Top 10 Foods For Your Tailgate Party

The Daily Meal Staff|Sept. 3, 2014 2:10 pm EST

Now that football season is finally upon us, fans across the country are gearing up for one of the best things about going to a game, tailgating. A tradition that has been going on for generations, tailgating is a fun and unique experience that turns going to a football game into an all-day event.

Arriving at the stadium nice and early, setting up your tent and barbecue while hanging out with your best friends and family and then eating delicious food before heading into the stadium...tailgating is almost as good as going to the game itself.

Every tailgate party is unique and special in its own way but the foundation to any good tailgate starts with the food. There are countless options of food possibilities for people to enjoy before a game but there are certain favorites that can be found at almost every tailgate party. With that in mind, let's take a look at the Top 10 Tailgating Foods.

Hamburgers

A staple of any tailgate party, hamburgers are great because you can do so many different things with them. Between different kinds of patties and toppings, a great burger is an easy and delicious way to fill your belly before the game.

Hot Dogs

What tailgate is complete without having a few hot dogs on the grill? It's one of the easiest and yummiest items on the tailgate menu with countless options for toppings and buns.

Sausage

More of a delicacy than the basic hot dog. There are so many options when it comes to sausage that you really can't go wrong with whichever you toss on the grill.

Nachos

Who doesn't love nachos? Grab and plateful of your favorite chips and add some chicken, ground beef, salsa, cheese, pulled pork...see where I'm going with this?

Chicken Wings

How can you go wrong with wings? Whether they are covered in barbecue sauce or just cooked plain, if chicken wings are on the grill you better believe that they won't last very long once they're ready to be eaten.

Steak

With so many different cuts and ways to serve them, a good steak is a meal that will make your tailgate the envy of the parking lot. Whether you're cooking up a filet mignon or serving slices of a great skirt steak, you can't go wrong with this on the menu.

Pulled Pork

While the prep time may stretch out to a day or two before the game, if there is a delicious tray of pulled pork at your tailgate it's almost a certainty that there won't be anything left to bring home.

Chili

This is another one that needs some at-home prep work but chili at a tailgate party is a sure-fire winner. Aside from just putting a few spoonful's in a bowl, chili can be added to a hamburger, hot dog, nachos or several other tailgate treats that gives everything a scrumptious explanation point!

Ribs

They may be messy to eat but ribs are worth the trouble. You don't see them all the time but anyone willing to throw some ribs on the grill will be an instant hero of any tailgate party.

Potato Salad/Coleslaw

Yes, these are side items but potato salad and coleslaw are a standard at any and every tailgate party. Just like with chili, they can be enjoyed by themselves or used as a topping on countless pregame food options.

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