25 tasty tailgate recipes for Ducks and Beavers game day: Best of Recipe Box (2024)

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Best tailgate party recipes for Ducks, Beavers game day

College football season is finally here! Whether you're a fan of the Oregon Ducks, the Oregon State Beavers, or some other team, there's one sure way to celebrate fall home games -- a tailgate party. We've featured plenty of great game-day recipes over the years. Here are 25 of our favorites.

-- Grant Butler

Greg Dupree, Oxford House

Sriracha drumsticks

Here's a new tailgate favorite, from Daina Falk's "The Hungry Fan's Game Day Cookbook." Her initial inspiration for the dish was classic Buffalo wings, but she gave them an Asian twist and made them with chicken legs to give them more substance.

Recipe: Honey-Sriracha-Teriyaki Drumsticks.

Frankie Frankeny, Chronicle Books

A perfect bowl of chili

Steaming bowls of chili are a game-day essential, especially when fall weather turns chilly. We first shared this Chicken and Black Bean Chili recipe back in 2008, and it's been a favorite ever since. It's a crowd-pleaser, and it's a visual stunner, with the additions of corn and avocado transforming a bowl of red sauce into a fiesta of color.

Recipe: Chicken and Black Bean Chili With Corn, Avocado and Chipotle.

Southern Living

Veggie lasagna

Casserole dishes are a perfect tailgate party dish because they can be made ahead and they travel well. This lasagna is has terrific fall flavors like sweet potato and butternut squash.

Recipe: Roasted Vegetable Lasagna.

Nathan Hostler, Special to The Oregonian/OregonLive

Grilled sausage sandwiches

Grilled fare is a big part of college game day, and spicy sausages are always popular. One of this year's hottest grilling trends is Choripan, a South American sausage sandwich that's paired with green salsa and chimichurri.

Recipe: Choripan.

Greg Dupree, Oxford House

Monster brisket sandwiches

Here's another fun new recipe from Daina Falk's "The Hungry Fan's Game Day Cookbook." She was inspired by the barbecued beef brisket you find in Austin, Texas. To complete the Lone Star theme, she piles it high on thick slices of Texas toast. The brisket can be made ahead of time, and the toast grilled to order at the tailgate party.

Recipe: Texas Toast Brisket Sandwiches.

Brent Wojahn, The Oregonian/OregonLive

Spicy Jambalaya

This is Oregon, so chances are good that at least one vegetarian or vegan is coming to your tailgate party. They'll appreciate the effort with this spicy, make-ahead casserole dish, which gets its spiciness from Field Roast Mexican Chipotle Grain Meat Sausages.

Recipe: Jambalaya Bake.

Matthew Mead, The Associated Press

Buffalo mushrooms

This appetizer from columnist Melissa d’Arabian is a healthy riff on hot wings, which is filling without being overloaded with fat. It can be prepped at home and reheated at the tailgate party, since it travels well.

Recipe: Buffalo Chicken and Kale-Stuffed Mushrooms.

Doug Beghtel, The Oregonian/OregonLive

Green rice casserole

The original recipe for this dish dates back more than 50 years and comes from the long-gone Kansas City-area restaurant Stephenson's Apple Farm. This updated version uses plant-based substitutions for the dairy and egg, without compromising the dish's vibrant flavors.

Recipe: Stephenson's Apple Farm Green Rice Casserole.

Greg Dupree, Oxford House

Hearty quesadillas

What would happen if you blended hearty Shepherd's Pie with cheesy quesadillas? You'd get this fun mash-up recipe from Daina Falk's "The Hungry Fan's Game Day Cookbook," which is perfect tailgate fare when the weather gets chillier.

Recipe: Shepherd's Pie Quesadilla Bites.

Nathan Hostler, Special to The Oregonian/OregonLive

Queso dip

This mash-up queso recipe includes elements of dip recipes from Food Network’s Marcela Valladolid and Bobby Flay. Instead of white wine, we thought substituting a light Mexican beer would be more in step with football’s biggest day.

Recipe: Queso Fundito.

Grant Butler

No cheese "queso"

Hot cheesy dip is a game-day classic. But instead of bricks of scary Velveeta, this all-vegan dip from Isa Chandra Moskowitz uses cashews for its rich and smooth base, and it’s all dressed up with onion, pepper, garlic and jalapeno. Just the right level of heat.

Recipe: Cashew Queso.

Jessica Greif

Taco dip

Seven-layer dip is tailgate classic, and this one can be made with regular cheese and sour cream, or using vegan Mexican-style cheese shreds and non-dairy sour cream to make it vegan. Either way, have plenty of scoop-style chips and veggie sticks for dishing up this delicious warm dip.

