• Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
  • Twitter
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Make Every Day An Event

There's Always Something to Celebrate!

  • Party Ideas
    • Everyday Celebrations
    • Holidays
  • Entertaining Trends
    • Drinks
    • Food
    • Decor
    • Pro Tips
  • About
    • Let’s Celebrate!
    • Meet Annemarie
    • Meet Matt
  • Awards
  • Contact Us
  • Show Search
Hide Search

THE BEST IDEAS FOR TAILGATING THAT WILL MAKE GAME DAYS EASY AND FUN!

Annemarie · · Leave a Comment

We’re writing the playbook on great ideas for tailgating.

And who’s the most valuable player in the tailgating party ideas game?

Tailgating ideas food, Ideas for tailgating, Tailgating party ideas, Tailgating menu ideas, Tailgating snack ideas, Tailgating ideas for football, Tailgating brunch ideas, Easy Tailgating Food Ideas, Tailgating Party Food Ideas, Tailgating recipe ideas, Snacks for tailgating ideas, Tailgating setups, Best tailgate setup, Football party decorations, Tailgate ideas
Tailgate party ideas, Tailgate food
Easy tailgate food, Tailgate recipes, Tailgate party food, Tailgate menu ideas, Easy recipes for tailgating

The tailgate food, of course!

From easy food to adorable tailgate party decorations, we’re sharing the rules of the tailgating party game that you definitely don’t want to break …

Tailgating ideas food, Ideas for tailgating, Tailgating party ideas, Tailgating menu ideas, Tailgating snack ideas, Tailgating ideas for football, Tailgating brunch ideas, Easy Tailgating Food Ideas, Tailgating Party Food Ideas, Tailgating recipe ideas, Snacks for tailgating ideas, Tailgating setups, Best tailgate setup, Football party decorations, Tailgate ideas
Tailgate party ideas, Tailgate food
Easy tailgate food, Tailgate recipes, Tailgate party food, Tailgate menu ideas, Easy recipes for tailgating

Keep reading to become this season’s star quarterback!

KEEP THE TAILGATING MENU SIMPLE

Tailgating ideas food, Ideas for tailgating, Tailgating party ideas, Tailgating menu ideas, Tailgating snack ideas, Tailgating ideas for football, Tailgating brunch ideas, Easy Tailgating Food Ideas, Tailgating Party Food Ideas, Tailgating recipe ideas, Snacks for tailgating ideas, Tailgating setups, Best tailgate setup, Football party decorations, Tailgate ideas
Tailgate party ideas, Tailgate food
Easy tailgate food, Tailgate recipes, Tailgate party food, Tailgate menu ideas, Easy recipes for tailgating

Your tailgating snack ideas need to be things that will pack and travel well.

This is not the time for fancy layered cakes and complicated presentations.

Tailgating ideas food, Ideas for tailgating, Tailgating party ideas, Tailgating menu ideas, Tailgating snack ideas, Tailgating ideas for football, Tailgating brunch ideas, Easy Tailgating Food Ideas, Tailgating Party Food Ideas, Tailgating recipe ideas, Snacks for tailgating ideas, Tailgating setups, Best tailgate setup, Football party decorations, Tailgate ideas
Tailgate party ideas, Tailgate food
Easy tailgate food, Tailgate recipes, Tailgate party food, Tailgate menu ideas, Easy recipes for tailgating

Think about foods that are easy to “pass” when pulling together tailgating recipes!

I always take a cue from years of working with caterers when pulling together my tailgating setups.

One of my favorite ideas is to use mason jars and small acrylic containers to hold everyone’s favorite tailgate foods. 

Tailgating ideas food, Ideas for tailgating, Tailgating party ideas, Tailgating menu ideas, Tailgating snack ideas, Tailgating ideas for football, Tailgating brunch ideas, Easy Tailgating Food Ideas, Tailgating Party Food Ideas, Tailgating recipe ideas, Snacks for tailgating ideas, Tailgating setups, Best tailgate setup, Football party decorations, Tailgate ideas
Tailgate party ideas, Tailgate food
Easy tailgate food, Tailgate recipes, Tailgate party food, Tailgate menu ideas, Easy recipes for tailgating

Five layer dip, vegetable crudite and my absolute favorite, jarcuterie, are great ideas for tailgating menus.

