September means football, and football means good food, time spent with friends, and plenty of reasons to cheer on your favorite team. Want to enjoy the game from the comfort of your own home? With these 5 simple tricks, you can turn your home into the perfect tailgate party spot. You don’t need a stadium parking lot—or even a huge living room—to get in on the tailgate fun.
1. Make the Most of Your Space
Take advantage of additional areas
Take advantage of your outdoor patio or balcony to create additional areas guests can sit, eat, and enjoy each other’s company without being cramped. If you live in an apartment community, check to see if there’s an amenity space or common area available to reserve for larger gatherings.
Make the most of the seating you already have by bringing in chairs from other rooms and adding throw pillows to the floor for extra seating that feels casual and welcoming. No party is complete without mix-and-match seating!
2. Keep Game Day Food at the Right Temp
Use what you have or make it yourself
Keep warm game-day favorites like queso, chili, meatballs, or dips in a slow cooker to keep them warm and ready to serve throughout the game without taking up valuable space on the stove. Create your own oversized ice pack by filling a disposable aluminum baking tray with water and freezing it ahead of time, then placing it underneath food in an insulated bag or cooler to keep cold dishes chilled throughout the party. Check out this tutorial to make your own disposable ice packs here!
Looking for recipes to wow your guests? Your guests will be coming back for seconds with some of our favorite fall crockpot recipes and ideas. Try these out at your next tailgate party!
3. Create a Dedicated Beverage Station
Keep the theme going in the drinks
Bring your team colors to the table with disposable cups, plates, and napkins that show off your game-day spirit while keeping cleanup a breeze. Keep water bottles and sodas in an ice-filled cooler or beverage tub where guests can easily grab a cold drink without having to crowd around the refrigerator every time they need a refill. Keep the cooler inside to ensure the drinks stay cold for the duration of your tailgate party!
Give your watch party its own signature drink by creating a festive game-day mocktail inspired by your team’s colors or mascot for guests to enjoy throughout the game. Check out some great fall mocktail recipes here!
4. Make Cleanup Easy
Prepare for garbage
Place small garbage cans or lined trash bags in the main areas where guests will be eating and hanging out, so there’s always a convenient place to toss plates, napkins, and other trash. Giving guests easy access to throw away their trash leaves less cleanup after the game.
Give guests an easy way to tackle messes before they become permanent stains. Create a designated spill station stocked with paper towels, napkins, and stain remover.
5. Build a “One-Bite” Menu
Make things easy for guests
Stick to finger foods. Choose easy-to-grab appetizers and snacks that guests can enjoy while watching the game without trying to juggle a plate and utensils. Check out some of our fan-favorite tailgate party recipes here! Show off your spirit with themed desserts! Grab cookies, cupcakes, or other treats in your team’s colors. Hosting a rivalry game? Choose desserts in both teams’ colors so everyone can show off their team pride.
Snackboards are the perfect way to keep your guests full and bring the tailgating spirit into your food! Combine sweet and savory flavors, use snacks that color coordinate with your team, and put dips into themed bowls and cups!
Don’t let a small space keep you from hosting this football season! These tips and tricks will make rooting for your team an ease at the tailgate party.
Find more hosting tips, recipes, and tailgate party hacks on Foshee’s blog to prepare for this football season!