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Everything You Need To Host A Tailgate
 
recipe image
Prep Time: 0 Minutes
Cook Time: 60 Minutes
Ready In: 60 Minutes
Servings: 30
It took me a couple years to finally figure out ALL the things I needed to host a successful tailgate. We were never close to home, so I needed everything with me in the car. You can alter the food any way you like here, but the “non-food supplies” pretty much go with any menu. Read more . You will have to customize your food supplies to fit your menu, but for the most part, if you pack up these “tools and accessories”, you will have everything you need and no “Quick, somebody run to the store” moments, once you are ready to set up your tailgate location, We keep a few sturdy cardboard boxes with handles in our garage (pick them up at your grocer or liquor store), and I find that packing up the supplies in something like that is much easier than using bags…they hold more, it keeps pans, etc from sliding around in the car, it’s more visible, and it’s sturdier.
Ingredients:
if you’re reading this, please join the “tailgate time!” group
menu
chili (your favorite recipe – i’ll post mine at a future date)
hot dogs
potato salad (we use the one i have posted here, potato salad with homemade dressing)
potato chips with onion dip (i just use lipton’s onion soup recipe, but make whatever kind you like)
ramen noodle salad (i will post my version at a future date)
beer (in cans, but a keg is better, if the sports location allows it)
assorted pop (in cans)
a couple bar-type cookies/snacks of your choice – keep it simple and finger friendly! we package ours up in a waxed paper lined shirt box, making a couple layers. when ready to serve, pop off the lid and serve them in the same box – no plates or platters to hassle with
“team logo” sugar cookies (we’ve gotten these from a bakery or i’ve made them myself – whatever suits you! again, we transport them layered in a waxed paper lined shirt boxthey travel very well, and the box is perfect for serving them in.
Directions:
1. TOOLS AND ACCESSORIES:
2. At least 3 plastic 48” folding tables
3. A few folding or lawn chairs (tell your guests to bring their own!)
4. 1 propane powered Grillin’ Griddle (Coleman makes a nice one, but there are many varieties – we use the small 1 pound propane gas powered grills because many locations don’t allow the use of hot coals. We like the Grillin’ Griddle because you can put pots of chili, BBQs, etc on the griddle surface and still use the grill portion to heat hot dogs, etc.)
5. 1 or 2 one-pound propane gas containers for your specific griddle or grill
6. 2 or more large outdoor trash bags
7. 1 bottle opener
8. 1 can opener (you NEVER know when you might need it, even if you brought no cans along!)
9. 1 wine bottle opener (a good hint from notyourmomma!)
10. A few large serving spoons
11. A container of Wet Wipes
12. Some old towels
13. Some old hot pads
14. Long handled tongs (for hot dogs)
15. Salad tongs (for Ramen Noodles)
16. Some newspaper
17. Large stock pot (or size you need for you group) for the chili
18. Ladle (for chili)
19. Styrofoam bowls (for chili)
20. Plastic spoons, forks and knives
21. 1 good, sharp knife
22. Plenty of paper napkins
23. Sturdy paper plates
24. Plastic set of salt and pepper shakers (the sets with closeable or flip-top lids work best!)
25. Large roll of paper toweling
26. Gallon and quart size ziplock baggies
27. Roll of heavy duty foil
28. Scissors
29. Masking or packing tape
30. Plastic cups for beer and other beverages
31. Enough coolers for your beer and beverages, packed with lots of ice (leave some in the bag to keep it clean for people to use in their beverages)
32. FOR THE CHILI TOPPINGS:
33. Frito corn chips
34. Grated cheddar (in a plastic container with a solid lid)
35. Diced onion (in a plastic container with a solid lid)
36. 1 or 2 pint containers of sour cream, depending on your group size
37. FOR THE HOT DOG TOPPINGS:
38. Hot dog buns
39. Ketchup
40. Yellow and spicy mustards
41. Diced onions (you should already have a container of this for the chili toppings)
42. Pickle relish
43. Dill pickle spears
44. Diced tomatoes
45. Sport peppers
46. Celery salt
47. (the last 4 ingredients are only needed if you want to serve your dogs “Chicago style”)
48. FOR THE POTATO SALAD, all you will need is a serving spoon.
49. FOR THE RAMEN NOODLE SALAD, all you will need is a serving spoon.
50. FOR THE CHIPS AND DIP, all you need is the bag(s) of chips and some prepared Lipton Onion Dip in a plastic container with a solid lid.
51. Variation: I sometimes serve sloppy joes (instead of chili) and hot dogs. If you would like to do this, OMIT the chili toppings and ADD: your favorite sloppy joe recipe (I will post a family café one soon), hamburger buns, dill pickle slices, and some cheese slices.
52. Ask your guests to bring appetizers, if you want to, and we also ask them to bring a beverage of their choice if they don’t want beer or pop.
By RecipeOfHealth.com