Everybody has their own special take on what makes good tailgate food. But what about putting together a spread that appeals to everyone? It’s not that easy. There are so many choices, but here are five options that are guaranteed to leave everyone satisfied and full.

1. The Meats

The most essential part of a tailgate is the meat. It is important to have an assortment of cold and grilled meat. We’re talking pepperonis, salamis, brats and burgers. And do not forget the condiments. Forgetting the condiments can be a tailgate killer. Make sure to load up on the ketchup, mustard and plenty of onions and peppers for those brats.

2. Chips and Dips

No game day is complete without a table full of chips and dips. You need every flavor and style of chip under the sun. Tortilla chips, salted chips, sour cream and onion chips. Oh, and some pretzels too. As for the dips, you need salsa and guacamole for the tortilla chips. For the potato chips, you have to bring out the sour cream dips. Sour cream and onion and sour cream and cheese are a couple of favorites. Just about anything combined with sour cream makes for tasty dips that everyone will enjoy.

3. Potato Skins

The potato skin has become a staple of tailgates, probably because they are so hard to mess up. The possibilities are endless. You can top potato skins with cheddar cheese, bacon and sour cream. If you’re a seafood fan and want to change things up, you can top the skins with clams, scallops or crab. If you are vegan or vegetarian, tofu and mushrooms are great toppers.

4. Beans

Beans are a great side dish at any tailgate. They are good with brats, burgers and ribs. Get some baked beans to go with the barbeque or burgers and some black beans to go with the chips and salsa.

5. Beer 

Last, but certainly not least, there is beer. Beer is the ultimate tailgate beverage and it is essential. The key is to not overthink it. It is best to stick to classic beers like Bud Light, Budweiser and Miller Lite. However, that’s not to say you shouldn’t branch out and go with a lager like Guinness or an IPA like Sweetwater.

Now that you have a basic guide for how to create a food spread at a tailgate, you are all ready to cater the best tailgate ever! What are your favorite tailgate foods? Let us know in the comments below.

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