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It’s the beginning of fall and that means some great things---football is back and racing is in the final stretch of the season. Almost even more importantly, it’s time to tailgate. In some places, the tailgating before and after the event is just as big as the game or race itself.
Of course, the goal for anyone putting together a tailgate BBQ is to make sure there is plenty of food and that everyone is enjoying themselves. A huge part of that is making sure you’ve prepared properly and that you’ve got everything you or your friends and/or family will need. Whether it’s at the event itself or you’re planning to “tailgate” in the backyard for the big game.
In the moment, when you’re starting to prepare and get everything together, it can be easy to start to feel like you are forgetting something. This is where having a complete checklist of all of the tailgating essentials can be a life-saver. So, we’ve done the work for you!
In this article, we’ll help you get prepared to show off your BBQ game and make sure you have all of the essentials for tailgating with a handy checklist:
Before you start going through a tailgating essentials checklist, there are some things to consider first. Depending on certain factors, you may not need everything on the list or you may find you need to add a few things.
When tailgating at an event, make sure you check any regulations or stipulations of the location. There may be regulations on certain types of grills or smokers, the size of the area you’ll have, if glass bottles are allowed, etc. All of these things will impact what you will need to bring or leave home.
The part of the day that you plan on starting your tailgate will determine exactly what types of things you need to bring food and beverage-wise, utensils, etc. If it’s going to be an all-day affair that starts early in the day, plan for breakfast items and breakfast friendly drinks (think mimosas and bloody marys) as well as lunch and possibly even dinner for after the event.
To really show off, select beers that pair best with the types of meat you’ll be serving. Check out our beer pairing article for more info.
Source: PeachfullyChic
Another thing that will impact your list of tailgate essentials is if you’re going to be cooking mainly at the event or if you’ll be cooking a lot of the food ahead of time. It’s best to stick to “simple” foods if you are cooking there at the event. Plan for food that will allow you to enjoy the time with your friends and/or family too.
Trying to tackle smoking a brisket or ribs will be impossible unless you’re cooking it at home first. You can easily cook large meats like that ahead of time, time them to finish shortly before it is time to pack up and go, and hold them at temperature wrapped up and stored in a dry cooler. Then all you have to do is serve them at the event.
It also helps to do as much prep as possible beforehand. If you are cooking things at the event that have chopped ingredients, for example, go ahead and take care of that ahead of time and store them in containers. Then everything is ready to go.
Another important thing to consider for the day is food safety. Keep in mind that you won’t have hot running water or refrigeration away from home. A set of good thermometers is imperative to have when tailgating. Keep cold food below 40 degrees Fahrenheit and hot food above 150 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are storing cooked meat to hold at the desired temperature in a cooler, label that cooler.
Also, make sure you’ve got jugs of clean water on hand for washing your hands, clean up, etc. You should also have hand sanitizer and a spray bottle of a diluted bleach solution to help sanitize surfaces and utensils throughout the day.
Print out this list, broken down by category, and mark it off as you go so you know you won’t be forgetting anything for your tailgate get-together:
GRILL:
__ Portable grill/smoker
__ Charcoal (or propane tank)
__ Charcoal chimney starter
__ Wood chunks/chips
__ Lighter (x2)
__ Grill brush
__ Gloves
FOOD:
__ Meat
__ Breakfast
__ Side dishes (check out our article on some great tailgate sides)
__ Hamburger or hotdog buns
__ BBQ Sauce
__ Condiments: mustard, ketchup, mayo, relish, onions, tomatoes, pickles,
peppers, hot sauce, sauerkraut
__ Salt/Pepper
__ Snacks (chips, salsa, trail mix, etc)
DRINKS:
__ Water
__ Sodas
__ Beer
__ Liquor
__ Champagne/Wine
__ Mixers/Juice
COOKING UTENSILS/ACCESSORIES:
__ Apron
__ Basting brush/mop
__ Meat claws
__ Meat thermometers
__ Spatula
__ Tongs (one set for cooking, one set for serving)
__ Skewers
__ Spices/rub
__ Cooking oil/butter
__ Knives
__ Cutting board
__ Mixing bowls
__ Fire extinguisher
__ Heavy-duty aluminum foil
__ Aluminum pans
__ Pots/pans/grill baskets
EATING/SERVING:
__ Hand sanitizer
__ Coolers (label each cooler)
__ Paper towels
__ Napkins
__ Bottle and can openers
__ Corkscrew
__ Ice
__ Cups and plates
__ Koozies
__ Plastic silverware
__ Serving spoons
__ Bowls
__ Wet towelettes
__ Sharpie marker
__ Bar utensils for mixed drinks
TAILGATE:
__ Pop-up tent or tarp
__ Portable tables (for food serving and eating)
__ Portable chairs
__ Tablecloths
__ Blankets
__ Wireless speaker or boom box
__ TV
__ Lanterns/flashlight
__ Generator
__ Extension cords
__ Extra batteries
CLEANUP:
__ Jug of water for cleaning
__ Spray bottle with bleach solution
__ Clean plastic bins for washing and rinsing
__ Dish soap
__ Trash bags
__ Large Ziploc bags
MISCELLANEOUS:
__ Cell phone charger/charging block
__ Camera
__ Duct tape
__ Tailgate games (football, cornhole, etc)
__ Sunscreen
__ Mosquito repellant
__ First aid kit
__ Jumper cables
__ Tool kit
__ Event tickets!!
* This list covers everything you may need. After first considering what we covered earlier in the article, just cross off anything you won’t need on game day (if you’re cooking meat ahead of time, serving breakfast or not, etc.)
