21+ Awesome Main Dish Tailgating Recipes

This post may contain affiliate links that won’t change your price but will share some commission.

21 Awesome Main Dish Tailgating Recipes – A football game isn’t just about four quarters of play! It’s about four hours of pregame and maybe a couple of hours after the game! 

It’s all about ‘tailgating’ and visiting with old friends and making new friends. As well, it’s about enjoying traditional game day foods and experimenting with new recipes. And, well, it may also be about a couple of boozy drinks. 

Main Dish Tailgating Recipes

Have you been looking for new foods to take to your tailgate this year? I have you covered with an extensive list below.

1+-Tailgating-Main-Dishes

For a successful tailgate, you need appetizer and fingerfoods, but you also need hearty, stick-to-your-ribs foods. As well, a few decadent desserts always is welcome!

Do you know the Top Ten College Tailgating Destinations?

Here they are in descending order, look who’s at #1 {I didn’t make this up either! Source}

10. Washington Husky’s

 9. University of Tennessee

 8. USC Trojans

 7. Texas Longhorns

 6. Auburn Tigers

 5. Penn State

 4. Wisconsin

 3. Florida Gators

 2. LSU Tigers

Drum roll please…………………… and taking the number uno spot as the place to tailgate

 1. The University of Mississippi!! {this is why!}

The state of Mississippi has also produced some of the greatest players in the history of football!

  1. Leading Passer in NFL history – Brett Favre (Kiln, MS)
  2. Top Receiver in NFL history – Jerry Rice (Crawford, MS)
  3. Leading Scorer in NFL history – Jerry Rice 
  4. Second leading Rusher in NFL history – Walter Payton (Columbia, MS)
  5. All-time leading Yardage Producer in NCAA History – Steve McNair (Mount Olive, MS)

My theory, because in Mississippi you either play football or you watch football on Friday nights there’s not much else to do! Those players who have desire, natural ability and who work hard move on to the college level. College football is what I enjoy the most. And, it’s the reason I tailgate.

Hope you enjoy this collection!

21 Awesome Main Dish Tailgating Recipes

keto appetizer

Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites

Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites are the easiest appetizer with just four ingredients. This sweet and savory appetizer will become a family favorite.
make this recipe
Bacon Wrapped Potato Wedges

Bacon Wrapped Potato Wedges with Chipotle Ranch

Bacon Wrapped Potato Wedges an easy recipe with smokey bacon wrapped around a potato wedge. Serve with Chipotle Ranch for an amazing appetizer or side. 
make this recipe
Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Sandwiches - Easy Spicy Chicken Sandwiches!

Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Sandwiches – Easy Spicy Chicken Sandwiches!

On game day, for tailgating parties, or a weeknight dinner, Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Sandwiches with blue cheese will make your crowd happy.
make this recipe

 

Muffuletta on a Stick

Muffuletta on a Stick

A fun way to do the popular Muffuletta sandwich, try this easy appetizer recipe.
make this recipe
Whiskey Burgers

Whiskey Burgers

These Whiskey Burgers are topped with melted cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, caramelized onions and mushrooms in a sweet and savory glaze.
make this recipe
Masters Pimento Cheese Sandwich

The Masters Famous Pimento Cheese Sandwich

The iconic sandwich and 'must have' item at The Masters golf tournament.
make this recipe
Wonton Chicken Tacos

APPLEBEE’S WONTON CHICKEN TACOS

Taco-shaped wontons are filled with oriental seasoned chicken, then topped with sesame ginger coleslaw.
make this recipe
Chorizo Beef Sliders Burgers with Sriracha Mayo

Beef Chorizo Sliders Recipe

Burgers don’t have to be boring, spice up your burgers with a mix of ground beef and beef chorizo sausage, top it with mouth-watering and unique toppings and you have a restaurant quality gourmet burger
make this recipe
Chorizo Baked Beans

SPICY CHORIZO BAKED BEANS

These baked beans are made with chorizo, jalapenos, spices, and a hint of sweetness.
make this recipe
New Orleans Muffuletta

Classic New Orleans Muffuletta Sandwich Recipe

The quintessential New Orleans Sandwich is perfect for feeding a crowd.
make this recipe
Burrata Charcuterie Board

BURRATA CHARCUTERIE BOARD

Burrata boards are trending on Pinterest and Instagram. Burrata cheese is large balls of cheese that are soft and creamy on the inside. They pair well with fruit, vegetables, and crackers.
make this recipe
SAUSAGE DOGS Easy and Delicious 15 Minute Meal - Sausage dogs are grilled and layered with sauce and cheese for an easy and delicious meal!

