Go-To Guide: Homegating and Tailgating

Packers vs. Bears. Saints vs. Falcons. Michigan vs. Ohio State. Run or pass on a first down. Football presents us with lots to argue about. But we're not here to argue, and we’re certainly not here to weigh in on any of those debates (we’re not trying to lose any friends here). We’ll stick to what we can all agree on: A fall Sunday (or Saturday — we haven’t forgotten about college!) with good food, good drinks, good company, and maybe some football, is a good day.

We’re all about tailgating and homegating, and, if we may be so bold, we recommend you get into it too. Here are our best tips for a great game day.

As you may have gathered, homegating is tailgating, but at home. And being home has its advantages. You have your own kitchen (with all of your appliances and favorite pots and pans), your own backyard, your own seating, and you don’t have to transport a bunch of stuff to a parking lot. Plus, you can switch the channel from game to game. Now that you’re in, here’s how to do it right.

Food

Obviously, we’re starting with food. There are just so many fun foods to eat on football Sunday. We’re talking chips and guac, pizza bagels, crudités and dip, ribs, burgers, and anything else that screams football to you. A few of our favorites:

• Quick & Crispy Mini Pesto Pizza Recipe
• Honey-Bourbon-Glazed Baby Back Ribs Recipe
• Spicy, Cheesy & Addictive Queso Dip Recipe
• Party-Perfect Italian Sub Skewers Recipe
• Baja Shrimp Taco Nachos Recipe
• Sausage & Pepper Crostini Recipe

When planning your menu, consider your guest list. If you have vegetarians or guests with other dietary restrictions coming over, be sure to have a variety of different dishes and modify where you can. For example, in addition to the Italian Sub Skewers, make a few with just veggies and cheese. Or, make a plate of vegetarian nachos alongside the shrimp version! It’s easy enough to do since you’re essentially making the same thing, minus a few ingredients. Be sure to have lots of serveware on hand as well.

If you don’t already have a slow cooker or pressure cooker, we highly recommend one for football season and beyond. It’s super easy to cook up a big pot of chili, set it, and forget it. Let guests serve themselves. Delicious and low maintenance!

Drinks

Drinks, with and without alcohol, are essential. To save yourself fridge space and to make things as easy as possible, we recommend a beverage tub or two. Fill it up with ice, beer, wine, soft drinks, and anything else you’re serving. Keep pitchers of water nearby as well. If you’d like to serve cocktails, set up a self-serve bar with alcohol, mixers, and ice. Or, make one cocktail, like margaritas, and serve it from a convenient beverage dispenser.

To make things even more fun, get into the theme! We love these football beer towers and NFL-themed beer and wine glasses.

Decor

It’s not a party without a few decorations! And since the football season only lasts a few months, you may as well go big. Switch out your ordinary throw pillows and blankets with something a bit more spirited.

For those days when you’re lucky enough to make it out to the stadium, here’s a good game plan.

Setup

A good tailgate requires a good setup. That means plenty of seating that’s easy enough to pack in your car (FYI, NFL and college-themed folding chairs exist!), a table if you can fit it, and, ideally, an awesome tent, which can not only protect you from the sun and/or rain, but can also help your friends find you in a sea of cars.

It’s also important to prepare for weather, especially during the later fall and winter games. Bring lots of layers and blankets, and remember, games are played rain or shine!

Food

Unlike the homegating food situation, you won’t have access to your full kitchen when you’re in the stadium parking lot. Fear not, friends. You can still have lots of deliciousness. You just have to get a bit more creative. Crock-Pot® is here to help you out with the Cook & Carry™ Slow Cooker with Little Dipper® Warmer. That chili you made for your homegate is now portable. Bags of chips also transport well, which is good, because everyone loves chips. Subs are great to throw in a cooler. You can also get a portable propane gas grill and make burgers, hot dogs, and wings. Bring plates, forks and knives, cups, and lots of napkins!

Drinks

For drinks, we recommend keeping it simple. It’d be a pretty serious feat to transport pitchers of margaritas, but cans of beer and soda and bottles of wine are easy enough to put in the trunk of your car. Bring a big cooler full of ice to hold everything.

Activities 

Activities and games are never a bad idea. There are two keys to a successful tailgate game. The game has to be easy to transport, and it can’t have too many rules. Simplicity is important.

How many days until kickoff? We’re ready! And, check out our full selection of tailgating must-haves and our NFL shop!