Explore Abt's Tailgate Recipes & Gameday Gear

A group of men grilling food at a football tailgate party

By: Bailey

Content Writer

7 min read

On our blog, we often offer tips and product recommendations for those hosting football watch parties at home. But what if you're one of the lucky fans who managed to get their hands on game day tickets? In that case, you'll need to prepare not for a watch party, but for a tailgate. While these get-togethers are the same, the preparation, activities and cooking flexibility are quite different, as tailgates are entirely outdoors. So what kind of gear will you need? What kind of food is easiest to prepare at a tailgate? And what kind of cookers or appliances should you bring? In this post, we'll provide you with our top product recommendations and tailgate recipes so your pre-game celebration goes off without a hitch.

A couple cooking chicken and vegetables on a black grill together

Tailgates most often happen outside the stadium or arena where your team is playing. Because no one has access to their favorite backyard cooking appliances, fans start to socialize and eat from their open car trunks or under party tents. But a change of location shouldn't be the reason you can't enjoy a delicious grilled snack. We suggest investing in a portable cooker like the Napoleon TravelQ PRO285E. This Napoleon grill provides a 285-square-inch cooking area for all your family and friends. In fact, it offers enough space for up to 17 burgers at the same time.

While the grill is compact for traveling, you can still expect a powerful 1500-watt performance, which is an ideal heat level for searing. On top of this, the portable grill features porcelainized cast iron Iconic WAVE cooking grids. These cooking grids are seasoned just like cast iron pans and they're designed to deliver perfect sear marks. Whatever temperature you seek, it can be achieved easily with the adjustable heat control knob. Once your food is on and cooking, you can close the durable cast aluminum lid to take advantage of its superior heat retention. Then, you can monitor the cooking progress without ever having to open the grill, thanks to the ACCU-PROBE Temperature Gauge.

A stainless steel basting brush, spatula and tongs

A blue cooler with two handles and a crossbody strap

If you're a grilling fanatic, then it's likely you already have plenty of grilling tools and gadgets. But for tailgating, we suggest getting a portable set that can be clipped together. This prevents you from losing or misplacing any tools as you cook your tailgate recipes. The Napoleon three-piece tool set is the perfect accessory to match your Napoleon grill for this reason. This set comes with a spatula, easy-lock tongs and a basting brush. Each is crafted from durable stainless steel and they all have ergonomic handles too, so your hands remain comfortable no matter how long you cook.

While our second recommendation will not assist you in cooking game day treats, it will definitely assist you in staying hydrated. The Hydro Flask Carry Out Soft Cooler can fit up to 38 beverage cans without ice, so everyone can have a cold sip before the game begins. Thanks to the lightweight insulation in the cooler, your favorite drinks will stay cold for up to 24 hours. While the outside of the cooler is water resistant, the inside is lined with food-grade BPA-free material, so all splashes and spills stay contained without damaging your cooler. You can even use the exterior stash pocket on the cooler to store other small items.

Now that you've collected all the proper gear for the big game, you'll need some top-notch tailgate recipes to serve your friends and family. Below, you'll find three different options that purely rely on grills for cooking (although some prep work may need to be done at home beforehand). Happy eating and may your home team win big!

A close up of our grilled skirt steak sandwich recipe

Yields 4 Servings

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 30 mins

Total Time 40 mins

1 large loaf of French bread
1 stick softened butter
2 cloves garlic
2 lbs. skirt steak
1 green bell pepper
1 red bell pepper
4 tbsp mayonnaise (optional)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (optional)
Salt, pepper and garlic powder

Get your grill started, with burners high and hot on one side and low/off on the other.
Slice the loaf of French bread lengthwise and into fourths, creating four sub sandwich shapes.
Mix softened butter and two cloves of minced garlic and brush onto bread.
Place each sub cut-side down on the low/off side of your grill. Heat until toasted.
Season both sides of skirt steak with salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste.
Place skirt steak on the high heat side of the grill. Close grill and let sear for 4 minutes on each side or until the internal temperature reaches 135°F.
While the steak is cooking, place red and green bell peppers on the grill. Roast for a few seconds until they start to blacken.
Remove peppers from grill. Cut off stem, remove seeds and slice thin.
Once the steak is done cooking, assemble your sandwiches. Slice steak into strips, layer mayonnaise and cheese along one side of each sub if preferred. Layer steak strips and sliced peppers on the French bread and serve!

Small corn on the cob skewers with cheese and other elote toppings

Yields 1 Servings

4 ears of corn
Mayonnaise
2 limes
Parmesan or cotija cheese
Paprika

Cut each ear of corn into pieces about 3 inches tall. Stick each piece onto a wooden skewer.
Place corn on the edge of the grill, over indirect heat. This will keep both the corn and the skewers from burning.
Grill for about 15 minutes, turning every 5 minutes. Grill the corn until kernels are slightly charred and tender when pierced.
Squeeze lime juice onto the hot corn, then spread mayo all over the surface.
Sprinkle a generous amount of your cheese of choice and paprika on each corn skewer.

Prepping and cooking shrimp might sound intimidating, but it's no more difficult than throwing a burger or some chicken on the grill. Follow this simple recipe, and these easy-to-make, easy-to-eat shrimp pops will find a regular place in your grilling repertoire. Pro tip: err on the soft side when picking out your avocados. If the fruit is too firm, your guacamole will be missing that buttery smoothness—and it probably won't taste too great.

Shrimp skewers on a plate with various toppings

Yields 1 Servings

½ lb. large black tiger shrimp
1 oz. tequila
6 oz. blended oil
½ tbsp minced garlic
½ tbsp oregano
2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
Juice of one lime

3 large avocados
1 small jalapeño, seeded and minced
1 tbsp cilantro, chopped
¼ small red onion, diced
1 ½ Roma tomatoes
Juice of one lime

Crush avocados and mix them until they are mostly smooth with some small chunks still remaining.
Mix in the rest of the ingredients. If you're sensitive to the jalapeño, add it last so you can use as little as you like.
Season the guacamole with salt, to your desired taste. Try pink Himalayan salt.
Create your marinade by mixing the spices, oil and lime juice in a large bowl.
Toss shrimp in marinade until all pieces are completely covered. Once tossed, immediately remove the shrimp from the marinade to prevent the citric acid from beginning to cook the shrimp.
Stick each shrimp onto a wooden skewer.
Grill over direct, medium heat, for about 2 1/2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove when the shrimp has turned a bright pink color.