The tailgating season is back in full force and, seriously, we could not be more ready for it!

If you and your home team are ready and eager to kick off the season with some food-and-football fun, we’re right there with you (in spirit, anyway). Because whether or not your team wins the big game, the right food and beverages always set the tone and elevate the experience!

 If your tailgating celebration is taking place in the traditional manner, in the parking lot of the game itself, we have a few great ideas to make it a memorable event. And if you plan to host a “virtual” tailgate party from the comfort of your TV room… we’ve got you covered there, too. So put on your team swag, get out that big foam-rubber #1 finger, put some cold ones on ice, and let’s get this party started. It’s game time!

The Real Deal: Tailgating at the Stadium

Spending a few hours in the parking zone of a football stadium, enjoying hot food and cold drinks with your best friends, is an American tradition like no other. And getting pumped up for some gametime action is only a part of the program. The real attraction: hearty, flavor-forward foods that stick to your ribs through halftime and beyond.

Before we look into some tasty game-time recipes, now’s a great time to introduce you to your new tailgate BFF… the Kenmore portable retro-style grill. This little dynamo comes in your choice of six designer colors, offers quick and easy setup, one-touch electronic ignition, and offers a generous 343 sq. in. of cooking area. It’s the hit of any tailgate party!

And, unlike charcoal grills, once you’re done cooking you can just unhook the fuel source, let it cool down a bit, stow it away and head off to the game. Good luck trying that with a load of burning embers.

It Pays to Plan Ahead!

The key to a successful tailgating party is preparation. Start by making a checklist of everything you’ll need. This includes your grilling accessories, cooler, tables, and any decorations to show off your team spirit. Don’t forget the essentials like plates, napkins, utensils, and trash bags. A well-thought-out plan ensures you won’t be scrambling on game day.

Comfort is key, too! Bring along folding chairs and a canopy or tent to provide shade and shelter in case of unexpected sprinkles. Consider adding a portable Bluetooth speaker to play your favorite game-day tunes and keep the energy high. Maybe even string up a few lights or lanterns to add a festive touch and help keep your space well-lit as the sun goes down.

Recipe: Spicy Chicken Sliders

This easy recipe combines heart-healthy chicken breast, zesty seasoning, and fresh salsa for a fun, flavorful fiesta with hand-held convenience!

Ingredients

4 boneless/skinless chicken breast portions, each cut in half width-wise

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

8 small buns, dinner rolls, or English muffins

Large spoonful of fresh salsa for serving (see recipe below)

Directions

Rub olive oil onto the chicken pieces. Stir together the seasonings, then generously season each chicken portion on both sides.

Grill the chicken at 400°F for 6-7 minutes per side, or until it registers 165°F internally on a meat thermometer. Split the buns and toast them for 1 minute.

Serve the chicken hot, topped with salsa, in the buns.

Recipe: Fresh & Zesty Salsa

The perfect topper for your chicken sliders… or serve it with chips. Or whatever. It’s salsa, go wild!

Ingredients

4 freshly chopped tomatoes

½ large onion, diced

½ cup chopped green bell pepper

¼ cup minced fresh cilantro

Juice of 1 large lime

1 small jalapeño pepper, minced

Salt & pepper to taste

Directions

Mix all ingredients together in a medium bowl. Stir in salt and pepper to taste. Optional: add a dash of hot sauce if you like it spicy!

Recipe: “Spiked Arnie” Game-Day Cocktail

Just to be clear… any cocktail or other adult beverage that you’re serving at an outdoor tailgate get-together should have three things in common: 1) it should be super-easy to make and serve, 2) it must be thirst-quenchingly delicious, and 3) nothing fancy, please. This classic concoction, which borrows heavily from a famous golf legend, ticks all those boxes. Bonus: if you leave out the alcohol, it’s still really good and refreshing!

Ingredients

Ice cubes

Equal parts: lemonade, iced tea, bourbon

Fresh mint springs

Lemon wedge

Directions

Fill a tall glass with ice cubes. Fill one-third of the way with bourbon, the next third with lemonade, and top with tea.

