The most fun week in baseball is almost here! The MLB All-Star Game, the Midsummer Classic, is coming on July 19th and we’re super excited for this year. If you wanna join in the fun, here’s the full schedule. It’s gonna be a fun week watching celebrities, pro baseball players, and some of baseball’s biggest legends compete. It’s also a great excuse to hold a tailgate party! If you’re thinking about hosting an MLB All-Star Tailgate, here are some tailgate party ideas to get you started.
1. Stream The Games Live
First, you want to make sure that you can tune in to all the action. The games will be live on Fox and ESPN. If you don’t have cable and just use streaming platforms, it is difficult to know how to watch the games live. Check out how to watch here. Now that you’re prepared to watch the games, let’s get into the more exciting options for hosting the party.
2. Make Some Homemade Baseball Stadium Favorites
There are must-have foods for any baseball game. But, creating stadium favorites at home can be a challenge. These homemade recipes can bring the stadium feel to your living room.
Chicago-Style Hot Dog
Chicago-Style Hot Dog
Ingredients
- All Beef Hot Dogs
- Poppy Seed Hot Dog Buns
- Yellow Mustard
- Sweet Green Pickle Relish
- Chopped Onion
- Tomato Wedges
- Pickle Spear
- Sport Peppers
- Celery Salt
Notes
A mouth-watering classic comes from the Windy City, the Chicago-Style Hot Dog. The classic all-beef frank and poppy-seed bun isn’t complete without the mile-high toppings of choice. This recipe includes condiments, pickle spears, onions, and potatoes. Don’t be afraid to add a few more favorites like sliced jalapenos, sauerkraut, and spicy dijon mustard to add a personal touch.
Beer-Cooked Bratwurst
Beer-Cooked Bratwurst
Ingredients
- 4 Good Quality Bratwurst
- 2 Tsp Olive Oil
- 3 Brown Onions, peeled and sliced thinly
- 1 TBSP Butter
- 2/3 Cup Beer
- Crusty Bread Rolls And Mustard, to serve
Notes
Bratwursts have many options now available. From the classic pork to cheese-stuffed beef, you can elevate the taste of any bratwurst by cooking it with a beer, or cider, there are many options to create your pairing. With the toppings, keep it simple with some caramelized onions and dijon mustard. This classic dish will have you thinking you’re at the game.
Carne Asada Loaded Fries
CARNE ASADA FRIES
Ingredients
- 1 Bag Frozen Fries
- 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 4 Oz Top Sirloin Or Fast Fry Steaks (about 1/2 inch thick)
- 2 Tsp Chili Powder
- 1/2 Tsp Salt And Pepper
- 1/2 Cup Cheddar Cheese, grated
- 1 Fresh Jalapeno Pepper, sliced
- 1/4 Cup Sour Cream
- 1/3 Cup Cilantro, chopped
Pico De Gallo
- 3 Vine Or Plum Tomatoes, chopped
- 1 Small Yellow Onion, diced
- 1 Tbsp Lime Juice
- 1/4 Cup Chopped Fresh Cilantro
- 1/2 Tsp Salt
Guacamole
- 2 Avocados, mashed
- 1-2 Tbsp Lime Juice
- 1 Small Red Onion, diced
- 1 Clove Garlic, minced
- 1/2 Tsp Salt
Notes
Baseball comfort foods are always a home run. The crispy fries lightly salted only get better with tender carne asada covering them. Let your guests add cheese, sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo, and jalapenos to complete the dish. Better make a double batch as this crowd favorite goes quick!
Hot Pretzels With Sweet Mustard And Cheese Sauce
Hot Pretzels With Sweet Mustard And Cheese Sauce
Ingredients
Homemade Soft Pretzels
- 1 1/2 Cup Warm Water (110 to 115 degrees)
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 2 Tsp Kosher Salt
- 1 Pkg Active Dry Yeast
- 22 Oz All-Purpose Flour, approximately 4 1/2 cups
- 2 Oz Unsalted Butter, melted
- Vegetable Oil, to grease the pan
- 10 Cups Water
- 2/3 Cups Baking Soda
- 1 Large Egg Yolk beaten with 1 tbsp water
- Pretzel Salt
Sweet Mustard Sauce
- 1/4 Cup Mayo
- 1/4 Cup Dijon Mustard
- 3 Tbsp Packed Light Brown Sugar
- 1/2 Tsp Cider Vinegar
Cheese Sauce
- 2 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
- 2 Tbsp All-Purpose Flour
- 1 Cup Whole Milk
- 8 Oz Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded from a block
- Kosher Salt
Notes
A warm pretzel with a dipping cheese sauce and sweet mustard is one of the reasons people love going to the stadium to watch the game. This easy recipe is suitable for people of any cooking skill level or you can purchase pretzels, depending on your comfort level.
3. Serve Your Dishes In Style
The tastiest tailgate dishes deserve to be served on the coolest dishware. One of the simplest baseball tailgate party ideas is to get themed serving ware for all the different dishes. Here are some of our favorites that will bring the All-Star Game spirit to your tailgate.
Baseball “Concession Stand” Decor
This disposable set will make clean-up easy. It comes with everything you need including cups, plates, and silverware. It also has streamers, wall decor, and a sign to help direct people to the food station. Easy to put up and easy to take down. We love easy.
Baseball Ceramic Chip And Dip Plate
Chips and dips are standard tailgate party fare. Whether you like a classic Lays with French onion dip, tortilla chips, and salsa, or a secret recipe you make every game, this dish is the perfect way to serve it. If for some reason you aren’t serving chips and ships, this is still a great set because it can be used in two pieces.
Referee Shirt Tray
Another fun serving platter is this referee shirt tray. This is ideal for serving appetizers like jalapeno poppers, chicken wings, or sliders. If you bought a couple, they’d also make fun snack plates for your tailgate guests.
Melamine Baseball Plates
Melamine plates are great for tailgating. They’re easy to clean and tough to break. That’s why we love these baseball-shaped melamine plates. They bring all the spirit of the game, without any headaches. They’re also a great size to load up on all your favorite snacks.
Baseball Cups With Straws
These are arguably more for the tailgating kids, but we had to include them. These cups are round baseballs with a flexi-straw. They are great to give to kids to help avoid spills. They’d also be great for tipsy adults to help avoid spills. Cute, portable, and baseball-themed. What’s not to love?
4. Compete To Go Pro With These Backyard Games
Do you have what it takes to make it to the MLB? Give your skills a test with some baseball-themed backyard games. Perfect for the pregame and any downtime, these games will test all of your baseball skills.
Bulz-i-Bucket
Bulz-i-Bucket is a game that tests your ability to throw. It works a little bit like cornhole where you face off with another player. You’ll toss the baseball-shaped sandbags into the buckets for different points. The one with the most points wins.
Baseball Toss
If you really want to test your pitching skills, grab a baseball toss. Baseball toss works like football toss but instead, you use a baseball. You can team up or play one-on-one–the choice is yours. Either way, the winner could be drafted as the next all-star pitcher.
Sweet Spot Baseball Backyard Homerun Kit
If you’re not really a pitcher, but definitely a grand slam hitter, then the Sweet Spot is the perfect backyard game for you. You’ll need a bit of space, so keep this one at the back of the lot or in a larger backyard. You’ll take turns hitting and see who is the best batter in your tailgating league.
These tailgate party ideas will help you and your tailgating team have even more fun at the MLB All-Stars games. For more tailgate party ideas, check out the “Tips” section of our website.
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Are you watching the MLB All-Stars Games? Let us know in the comments!