Tailgate Food Ideas: Brats, Sausage, and Sliders for Game Day
Football season means early mornings in the parking lot, folding tables, portable grills, and food that can feed a hungry crowd. The best tailgate menus keep things simple: hearty food that cooks fast, travels well, and can be eaten with one hand.
Here are our favorite tailgate food ideas built around brats, sausage, and sliders, plus a few tips to make game day easier.
1. Beer-Braised Brats with Peppers and Onions
Brats are the classic tailgate food for a reason. Simmer them in a foil pan with beer, sliced onions, and peppers on one side of the grill, then finish them over direct heat for a crisp, charred casing. Keep the finished brats warm in the pan until it's time to eat.
Try it with Riverbend's Beef Brisket German Bratwurst, or see our recipe for Grilled Beef Brisket German Bratwurst with Peppers & Onions.
2. Sausage Sampler Board
Can't decide which sausage to bring? Bring them all. Grill a few different links, slice them into coins, and serve them on a board with mustards, pickles, cheese cubes, and crackers. It's easy to graze between plays.
Our Variety Sausage Bundle includes kielbasa, chorizo, mild breakfast, brown sugar maple, and mild Italian links, which makes it perfect for a sampler.
3. Grilled Burger Sliders
Sliders are easier to cook and serve than full-size burgers, and they're perfect for kids. Form 2- to 3-ounce patties ahead of time and stack them between parchment paper in a cooler. At the tailgate, grill them for 2 to 3 minutes per side, top with cheese, and serve on Hawaiian rolls.
Riverbend's dry-aged Ground Beef and Cracker Cow Burger Blend make exceptionally juicy sliders.
4. Chorizo Queso Dip
Brown crumbled chorizo in a cast-iron skillet, then add shredded cheese, a splash of milk, and a can of diced tomatoes with green chiles. Set the skillet on the edge of the grill to keep it warm and serve with tortilla chips.
5. Kielbasa Bites
Slice kielbasa into bite-size pieces, grill until browned, then toss in a mix of barbecue sauce and a little honey or grape jelly. Serve with toothpicks for an easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer.
6. Italian Sausage Subs
Grill mild Italian sausage links and serve them on toasted hoagie rolls with sautéed peppers, onions, and warm marinara. Wrap each sub in foil to keep them warm and mess-free.
7. Breakfast Tacos for Early Kickoffs
For a noon game, start with breakfast. Cook breakfast sausage or chorizo and eggs in a skillet on the grill and serve in warm tortillas with salsa and cheese.
Easy Tailgate Sides
- Pasta salad or potato salad (keep it on ice)
- Baked beans in a foil pan on the grill
- Chips with salsa and guacamole
- Grilled corn on the cob
- Cookies or brownies made the day before
Tailgate Tips for a Smooth Game Day
- Prep at home. Slice vegetables, form patties, and mix sauces the night before.
- Pack two coolers. Keep raw meat in one and drinks in the other so you're not opening the meat cooler all day.
- Keep cold food cold. Raw meat should stay at 40°F or below until it hits the grill.
- Bring a thermometer. Cook sausages and burgers to 160°F.
- Watch the clock. Don't leave cooked food out for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour on hot Florida afternoons above 90°F.
- Bring foil pans. They're perfect for keeping food warm and make cleanup easy.
Stock Up Before Kickoff
Whether you're tailgating at the stadium or hosting a watch party at home, Riverbend Cattle Company has everything you need for game day. Shop our Variety Sausage Bundle, brats, and ground beef, and have it delivered to your door or pick it up at the ranch.
