Pack up the car, pop up the tent and pull out the table for these tailgate appetizers. They're game day ready and perfectly portioned for sharing with all your rowdy friends.
50 Tailgate Appetizers That Always Score Big
Buffalo Chicken Dip
Check out these irresistible football foods, too!
Football Fest Empanadas
Slaw-Topped Beef Sliders
Also, check out these mouthwatering Super Bowl slow-cooker appetizers, which are perfect for a game-day party.
Bacon-Wrapped Sausage Bites
Spicy Honey Sriracha Game Day Dip
Ham-Cheddar Cheese Ball
Meatball Sliders
Dill Pickle Dip
Garbage Bread
Loaded Cowboy Queso
Cranberry Feta Pinwheels
Bacon Crackers
Beer Dip
Barbecued Party Starters
Fresh Veggie Pizza
Cheeseburger Dip
Garlic Pizza Wedges
Mustard Dip for Pretzels
Bacon Cheeseburger Balls
Also, check out some tailgate grilling ideas.
Taco Meatball Ring
Buffalo Chicken Crescent Rolls
Dill Dip
Buffalo Chicken Wings
Cilantro & Lime Chicken with Scoops
Bacon Cheeseburger Sliders
Bacon Dip
Cranberry Sauerkraut Meatballs
Taco Pinwheels
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Jalapeno Popper Spread
Crispy Party Bites
Avocado Salsa
Mini Mac & Cheese Dogs
Loaded Pulled Pork Cups
Bourbon Candied Bacon Deviled Eggs
Southern Pimiento Cheese Spread
Antipasto Skewers
Chicken Cordon Bleu Sliders
Obatzda (German Cheese Dip)
Italian Meatballs and Sausages
Homemade Guacamole
Caprese Skewers
Smoked-Almond Cheese Toasts
Green & Gold Salsa
Buffalo Chicken Deviled Eggs
Spinach Artichoke Dip
Ground Beef Taco Dip
Antipasto Bake
Loaded Baked Potato Dip
Buffalo Wing Poppers
Tailgate Appetizers FAQ
What should I bring to a tailgate party?
If you’re attending rather than hosting a tailgate party, dips and spreads are the simplest to haul. You can’t go wrong with travel-friendly Southern pimento cheese spread, Buffalo chicken dip, spinach-artichoke dip or jalapeno popper spread. Then, set out various dippers, like corn chips, crackers or crisp crudite. Bring warm dips in a slow cooker and plug it in when you get to the party. Different deviled eggs variations are another winning idea. Prep the fillings ahead of time and assemble them once you arrive.
What are the best finger foods for tailgating?
The best tailgating finger foods are bite-sized, portable and easy to enjoy while mingling. Anything you can eat without cutlery is fair game, like Caprese or antipasto skewers, pepperoni pinwheels, pigs in a blanket and apricot-glazed bacon spirals. Sliders are another ultimate game-day snack, much more manageable than tackling a giant, messy burger in the parking lot. Try different variations, such as chicken cordon bleu sliders, slaw-topped beef sliders, meatball sliders or bacon cheeseburger sliders.
How do you keep appetizers warm at a tailgate?
Slow cookers and Instant Pot recipes are the real MVPs for warm appetizers on game day. They hold heat like a champ and can plug into a travel power bank or your vehicle. Insulated carriers and thermal bags also work wonders for foods like sliders, pigs in a blanket or baked dips. They’ll stay toasty for well over an hour if you wrap the dish in a clean towel before tucking it inside.
For anything fried or crispy, line the container with parchment and vent the lid slightly so the steam doesn’t turn the food soggy. And if you really want to go pro, a small portable grill or tabletop burner can revive anything that needs a quick reheat once you’re set up in the lot.


















































