These Tailgate Foods Will Be a Total Touchdown on Game Day

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Football season is more than watching your favorite team score the winning touchdown. It’s also a time to gather with friends and family and indulge in some of our favorite tailgate foods! Whipping up some winning game day foods will fuel everyone for the big game and make you the MVP of the day. So grab your jerseys and pack the car with these Super Bowl recipes that will make your tailgate one to remember.

Here, you’ll find everything you need for the ultimate football menu—from the tailgate appetizers and buffalo chicken recipes to make-ahead sandwiches and crowd-pleasing tailgate desserts. Kick off a swoon-worthy Rotel dip or warm up with a scoop of homemade mac and cheese. Or, wait for it… try Ree Drummond’s famous cowboy nachos! Ree loves finding new and inventive ways to use every last morsel of brisket leftovers. Serve your nachos up with a pitcher of margaritas and you’ll have a lot of happy fans.

Plus, she offers some expert tips to help make sure the food travels well. “I sometimes like to use these heavy, disposable aluminum numbers,” Ree says about transporting her melt-in-your-mouth brisket to a tailgate. Then you don’t have to worry about bringing a dirty dish back home. Smart! Of course, these tailgating recipes would be just as tasty at a baseball game, soccer tailgate, or Super Bowl watch party—just be sure you come prepared with a comfy stadium seat.

Queso Totchos

If your squad loves nachos and tater tots, then you’ll be the MVP by combining them. You can pile on all the toppings you want, but definitely don’t forget the chorizo queso dip.

Get Ree’s Queso Totchos recipe.

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Steak Tortas

Steak tortas are a classic Mexican sandwich made with tender slices of seasoned steak then layered with a mix of fresh and flavorful toppings like refried beans, cheese, tomatoes, and lettuce.

Get Ree’s Steak Tortas recipe.

Rotel Dip

While you’ll find plenty of queso on this list, Rotel dip has an extra boost: cooked ground beef mixed in. That makes it much heartier and even more irresistible.

Get Ree’s Rotel Dip recipe.

Crock-Pot Mac and Cheese

It doesn’t get much better than homemade macaroni and cheese. But if you make it in your slow cooker, not only is it easier to prep (only five minutes!) but it keeps it warm for hours, too.

Get the Crock-Pot Mac and Cheese recipe.

Grilled Chicken Wings

These wings are everything you want for game day: crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and packed with bold, smoky flavor. All you need is a quick homemade barbecue rub and good grill techniques.

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Spicy Queso Burgers

Both burgers and queso are no-brainers come game day. When combined, they’ll take your tailgate to the next level. Top with sliced red onion and pickled jalapeños for another kick.

Get Ree’s Spicy Queso Burgers recipe.

Buffalo Chickpea Sandwiches

Make sure the vegetarians have something to much on! Don’t worry, meat eaters will love these, too. They’re every bit as satisfying with hot sauce, creamy blue cheese, crunchy celery, and tangy dill pickles.

Get Ree’s Buffalo Chickpea Sandwiches recipe.

Football Sheet Cake

Talk about a total touchdown of a dessert! Sheet cakes can easily feed a crowd and this on-theme version is much easier to decorate than you think.

Get the Football Sheet Cake recipe.

Cheeseburger Sliders

No need to play short-order cook! Use the genius trick of cooking ground meat on the stovetop and then layering onto dinner rolls, so you don’t have to worry about individual patties.

Get the Cheeseburger Sliders recipe.

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

With minimal hands-on time, a slow cooker helps the chicken soak up all the smoky, tangy BBQ sauce as it cooks. Serve it in sandwich form or pile high on nachos.

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Muffuletta Pinwheels

Inspired by the iconic New Orleans sandwich, these bites feature layers of ham, mortadella, salami, green olive salad, and cream cheese. Make them up to 12 hours in advance!

Get Ree’s Muffuletta Pinwheels recipe.

Cheeseburger Dip

In just 25 minutes, you can make a dip that has everything you love about cheeseburgers in one dish: seasoned ground beef, melty cheese, and all the best toppings like lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion, and special sauce.

Get the Cheeseburger Dip recipe.

