Yahoo Sports Make-Ahead Tailgating Recipes
- 1/25
Cheesy Sausage Roll-Ups
Roll corn tortillas around a sausage and seal with creamy, melty cheese. Top with jalapeños, which add a spicy kick to this childhood classic. Ready in just under 15 minutes, this quick weekday snack is also perfect for parties, picnics, and barbecues.
Photo: Greg Dupree - 2/25
Spinach-and-Artichoke Dip
This recipe has been a staff favorite since we first tried it 13 years ago. It's rich, savory, and super creamy, with a nice hit of garlic. We made a few small tweaks—increased the amount of spinach and decreased the mozzarella to lower the sat fat to an acceptable level.
Photo: Raymond Hom - 3/25
Jalapeño-Lime Slaw
This citrusy take on coleslaw is fresh and pleasantly spicy, an ideal side dish or burger or brat topping. Leave the seeds in more peppers for added fire, or seed all of them for a milder dish.
Photo: Quentin Bacon - 4/25
Slow-Roasted Pulled Pork
The slow cooker makes easy work of this pulled pork recipe. Serve on hamburger buns, if desired, for a hearty and satisfying sandwich.
Photo: Randy Mayor - 5/25
Tzatziki Chicken Salad
A classic Greek sauce of creamy yogurt and cucumber makes the base of this tangy salad. Make this part of a salad plate combo—offer a mixed green salad and a fruit salad to go with it.
Photo: Jose Picayo - 6/25
Happy-Hour Hummus
It’s a quick snack to make before dinner. Throw all the ingredients into a food processor, give it a whirl, and presto−you’ve bought yourself an hour to make a meal. Healthy dippers include baby carrots, radishes, jicama, and sugar snap peas.
Oxmoor House - 7/25
Cheesy Sausage Balls
This classic party appetizer will go quickly, so make double. Unlike typical sausage balls, this recipe has a hidden whole-grain secret: quinoa. That's right. Instead of using store-bought biscuit mix, we use cooked quinoa as the binder. If your guests can handle the heat, don't be afraid to use hot pork sausage. The extra flavor boost is worth it.
Photo: Randy Mayor - 8/25
Pimiento Cheese Deviled Eggs
Dress up your deviled eggs with a little "Caviar of the South," also known as pimiento cheese.
Photo: Randy Mayor - 9/25
Avocado Chicken Salad
Fresh, tasty, and delicious is how this 5-star, Avocado Chicken Salad is commonly described. Mrshartzell raves, “So delicious and easy! I could seriously eat this every day!” You’re not alone. We could, too. This particular recipe uses vinaigrette instead of mayonnaise but doesn’t lose its creamy texture, thanks to avocado. Salsa and fresh cilantro give this chicken salad its south-of-the-border flavors. So, instead of layering over a bed of greens, serve with tortilla chips for scooping and an added crunch.
Photo: José Picayo - 10/25
Chunky Vegetarian Chili
This vegetable chili recipe is a great way to get kids to eat fiber-rich foods. It can be taken on camping trips or packed in a thermos for school lunches.
Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner - 11/25
Roasted Asparagus with Walnuts, Parmesan, and Cherry Tomatoes
Asparagus is like a poster child for umami, high in the glutamates that create savory satisfaction. Ditto for Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, which also delights with its signature crunchy salt crystals.
Pantry Checklist
- Asparagus
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Walnut Halves
- Anchovy Fillet
- ?Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese
Hands-on: 20 minutes
Total: 35 minutesView Recipe: Roasted Asparagus with Walnuts, Parmesan, and Cherry Tomatoes
Photo: Jennfer Causey - 12/25
Zesty Green Goddess Dip
We use watercress as the base green in this dip because we like it's slightly peppery flavor, but you can use spinach, kale, or even mustard greens if you prefer. A touch of anchovy paste in the mix won't make the dip taste fishy. Rather, it lends meaty umami flavor as a bottom note to the blend. If you don't have anchovy paste, an equal amount of fish sauce would work. it makes a great last-minute party snack since it's made up mostly of kitchen staples. Serve with crackers or crudité. The dip also makes a creamy, delicious sandwich spread.Photo: John Autry - 13/25
Hickory Pulled Pork
As many Southerners know, hickory wood chips offer an almost magical alchemy, yielding sublime flavor when combined with four simple ingredients. Serve with potato salad, coleslaw, and iced tea for a delicious summer supper.
