Tailgating Party Foods

October 16, 2014

Football season is here! From living rooms to backyards to parking lots, no party is complete without a spread of great snacks. Here are 39 crowd-pleasing recipes for game day.

Caramel apple pie recipe

Caramel-Apple Pie

A cinnamon-spiced sauce of butter and melted caramel candies poured over apples makes a wonderfully sweet, gooey pie filling.James Roper
Cornmeal-Crusted Onion Rings

Cornmeal-Crusted Onion Rings

Buttermilk-dipped and cornmeal-crusted onion rings are fried extra-crispy at Anthony's Steakhouse in Omaha.Penny De Los Santos
Hoisin and Ginger Spareribs

Hoisin and Ginger Spareribs

Pork spareribs are marinated and basted in a sweet-spicy sauce, with layers of flavor including sesame, pepper, ginger, hoisin, and garlic in this recipe from Napa Valley winemaker Christopher Vandendriessche.Barbara Ries
Chocolate-Peanut Butter Pie

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Pie

Chocolate pudding is layered with a peanut butter mousse in this pie inspired from Bradley's Corner Cafe in Topeka, Kansas.Todd Coleman
Devils on Horseback

Devils on Horseback

In this version of the classic hors d'oeuvre, oysters are cooked with garlic and wine, then set "astride" toasted garlic bread slices and sprinkled with bacon.Todd Coleman
Braised and Fried Pork Spareribs

Braised and Fried Pork Spareribs

Meaty pork spareribs are rendered tender in a confit of lard, then fried until crisp and dusted with a mixture of hot and sweet paprika in this Hungarian dish.Todd Coleman
Lemon Mayonnaise Smashed Potato Salad

Lemon Mayonnaise Smashed Potato Salad

Homemade lemon mayonnaise adds zesty flavor to these tender, coarsely mashed potatoes.Gemma and Andrew Ingalls
Pecan Cheese Wafers

Pecan Cheese Wafers

Pecans lightly brushed with egg whites are baked into cheesy, buttery wafers with a touch of chile flakes.Ingalls Photography
Lemon Parmesan Dip

Lemon Parmesan Dip

Creamy and bright-tasting, lemon parmesan dip makes for an excellent accompaniment to a chip or crudité platter.Helen Rosner
Roasted Carrot and White Bean Dip

Roasted Carrot and White Bean Dip

Carrots are roasted with rosemary and garlic until tender and slightly caramelized before being puréed with cannelini beans and coriander to make a vibrant, sweet, and earthy dip for raw veggies or pita chips.Helen Rosner
Creamy Watercress Dip

Creamy Watercress Dip

Creamy cottage cheese combines with watercress, lemon, chive, and parsley to make this bright dip for raw vegetables.Helen Rosner
Virginia Ham and White Cheddar Croquettes

Virginia Ham and White Cheddar Croquettes

Crisp on the outside and creamy on the inside, potato croquettes filled with a combination of white cheddar and salty ham are the ultimate two-bite party snack.Anna Stockwell
Twice-Baked Potatoes

Twice-Baked Potatoes

The buttery, creamy indulgence of mashed potatoes meets the visceral joy of digging into a baked potato in this iconic side dish. See the recipe for Twice-Baked Potatoes »Todd Coleman
Hummus with Hen of the Woods Mushrooms

Hummus with Hen of the Woods Mushrooms

A tangle of fried mushrooms provides textural contrast and a savory boost to this silky hummus.Todd Coleman
Football Sandwiches

Football Sandwiches

A staple of Junior League cookbooks, these miniature ham sandwiches are doused in a tangy butter-poppyseed sauce and then baked in the oven.Helen Rosner
Spiced Boiled Peanuts

Spiced Boiled Peanuts

Boiled peanuts are a classic Southern snack, eaten as hors d'oeuvres and sold at convenience stores alike.Todd Coleman
Homemade French Onion Dip

Homemade French Onion Dip

Our favorite recipe for this classic dip showcases onions three ways: fried, roasted, and fresh.Todd Coleman
Mititei Grilled Sausages

Mititei (Grilled Sausages)

Small skinless sausages like these (pictured top left)are cooked on charcoal grills in Romania and in other parts of eastern Europe and the Balkans. Fragrant with garlic, paprika, and caraway, the Romanian version, called mititei, or "wee ones," are delicious served with zesty mustard. See the recipe for Mititei (Grilled Sausages) »Todd Coleman
Classic Blondies

Classic Blondies

Like a brownie in shape and texture, blondies are packed with all the brown sugar and butterscotchy goodness of chocolate chip cookies, but are softer and more substantial.Todd Coleman
Buffalo Wings

Buffalo Wings

These are the Buffalo-resident's Buffalo wings: true to the original 1964 recipe, wings are fried in peanut oil and then tossed in a mixture of melted margarine and fiery hot sauce. Serve them up with blue cheese dressing and celery sticks to complete the classic dish.Todd Coleman
Nick's Supernatural Brownies

Nick's Supernatural Brownies

Fudgy brownies make an ideal base for a decadent ice cream sundae.Helen Rosner
Fried Chicken Livers

Fried Chicken Livers

Former deputy editor Beth Kracklauer traveled to Louisville, Kentucky, with her father for her survey of the best bar foods in that city. These fried chicken livers topped the list and make a stellar accompaniment to an ice-cold beer.André Baranowski
Smokestack's Chicken Wings

Smokestack's Chicken Wings

These crisp-charred chicken wings are bathed in a spiced butter sauce.Todd Coleman
Barbecued Baked Beans

Barbecued Baked Beans

These classic baked beans are a barbecue side-dish staple.Todd Coleman

Latest

Our 50 Best Shrimp Recipes Will Turn You Into a Seafood Master
Our 45 Best Indian Recipes
Our Best Skillet Recipes
Our Favorite Southern Food
Our 24 Best Savory Pies
Pasta Salad Recipes and Potato Salad Recipes
The Elusive Story of the Bread-and-Butter Pickle Sandwich
23 Easy Green Salads
Leave It to That Eccentric Genius Chef Patrick O’Connell to Serve Up Surprise and Delight Just When We Need It Most