Breakfast Burritos to Go

Morning tailgates need to fuel you up for a long day ahead. Take an idea from the Drummond playbook and make to-go burritos filled with sausage, potatoes, eggs, peppers, onions and cheese.

Get Ree’s Breakfast Burritos to Go recipe.

Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

The secret to these wonderfully messy sandwiches is the sweet and tangy sauce. In the slow cooker, it has time to deepen in flavor, caramelize, and get even more delicious.

Get Ree’s Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes recipe.

Chicken Nachos

While you’ll want to assemble everything as close to the gathering a possible, you can actually make the chicken in advance to cut down on prep time. Then pile on chips with cheese and fixings.

Get Ree’s Chicken Nachos recipe.

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Buffalo Mac and Cheese

Buffalo chicken dip and mac and cheese? It’s a game day dream come true! Classic mac is mixed with tangy buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, and shredded rotisserie chicken for a dish that will disappear before halftime.

Get Ree’s Buffalo Mac and Cheese recipe.

Veggie Fajitas

Feed a whole lot of hungry fans with several batches of these versatile veggie fajitas! You can also add meat for those who want it. You’ll also need pico de gallo, cheese, crema, and hot sauce on hand for toppings.

Get Ree’s Veggie Fajitas recipe.

Easy Queso Dip

Queso is a sporting event staple! The dip can be made on the stovetop or in the Crock-Pot. Either way, meltable white American cheese and flavorful additions like garlic, jalapeños, and green chilies solidify it as a fan-favorite.

Get the Easy Queso Dip recipe.

Spinach Puffs

Prepared with store-bought puff pastry, this creamy, flaky finger food will be easy to make—and even easier to eat. Seriously, you won’t be able to stop eating them. That’s thanks to a herbaceous mixture of chopped spinach, cream cheese, feta, shallots, and dill.

Get the Spinach Puffs recipe.

Honey Barbecue Chicken Wings

One thing is for sure: you can never have too many wings on game day! These can be crisped up in either the oven or air fryer, before they’re slathered in a sweet, sticky barbecue glaze.

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Spicy Chex Mix

Solve those game day munchies with a scrumptious snack like this spicy Chex mix! The mix-ins are covered in butter, zesty hot sauce, Worcestershire, and lots of spice. It’s basically guaranteed to be a hit worthy of multiple handfuls.

Get the Spicy Chex Mix recipe.

Homemade Potato Chips

You’ll likely have a whole bunch of potato chips to munch on at your gathering, so why not make your own? To do so, you’ll fry up thinly sliced potatoes until they’re crunchy and golden, then toss them in a tasty spicy-sweet seasoning.

Get Ree’s Homemade Potato Chips recipe.

Air-Fryer Taquitos

Crispy, crunchy tortillas are stuffed full of flavorful shredded beef in this recipe that works as the perfect football snack. While they’re great on their own, they’re even better when dipped in salsa, guacamole, cheese, or sour cream.

Get the Air-Fryer Taquitos recipe.

Guacamole

No tailgate is complete without a big bowl of guacamole! This version calls for perfectly ripe avocados, onion, tomato, cilantro and lime juice. For a little kick, add some diced jalapeño, too.

Get the Guacamole recipe.

Buffalo Chicken Wraps

You can never have too many buffalo chicken recipes on game day! This one is especially welcome, because the wraps are so easy to eat at a tailgate. Crunchy veggies and a mix of blue cheese, sour cream, mayo, and ranch dressing go so well with the hot sauce flavor.

Get Ree’s Buffalo Chicken Wraps recipe.

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Chicken Parm Meatball Subs

You’ll be sure to wow the crowd at your next tailgate with these sandwiches that are loaded with chicken meatballs, plenty of sauce, and mozzarella cheese!

Get Ree’s Chicken Parm Meatball Subs recipe.

Air Fryer Fried Pickles

Crunchy, tangy, and so scrumptious, these snackable fried pickles are made in an air fryer so you don’t have to worry about deep frying them! Just don’t forget the fresh homemade ranch.

Get the Air Fryer Fried Pickles recipe.

Bean Dip

This delicious dip is definitely a scoop above the rest! It uses ranch-style beans mixed with creamy cheese, and a smoky and slightly spicy enchilada sauce. Plenty of fixings go on top, like tomato, onion, cilantro, avocado, cotija cheese, or sour cream.

