The U.S. Open is one of the most exciting matches in professional tennis. Last year’s U.S. Open saw underdog Emma Raducanu win the title against all odds. This year, the U.S. Open runs from August 29th-September 11 and it is sure to be just as thrilling. If it’s anything like last year though, you’re gonna need some food energy to power you through the ups and downs of the tournament. Here are some tailgate party food ideas to serve up at your U.S. Open homegate.
1. The Best Lobster Rolls
The BEST Lobster Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 Lb Frozen Lobster Meat, thawed or cooked meat from two 1 1/2 – 2 LB Live Lobsters
- 1/4 Cup Minced Celery
- 1/4 Cup Mayonnaise
- 1 Tbsp Minced Chives
- 1 Tbsp Lemon Juice
- 1 Tsp Lemon Zest
- 1/4 Tsp Kosher Salt
- 4 Split-top Brioche, New England style hot dog buns
- 1/4 Tsp Ground Black Pepper
- 4 Tbsp Butter, divided
Notes
The U.S. Open will be held in Brookline, Massachusetts at The Country Club this year. What’s the tastiest tailgate party food in Massachusetts? Lobster rolls! Lobster rolls are a favorite at the U.S. Open because they are fresh, filling, and a little fancy. This recipe is really indulgent as it uses both mayonnaise and butter. Served on hot dog buns and topped with chives, your guests will love them!
2. Honey-Fried Chicken
Crispy Honey-Glazed Fried Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp Salt
- 3 Tbsp Black Pepper
- 2 Tbsp Onion Powder
- 2 Tbsp Garlic Powder
- 3 Tbsp Paprika
- 2 Tbsp Ground Cumin
- 2 Tbsp Dried Oregano
- 2 Tsp Cayenne Powder
- 3 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 4 Bone in, Skin on, Chicken Thighs
- 3 Cups Buttermilk
- Peanut or Vegetable Oil, for frying
- Honey, for serving
Notes
Another favorite at the U.S. Open is Honey Fried Chicken. This tailgate party food recipe is inspired by the famous chicken sandwich at Fuku by Chef David Chang. No one knows the secret to his amazing chicken, but we do know that it is loaded with spices and honey. This recipe for honey-fried chicken is about as close to the real thing you can get. Serve it on a bun with extra pickles and spicy mayo and you’ll see why everyone raves about this sandwich!
3. Pat LaFrieda’s Filet Mignon Sandwich
Filet Mignon Steak Sandwich
Ingredients
- 4 Tbsp Canola or Other Neutral-Flavored Oil
- 2 Large Sweet Yellow Onions or Spanish Onions, thinly sliced
- 6 Oz Thinly Sliced Monterey Jack Cheese
- 1 Cup Beef Stock
- 1 1/2 Tsp Balsamic Glaze
- 12 Filet Medallions (1 1/2" thick)
- 1 Tbsp Kosher Salt
- 1/2 Tsp Turbinado Sugar or Light Brown Sugar
- 4 Demi-Baguettes
Notes
Another famous sandwich you can find at the U.S. Open is Chef Pat LaFrieda’s filet mignon sandwich. This hearty steak sandwich by this renowned New York butcher has been a staple at the U.S. Open for years. It’s hearty with a blend of sweet and salty pair beautifully with this delicate cut of meat. This tailgate party food is perfect for all the meat lovers on your tailgating team.
4. Mario Carbone’s Italian Sandwiches
Mario Carbone’s Italian Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 1 Italian Hero Roll, toasted and cut in half
- 3 Thin Slices Pepperoni
- 3 Thin Slices Sopressata
- 3 Thin Slices Genoa Salami
- 4 Thin Slices Ham
- 3 Thin Slices Mortadella
- 3 Thin Slices Provolone Cheese
- 3 Tbsp Sliced Sweet Peppers
- 2 Thin Slices Tomato
- 1/4 Cup Shredded Iceberg Lettuce
- 2 Oz Italian Red Wine Vinaigrette
Notes
Finally, to round out your sandwich platter, we look to Chef Mario Carbone for inspiration. Mario serves two different Italian-inspired sandwiches at the US Open. The first is a classic Italian sandwich combo made with Mario’s Zesty Marinade. The second is an indulgent grilled cheese loaded with fresh herbs. You can find the recipes for both here. These are unbelievably good, we highly recommend adding them to your homegate menu.
5. US Open’s Chicken Tikka Masala
Chicken Tikka Masala
Ingredients
For Chicken
- 1 1/2 – 2 Lbs Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs
- 1 Tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1 Tsp Paprika or Chili Powder
- Kosher Salt (to taste)
- 2 Tbsp Butter
For Marinade
- 1 Cup Greek Yogurt
- 1/2 Tsp Garlic Paste
- 1/2 Tsp Garam Masala Powder
- 1 Tsp Paprika or Chili Powder
- 2 Tbsp Fresh Ginger Paste
- 2 Tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice
- 2 Tbsp Mustard Oil
For Tikka Masala Sauce
- 10 Tbsp Butter
- 1 Tbsp Fresh Ginger Paste
- 4-5 Chopped Green Chile Peppers
- 1 Tbsp Paprika or Chili Powder
- Kosher Salt (to taste)
- 1/2 Tsp Dried Fenugreek Leaves
- 1 Tbsp Whole Garam Masala
- 1/2 Tsp Garam Masala Powder
- 1 Tbsp Garlic Paste
- 2 Tbsp Honey
- 1 Cup Heavy Cream
- 14 Oz Tomato Puree
Notes
Another favorite at the match comes from the Executive Chef at Emirates Airlines Ravi Nage. Now we don’t exactly think of airline food as tasty, but this award-winning chef begs to differ. His authentic chicken tikka masala is a hit on and off the course. Spicy marinated chicken is smothered in a fresh yogurt sauce over rice. It’s exactly what you need to mix it up while you are watching mixed doubles.
