name.

Tailgate Tip: Any slider recipe can be altered to make regular-sized burgers. Just combine two mini patties to make one big patty, and then grill like you would a normal burger (until the internal temperature reaches 160°).

Tailgate Tip: Rev up your slow cooker the night before, and on game day, tote it to the game, plug it in, and let your crowd build their own sandwiches.

Tailgate Tip: Check the bottom of the recipe notes for additional topping ideas. Swap granola for peanuts, colorful chocolate candies, or mini marshmallows. All are equally delicious!

Tailgate Tip: Invest in a family-sized thermos to keep the soup hot on the way to the game. Then pour into portable bowls, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and get cozy.

Tailgate Tip: Prep ahead. Make the curd up to two days in advance, and chill. Whip the meringue an hour before your event; assemble just before serving.

Tailgate Tip: This recipe is best suited for your backyard viewing parties, so you can skip the crowds! Invite a group of friends over to watch the game and serve up a contemporary, coastal-inspired feast.

Tailgate Tip: Serve the miniature skewers on a platter with a side of dressing for easy dipping, or place individual servings in small plastic cups. Simply delicious!

Tailgate Tip: These cutesy cupcakes are especially festive if one of your team colors is orange! However, you could easily leave out the orange food coloring for a batch of neutral-toned (and equally yummy) cakes.

Tailgate Tip: Everyone loves eating barbecue, but no one loves getting sauce stains splattered onto their team jerseys. Pack extra napkins, baby wipes, and portable stain remover in case of an emergency. Your friends will thank you!

Tailgate Tip: We used a mixture of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and kiwifruit, but feel free to use any seasonal, fresh fruit you can get your hands on!

Tailgate Tip: Allow time for these to freeze before the game, then pack in a cooler filled with ice. Any ice cream flavor will work here, but we think black cherry, mint chip, dulce de leche, or plain old vanilla work best.

Tailgate Tip: Thin-skinned pickling cucumbers are essential for this recipe.