Here’s how to make jarcuterie, step by step!

I also love this caramel corn recipe!

How cute is the presentation when you place the caramel corn in black and white, striped popcorn containers that remind me of a referee’s jersey!

And, of course, you’ll want to include dessert!

Tailgating ideas food, Ideas for tailgating, Tailgating party ideas, Tailgating menu ideas, Tailgating snack ideas, Tailgating ideas for football, Tailgating brunch ideas, Easy Tailgating Food Ideas, Tailgating Party Food Ideas, Tailgating recipe ideas, Snacks for tailgating ideas, Tailgating setups, Best tailgate setup, Football party decorations, Tailgate ideas
Tailgate party ideas, Tailgate food
Easy tailgate food, Tailgate recipes, Tailgate party food, Tailgate menu ideas, Easy recipes for tailgating
o

These easy to make, easy to transport cupcakes are a perfect option.

The football player and goal post picks look great with the adorable football cupcake wrappers!

Cute and easy! Score!

STICK TO TAILGATING DRINKS THAT ARE EASY TO SERVE

Of course, you need some ice-cold beverages to go along with all of that great tailgate party food.

In my opinion, canned cocktails are this year’s MVP. 

Tailgating ideas food, Ideas for tailgating, Tailgating party ideas, Tailgating menu ideas, Tailgating snack ideas, Tailgating ideas for football, Tailgating brunch ideas, Easy Tailgating Food Ideas, Tailgating Party Food Ideas, Tailgating recipe ideas, Snacks for tailgating ideas, Tailgating setups, Best tailgate setup, Football party decorations, Tailgate ideas
Tailgate party ideas, Tailgate food
Easy tailgate food, Tailgate recipes, Tailgate party food, Tailgate menu ideas, Easy recipes for tailgating

The best tailgate setup is one that can pack a lot of food and drink into a small space, since it’s likely limited to right behind your vehicle.

You’re not going to have room for a full bar.

Canned cocktails come in a variety of great choices and can really up your tailgating “game.”

Of course you’ll also want to have a variety of beer, soft drinks and bottled water on hand as well.

Sometimes there’s not a lot of shade at a tailgate party!

Tailgating ideas food, Ideas for tailgating, Tailgating party ideas, Tailgating menu ideas, Tailgating snack ideas, Tailgating ideas for football, Tailgating brunch ideas, Easy Tailgating Food Ideas, Tailgating Party Food Ideas, Tailgating recipe ideas, Snacks for tailgating ideas, Tailgating setups, Best tailgate setup, Football party decorations, Tailgate ideas
Tailgate party ideas, Tailgate food
Easy tailgate food, Tailgate recipes, Tailgate party food, Tailgate menu ideas, Easy recipes for tailgating

INCORPORATE EASY FOOTBALL PARTY DECORATIONS

Your tailgating space is limited, so make the most of it.

Here are some of my favorite tailgating party decoration ideas … 

Tailgating ideas food, Ideas for tailgating, Tailgating party ideas, Tailgating menu ideas, Tailgating snack ideas, Tailgating ideas for football, Tailgating brunch ideas, Easy Tailgating Food Ideas, Tailgating Party Food Ideas, Tailgating recipe ideas, Snacks for tailgating ideas, Tailgating setups, Best tailgate setup, Football party decorations, Tailgate ideas
Tailgate party ideas, Tailgate food
Easy tailgate food, Tailgate recipes, Tailgate party food, Tailgate menu ideas, Easy recipes for tailgating

Stick to a black tablecloth.

Tailgates are outside and things can get messy and wet.

A black tablecloth will be your best friend.

I have a great, polyester blend tablecloth that is perfect for my tailgating party. 

It’s easy to wash and holds up game after game!