Get Ree’s Bean Dip recipe.

Chicken Sausages in a Blanket

Put a fun and flavorful twist on the classic pigs in a blanket recipe when you make this variation of mini hot dogs featuring chicken apple sausage served with a yummy maple mustard dipping sauce.

Get Ree’s Chicken Sausages in s Blanket recipe.

Chili Mac and Cheese

Two beloved game day foods come together for this hearty dish that’s sure to fuel the day’s festivities! What could be better than saucy beef chili combined with gooey mac and cheese?

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Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tacos

Slow cookers are perfect for game day because you can keep everything warm for hours. Plus, you can cook, transport, and serve right these savory tacos right in one pot!

Get Ree’s Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tacos recipe.

Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

Let’s be honest, we’re here for buffalo chicken flavored anything. Meatballs are a perfect example: These can be served as is with a side or ranch or piled high on buns as sliders.

Get Ree’s Buffalo Chicken Meatballs recipe.

Pull Apart Queso Sliders

Sliders are always a good idea, especially when they’re spicy and cheesy, too. Grab a brick of Velveeta and some pickled jalapeños, because it’s game time.

Get Ree’s Pull Apart Queso Sliders recipe.

Garlic Parmesan Pretzel Mix

Rather than just opening a bag of chips, take ten minutes of your time to make a super tasty snack mix instead. Everything tastes better with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese anyway.

Get Ree’s Garlic Parmesan Pretzel Mix recipe.

Grilled BBQ Chicken Nachos

This recipe is super flexible and only need about ten minutes on the grill. Ree says, “You can add anything you want to the nachos,” adding, “One more bonus: You serve it right in the pan! So easy, so delicious!”

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Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip

Who knew you could pack so much flavor into little cups? Well, Ree figured it out with this party dip. Of course, you could absolutely serve it in a bowl next to a bag of chips, too.

Get Ree’s Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip recipe.

Football Cereal Treats

Don’t forget the sweet stuff: These adorable game day snacks have double the chocolate, with cocoa powder and chocolate cereal in the mix. Extra flavor for the win!

Get Ree’s Football Cereal Treats recipe.

Pepper Jack Queso

Ree says, “Queso is not really optional in our house: It’s an essential part of every get-together. I can’t watch movies or sports without it!” Plus, you can make it in a slow cooker to keep it warm.

Get Ree’s Pepper Jack Queso recipe.

Cheese-Stuffed Baby Peppers

Need something quick to whip up? You only need three ingredients and ten minutes to make these poppable peppers. Get creative with different flavors of cheese spread to change it up.

Get Ree’s Cheese-Stuffed Baby Peppers recipe.

Taco Dip

This crowd-pleaser has everything you would want out of a party dip: It’s creamy and zesty with crispy, crunchy, and spicy toppings. Serve some tortilla chips along side of it and you’re ready to celebrate.

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Italian Sandwich

This sandwich is layered with meats, cheeses, and veggies so you know it’ll feed a crowd. But the best part is that you can prep it ahead and it’ll taste even better when it has time to sit.

Get the Italian Sandwich recipe.

Million Dollar Dip

You can’t go wrong with a cheesy dip! This one is easy to customize to your party—add hot sauce if you like it spicy or swap out the type of cheese depending on your preferences. Then, get creative with all the different dippers.

Get Ree’s Million Dollar Dip recipe.

Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Thingies

Ree says that these cheese-stuffed jalpeños are “absolutely addictive and it’s easy to see why. For one thing, they’re wrapped in crispy bacon.

Get Ree’s Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Thingies recipe.

Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joes

Instead of ground beef, this messy sandwich is made with buffalo-seasoned ground chicken instead. Top it off with blue cheese or ranch and you’ll have an epic game day meal.

Get the Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joes recipe.

Football Cookies

No matter what the final score is, these chocolate cookies shaped like footballs are the best way to finish off game day. They even have laces made with homemade icing.

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Mediterranean Orzo Salad

This twist on pasta salad uses tiny orzo for a rice-like dish. Load it up with fresh, bright ingredients and serve it alongside burgers, sandwiches, and hot dogs.

Get Ree’s Mediterranean Orzo Salad recipe.