With the tips above and the tailgating essentials list we’ve provided, you should be ready to go to set up the perfect tailgate BBQ without forgetting anything. The main thing is to be prepared with everything you’ll need (or may need). It’s better to be over-prepared than scrambling for something you missed.
If you really want to impress your friends and family at your next tailgate or backyard BBQ party, dive into our in-depth online barbecue cooking classes taught by champion Pitmasters and Grillmasters. You’ll get all of the insider tips and secrets step-by-step to take your BBQ game to a whole new level. Check out our All Access now!
Did we forget anything on our list? How have you mastered your tailgate BBQ process? Let us know. We want to hear from you!
It’s that time of the year again. Football is back, Nascar and NHRA drag racing is coming into the final stretch of their seasons, and you can smell the BBQ’s going through parking lots across America. It’s time to take your backyard BBQ cooking to the tailgate and master your BBQ game and race day tailgate party.
But a great bbq tailgate get-together is more than just the different kinds of BBQ meat you may be grilling or smoking. If you can also nail the sides to compliment your BBQ, you are sure to create the best tailgate BBQ meal of the season.
Top BBQ pitmasters know that using side dishes to play off of and compliment the flavors of the meat can actually do wonders to even further enhance the meat’s flavor profiles. Let’s take a look at some top outdoor eating sides for your BBQ tailgate party:
Source: Midwest Living Magazine
One hearty and warm side that pairs very well with BBQ is baked beans. But to leave a lasting impression you should skip canned baked beans. Go for a delicious elevated version like this Calico Bean Bake from Midwest Living.
Looking for something to feed a large group? This easy to make recipe, part baked beans, part chili, is ready in 45 to 50 minutes and feeds 12 people.
Source: allrecipes.com
Pineapple isn’t just for dessert anymore. This popular sweet and juicy fruit can take on completely different flavor profiles when grilled. This is another easy-to-make side that can be cooked on the grill at the same time your BBQ meat is cooking.
Prepare it the night before so it can marinate and it’s ready in 2 to 3 minutes of cooking. This tailgate side makes for a perfect appetizer while waiting on the rest of the meal. With a mixture of sweetness and hot sauce to give it an interesting kick, this grilled pineapple recipe from Allrecipes.com will have everyone’s taste buds dancing.
Source: Food Network
It’s always a good bet to balance off tailgate BBQ with a cold appetizer. Another fan favorite often is guacamole. Elevate the normal everyday guacamole with this great recipe from Bobby Flay for Food Network.
By mixing in some chargrilled corn, the guacamole gets an added sweet and smoky flavor. With just a few ingredients, this recipe can be made very quickly and easily.
Source: Country Living
You might hear many people say that you can’t have a great tailgate party, or any BBQ for that matter, without some great slaw. This staple side can come in a variety of different flavor profiles, with different types of cabbage, or additions.
This particular recipe from Country Living will help you create a tangy slaw with a mix of two different crunchy greens. Another easy-to-make side, it pairs great with BBQ and is a sure crowd-pleaser. It can be enjoyed on its own as a side or on top of grilled brats or other meats.
Source: Midwest Living
Dips are always a great option for a side at a tailgate party. They are easy to prepare and can often be done the night before or alongside your meat on the grill. And usually, everyone loves cheese! This creamy fondue dip from Country Living is another side that pairs well with sweet or smoky BBQ flavors and is sure to go fast.
With a serving size of 16, you can keep everyone fed and enjoying a blend of savory and smoky flavors in this fondue with just a little kick of spice. Just make sure to have enough bread cubes or tortilla chips to go around.
Remember, a great tailgate BBQ party isn’t just about the meat. Great complimentary sides like the ones above can help leave an even greater lasting impression for your friends and family. Try some of these easy to make sides to kick your BBG cooking up a notch.
Here at BBQ Champs Academy, through our first of its kind online BBQ cooking school, we, along with our World Champion pitmasters and grillmasters, aim to teach you everything you need to know to enhance your backyard BBQ techniques. Learn from the pros and make competition quality BBQ and sides.
Have you mastered any of these sides of above already? Do you know of more great sides that you love with your tailgate BBQ? Leave a comment below, we want to hear from you!
