Bite-sized snacks are perfect tailgate food for football fans of all ages. You don’t want your guests to fill up on snacks before you’re finished glazing your famous ribs. Finger foods are also the perfect portion size for kids. They let kids try different things and it’s not a big waste if they don’t like them. No worries about wasted game day food though, because even the pickiest kids will love the snack-sized tailgate menu we’ve put together. Here are over 20 of our favorite bite-sized tailgating snacks (and a couple of fun alternatives for the more adventurous chefs) to try on your next tailgate.
1. Pull-Apart Pigs In A Blanket
Pigs in a blanket are a classic kid favorite. These all-in-one mini hot dogs taste excellent dipped in queso or your favorite hot dog toppings like mustard, ketchup, and relish. They come together quickly and appeal to both young and old tailgaters. If you have any vegan or vegetarian guests, there is also this tasty Vegetarian Version you can try.
2. Mini Nachos – Individual
Who doesn’t love a giant plate of nachos with everything? These mini nachos are the perfect tailgating snack because they have all the toppings of a loaded plate but in a manageable snack size. They’re also made in the oven to save you time and trouble with simple ingredients including tortilla chips, grilled chicken, black beans, and cheese. The best part about these individual nachos is that since you get your own little mound, you don’t have to worry about anyone hogging all of the guac!
3. Crispy Taco Cups
Tacos are always a favorite of kids and adults alike at tailgates. These mini taco cups are made in a muffin tin with wonton wrappers for easy eating. Fully customizable, you can put any of your favorite toppings in the cup. Another great taco option for seafood lovers is these Mini Shrimp Tacos.
4. Crab Cake Stuffed Lemons
Speaking of kid-friendly, these adorable crab cake stuffed lemons make the perfect mess-free tailgating appetizer! The lemon shell is used as the vessel for the crab cakes, and they can be made ahead of time so you can spend more time with your guests during the big game. Plus they are the perfect size for little hands.
5. Mini Potato Skins
A hearty platter of potato skins are a must-have at any tailgating party. These bite-sized mini potato skins are loaded with bacon, cheddar cheese, sour cream, and green onion, for the perfect bite every time. Plus they are mini, so you can serve more people and appeal to the younger tailgaters!
6. Gooey Mac And Cheese Bites
If we were to guess the most popular food among kids, we’re sure it’s mac and cheese. However, mac and cheese is really messy, especially for the little ones. Mac and cheese balls contain the mess into bite-sized portions that are ideal for tailgating snacks. And with comforting ingredients like cheese, butter, a mix of panko and Italian bread crumbs, and elbow macaroni these mac and cheese bites are a crowd pleaser for adults too! You could even make these in the air fryer if you are trying to cut down on the fat content. Additionally, try a classic style of these fun macaroni and cheese pretzel bites with bacon.
7. Mini Meatball Sliders
Sliders are already mini burgers, but meatball sliders are even more mini. These bite-sized burgers made with ground beef, marinara sauce, panko, and mozzarella are a perfect tailgating snack. If you’d like to mix it up, we recommend the Saucy Sesame Meatballs. We also love these mini French Dip Sliders. So tasty!
8. Brown Sugar Glazed Turkey Meatballs
Speaking of meatballs, we can also just skip the bun. These sweet and savory glazed turkey meatballs are great for kids and those looking to avoid carbs. Served with toothpicks, you don’t even have to set out silverware. We always love tailgating recipes with fewer dishes to wash at the end of the night. Plus, if you want to make them ahead, you can easily use a slow cooker to keep them warm.
9. Bite-Sized Caprese
Looking for some lighter fare? Add a salad to your tailgating appetizer table with these delicious Caprese salad skewers. Caprese bites are super easy to make, just load a skewer with basil, tomatoes, and mozzarella and top with the olive oil and vinegar dressing.If you’re not a Caprese person, try these Wedge Salad Skewers.
10. Grilled Corn Crab Fritters
We don’t really think about corn fritters as tailgating snacks, but they should be. These crab-loaded bites are great dipped in sour cream. They can be a little messy for kids. Be sure to serve with plenty of napkins.
11. Avocado Egg Rolls
These avocado egg rolls with included dip recipe are an easy remake of a classic tailgating favorite. They’re super simple to make you can even recruit the kids to help. Served with a creamy cilantro ranch, you can also dunk these in salsa, sour cream, and soy sauce.
12. Salty Crispy Chicken Poppers
Love fried chicken? Make a mini version with these salty crispy poppers. You can modify this recipe to make your favorite fried chicken recipe only smaller. Just make sure to have plenty of dipping sauce options.
13. Mini Chicken And Waffles
For morning games, why not bust out a classic. They’re not from Roscoe’s but these bites will be famous at your tailgate. They are perfect for any celebration or brunch, and they are always a huge hit with kids! To save on time, we use store bought waffles and make the fried chicken from scratch..
14. Classic Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs are one of the most popular tailgating snacks for a reason. They are super easy to make and everyone loves them. This classic deviled eggs recipe combines a few simple ingredients for a hearty and addictive snack. You can even experiment with them and add other flavors like with these Bacon Guacamole Deviled Eggs.
15. Pretzel Bites With Beer Cheese Dip
There’s nothing we love more than a giant stadium pretzel dipped in beer cheese. However, if you eat one of those you’re good for the game. These bite-size versions are a great option to get all the flavor of your favorite stadium snack without filling you up.
16. Cheesy Potato Bacon Bites
We never thought about using waffle fries as an appetizer base until we saw these. Loaded with cheese and bacon, these bites are super easy to assemble and taste incredible. Let us know in the comments what else you think we could put on top of waffle fries.
17. Crab Hush Puppies
Hushpuppies are one of our favorites at the fish fry, so why not make them for tailgates. Hushpuppies are easy to make and can be served with a range of dips. We particularly love these because they are made with crab.
18. Asparagus Puff Pastry Cigars
Want to be fancy without the work of being fancy? These tailgating snacks will take you only minutes to make but they will impress anyone. They’re also a great way to sneak some healthy veggies in for the kids.
19. Mozzarella Sticks
Mozzarella sticks are always one of the first dishes to go. These golden and crispy homemade mozzarella sticks are easy to make and are dippable in a variety of different sauces! It doesn’t get much more simple than this, and this recipe is guaranteed to get you some Instagram-worthy cheese pulls. If you’re looking for a new way to serve mozzarella sticks, try giving them an Indian twist with these Fried Sticks Paneer Sticks.
20. Fried Ravioli
If we’re talking about fried tailgating snacks, we definitely have to include fried ravioli. These crispy cheese raviolis are coated in seasoned breadcrumbs and are then fried to golden perfection. You can use your favorite brand of refrigerated ravioli to save time, or you can make your own ravioli.
Bonus Tailgate Dessert Ideas:
Before we finish up the list, we’d be remiss if we didn’t include some tasty tailgate food ideas for dessert like these Mini Cheesecakes. If you want to dress them up, try these Girl Scout Samoas Cheesecake Bites. If you want dessert but are on a diet, you can also make these Keto Mini Snickers Bites.
We hope you enjoy these bite-sized tailgating snacks as much as we do. These are a great way to feed the kids without making a big mess. They’re also a great way for adults to enjoy some food without filling up. For more tailgating snack recipes, make sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and check out our Amazon Storefront.
Let us know in the comments how what snacks you tried!
