One of the biggest tennis tournaments is the French Open! The French Open, also known as the Roland-Garros in France, runs from late May to early June. It’s a whole week of tennis with the best players in the world which means a whole week of tailgating snacks to make. These tennis-themed snacks pay homage to the serving country with crispy baked puff pastry, brie cheese, and traditional dishes like croque monsieur and ratatouille.
🎾 Tennis-Themed Snacks FAQ
When game day meets the tennis court, you need snacks that are just as fun as the match itself. Whether you’re hosting a tailgate before a big tournament or throwing a watch party, these ideas will help you ace the snack table.
What is a good snack for tennis?
Fresh fruit skewers, mini sandwiches, and energy bites make great tennis snacks since they’re light, easy to grab, and perfect for keeping you fueled through long sets. For a tailgate, you can add playful touches like yellow cake pops shaped like tennis balls.
What is a tennis party?
A tennis party is a gathering themed around the sport—often tied to major tournaments—where food, drinks, and décor all take inspiration from tennis. For tailgating, that might mean serving green cocktails (like a “Match Point Mojito”), using tennis-ball toothpicks in your snacks, and setting up a mini net for fun games before the real match.
What to serve at a Wimbledon party?
Strawberries and cream are the iconic Wimbledon treat, but you can also serve cucumber sandwiches, tea biscuits, and sparkling cocktails for a classy spread. Tailgaters can put a twist on tradition with strawberry shortcake cups or strawberries dipped in white chocolate for easy, on-the-go treats.
What to serve at a US Open Party?
The US Open calls for bold, American-style eats like sliders, hot dogs, and nachos. At a tailgate, you can make mini versions for easy sharing, or go all-in with a nacho bar where guests can pile on their own toppings. And don’t forget about the US Open signature cocktail, the honey deuce. Check out our guide for more ideas on how to throw U.S. Open party here.
What to serve at a French Open party?
French-inspired bites like quiche squares, croissants, and cheese boards fit perfectly. To make it tailgate-friendly, pack mini croissant sandwiches or offer a portable charcuterie tray so guests can snack between volleys.
From strawberries and cream at Wimbledon to sliders for the US Open, tennis-themed snacks can be as versatile as the tournaments themselves. Whether you’re tailgating in the lot or hosting friends at home, these ideas will keep your crowd fueled and ready to cheer through every set.
To help you get inspired for what to make, we put together a collection of tennis snacks to help. These snacks will keep you fueled up for the entire week. Here’s what to make:
1. Tennis Team Salsa
Everyone loves a good homemade salsa. Served up with chips, it’s an easy snack that you can munch on all week. This salsa recipe has a twist, it uses Italian dressing. Though it’s unconventional, it has a great flavour. We also recommend dipping veggies in it if you run out of chips.
2. Alain Ducasse’s Gougères
We like to think about Gougeres as the French version of a Cheddar Bay Biscuit. Made with cheese mixed into the dough, they are heavenly. Just like cheese biscuits they can be eaten on their own or served with any of your favorite dips. You can also use any kind of cheese you like. This gougère recipe uses cheddar and chipotle and they are dipped in a creamy cilantro lime dip. If you’re feeling extra ambitious, you can use them as slider buns.
3. Croque Monsieur Sliders
Speaking of sliders, why not make France’s most famous sandwich a slider. A Croque Monsieur is essentially a ham and cheese sandwich fried with garlic and mustard. It’s a perfect option to make a slider. If you want to make them Croque Madame sliders, just add some fried eggs. You could also do a pan with half and half.
4. Lattice Puff Pastry Tart
This lattice vegetable puff pastry tart isn’t just a pretty face! There’s a lot going on under the beautiful woven vegetable topper, and you are going to want a second slice of this savory puff pastry recipe! Puff pastry was actually invented in France, and this asparagus appetizer makes for the perfect spring recipe because of how bright and beautiful it is! It’s fluffy, cheesy, and an absolute joy to serve to party guests.
5. French Fry Bar
French fries are always a great snack. However, if you want to take them to the next level for your tailgate tennis party, try making a fry bar. Your favorite type of fries are served with an array of dipping sauces. The dipping sauces can be anything from ketchup and mayo to what our friends at The Pioneer Woman made, a Mexican-themed toppings selection. This will also provide a lot of variety, so you don’t feel like you are snacking on the same thing all week.
6. Baked Brie En Croute
Baked brie is one of those things that is so simple, but it’s always so impressive. Wrapped in pre-made puff pastry, brie and jam are baked into they are warm and gooey. Served with fruit, crackers, and bread, it’s a good idea to make more than one because it goes fast! Brie cheese originates from the region of Brie in France, where it has been produced for centuries.
7. Mini Quiche Four Ways
We love a flexible recipe because you don’t always have everything on hand. This recipe uses basic mini quiche recipes and then adds a variety of different ingredients for fun flavors. Mini quiches are perfect tailgating snacks. They are easy to make, easy to eat, and tasty!
8. Ratatouille Bruschetta
Thanks to Disney, Ratatouille is probably France’s most known dish. This blend of beautiful garden vegetables also makes a perfect garnish for bruschetta. This vegetarian tailgating appetizer is hearty, healthy, and delicious. It will be a hit at your tennis homegate.
9. Simple Tennis Ball Cookies
These impressive-looking cookies are simple enough for anyone to make. You simply baked round sugar cookies. Then you decorate with bright green and white frosting. Our favorite part about this recipe is it uses a no-chill sugar cookie dough. Though you could always use Pillsbury too to cut down on time.
10. Tennis Ball Cupcakes
If cookies aren’t your thing, consider making these tennis ball cupcakes. You can use any of your favorite cake recipes to make them. Decorating them is also very easy, even children can help! You simply mix food coloring, frosting, and coconut to make the ball and then add the lines with icing. So easy!
11. Tennis Court Cake
If you’d like to do something a little more challenging, why not make this tennis court cake? Decorated to look like a court, it even has a tennis net in the center. This sweet treat is for a more advanced baker, but there are some videos that you can follow along with to learn how to make it.
12. Tennis Ball Spinach Cakes
If you want something sweet but a little healthier, try these spinach cakes. Though spinach is an unusual ingredient for a sweet, the mild flavor is a perfect match with maple syrup. Using healthy ingredients that are shaped into a tennis ball, they are a cute and guilt-free way to enjoy dessert at the french open.
Bonus: Wimbledon Strawberries and Cream
Wimbledon strawberries and cream is an iconic tradition synonymous with the prestigious tennis tournament held annually in London. The combination of fresh, juicy strawberries and rich, velvety cream has been enjoyed by spectators and players alike for over a century.
These tennis-themed party snacks should help you get through the whole week of French Open matches. For more tasty tailgating food recipes and snack ideas, check out our food section. Our team at Inside Tailgating scours the internet looking for the tastiest things to make at your tailgate. Also if you have any favorite tennis treats for the French Open, let us know in the comments! We’d love to try your favorites too! Until next time, we hope your tailgate party is a game, set, match!
