Football season is a favorite time of year for many people. Along with enjoying your favorite sport, you might also be planning on setting up for a little bit of tailgating before your favorite game. This is a great way to show off your team spirit, and you can have a lot of fun as well. Try these simple tips to make your tailgating experience even better.
Choose The Right Grill
Tailgating provides its own set of challenges that you do not face when you are grilling at home. Therefore, your favorite grill probably won’t be the best option for tailgating this year. Instead, you should take a look at some of the portable grills that are out there; many of them are perfect for hauling to your favorite football game.
If you are on a budget and are only feeding a few people, you can probably get away with a small charcoal grill that is made for camping and traveling. Some of these grills are very small and will need to be set up on cinder blocks, but there are some choices out there that can be easily assembled to stand at a fairly generous height. These grills can usually be found cheaply at mass market retail stores, and you can typically toss them in the back of your truck or in your trunk for your trip to the game.
For those who are looking to feed a larger crowd or who simply want a larger and more sturdy grill, there are tons of options out there that are easily portable. You can also find your choice of gas or charcoal grills if you do your research.
Best Foods For Tailgating
Since you won’t have the convenience of walking through your back door and into your kitchen while cooking, you will want to keep your tailgating menu fairly light and easy. This doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy delicious food outside of your favorite football game, however. There are tons of grilling options that are perfect for tailgating.
When planning your tailgating menu, never underestimate the joy of the simpler things. Sitting on the back on a pickup truck and balancing a paper plate in your lap probably isn’t the best way to enjoy a steak and a baked potato. Instead, try bratwurst, hot dogs, smoked sausage and other easy choices. These options can be tossed in a cooler full of ice when you are heading to the tailgate party along with ketchup, mustard and other condiments. After they are removed from the grill, you can toss them in a bun and enjoy them while standing, walking and mingling without having to worry about bulky plates; napkins or paper towels will do just fine. Munching on easy finger foods like hot dogs and possibly cheeseburgers will be easy, and you can simply bring along bags of chips and other easy snacks to go along with them.
If you are looking for a little something different, try grilling chicken breasts for chicken sandwiches. Another great idea is to prepare kebabs before leaving the house. Include your choice of chicken, shrimp, steak, vegetables and fruit, and layer them onto bamboo skewers. Place them in a long pan, and try pouring in some marinade for extra flavor. Seal the pan or container tightly, and grill your kebabs when you get to the tailgating party. Kebabs are the perfect finger food, and they are a great alternative to hot dogs and other typical fare.
Make Sure You Are Prepared
Nothing ruins the party like getting there and realizing that you do not have everything that you need. Make a checklist a few days before you go tailgating, and have someone else look it over for anything that you have missed. Don’t forget to bring condiments, drinks, napkins, eating utensils and other essentials. If necessary, overpack; it is better to have to drag unused items home than to have to rush to a packed store at the last minute only to pay way too much for an item that you need.