Take Your Tailgate Party to the Next Level w/ These Two Recipes + Tips
Some might argue that the real point of going to a football game is to sit back and have a few cold ones. Sure, the game is fun and exciting, but having some drinks out of the back of your car in a parking lot is just some of the most chill times that you can have during the fall and winter. And, don’t even get us started about grilling out and eating until it’s hard to walk!
So, in order to help to elevate your Tailgate Party game, we’re very happy to share some of our tips, as well as recipes for their Triple-Threat Touchdown Chili and Cranberry Kicker Jello Shot.
Score a Touchdown!
Seasoned Tailgaters always come prepared—and so should you! Here are some key items to stock up on before you head out:
Disposable Coolers
Heavy Duty Trash Bags
Water Bottles—Freeze some to use in place of ice in coolers that you can drink as they melt
Use a drink holder to hold 4 plastic cups filled with cutlery or fixins for tailgate staples like chili
Triple-Threat Touchdown Chili
Chili is a staple of any tailgate party—our recipe has a spicy kick to it, but the beer adds a deep, rich flavor that keeps them coming back for more!
Ingredients:
2 lb. ground Beef
1 lb. ground Turkey
2 large Onions, diced
3 Jalapenos, finely chopped, seeds removed
7 cloves Garlic, smashed and chopped
1 ½ quarts canned, diced Tomatoes with juice
1 8 oz can Tomato Sauce
½ C Water
2 Red Peppers
2 Yellow Peppers
2 bottles dark or imported Beer
¼ C Chili Powder
¼ C ground Cumin
¼ C ground Coriander
2 16 oz cans Red Kidney Beans
¾ stick Butter
Salt & Pepper
Directions:
Season the ground beef + turkey with salt & pepper and brown in a sauté pan. When browned and cooked through, place in a colander to drain. Set aside.
Dice peppers and sauté in oil on high temperature just long enough to give a little color. Set aside.
In a large sauce pot, melt butter and sauté onions and jalapenos. As the onions begin to brown, add garlic and cook for 5 more minutes. Add chili, cumin and coriander and stir to incorporate. Add beer and let cook down by half then add tomatoes, tomato sauce + water.
Simmer for 30 – 45 minutes on medium, stirring frequently. Stir frequently to avoid sticking. Add ground beef and kidney beans and stew for 20-30 minutes. Season to taste, for more of a kick, add ground cayenne pepper. Lastly, add red and yellow peppers.
Suggested Garnishes ~ serve in bowls on the side
Sour Cream, Shredded Cheddar Cheese, Shredded Jack Cheese, Diced Sweet Onions, Crumbled Tortilla Chips, Sliced Scallions, Cilantro leaves, Diced Tomatoes, Avocados
Cranberry Kicker Jello Shot
If you want to try a more ‘adult’ jello shot from our liquid kitchen—try this delicious, fall-inspired jello shot. Beware! These tiny tailgate treasures pack some major touchdown punch!
Ingredients:
1 qt Cranberry Juice
½ C Triple Sec
1 C Vodka
½ C Roses Lime Juice
1.5 oz unflavored Gelatin
Directions:
Line a glass Pyrex dish with plastic wrap. Press it perfectly flat on the bottom, up the sides and then over the edge. Set aside.
Heat the cranberry juice in a saucepan almost to a boil and then remove from the heat. Sprinkle gelatin into the hot juice and stir until completely dissolved.
Let cool. Stir in the vodka, triple sec and lime juice.
Pour the liquid mixture into the Pyrex and chill in the refrigerator until set, about 8-12 hours. Once the mixture is set, invert the dish onto a cutting board, remove the plastic wrap and cut into whatever shape you’d like. You can use metal cookie cutters or cut free-hand with a knife. Serve on trays or store in mini plastic sauce containers.