6. Heirloom Tomatoes And Watermelon Salad
Heirloom Tomatoes And Watermelon Salad
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Local Heirloom Tomato Brandywine, Sun Gold, German Green
- 8 Oz Murray's Burrata
- 1 Tsp Maldon Sea Salt
- 1 Cup Sugar Baby Watermelon
- 1 Cup Yellow Doll Watermelon
- 3 Tbsp Laudemio Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 Tbsp Mussini 30 yr old Balsamic Vinegar
- Black Pepper (to taste)
Notes
For a little lighter fare, this fresh salad made with seasonal ingredients is a great option for your homegate. Blending the sweet taste of watermelon with the umami of tomato, this salad is very refreshing on a hot day. The creamy salty flavor of the burrata makes this dish even more flavorful. Serve as a side or as a feature dish for vegetarians.
7. Skirt Steak Pinwheels
Skirt Steak Pinwheels
Ingredients
- 2 Outside Skirt Steaks (1 1/2 Lb each)
- 2 Tsp Kosher Salt
- 1 Tsp Black Pepper
- 8 Oz Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese
- 4 Lemons
- 1 1/2 Cups Finely Chopped Fresh Flat Leaf Parsley
Notes
If you’re looking for a tailgate party food appetizer with more appeal than a bowl of chips, pinwheels are great. They are super easy to make. You just loaded the tortilla or flatbread up with your favorite ingredients. Then roll, slice, and serve. These skirt steak pinwheels are a little different as they do not use any tortillas or flatbread to roll. They are perfect for your gluten-free and keto friends.
8. Macaroni Pie
Macaroni Pie
Ingredients
- 1 Lb Sweet Grandpa Italian Style Pork Sausages
- Kosher Salt (for pasta water)
- 1 Lb Spaghetti
- 6 Large Eggs
- 1 Cup Grated Pecorino Romano Cheese
- 4 Tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- 6 Oz Sliced Genoa Salami, julienned
- 1/2 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil, or as needed
Notes
Imagine being able to serve spaghetti without the mess at your next homegate. That’s where macaroni pie comes in. Macaroni pie is a favorite at the U.S. Open. It’s a baked pasta dish using spaghetti, Italian sausage, and salami that you can serve by the slice. It’s a delicious way to enjoy pasta without having to use up all your napkins!
9. Tennis Doughnuts
Tennis-Inspired Donuts
Equipment
- Doughnut Pan
- 10 x 16 Chrome-Plated Cooling Rack
- Round Cake Decorating Tip 4
- Decorating Bags
Ingredients
- 1 Oz Lemon Yellow Icing Color
- 1 Oz Leaf Green Icing Color
- Vanilla Glazed Baked Cake Donuts
Notes
Looking for a dessert to round out your tailgate party food selection? These tennis doughnuts are great. Decorated to look like tennis balls, these make-ahead treats are perfect to serve to complete your U.S. Open meal. The best part is that you don’t have to be a decorating expert to make these look good. Anyone can do this design.
10. Tennis Ball Peach Cupcakes
Tennis Ball Peach Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 100 G Butter
- 100 G Caster Sugar
- 2 Eggs, beaten
- 100 G Self-Rising Flour
- 75 G Tinned Peaches, finely chopped
For The Icing
- 150 G Butter
- 275 G Icing Sugar, plus 5 TBSP extra for piping
- Few drops of yellow food coloring
Notes
Don’t put away the cake decorating bag just yet! Another great option to serve as a dessert is these tennis ball cupcakes. Made with fresh seasonal peaches, these cupcakes will round out your tailgate meal. If peach isn’t your thing, you could always make classic vanilla cupcakes but we definitely recommend the peach!
11. The Honey Deuce
The Honey Deuce
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 Oz Grey Goose Vodka
- 3 Oz Fresh Squeezed Lemonade
- 1/2 Oz Chambord or Premium Raspberry Liqueur
- Crushed Ice
- Frozen Honeydew Melon Balls, for garnish
Notes
It wouldn’t be a tailgate party list without a few tasty cocktails to serve. The Honey Deuce is a famous cocktail and has been considered the tournament’s signature cocktail. The Honey deuce is essentially a boozy raspberry lemonade filled with melon balls. Be careful with this one. It’s so tasty, it’s easy to overindulge!
12. After Hours Tennis Club Cocktail
After-Hours Tennis Club
Ingredients
- 2 Oz Strawberry and Arbol Chile Infused Pimm's No. 1 Liqueur
- 1 Oz Cask-Strength Bourbon
- 2 Dashes Orange Bitters
- 1 Dash Angostura Bitters
- Orange Twist and Chile De Arbol, for garnish
Notes
If vodka isn’t your thing, then maybe you’ll love this cocktail inspired by the Pimm’s Cup at Wimbledon. Using bourbon, this cocktail packs more of a punch than the classic Pimm’s Cup. It’s perfect to serve with the filet mignon sandwich or steak pinwheels. It’s also a great cocktail to relax with while you watch the match.
These tailgate party foods and treats will power you through the entire week of matches at the U.S. Open. For more recipes, make sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and check out our Amazon Storefront.
We share tons of great tips, tailgate party food recipes, and menu ideas for all your upcoming tailgate and homegate parties.
Let us know in the comments what you plan on serving at the U.S. Open!