It’s football season, and that means lots of good food! And while tailgating food can be delicious and fun, it also has the possibility to be stressful and expensive. Make it easier on yourself by going with recipes that don’t require a ton of extra work and that use frugal, basic ingredients (For example, stadiums made out of lunch meat aren’t necessary!). I’m going to share my best tips for tailgating on a budget along with simple recipes that will impress any football fan you find yourself hanging out with.

Tailgating on a Budget

Here are a few basic tips to keep costs low before I share recipes for tailgating on a budget:

• Instead of buying bottles of water, fill bottles you already own with tap water and throw them in the cooler.
• Don’t buy pre-made trays of food. They are usually pretty expensive and you can easily make a tray of veggies, meats, and cheeses on your own.
• Prepare foods that can be made ahead in large quantities (chili, for example). It’ll be easier on you (less dishes) and really easy to transport to your tailgate spot.
• Turn your tailgate into a potluck. Choose a theme for the meal (taco bar, baked potato bar, cheeseburgers, etc.) and have everyone bring a different component.

Now, here’s a list of some easy recipes for your tailgate! I tried to find recipes that are easy and that use simple, everyday ingredients (usually, the crazier the ingredients, the more expensive it will be to make it). You can use the item search to find items that are on sale in your area.

5-Ingredient Chili

Turkey Roll Ups

Deviled Eggs

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