Beef Empanadas

Homemade empanadas are so worth it. While the homemade dough is fantastic, the real star is the filling: a mixture of rich ground beef, olives, tomatoes, sweet onions and peppers, spicy jalapeños, and warm spices like cumin and paprika.

Get the Beef Empanadas recipe.

Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

No one can resist crispy fried cheese, especially not a football fan. Make your own Mozz sticks to bring to the game using an air fryer to ensure crunchy results using a fraction of the oil.

Get the Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks recipe.

Ham and Cheese Sliders

Hungry hands will pull apart these melty, warm sandwiches until there’s nothing left! The sliders are especially easy to transport since you bake them as a sheet of rolls instead of individuals.

Get the Ham and Cheese Sliders recipe.

Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

Grab your favorite dipping sauces: These tenders sit in a buttermilk marinade which infuses them with flavor and moisture.

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Pigs in a Blanket

It doesn’t matter your age—everyone loves pigs in a blanket. These savory tiny sausages are wrapped in warm, buttery bread and topped with everything bagel seasoning. Three different dipping sauces will keep everyone satisfied!

Get the Pigs in a Blanket recipe.

Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings

Talk about finger-lickin’ good! Some flavor pairings are just too tasty to change. Lemon brings a bright zest to the table while pepper adds a gentle spice, and together they’re a dynamic duo.

Get the Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings recipe.

Restaurant-Style Salsa

Kick off your tailgate with some restaurant-style salsa and warmed tortilla chips. It’s simple, quick, and tasty!

Get Ree’s Restaurant-Style Salsa recipe.

Chipotle Chili Dogs

Ladd Drummond loves these hot dog fixings! Top some dogs with this savory chilly, melty cheese, and a sprinkle of fresh onion.

Get Ree’s Chipotle Chili Dogs recipe.

Braised Beef Brisket

This slow cook, no-fuss recipe is worth the wait. Low heat gradually dissolves the tough cut of beef over many hours until it is juicy and fork-tender. Ree suggests cooking the brisket in a disposable aluminum pan if you plan to transport it in the car.

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Beer Cheese Dip

More beer cheese please! Beer balances the richness of gooey cheese to create the dip of all dips.

Get the Beer Cheese Dip recipe.

Cowboy Nachos

Load layers of marinated brisket, pinto beans, pico de gallo, cheese, and jalapeños atop a mountain of chips. Ree’s perfect, meaty cowboy nachos are the best way to feed hungry football fans (and cowboys).

Get Ree’s Cowboy Nachos recipe.

Sloppy Joes

You may want to double layer your plates when serving these juicy sloppy joes. Add some kettle chips and you have the perfect vehicle to spoon up any bits that escape your bun!

Get Ree’s Sloppy Joes recipe.

Macaroni Salad

“I love, love, adore, and love macaroni salad,” Ree says. She is also admittedly very picky about it, so you know this recipe has to be outstanding.

Get Ree’s Macaroni Salad recipe.

Caveman Pops

If anything can satiate a group of football fans, it’s a big ol’ roasted turkey leg! Ree’s hearty state fair-inspired recipe calls for three ingredients: meat, sugar, and spices.

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Jalapeño Popper Dip

A creamy, slightly smokey dip option that’s ready in under 30? What more could you ask for?! This one has extra kick from the jalapeños.

Get the Jalapeño Popper Dip recipe.

Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip

Buffalo chicken is the ultimate game-day snack. This easy recipe brings together all of the flavors of those classic wings in creamy dip form.

Get the Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe.

Sausage Rolls

Who doesn’t love pigs in a blanket? This recipe is similar with pork sausage and smoked bacon, plus finely chopped onion, celery, and garlic. Store-bought puff pastry dough means you can freeze them up to a month ahead of time, then heat them up before the big game.

Get the Sausage Rolls recipe.

7-Layer Dip

This healthy multi-layered dip tastes as fresh as it looks! Serve it with pita chips or veggie slices, and kids and adults alike will be clamoring to get a scoop.

Get the 7-Layer Dip recipe.

Beef-and-Bean Chili

When team sweaters, hats, and scarves aren’t enough to keep your tailgate party warm, whip out some hot beef and bean chili. It warms the soul.

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