🏈 Tailgate? Try These Recipes

While we may not all agree on which football team is the best in the league, we can all agree that tailgating is an essential part of football season. For some of us, it is the best part of attending a football game. Tailgating creates the perfect opportunity for fans of opposing teams to unite over some good food and drinks (and it is often more wallet-friendly than the stadium options). Wondering what kind of food items to prepare? Don’t worry, we have you covered. Keep reading for some of our favorite easy and delicious crowd-pleasing recipes. 

Warm Artichoke and Bacon Dip:

This artichoke and bacon dip by Giada De Laurentiis is a perfect make-ahead recipe that everyone at your tailgate will love. Featuring thick-cut bacon, artichokes, garlic, and homemade pita chips, this dip will be a go-to appetizer for all of your tailgates this fall. We don’t know about you, but for us, this recipe is a treat we will look forward to having every weekend. 

• Recommended SBC Cutlery: Artisan, 8” Chef’s Knife and Evolution, 6” Prep Knife 

Cowboy Caviar: 

This recipe for Cowboy Caviar by Margaux Laskey is healthy, delicious, and can be made in as little as 15 minutes. Think of this dish as an Americanized version of salsa, and because of the addition of black beans and black-eyed peas, it is also relatively filling. This Cowboy Caviar makes the perfect snack/appetizer and will keep all your guests happy while you prepare the rest of your tailgate spread. Enjoy this dip with tortilla chips (we like the scoopable ones) and enjoy!

• Recommended SBC Cutlery: Crosstown, 8” Chef’s Knife

Buffalo Chicken Wings:

In our opinion, it wouldn’t be an American football tailgate without at least one buffalo-flavored item. While some may opt for buffalo chicken dip or buffalo cauliflower, we like sticking with the tried and true buffalo chicken wings. This recipe for Buffalo Chicken Wings by Mark Bittman is a classic, no-frills recipe. The cooking for these wings takes place on the grill, making them a perfect tailgating recipe. The sauce is simple, consisting of just melted butter, hot sauce (we love Frank’s RedHot), sherry vinegar/white vinegar, minced garlic, and salt and pepper. These wings are spicy, crunchy, and are sure to be a hit. Serve with your favorite ranch or bleu cheese dip. 

• Recommended SBC Cutlery: Bonded Teak, 4-Piece Grill Set

Magic Cookie Bars: 

To conclude the perfect tailgate, you have to have something sweet. While we love tried-and-true chocolate chip cookies and brownies, these Magic Cookie Bars by Kristen Pontier will be a welcomed addition to your dessert table. We find that both adults and children love these bars, making them perfect for your Sunday tailgate. Containing margarine (we substitute that for unsalted butter), graham cracker crumbs, walnuts, chocolate chips, coconut flakes, and sweetened condensed milk, these rich cookies pack a punch. After making these, we recommend freezing them (trust us on this). 

• Recommended SBC Cutlery: To cut these bars, you need a very sharp knife. We recommend our Heritage, 8” Chef’s Knife. 

Happy tailgating! 

[Blog: Fia Natanov]