For many sports fans, tailgating is just as fun as the game itself. However, a big part of throwing a memorable event or watch party is having plenty of good food to share. Instead of missing out on the tailgating atmosphere while you’re stuck cooking and cleaning, ordering your food lets you actually hang out with your guests.
Game day food should be the easy part! You already have the game pulled up, people are settling in, and nobody wants to leave the couch to spend an hour picking up dinner. The right tailgate food ideas bring everything people actually want to eat straight to the table, from wings and pizza to sliders, sandwiches, dips, and shareable platters.
Ordering also makes it much easier to feed a group without guessing how much food you’ll need or turning your kitchen into a disaster zone. Some of the best tailgate food ideas come from restaurants you already know, especially when you’re feeding friends, family, or a house full of hungry football fans. You can mix appetizers with bigger meals, order several crowd favorites, and let everyone grab what they want throughout the game.
If you’re hosting game day and don’t have time to prep a spread from scratch, don’t worry! There are plenty of crowd-pleasing tailgate food ideas that you can order ahead of time and have delivered straight to your door (or to the stadium parking lot). From hearty appetizers to classic game day favorites, here are some tailgate food ideas that will score major points with your family and friends.
6 Delicious Tailgate Food Ideas for Game Day
Tailgate food has a way of turning into a surprisingly long grocery list, but you don’t have to spend the morning before the game running from aisle to aisle. With DoorDash Grocery, you can order the ingredients for your full spread, including chips, dips, ingredients for wings, drinks, and those last few things you inevitably realize you forgot, and have them delivered while you handle the actual cooking and setup. It’s an especially convenient option when you’re working through tailgate food ideas for a crowd and would rather spend your time perfecting the menu than making another trip to the store. Open DoorDash, shop at participating grocery stores near you, and get your tailgate essentials delivered without leaving home.
1. Takeout Pizza
Pizza is a classic tailgate meal and fan-favorite for a reason. Not only is it easy to share, but ordering different toppings makes it easy to give everyone in your group an option they’ll enjoy. DoorDash allows you to order from your favorite pizza joint and have your go-to pies delivered hot and fresh in no time.
Besides getting meals from local restaurants, you can also use DoorDash for other tailgating groceries and supplies. Whether you need chips and dips, drinks, ice, paper plates, napkins, or other last-minute essentials, you can get what you need delivered without having to leave the party or make a last-minute trip to the store.
2. Ribs and Pulled Pork
Slow-cooked BBQ can be hard to pull off if you have limited time to prep and cook. Ordering and serving this mouth-watering ribs and pulled pork combo pack will give your guests the impression that you spent hours slow-cooking it yourself.
It comes straight from Central BBQ in Memphis (which has been consistently ranked as the best BBQ in the city!). The meat is marinated for 24 hours and coated with a flavorful dry spice blend that’s so delicious, you won’t even need a sauce.
Related: Irresistible Football Watch Party Food Ideas for Game Day
3. Burgers and Franks
Having a BBQ takes a bit more effort than ordering takeout, but it can give your tailgate a more traditional feeling. Even if you’re spending time grilling, you can still make meal prep easier by ordering things that come BBQ-ready. Besides that, all you need is a grill and the right accessories!
Unlike frozen meat you pick up from the grocery store, this party kit comes with burgers that are made with aged premium beef with no added ingredients or preservatives. The franks are also butcher-crafted using real pork and beef. With 32 burgers and 32 franks included, there’s more than enough to feed all the hungry mouths at your tailgate.
4. Buffalo Wings
If you don’t have a deep fryer, it can be hard to recreate crispy-skinned, restaurant-style buffalo wings at home. The good news is you can skip the hassle of frying and order the original Anchor Bar wings online instead.
The famous Buffalo wings (yes, they are actually shipped from Buffalo, New York!) come ready to heat and serve. They also include a bottle of medium Buffalo wing sauce so you can top up or slather them even more in that yummy goodness.
5. Charcuterie and Cheese
Elevate your tailgate spread with a gourmet charcuterie platter! You can buy different meats and cheeses and arrange them on your own, or you can order a ready-to-serve board that has everything pre-cut.
Whichever you choose, it’s a good idea to make sure the platter has a few accompaniments, like crackers, grapes, olives, nuts, and spreads. Not only do these extras make the spread look more impressive, but they also make it more filling and give guests more things to snack on.
6. Dessert Spread
When coming up with tailgate food ideas, a lot of hosts focus on the savory and forget about the dessert! Having something sweet to serve to your guests can be a nice way to celebrate the win (or to sweeten the loss!).
The dessert spread can be simple. Plan ahead and order a brownie assortment or cookie box for handheld snacking, or go big with an entire chocolate decadence cake or peach and berry pie. We recommend serving them towards the end so people will have another reason to stick around and enjoy the game!
4 Tips for a Successful Tailgate
- Order early: You likely won’t be the only one throwing a tailgate party! Order in advance and expect that delivery windows may take longer than normal.
- Don’t forget the extras: From condiments to bagged chips, ordering simple snacks can round out your spread and keep guests full between plays.
- Include variety: Offer a mix of meat, veggie, and sweet options to make sure there’s something for everyone.
- Set up a drink station: Besides tailgate food ideas, you’ll also want to stock up on water, soda, beer, or whatever else your guests want to drink!
- Focus on easy clean-up: If you aren’t cooking, then you shouldn’t be cleaning up either! Using disposable plates, cups, and silverware means less time washing up and more time having fun with your guests.
Tailgate Food Ideas for a Fun Watch Party
Don’t let the idea of cooking or coming up with tailgate food ideas deter you from hosting a party. Order the food before kickoff and give yourself one less thing to worry about on game day. The best tailgate food ideas let you spend your time watching the game and hanging out with everyone instead of standing over the stove or disappearing halfway through the first quarter to pick up dinner.
Keep your order centered around food that’s easy to share and genuinely satisfying. Wings, pizza, sliders, sandwiches, nachos, dips, and platters all work because people can eat when they’re hungry without turning the game into a formal meal. Choosing a few different tailgate food ideas also means everyone has something they’ll actually want to grab.
Game day is a lot more fun when feeding everyone doesn’t become the main event. Pick your favorite tailgate food ideas, get the order placed early, and settle in before the game starts. You’ll have plenty of food ready for the crowd and, more importantly, you’ll actually get to enjoy the day with them!
With a little planning, you can get tasty meals and snacks delivered just in time for kick-off. A fun tailgating party can happen anywhere, whether it’s a stadium parking lot, a local park, or even your backyard. If you’re hosting a party in your living room and have the ability to cook, here are some watch party food ideas that are just as yummy as they are easy to make!
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