Crowd-Pleasing Football Tailgating Food Ideas

It’s that time of year again where pro and college football is kicking off across the nation! No matter what team you are rooting for, it’s always hard to pass up an opportunity to gather with family and friends at a tailgate or two. Whether you are hosting your own football tailgate or bringing a dish to a potluck-style parking lot party, we’ve got a delicious roster of dishes that come together in a pinch thanks to Spice World Ready-to-Use products.

Check out these Spice World recipes from our tailgate playbook that are sure to be a game changer at any gameday get together!

Cheesy Garlic Parmesan Dip

If you’re looking for an appetizer that will have the crowd going wild, this Cheesy Garlic Parmesan Dip is the perfect play and can be prepared within minutes! It’s creamy, tangy, and full of melt-in-your-mouth garlic and parmesan flavor. It also pairs perfectly with just about any of your favorite dippers, such as veggies, pita chips, or pretzels! Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients:

½ cup sour cream
2 Tbsp Spice World Ready-to-Use Minced Garlic
1 Tbsp Spice World Easy Onion
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup mayonnaise
2 tsp lemon juice
½ tsp kosher salt
½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
½ tsp dried oregano
½ tsp dried basil
¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

Whisk together all ingredients until desired consistency.
Refrigerate for at least 2-3 hours to allow flavors to meld before serving.
Set out with veggies, pita chips and pretzels and enjoy!

Easy Onion Pico de Gallo

While pico de gallo is pretty a straightforward recipe to whip up, you can minimize your chopping time even more by using Spice World Easy Onion! Your hungry tailgate guests won’t be able to get enough of this fresh and healthy appetizer that only requires six ingredients. Best of all, you can make this a few hours in advance or even overnight. Trust us when we tell you that the longer it marinates, the better it will taste! Here’s what you’ll need:

Ingredients:

1 cup Spice World Easy Onion
1 medium jalapeño, ribs and seeds removed, finely chopped (omit if sensitive to spice, or add any other pepper that you prefer)
¼ cup lime juice
¾ tsp fine sea salt
1 ½ lbs ripe red tomatoes (about 8 small or 4 large), chopped
½ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro (approximately 1 bunch)

Directions:

In a medium serving bowl, combine the pre-chopped onion, jalapeño, lime juice, and salt. Let it marinate for at least 5 minutes while you chop the tomatoes and cilantro.
Add the chopped tomatoes and cilantro to the bowl and stir to combine. Taste, and add more salt, if desired.
Allow the mixture to marinate for at least an hour or overnight in the refrigerator.
Serve as a dip with tortilla chips.

Simple Pasta Salad

Although tailgate food isn’t typically health-conscious, your friends will find it hard not to serve themselves a few spoonfuls of this Simple Pasta Salad recipe. It’s easy, delicious, and comes together in no time. Trust us when we say that no tailgate is complete without this refreshing pasta salad side dish!

Ingredients:

16 oz rotini pasta (whole grain or tri-colored)
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cucumber, diced
8 oz black olives, sliced
8 oz mozzarella, cubed
½ cup Spice World Easy Onion
16 oz Italian dressing
Salt & pepper, to taste

Directions:

Boil a large pot of water and cook pasta following instructions.
Once pasta is cool, layer in tomatoes, cucumber, olives, and cheese.
Combine Easy Onion & dressing in a small bowl; mix well.
Gently toss dressing mixture over the cooled pasta.
Salt and pepper pasta to taste.
Refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.

Chili Onion Crunch Chicken Wings

If you really want to score a touchdown at your tailgate, you will want to serve up some Chili Onion Crunch Chicken Wings. These savory wings are quite flavorful thanks to our key ingredient—Spice World Kickin’ Chili Onion Crunch Seasoning Blend. A little bit of this seasoning goes a long way, so don’t be surprised if you get a request for more of these at your next gameday get together!

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp coriander
2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp ground cayenne pepper
3 lbs chicken wings, drumettes and flats separated, patted dry
2 Tbsp vegetable oil, canola oil or avocado oil
¼ cup honey
¼ cup soy sauce
1 ½ tablespoon Spice World Kickin’ Chili Onion Crunch Seasoning Blend
Garnish: chopped fresh green onions

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 425°. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with foil and place a rack over each tray, spray rack with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, stir together coriander, salt, ginger, garlic powder and cayenne until combined. Add wings and toss until well combined. Drizzle with oil and stir until fully coated.
Spread wings evenly onto prepared pans, roast for 30 minutes. Turn wings over and roast for 15 minutes more.
In another large bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce and Spice World Kickin’ Chili Onion Crunch Seasoning Blend. Add wings and toss until combined. Garnish with green onions and serve immediately.

Onion and Herb Marinated Steak

Onions. Herbs. Steak. What’s not to like about this game-winning combination? When marinated with Spice World Easy Onion, this Onion and Herb Marinated Steak becomes one of the best tailgate treats you can ask for! The whiff of the savory onion along with the rich beef flavor is sure to draw some attention up and down the tailgate parking lot. Here’s how it’s done:

Ingredients:

½ cup Spice World Easy Onion
⅓ cup lemon juice
½ cup ketchup
¼ Tbsp salt
¼ Tbsp pepper
4 Tbsp dried ground oregano leaves
1 Tbsp Spice World Ready-to-Use Minced Garlic or 1 Tbsp Spice World Squeezable Organic Minced Garlic
1lb Sirloin Steak

Directions:

Mix onion, lemon juice, ketchup, oregano garlic, salt and pepper. Place steak in a resealable plastic bag. Add steak sauce mixture; turn over steak to evenly coat both sides.
Refrigerate 1- 2 hours to marinate.
Preheat the grill to medium-high. Remove steak from marinade, discard marinade.
Grill steak for about 8 minutes on each side or until cooked through.

Mocha Avocado Brownies

Of course, you can’t have a proper tailgate without some dessert! Sure, you can make classic brownies, but why not change things up and make these Mocha Avocado Brownies? They won’t take long to whip up, and they come with a gingery Spice World kick that your sweet tooth teammates will love! Here’s how to make them:

Ingredients:

1 ripe Hass avocado
1 (15 oz) can reduced-sodium black beans
¼ tsp kosher salt
½ cup old fashioned oats
½ cup pure maple syrup
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 Tbsp canola oil
1 Tbsp instant espresso
¼ cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp Spice World Squeezable Minced Ginger
Cooking spray
¼ cup dark chocolate morsels

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Peel, pit, and chop avocado. Drain and rinse black beans. Add to the bowl of the food processor: avocado, beans, salt, oats, syrup, vanilla, oil, instant espresso, cocoa powder, baking powder, and ginger; pulse until smooth.
Coat a 9-inch square baking dish with spray. Spoon batter into dish; sprinkle top with chocolate morsels. Bake for 25–30 minutes until the center is set. Remove from the oven and set aside for 30 minutes to cool. Cut into squares; serve.

It’s game time! These easy and delicious tailgate options will keep you and your guests full while cheering on your favorite team. Visit Spice World Inc. for more fun and simple recipes. Happy tailgating!