Football season is approaching faster than a Pro Bowl running back. And while there’s still ample time to enjoy a great summer cocktail or barbecue under the stars, a different kind of outdoor eating tradition is nearly here. That’s right, tailgating season.
This means it’s the time of year for pregame outdoor cookouts, whether it’s in your backyard or at the stadium itself. No disrespect to hot dogs and cold beer, but we’re ready to elevate our tailgating game. So we reached out to some chefs in the know. And not just any chefs — we’re talking superior culinary minds from some of the top tailgating towns in existence.
We pulled some pro insights and tips on all things tailgating from The Driskill in Austin, Aba, with locations in the football-loving towns of Chicago, Miami, and Austin, and a few other spots. Here’s what we learned, plus a couple of tailgating food recipes to try out, below.
Common tailgating mistakes
Chef Alondra Martinez works at the 1886 Cafe and Bakery at The Driskill. Martinez said it’s all about heat management, among other things. “For folks cooking cheeseburgers during their tailgate and using an outdoor grill, a common mistake is not setting up the hot and cold part of the grill. When firing up the grill, set a third of the burners to high heat and the rest to medium-low heat.”
Why? “The goal is to start getting a good sear on the patty and utilizing the hottest part of the grill will help you achieve this,” Martinez explained. “But keep in mind that it’s important to have the cold part of the grill set up to transfer the patty if it starts to get too charred. Add cheese at the end of the cooking process. Melting the cheese on the patty does not take long once you have reached the desired internal temperature of the burger.”
What does that perfect cheeseburger look like? “I like to keep the burger on the cold side of the grill, then add the cheese to the patty, close the lid of the grill, and wait 30 seconds to one minute,” Martinez said. “My advice is to let the patty rest for a few minutes after you pull it out from the grill. This will help to ensure that the juices distribute evenly. Once it has been rested, then you can build the perfect tailgating cheeseburger!”
Tools of the tailgating trade
For Driskill chef Mark Dayanandan, it’s all about the right equipment. “A big spacious grill is best so that you have flexibility on levels of heat,” he said. “You want power on the grill so you can use it when needed, however, you also want the option to have several different temps for various products. Some items require a quick sear, then a slow cook.”
“As far as other features, I’m really a gadget guy,” he admited. “So I want all of the smoke boxes, rotisseries, burners for pans of sauce and an option of putting a French flat top of a section to avoid direct heat. I’m not fussy about wi-fi as I have been cooking for 45 years so I’m an old chef who just wants to cook by hand and feel.”
On the home front, he has a smart fuel hookup. “At my house, I have an attachment that would allow me to connect the grill to gas from my kitchen, therefore, saving on the cost of buying propane tanks. Cleanup of charcoal is a messy job — plus it requires a waiting period for the charcoal to cool off.”
More tailgating wisdom
C.J. Jacobson is a chef and partner with Aba. He reminded us to keep things simple. “Don’t try and get too fancy with it,” he said. “Bring something to your tailgate that is pre-cooked like short rib or pork belly where all you need to do is finish it on the grill.”
Oh, and have a good bit of flavor-enhancing liquid as the ready. “Then, always have a sauce that can solve problems,” he continues. “My favorite combo to have on hand is kecap manis or pomegranate molasses.” The former, for those who aren’t familiar, is a sweeter kind of soy sauce.
Jacobson reminds that a clean grill is a good grill. Scrub hard and you’ll just be left with some carbon, “which you can remove by brushing the grates with an oiled cloth,” he said. And you can knock out those hot and cold areas with charcoal too, if that’s your approach. “Shift the coals to one side of the grill,” he says. “This allows for a high heat side and a ‘cooking through’ or ‘resting’ side. ”
The executive sous chef at The Driskill, Iain Reddick is full of tailgating advice. For starters, don’t forget the tin foil as it’s more versatile than you might think. “Use it for covering meat when resting, wrapping leftover food, and, in a pinch, tin foil can also be fashioned into a plate,” he explained. He also suggests marinating your meat the day before as it can be hard to find a sink and soap at a tailgate. If chili is on the menu, serve it in a bread bowl as it adds a tasty addition and reduces waste. Lastly, Reddick recommends finding your grill’s hotspots, as it tends to be different from grill to grill.
On cooking vegetables
With vegetables, as with meats, it’s all about prep. If you’re hosting a tailgate in your backyard it’s less important but if you’re headed out on the road, prepare the veggies beforehand. In other words, peel and cut to your liking, and add a little olive oil or lemon juice to keep things fresh in transit.