Tailgating ideas food, Ideas for tailgating, Tailgating party ideas, Tailgating menu ideas, Tailgating snack ideas, Tailgating ideas for football, Tailgating brunch ideas, Easy Tailgating Food Ideas, Tailgating Party Food Ideas, Tailgating recipe ideas, Snacks for tailgating ideas, Tailgating setups, Best tailgate setup, Football party decorations, Tailgate ideas
Tailgate party ideas, Tailgate food
Easy tailgate food, Tailgate recipes, Tailgate party food, Tailgate menu ideas, Easy recipes for tailgating

Add in some fun football theme decorations.

I absolutely love this green grass table runner that looks like a football field gridiron!

Tailgating ideas food, Ideas for tailgating, Tailgating party ideas, Tailgating menu ideas, Tailgating snack ideas, Tailgating ideas for football, Tailgating brunch ideas, Easy Tailgating Food Ideas, Tailgating Party Food Ideas, Tailgating recipe ideas, Snacks for tailgating ideas, Tailgating setups, Best tailgate setup, Football party decorations, Tailgate ideas
Tailgate party ideas, Tailgate food
Easy tailgate food, Tailgate recipes, Tailgate party food, Tailgate menu ideas, Easy recipes for tailgating

It is so, so cute!

It goes perfectly with these adorable “Pass the Ball Y’all”  and “It’s Game Day” napkins. 

In addition, these referee koozies (that even have whistles!) are just the absolute cutest things!

I also love these gameplay coasters with all of the X’s and O’s on them.

They are perfect for this theme.

Finally you can’t forget to dress up your tailgate party food.

But as I mentioned, you’ll need something that’s quick, easy and transportable.

These food picks are one of the best ideas for tailgating!

Tailgating ideas food, Ideas for tailgating, Tailgating party ideas, Tailgating menu ideas, Tailgating snack ideas, Tailgating ideas for football, Tailgating brunch ideas, Easy Tailgating Food Ideas, Tailgating Party Food Ideas, Tailgating recipe ideas, Snacks for tailgating ideas, Tailgating setups, Best tailgate setup, Football party decorations, Tailgate ideas
Tailgate party ideas, Tailgate food
Easy tailgate food, Tailgate recipes, Tailgate party food, Tailgate menu ideas, Easy recipes for tailgating

And it’s a trick professional caterers utilize All. The. Time.

Finally, how FUN are these mini foam fingers! They are the perfect tailgating party favor!

Looking for more fall fun? Check out these blogs:

The Best Fall Tabletop Decor Ideas

Easy Gorgeous Fall Decorations for a Table You’ll Love

How to Make Velvet Pumpkins

This Halloween Candy Gets an Extreme Makeover

Five Halloween Trick or Treat Table Ideas You’ll Love

Did you try any of these great ideas for tailgating?

Share them on Instagram with the hashtag #makeeverydayanevent and tag @makeeverydayanevent.

If you have any questions or suggestions, contact us or leave a comment! 

Follow us on social media! You can find us on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook.

Filed Under: Food, Party Ideas Tagged With: Backyard Fun, party food, party idea, recipes, table decorations, theme party

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Primary Sidebar

Welcome! We’re Annemarie and Matt Schumacher. Together, we’ve been producing award-winning nonprofit, corporate and social events for more than a decade. Now, we’re turning our creativity and attention to home entertaining with Make Every Day an Event. Take a peek into our creative process, as we share party ideas and professional insights to help you celebrate!

Search

Join our mailing list.

Recent Posts

  • THE VERY BEST DIY HOT TEA BOMB RECIPE AND A GREAT VALENTINE’S DAY IDEA!
  • FIVE LAST MINUTE AND EASY IDEAS FOR VALENTINE’S DAY YOU WILL LOVE!
  • FIVE SIMPLE SUPER BOWL PARTY IDEAS THAT WILL MAKE YOUR SUNDAY A WINNER!

Archives

  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • January 2020

Recent Comments

  • Annemarie on YOU’LL LOVE THESE ADORABLE THANKSGIVING TABLE DECOR IDEAS!
  • Dinesh on YOU’LL LOVE THESE ADORABLE THANKSGIVING TABLE DECOR IDEAS!
  • Annemarie on GREAT KENTUCKY DERBY PARTY IDEAS THAT YOUR GUESTS WILL LOVE!

View our Affiliate Disclosure and Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2023 Make Every Day an Event · WordPress · Log in