Grilled Tailgating Recipes

August 28, 2017
Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
Gear up for your next football game with these delicious grilled recipes. Tailgating usually means burgers and hot dogs, which definitely aren't absent here, but we've also thrown in some mouth-watering extras like Tangy Beer-Can Chicken and Grill-Smoked Baba Ghanoush. So fire up the grill and whip together some new game day favorites.
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All-American Grilled Burger

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: All-American Grilled Burger

Here’s your blueprint for a crowd-pleasing backyard barbecue burger complete with special sauce. The sauce is no secret here: Crunchy iceberg lettuce and pickles provide crunch and tang, all mixed in with ketchup, mustard, and a little hot sauce for kick. We like the texture whole-grain mustard adds to the sauce, but creamy Dijon will work just as well. Don’t overwork the beef as you form the patties so the burgers stay moist and juicy.

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Grilled Stuffed Jalapeños

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
View Recipe: Grilled Stuffed Jalapeños

The rich and creamy combination of bacon, cream cheese, and cheddar nicely contrasts the muted spice of grilled jalapeño peppers. This appetizer recipe is a healthy, fresh alternative to the popular breaded and fried version.

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Shrimp-Chile Skewers

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Shrimp-Chile Skewers

Look for shishito peppers at Asian markets and gourmet grocers. They're mostly mild, but bear in mind that roughly 1 in 10 is about as hot as a jalapeño.

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Beer-Brushed Tofu Skewers with Barley

Credit: Photo: Courtesy of Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Beer-Brushed Tofu Skewers with Barley

If you don't have barley on hand, serve with brown rice, quinoa, or farro. You can also cook the tofu on a stovetop grill pan—just be sure to turn your oven vent on high, as the honey-based glaze is sure to create some smoke.

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Tangy Beer-Can Chicken

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Tangy Beer-Can Chicken

The can method keeps the bird moist while it grills because liquid in the can forms steam inside the cavity. Any canned beverage will work, since it won't really impart any noticeable flavor to the chicken. We like the bright, tangy flavor of good old-fashioned yellow mustard here.

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Grass-Fed Beef Sirloin Kebabs

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Grass-Fed Beef Sirloin Kebabs

Cubes of grass-fed sirloin can be a little tough and chewy—but thin slices stay tender and cook quickly. Feel free to prep the sauce and skewer the beef ahead of time.

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Grill-Smoked Baba Ghanoush

Credit: Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Grill-Smoked Baba Ghanoush

This classic Middle Eastern eggplant dip is known for its smoky flavor and creamy texture. The smoke here comes from four components: charred eggplant, green onions, garlic, and a dash of smoked paprika. To grill the garlic, pull the cloves off in a clump from the bulb so the bundle won’t fall through the grates. Don’t worry if the clump contains more than 4 cloves—you’ll surely find a use for the roasty-toasty extras. Serve with pita bread wedges, pita chips, or crudités.

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Grilled Buffalo Chicken Tacos

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Grilled Buffalo Chicken Tacos

We took the finger-licking beauty of a Buffalo wing experience and wrapped it in a tortilla—because that's how you win a weeknight.

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Smoky Caramelized Onion Burgers

Credit: Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Smoky Caramelized Onion Burgers

Sometimes we want our grilled beef patties to have a just a little more oomph. These burgers deliver exactly that and more. Caramelized onions and garlic go into the ground sirloin mixture to keep the burgers moist, followed by a bold hit of ground cumin and smoked paprika for a jolt of flavor.

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Ultimate BBQ Chicken

Credit: Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Ultimate BBQ Chicken

This chicken is wonderfully moist, with a smoky sauce that will have you firing up the grill year-round. In our ultimate BBQ makeover, we remove the skin just before the chicken finishes grilling (saving 128 calories and 2.7g sat fat per breast), then baste with a spicy-sweet sauce. The best part? You'll save 183 calories, 3g sat fat, 26g sugar, and 854mg sodium over the traditional recipe, without losing any of the flavor.