If you’re grilling, which you probably are, go with grill-friendly veggies like large mushrooms, zucchini, onion, bell pepper, asparagus, and the like. Also consider pre-batching great vegetable dishes like homemade salsa, artichoke dip, and tzatziki.
Remember that classic sides like chimichurri do well with vegetables as well as meats. “For the non-meat eaters, I recommend a slow grill then peeled eggplant smothered in Achiote, soy, and shallot salsa – it’s an amazing substitute for meat,” Dayanandan said.
Proper storage
It’s hard to imagine tailgating without a cooler but proper storage goes above and beyond this staple item. While a big vessel to hold ice and perishables is key, separation and organization within are equally important. Get your hands on some Tupperware or similar containers (W&P’s freezer cubes are ideal) and label things like a Michelin-starred chef with some blue tape and a marker.
Solo cups are fine but there are more sustainable options, so consider a good set of insulated or stainless steel cups, great for everything from beer and cocktails to wine. Always travel with wet naps and if you can, create both a compost and recycling setup that you can shlep back to your house (pack in and pack out doesn’t just apply to camping).
Storage allows you to bring home extra food as well. Nobody wants a good rack of ribs to go to waste. So in addition to the foil, mentioned above, bring and reuse Ziploc bags, a smaller grill brush, a meat thermometer, a headlamp, and a small fire extinguisher, just to be safe.
Beyond barbecue
By all means, go with classic Americana like burgers, steaks, and wings. But expand your horizons with things beyond grillables. This is a good route as it adds something a little different to the group cookout and can even save room (if you’re not towing a grill around in the first place). There’s a slew of great things you can set up beforehand with minimal effort that can be assembled at the gathering and still taste fresh.
What to bring? Tacos are a great option, either with standard proteins or plant-based options. Add a little lemon juice to add-ons like diced onion to keep them in good shape en route to the game and brown bag those tortillas so they don’t dry out. BLTs are another stellar option, as are teriyaki and bento (rice dishes are great and you can even prepare rice in a thermos if you’re short on supplies).
And don’t forget the dips, as they’ll be useful to any number of scoop-ready edibles, from chips to pita bread. Instead of a boring store-bought salsa or guacamole, make one up fresh and incorporate seasonal ingredients like fresh corn and tomatoes. Whip up a group-pleaser like cowboy caviar or an herbed labneh dip.
PB&J wings
This playful recipe comes courtesy of Feges BBQ in Houston. The dish mixes all of the best things, from peanut butter and jelly to wings and even Sriracha.
Ingredients
- 2 dozen chicken wings
- 1/2 cup toasted peanuts
Wing sauce
- 42 ounces grape jelly
- 16 ounces creamy peanut butter
- 5 1/2 ounces Sriracha (the Sriracha sauce shortage is about over now)
Method
- Smoke the wings at 200 degrees Fahrenheit with post oak until they reach 155 degrees Fahrenhe internal temperature. This is approximately 1 1/2 hours, depending on the size of the wings. If you don’t have a smoker, bake in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenhe for 20-25 minutes or until they reach 155 degrees Fahrenhe internal temperature.
- Meanwhile, mix all the wing sauce ingredients in a food processor until smooth. This will stay good in the refrigerator for two weeks.
- Toss cooked wings in sauce, and garnish with toasted peanuts.
Damn Good Margarita
This recipe from Levi Goode of Goode Co. in Houston is the ultimate tailgating beverage. “Too often, frozen margaritas are either too watery or too icy,” Goode said. “The trick is finding the right ratio between booze, sugar, and dilution. Sugar creates body, and if dialed in correctly you get a velvety smooth texture. Dilution is needed, otherwise, your drink will not freeze and just be a really cold liquid, too much though and you’ve now got shaved ice with the booze separating away. Lastly, of course, is the booze, the right ratio to the previous two will keep the whole thing from freezing over and/or becoming too thick. You can get super fancy here and get a small device that will tell you what your brix levels are, but the most fun and rewarding way is through trial and error.”
Ingredients
- 2 cups Blanco Tequila
- 1/2 cup orange liqueur
- 1 cup fresh lime juice
- 1/2 cup light agave syrup
- 2 cups crushed (Sonic-style) ice
Method
- Combine all in a blender, Vitamix if you have it, and let it rip until smooth.
