Tailgate food suggestions...

[shortstax]

Any ideas on what kind of food/snack is easy to take to a tailgate? this is a rather large TG, 50ish people. They just asked to bring a dish to share, no clear direction.

Also, after the game we'll be going on a pub crawl (don't judge me ) so bonus points if I can just take it in a ziploc container (or something else) that I can just pitch after the tailgate.

So, what's your go-to tailgate food?

[jennistarr1]

I've just stopped in the grocery store and gotten steamed shrimp...usually there's none left so nothing to keep...but that's alot to do for a crowd...

[shortstax]

Actually, I don't need to bring enough for 50, just a typical amount. everyone was asked to bring something small.

[zombiemuse]

Cupcakes? Chips and dip? Meat and cheese tray? Those little baby sausages.

[shortstax]

yep, parking lot of football stadium. I figure the boys will bring chips and dip. that seems too easy

[midwest07]

I usually take a veggie tray to tailgates. It always seems to go over well as an option to all the unhealthy food choices. You could do that, or about anything, on a disposable tray and cover with a plastic lid or saran wrap, then pitch it when you leave. You could also bring some baggies, so if there were any veggies left, you could donate them to whoever has a cooler.

If you took a dessert like brownies or cookies, I would take those with me on the pub crawl, I am sure you would have no trouble getting rid of the rest of them along the way.

[zombiemuse]

Sept 18, 2012 12:05:27 GMT -5 shortstax said:

yep, parking lot of football stadium. I figure the boys will bring chips and dip. that seems too easy

That's the point.

How about pulled pork and some rolls? Or potato salad?

Is someone bringing a main dish? Or just a bunch of sides?

[casmgn]

Veggie tray. I always bring one to our (mostly male) tailgate, and it's the first thing to be devoured. I bring it in a foil tray (like a lasagna tray) so I just throw it out when everyone is done. It's very cheap too if you make it yourself - buy a bag of baby carrots, a few crowns of broccoli, celery, and cucumbers, peppers or cherry tomatoes and you are all set.

[mbcdefg]

We tailgated last weekend and my mom brought a variety of cold cut sandwiches on those mini potato rolls. Those went pretty quickly.

I brought a covered bowl of corn and black bean salsa, and a bag of Tostitos. Someone bought a box of crunchy tacos from Taco Bell and a lot of people were topping them with the salsa.

[ejpint]

If you really want easy, I do snack mix - Chex mix or some variation thereof. Easy to take a big gallon baggie of and then throw it away.

I've also brought gummy bears soaked in vodka, a pan of any kind of brownies or dessert is always a hit (you could cut them and put them in a disposable Ziploc container), fruit or veggie pizza, just a bunch of raw veggies and hummus. Will someone else bring a grill? We always bring packages of brats and veggie burgers, and grill slices of pineapple for dessert. It would be easy to pack up stuff to throw on if you don't have to bring the grill itself.

[6fsn]

Get a few boxes of frozen soft pretzels, bake and cut into bite size pieces. Serve with honey mustard dip and cheese dip- I do a block of cream cheese and a jar of old english (found near the cream cheese and garlic powder to taste). If you want even easier just get some pretzel bread and chunk it up.

[Pilsy]

I love 6fsn's pretzel idea! And you can never go wrong with a veggie tray. I love it when someone remembers to do something healthy, because it's hard enough to avoid the fatty food, but it's nearly impossible to go to a tailgate and not eat at all!

Other ideas that come to mind are wings (take-out), deviled eggs and donut holes.

[IrishBelle]

This black bean and corn salsa is really good and easy to make.

2 10oz cans sweet corn, drained
1 can black beans, drained
1/2 red onion chopped
1 red pepper chopped (or green)
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup rice wine vinegar
salt to taste
cilantro if you want
Stir together in large bowl.