Photo: Justin Walker - 14/25
Mushroom-Potato Salad with Miso "Mayo"
White miso is the umami-bomb base of the dressing that will have you licking the bowl. It's potato salad like you've never had before, guaranteed to steal the show at your next barbecue.
Pantry Checklist
- New Potatoes
- Low-Fat Yogurt
- Exotic Mushroom Blend
- Red Onion
- White Miso
Hands-on: 20 minutes
Total: 45 minutesPhoto: Jennifer Causey - 15/25
Beef, Black Bean, and Chorizo Chili
Serve with classic condiments such as sour cream, chopped green onions, and shredded cheddar cheese. For a thinner chili, cook covered the whole time. You can prepare it a day ahead and refrigerate, or up to two weeks ahead and freeze (be sure to thaw the chili overnight in the refrigerator). Look for masa harina, the corn flour used to make tortillas, in the Latin foods aisle at the supermarket, or substitute fine-ground cornmeal. Use kitchen shears to cut up the tomatoes in the can.
- 16/25
Guacamole with Chipotle Tortilla Chips
Chipotle chile powder gives the crunchy chips a smoky kick that pairs well with the buttery guacamole. Use ground cumin or regular chili powder in its place, if you prefer. Prepare the chips up to a day ahead, and store in a zip-top plastic bag.
Photo: Karry Hosford - 17/25
Light and Fresh Potato Salad
If you don't like mayonnaise, this is the potato salad for you. With a vinaigrette base, the recipe truly lives up to its light and fresh claims. To make matters even better, there's only 90 calories per serving. Eat up!
Photo: Howard L. Puckett - 18/25
Five-Bean Chili
Here is a make-ahead chili that both meat lovers and vegetarians will love: It packs in all the classic flavors you want and is loaded with beans that give the dish a rich, almost meaty character. Serving this chili the next day lets flavors meld--if the beans soak up a lot of liquid overnight, you can add more vegetable broth or even water to thin out the stew.
Photo: Squire Fox; Styling: Carla Gonzales-Hart - 19/25
BLT Pasta
We love the look of mezze penne, a smaller version of regular penne, but you can use any short pasta you like. The “lettuce” in this BLT is actually tender baby spinach. You could also substitute peppery arugula or even baby kale.
Photo: Justin Walker - 20/25
Pumpkin Dip
This dip makes a delicious break from the overabundance of Halloween sweets. It's perfect for enjoying with fresh apple slices.
Photo: Lee Harrelson - 21/25
Pepita Pesto-Stuffed Mushrooms
These pesto-filled, two-bite cremini mushrooms are perfect as an appetizer or as a side to grilled chicken or steak. The spicy Mexican-inspired pesto combines parsley, cilantro, pepitas, crushed red pepper and Cojita cheese for an innovative take on the traditional Italian recipe.
Photo: Justin Walker - 22/25
Peach Lemonade
Fresh summer peaches are a welcome addition to traditional lemonade in this easy, kid-friendly recipe. For the best and brightest flavors, make sure that your peaches are perfect ripeness.
Photo: Romulo Yanes - 23/25
Quick Chicken-Corn Chowder
You can have this chicken and corn chowder on the table in less than 30 minutes. Sounds too good to be true, right? We guess you will just have to try it to find out.
Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner - 24/25
Double-Crust Apple Pie
A double crust seals in the apples' natural juices as the pie bakes for full-on apple flavor. Tossing the apples with apple juice keeps them from browning as you peel and slice them, and it adds a boost of apple flavor.
Photo: Iain Bagwell - 25/25
Super Sloppy Joe Sandwiches
This recipe works will with almost any combination of vegetables. Traditional bell peppers and celery work great, but can also be substituted for broccoli slaw, chopped eggplant, and shredded carrots.
Photo: Oxmoor House
The excitement of game day can be almost too much to bear. Between television pre-game shows, packing for the tailgate, and making sure everyone is decked out in their colorful best, preparing bowls of chili and platters of sliders may just be a bit too much for a busy Saturday or Sunday morning. If you've got to serve great food at a tailgate but need some ideas you can make earlier in the week when your time is a little less crunched, these make-ahead football favorites are sure to please your hungry crowd of fanatical football fans.