Recipe: Seven-Layer Black Bean Taco Dip.

Matthew Mead, The Associated Press

No-fry Buffalo wings

Want to serve tailgate hot wings without dealing with frying? These easy-to-make party wings bake in the oven on a wire rack, which allows air to circulate around them, guaranteeing crispy skin. All you need then is the right sauce for dunking.

Recipe: Hands-Off Party Wings.

Alicia Ross, Kitchen Scoop

Tricked-out mushrooms

These tricked-out mushrooms are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. First, the mushrooms are marinated in balsamic vinegar and Dijon mustard, then roasted in the oven. As a finishing touch, they’re broiled with cheese melted on top. Prep 'em at home, then rewarm at the tailgate party.

Recipe: Marvelous Marinated Mushrooms.

Jessica Greif

Trendy piggies

We came up with these updated Pigs in a Blanket for the Super Bowl earlier this year, but they're perfect for college game day. The secret to this recipe is arranging the triangles of refrigerated crescent roll dough on a baking sheet in a large circle, so that they resemble the rays of the sun. Then you top the dough with a mixture of cream cheese and blue cheese, plus bite-sized pieces of your favorite sausage and Monterey Jack.

Recipe: Pigs in a Blanket Crescent Ring.

Matthew Mead, The Associated Press

Burrito appetizers

Gigantic burritos aren’t too messy and unwieldy for a tailgate party, but these mini beef and bean burritos are great finger food. Perfect for nibbling while waiting for more-substantial game-day fare to come off the grill.

Recipe: Bean and Beef Burritos.

Matthew Mead, The Associated Press

Korean hot wings

These chicken wings are made with gochujang, a Korean answer to ketchup that’s become a darling of the food world, thanks to its mix of heat, sweet, savory and smoke. Add some chilled cucumber spears dressed lightly with sesame oil and salt.

Recipe: Korean-Style Chicken Wings.

Matthew Mead, The Associated Press

BBQ bites

These boneless chicken appetizers combine Buffalo chicken wings with barbecued baby back ribs. They’re loaded with flavor and are easy to make, and they travel well.

Recipe: Easy Boneless Barbecue Bites.

Matthew Mead, The Associated Press

Guacamole boats

Fully loaded potato skins and guacamole are favorite game-day snacks. This genius combination from Alison Ladman brings them together for bite-sized fun. Figure on at least four boats per party guest. These will go quickly!

Recipe: Guacamole Potato Boats.

Leo Gong

Sriracha 'Shrooms

Stuffed mushrooms get a vegan twist with this spicy recipe from hot sauce mad-man Randy Clemens. They can be assembled at home, then warmed up at the tailgate party. To make them, you'll also need this recipe for co*ck Sauce Cashew Cheeze, which is delicious on its own, too.

Recipe: Stuffed Sriracha 'Shrooms.

William Morrow Cookbooks

Brisket sliders

Were you among the legion of folks who got an electric pressure cooker for Christmas last year? It's a great addition to your tailgate equipment if you have access to electricity. You can put it to work with these amazingly easy brisket sliders from celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse. When the brisket is ready, serve it on slider buns with your favorite slaw.

Recipe: Emeril's Fastest BBQ Brisket.

David Malosh

Artichoke dip

Recipes for hot artichoke dip have been passed down for generations, yet the familiar starter is always a celebratory crowd-pleaser. This recipe from Martha Stewart is a perfect addition to a tailgate party because it travels well and feeds a small army of football fans.

Recipe: Hot Artichoke Dip.

Matthew Mead, The Associated Press

Fiery shrimp

These jumbo shrimp get their fire from finely chopped red bird’s eye, serrano or habanero chilies – you get to pick your poison. The dish cooks quickly, and is delicious either hot or cold.

Recipes: Chili Jumbo Shrimp.

Matthew Mead, The Associated Press

Beer-steamed sliders

Sliders make great tailgate snacks because they offer the satisfaction of a hamburger in just a few bites. But because they are small, they can turn dry. Sara Moulton solves the problem with this genius recipe, which steams the beef patties in beer.

Recipe: Beer-Steamed Cheese and Mushroom Beef Sliders.

Jessica Greif

Buffalo chicken dip

We saved the best for last! This crowd-pleasing dip is loaded with shredded rotisserie chicken, red hot sauce, ranch dressing and cream cheese. It's like deconstructed Buffalo wings. Don't skimp on the scoop-style corn chips. You'll need a mountain of 'em.

Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Dip.