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Grilled Steak with Pineapple Rice

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Grilled Steak with Pineapple Rice

With just five ingredients, this protein-packed meal comes together in a flash. Soy sauce amps up the flavor of beef tenderloin fillets, which pineapple lends tropical flavor to brown rice.

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Banh Mi Hot Dog

Credit: Photo: Jason Varney
View Recipe: Banh Mi Hot Dog

Pickled veggies, jalapeño, and cilantro top these Vietnamese-inspired dogs.

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Grilled and Dilled Corn on the Cob Recipe

Credit: Photo: Romulo Yanes
View Recipe: Grilled and Dilled Corn on the Cob Recipe

This is a riff on elote, Mexican street corn. We love how sweet dill plays on the richly caramelized corn and briny cheese.

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Grilled Flank Steak Gyros

Credit: Photo: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Claire Spollen
View Recipe: Grilled Flank Steak Gyros

You can indulge your fast-food craving with a healthier sandwich that packs the same irresistible meaty-creamy combo you get from a street cart.

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Tennessee Burger with Bourbon and BBQ Sauce

Credit: Photo: Christina Holmes
View Recipe: Tennessee Burger with Bourbon and BBQ Sauce

You can play with tradition in the South, but best not mess with it. There's no quinoa or fish sauce in this burger. It starts with caramelized onions, cooked low and slow. Some of the onions then get folded into the beef, keeping the patty moist and juicy. Next come salutes to barbecue and bourbon. Bacon adds savory crunch, while a shot of bourbon keeps the made-from-scratch sauce smoky and sweet.

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Grilled Sweet Potato and Bell Pepper Toss

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Paige Hicks
View Recipe: Grilled Sweet Potato and Bell Pepper Toss

Cut the red bell peppers from top to bottom into four panels; then simply discard the core. The wide pepper pieces will take on more char and be easier to maneuver on the grill.

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Grilled Chicken Skewers With Wasabi Mayo

Credit: Photo: Victor Protasio
View Recipe: Grilled Chicken Skewers with Wasabi Mayo

A kicking dipping sauce adds amped up fun and flavor. Serve with Orzo with Snap Peas, Cilantro, and Peanuts for a complete meal with 46g of protein. If you use wood skewers on the outdoor grill, be sure to soak them in water before grilling to avoid burning. Make a few extra skewers to add chicken to lunches and salads the next day. The wasabi mayo adds bold flavor to simply seasoned grilled chicken and pairs well with the sweetness of honey and tang of rice vinegar. The mayo can be saved and served alongside roasted vegetables, skirt steak, or fresh grilled fish.

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Simple Grilled Stone Fruit Crumble

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Simple Grilled Stone Fruit Crumble

We were wowed by the flavors of this luscious dessert. Grilling the fruit caramelizes its sugars and concentrates its flavor, while the creamy tang of crème fraîche perfectly complements the nutty, buttery topping.

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Grilled Baby Eggplants with Green Onion Salsa

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Grilled Baby Eggplants with Green Onion Salsa

If you can't find Indian eggplants, as we used here, go for small, slender Japanese eggplants instead.

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Grilled Pizza with Prosciutto, Arugula, and Lemon

Credit: Photo: Anna Williams
View Recipe: Grilled Pizza with Prosciutto, Arugula, and Lemon

The dough develops a yeastier, more complex flavor from a 24-hour resting period in the refrigerator. You can also use store-bought dough and begin with step 3.

 

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Coffee-Rubbed Texas-Style Brisket

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Coffee-Rubbed Texas-Style Brisket

Grilling alone gives meat a smoky flavor, and adding coffee to the concoction only makes this tender, melt-in-your-mouth brisket that much better.

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Grilled Tofu With Ratatouille Vegetables

Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Grilled Tofu With Ratatouille Vegetables

This attractive, summery barbecue dish combines the vegetables of the famous Provençal stew with meaty grilled tofu. If you don't care to use the wine, use an additional 1/2 cup of vegetable broth.

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