Touchdown Football Tailgate Spread

Featured in: Weekend Warm Bakes

This vibrant football tailgate spread brings together crispy chicken wings seasoned with smoked paprika and garlic powder, loaded potato skins topped with cheddar and bacon, smoky cocktail sausages glazed in barbecue sauce, and a fresh veggie platter with creamy chive and ranch dips. Perfectly arranged for sharing, it combines a variety of savory and crunchy flavors to elevate any gathering. Cooking involves baking, simmering, and simple prepping to deliver a satisfying and festive appetizer selection.

Updated on Tue, 02 Dec 2025 08:10:00 GMT
Close-up of a delicious touchdown football tailgate spread, wings, skins, and sausages look irresistible. Save to Pinterest
Close-up of a delicious touchdown football tailgate spread, wings, skins, and sausages look irresistible. | citrushearth.com

A festive and crowd-pleasing platter featuring classic game day favorites—perfect for sharing at your next football tailgate. Includes crispy chicken wings, loaded potato skins, smoky sausages, fresh veggie sticks, and creamy dips.

This platter is always a hit at our family tailgates and brings everyone together to enjoy good food and great football.

Ingredients

  • Chicken Wings: 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs) chicken wings separated at joints tips removed, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper
  • Potato Skins: 4 large russet potatoes, 2 tbsp olive oil, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp pepper, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 4 strips bacon cooked and crumbled, 2 green onions sliced
  • Mini Sausages: 400 g (14 oz) smoked cocktail sausages, ½ cup barbecue sauce
  • Veggie Platter: 2 cups celery sticks, 2 cups carrot sticks, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, 1 cup cucumber slices
  • Dips: 1 cup sour cream, ½ cup mayonnaise, 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives, 1 tbsp lemon juice, Salt and pepper to taste, 1 cup ranch dressing

Instructions

Step 1:
Preheat oven to 220°C (425°F)
Step 2:
Toss chicken wings with olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Arrange on a baking sheet and bake for 40 45 minutes, turning halfway, until golden and crisp
Step 3:
Scrub potatoes, prick with a fork, and bake directly on the oven rack for 1 hour or until tender. Let cool slightly, cut in half, and scoop out most of the flesh, leaving 1 cm (½ inch) shell
Step 4:
Brush potato skins with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and place skin side down on a baking sheet. Fill each with cheddar cheese and bacon. Return to oven for 10 minutes, until cheese melts. Sprinkle with green onions
Step 5:
Meanwhile, combine smoked sausages with barbecue sauce in a small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 8 10 minutes, stirring occasionally
Step 6:
Arrange celery, carrot, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber on a large serving platter
Step 7:
For the chive dip, mix sour cream, mayonnaise, chives, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Place ranch dressing in a separate bowl
Step 8:
Arrange wings, potato skins, sausages, and veggie sticks on a large platter. Serve with dips on the side
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This spread always sparks fun conversations and cheers among friends and family at our tailgate parties.

Required Tools

Baking sheets Saucepan Mixing bowls Sharp knife Cutting board Serving platter

Allergen Information

Contains Dairy (cheese sour cream ranch) Eggs (mayonnaise ranch) Gluten (sausages may contain gluten) Pork (bacon sausages). Always check ingredient labels for hidden allergens

Nutritional Information

Calories 560 Total Fat 32 g Carbohydrates 34 g Protein 32 g per serving

A large platter overflowing with a hearty touchdown football tailgate spread, ideal for sharing with friends. Save to Pinterest
A large platter overflowing with a hearty touchdown football tailgate spread, ideal for sharing with friends. | citrushearth.com

This Tailgate Spread is perfect for making game days unforgettable and easy to prepare for any crowd.

Recipe FAQs

How do I make the chicken wings crispy?

Toss the wings with olive oil and seasonings, then bake at 220°C (425°F) for 40–45 minutes, turning halfway to ensure even crispness.

What type of cheese works best for the potato skins?

Sharp shredded cheddar provides a rich flavor and melts wonderfully over the potato skins when baked.

Can the sausages be prepared in advance?

Yes, sausages can be simmered with barbecue sauce ahead of time and gently reheated before serving.

What fresh veggies are included on the platter?

Celery sticks, carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber slices create a crisp, colorful veggie selection.

How is the chive dip made?

Mix sour cream, mayonnaise, fresh chopped chives, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to create a creamy, tangy dip.

Touchdown Football Tailgate Spread

A crowd-pleasing game day platter featuring wings, potato skins, sausages, veggies, and dips.

Prep duration
30 minutes
Time to cook
60 minutes
Overall time
90 minutes
Created by Elise Porter


Skill level Easy

Cuisine Type American

Makes 8 Number of servings

Dietary details None specified

What Goes In

Chicken Wings

01 3.3 lbs chicken wings, separated at joints, tips removed
02 2 tbsp olive oil
03 1 tsp garlic powder
04 1 tsp smoked paprika
05 1 tsp salt
06 ½ tsp black pepper

Potato Skins

01 4 large russet potatoes
02 2 tbsp olive oil
03 ½ tsp salt
04 ½ tsp black pepper
05 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
06 4 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
07 2 green onions, sliced

Mini Sausages

01 14 oz smoked cocktail sausages
02 ½ cup barbecue sauce

Veggie Platter

01 2 cups celery sticks
02 2 cups carrot sticks
03 1 cup cherry tomatoes
04 1 cup cucumber slices

Dips

01 1 cup sour cream
02 ½ cup mayonnaise
03 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives
04 1 tbsp lemon juice
05 Salt and pepper to taste
06 1 cup ranch dressing

How to Make It

Step 01

Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 425°F.

Step 02

Prepare and Bake Chicken Wings: Toss chicken wings with olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Arrange wings on a baking sheet and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, turning halfway through, until golden and crispy.

Step 03

Bake Potatoes: Scrub russet potatoes and prick them with a fork. Bake directly on the oven rack for 1 hour or until tender. Let cool slightly, cut in half, and scoop out most of the flesh, leaving a ½-inch shell.

Step 04

Prepare and Bake Potato Skins: Brush potato skins with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and place skin side down on a baking sheet. Fill each with shredded cheddar cheese and crumbled bacon. Return to the oven for 10 minutes until the cheese melts. Garnish with sliced green onions.

Step 05

Simmer Mini Sausages: Combine smoked sausages and barbecue sauce in a small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 06

Arrange Veggie Platter: Arrange celery sticks, carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber slices on a large serving platter.

Step 07

Prepare Dips: In a small bowl, mix sour cream, mayonnaise, chopped chives, lemon juice, salt, and pepper for the chive dip. Pour ranch dressing into a separate bowl.

Step 08

Assemble Platter: Arrange the baked chicken wings, potato skins, simmered sausages, and veggie sticks on a large serving platter. Serve with the prepared dips on the side.

What You’ll Need

  • Baking sheets
  • Saucepan
  • Mixing bowls
  • Sharp knife
  • Cutting board
  • Serving platter

Allergy details

Double-check ingredients for allergens; talk with your doctor if you’re uncertain.
  • Contains dairy (cheese, sour cream, ranch), eggs (mayonnaise, ranch), gluten (sausages may contain), and pork (bacon, sausages). Always check ingredient labels for hidden allergens.

Nutrition info (for each serving)

Nutrition data is for reference and isn’t meant as health advice.
  • Calorie count: 560
  • Fat content: 32 grams
  • Carbohydrates: 34 grams
  • Protein amount: 32 grams