Stir well with mint spring, then add another sprig if you like it extra-minty.

Garnish glass with lemon and serve cold.

Stay-At-Home Tailgating

Couldn’t get tickets for the game? Or, want to show off your big-screen TV and surround-sound setup? No worries, we got you!

Offering mouthwatering, serve-yourself party favorites can make you the most popular neighbor on your block. And you don’t have to miss the entire pregame show while laboring over a hot stove to pull it off – in fact, simplest is usually best! Here’s a game-time classic that virtually everyone loves, with a reduced-fat twist for those interested in keeping their cholesterol count down to a manageable minimum.

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Turkey Meatballs Marinara

This all-time slow-cooker classic gets a healthy update by using naturally low-fat ground turkey. And it stays hot and ready to enjoy from before kickoff until after the post-game show. If you want to make your own marinara sauce from scratch with fresh ingredients, we have a very nice recipe for that… otherwise, a quality jarred sauce can be a real step-saver!

Also, if you don’t currently have a reliable full-size slow cooker, you better believe we have a great suggestion for you!

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground turkey

1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/3 cup breadcrumbs

½ onion, finely diced

2 cloves minced garlic

½ cup fresh basil, chopped

¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped

1 tablespoon, dried oregano

1 egg

1 teaspoon each, salt & pepper

1 tablespoon olive oil, extra virgin

1 quart (32 oz.) of your favorite marinara sauce

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients except for the olive oil and sauce.

Using your hands or a scoop, roll ping-pong-ball size meatballs from the mixture and place them on a foil-lined baking sheet. Brush the tops of the meatballs with the olive oil, then bake for 15 minutes.

Transfer the cooked meatballs to a slow-cooker set to HIGH heat and pour the marinara sauce over them. Close the lid and let the sauce and meatballs cook together for about an hour, then reduce the heat to LOW.

Serve with mini-rolls for DIY sandwiches… or just provide toothpicks and plates to let guests go low-carb. Either way, it’s 100% de-lish!

Recipe: Tailgate Potato Salad

Indoors or outdoors, at home or at the stadium, there is no more classic side dish for a tailgating celebration than good, old-fashioned tater salad!

Ingredients

2 lbs. potatoes, peeled and diced

1 cup mayonnaise

1 tbsp mustard

1/2 cup chopped celery

1/4 cup chopped onion

Salt and pepper to taste

Paprika and chopped parsley for garnish

Directions

Boil the potatoes until tender, then drain and let cool.

In a large bowl, mix together mayonnaise, mustard, celery, and onion. Add the cooled potatoes and mix until well coated.

Season with salt and pepper, and sprinkle with paprika and parsley before serving.

Take a Deeper Dive

If you’re looking for some additional game-day inspiration, check out our recipes for crowd-pleasing favorites like Touchdown Chili Bowls, Portobello Mushroom Burgers, Football Brownies and more!

Take It Outside!

Spending the whole afternoon of a football fiesta indoors might seem a little wrong to you and your guests, so your outdoor entertainment zone might be the perfect place to set up your tailgate celebration. The only thing is… the weather can be a little dicey this time of year.

Of course, team-swag hoodies are a must for gridiron get-togethers when temperatures dip into the brisk range. But good news… you can maintain a comfortable warmth level outside, from pre-game to post-victory celebration dance, with Kenmore’s electric radiant heaters!

These small-but-mighty, indoor/outdoor heaters keep your party going strong well into the evening. And they’re perfect for those early-spring and late-fall grilling sessions, keeping everyone toasty warm while you whip up some BBQ magic on your Kenmore grill. And best of all, they’re super-safe to use, with auto-shutoff tipping protection and easy remote-control operation.

Indoors or outdoors, at home or at the stadium, nothing beats the fun, thrills and tradition of a classic football tailgate celebration. We hope you have a blast with your home team, all season long!