Sausage Dogs! Easy and Delicious 15 Minute Meal

Sausage Dogs! Easy and Delicious 15 Minute Meal – Sausage dogs are grilled and layered with sauce and cheese for an easy and delicious meal! 
make this recipe
Country Club Sandwich recipe kicks up the traditional deli sandwich with fresh, wholesome and minimally processed ingredients.

COUNTRY CLUB SANDWICH RECIPE

This sandwich is perfectly simple and easy to make but packs a punch of flavor!
make this recipe
This crispy, gooey Zesty Cuban Sandwich is filled with melty cheese, tangy mustard, smoked pork tenderloin, honey ham, and crunchy pickles.

ZESTY CUBAN SANDWICH

This glorified grilled cheese is full of ham, tenderloin, cheese, pickles, and mustard.
make this recipe
Keto Muffuletta

Keto Muffuletta

This is a quick and easy grazing appetizer of cured meats, cheeses, olives, and giardiniera.
make this recipe
Cuban Sandwich on a Stick Appetizer

Cuban Sandwich on a Stick Appetizer

Cuban Sandwich on a Stick Appetizer is a fun entertaining idea with traditional Cuban Sandwich ingredients, it is an eye-pleasing, mouth-watering hit!
make this recipe
Buffalo Chicken Cheddar Sliders

Buffalo Chicken Cheddar Sliders

Buffalo Chicken Cheddar Sliders have saucy shredded chicken, cheddar cheese, and jalapenos on Hawaiian buns.
make this recipe
Chocolate Chip Snickers Cookies

Thick Chocolate Chip Snickers Cookies

Thick and perfectly crispy, chewy, crunchy, and chocolatey cookie recipe. This cookie will become your new favorite!
make this recipe
slider with chicken and cheese

BBQ Chicken Sliders

These sandwiches are stuffed with chicken, cheese, and bbq sauce for an easy grab-n-go party favorite.
make this recipe
cheesecake stuffed sweet rolls,

KING’S HAWAIIAN CHEESECAKE DANISH

This recipe uses Hawaiian rolls to create a cream cheese Danish perfect for breakfast or brunch. For these Sweet Roll Cheesecake Danishes you'll use premade rolls are stuffed with a cream cheese mixture and then baked with cinnamon, sugar, and butter then baked until golden brown. Originally developed and published by Paula, CallMePMc.com
make this recipe
Lemon Curd Filled Hawaiian Rolls

Lemon Curd Filled Hawaiian Rolls

Premade brioche rolls are stuffed with a lemon curd and topped with a sweet glaze.
make this recipe

Tailgating at Call Me PMc

Game Day Food

Snacks and finger foods are an integral part of enjoying game day. Make the game day party a breeze with some easy tailgate food!

PMc’s Top 12 Tailgating Recipes 

football party or tailgate recipes


 

20 Comments

  1. Pingback: 80 Awesome Tailgating Recipes Desserts - Call Me PMc

  2. Thanks so much for the features! There are so many yummy recipes on here. Now to decide which ones to try first!

    Reply

  3. I’m with Kate, how on earth did University of Iowa not make that list…they even have their own train! Another awesome roundup Paula!!! Thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of it 🙂

    Reply

  4. Hi Paula,
    Although I really don’t follow football, I’m a big fan of tailgating food. That’s just comfort food at its finest! I love how you incorporated it all into one feature. Great recipes…can’t wait to try some.
    I’m just getting started in the blogging world…..one week old. Hope you’ll stop by and say Hi @ Melding Magic.

    Reply

  7. Paula,
    Thank you again for the recipes for tailgating, I have copied them and made my grocery list for next week already. I plan to head on up to God’s country Wednesday. I think the win last night just gave me the extra energy and motivation I needed to get moving. Maybe I will see you this fall in the Grove. Hotty Toddy and Go Rebs.

    Reply

    1. You’re welcome, def, let’s try to meet! I made my list this morning!! I’m so excited now! We tried and tried to find a condo this Summer, but sadly didn’t so I won’t be there until Saturday.

      Reply

  9. I can’t believe University of Iowa didn’t make the list! Oh well. I love this series, though!! I’m so excited that it’s time for football (and all of the awesome food that goes along with it) again! Thanks so much for including my sliders! =)

    Reply

    1. I just had a facebook friend talk about University of Iowa yesterday! isn’t it weird when that happens? Anyway, he made it sound really fun, I’ve never been to a college game outside the SEC.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *