We’re breaking out our best Black folks’ tailgate food roster on this game day with these insanely delicious and hearty Southern soul food tailgate recipes!
These game-day food classics and new delicious ideas will spice up your tailgating menu, from easy appetizers to hearty meat dishes, sweet desserts, and finger-licking dips.
Why is it called tailgate food?
In American football, the stadium parking lot is called the tailgate lot.
The concept of tailgating is to have a picnic before the game. People used this concept and started eating at the stadium before the game. Since the food is consumed in a tailgate lot, it’s called tailgate food.
Is tailgating an American thing?
Tailgating is a way of life for many people in the United States. It’s a way for people to socialize by dining outside in the stadium parking lot.
Thus, food culture in the United States has been influenced by tailgating at the stadiums.
What is an HBCU tailgate event?
HBCUs are historically Black colleges and universities founded with the mission of educating African American students.
Historically, HBCUs are also higher learning institutions for African Americans, embodying Black culture and Black excellence.
HBCU tailgating is an event (mainly in the fall and spring) that encourages students to come together for food, fun, music, and fellowship through the best classic soul food recipes and Southern grilled foods.
For most HBCUs, tailgates are usually sporting events, but others are centered around the arts and culture.
How do you have a good tailgate party?
The essentials include:
Food
Family & friends
Music
Team color attire or decorations
Countertop appliances or a grill
Pro tip: Serious tailgaters will also say you need an electric generator!
With the above essentials, there’s nothing like a collegiate HBCU cookout or Southern tailgate food party with people you know, things you love, and as much food as you can eat!
HBCU tailgates are traditions that are unique, dynamic, and varied. An event that promotes unity, bonding, and fellowship among students, alums, and friends of the HBCU.
Tailgate parties bring friends and family together to enjoy the festive atmosphere and share their passion for their favorite teams.
It’s a great way to do the traditional pre-game food and drink while having the most fun and fanfare together.
What is good football food?
Because game day food is the main attraction of pre-kickoff, you don’t have to set up tents on your front lawn to host or have a good time.
Grilled foods and cookout recipes were traditionally at the heart of any Southern tailgate food party.
How do you tailgate without a grill?
Today, with innovative appliances that travel well to keep food warm, like Instant Pots and air fryers, tailgate food does not necessarily have to be prepared on the grill.
What food is good for tailgating?
Since tailgating is a type of game day party where people get together before the game with the food as the center point of the get-together, the food should be easy to eat and carry in an outdoor setting.
That’s why finger foods and foods you can easily scoop into a paper cup or bowl are often best for tailgating recipes.
What is considered a finger food?
Small, individual portions of food that are eaten out of hand and ideally do not create a mess and do not require utensils such as knives, plates, and forks.
Finger foods are optimal for tailgating because they’re easy to eat while standing up.
Southern sweet tea is a delicious blend of refreshingly sweet and tangy flavors. (Mostly sweet flavors when it comes to making Black folks Southern sweet tea!)But sweet ice tea is more than just a thirst-quenching beverage – it's a symbol of Southern hospitality and good company, and it's enjoyed throughout the deep South all year."All that sweet tea and cobbler!"
What is the official drink of Juneteenth? Southern hibiscus sweet tea. It's a delicious red drink, and hibiscus flowers are native to West Africa. So, hibiscus tea has been part of Black culture since the beginning!
Juneteenth red foods and drinks are not only delicious, but they are also symbolic. Red is one of the primary colors used by African Americans to celebrate Juneteenth Black History, including this easy-to-make Juneteenth watermelon red soda recipe.
Black folks like sweet recipes, so it's no wonder that we've signed on for this fruity and often sparkly Italian wine. And like we always do, started creating our own Black folks' recipes - like moscato sangria!#BlackFolksSwag
Join the kings and queens of Wakanda and take in African flavor-packed meals of Wakanda Forever food! Starting with the purple juice of the ancient Heart-Shaped Herb known to give strength to the legacy of Black Panther kings. This is the recipe for vibranium drink!
Copycat Starbucks white hot chocolate – easy to order & even easier to make at home in the Instant Pot! Why spend your hard-earned bucks on one little cup of deliciousness when you can make it at home for less?
What is fruit infused water? Fruit infused water, detox water, also called fruit flavored water is any combination of fruits, veggies or herbs immersed in drinking water.
Black folks' soul food Southern deviled eggs start as hard-boiled eggs mashed. Then they're seasoned to perfection and stuffed back into the egg whites for a delicious and flavorful snack!
Cornbread is best served the Black folks' way! With Sunday soul food dinners and Thanksgiving staples like fresh cranberry sauce, Southern-style green beans, and homemade stuffing. Give your next meal the Southern comfort it deserves with this warm, sweet, and flavorful recipe!
This cornbread recipe with corn is my go-to for a soul food Thanksgiving menu, Christmas dinner, and Sunday Southern dinners all throughout the year!You’ll never want another dry slice of bread again!
This savory and sweet pumpkin dip recipe is made with cowboy caviar (salsa, black beans, corn), cream cheese, shredded cheese & pumpkin puree. An Instant Pot easy appetizer perfect for a Southern Thanksgiving!
Charcuterie boards, by definition, have cold cuts or meats. Your boards don’t have to include meats; you can have holiday treats, breakfast food, desserts, candy, hot chocolates, dinner food or s’mores, to name a few creative charcuterie board ideas.
Steve Harvey shares his easy homemade BBQ sauce recipe.This Southern BBQ sauce is perfect for slathering your favorite meats for Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, or any other holiday! You'll have enough leftover sauce to store in a mason jar and share!
No, you don't have to go to a restaurant when you crave Southern BBQ.Thanks to this easy Southern soul food BBQ chicken recipe, you can bring the same deliciousness of savory BBQ flavors home to your kitchen.
A Black folks’ Southern pulled BBQ chicken recipe is the epitome of finger-lickin’ good! This is the ultimate in no-fail BBQ chicken recipes, whether you’re making this dish from scratch or with leftover BBQ chicken.
What makes a Southern soul food burger?A Southern soul food homemade burger is made with savory bell pepper & sweet onion for a thick, juicy, tender, well-seasoned ground beef patty.
Southern cheddar ranch burgers - Instant Pot burgers are effortless, like so many Instant Pot ground beef recipes.Put 'em in the pot, walk away, and return to serve up major deliciousness! Perfect today for a dining-out-like experience served comfortably at home.
Thanksgiving doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. Black folks Instant Pot turkey legs are an easy alternative to a whole turkey. A welcome addition to your Southern soul food Thanksgiving menu!
Curry chicken mango kabobs are the perfect summer appetizer - or main dish- no matter what type of event you're hosting!The flavor combination of sweet and savory chicken with mango, red onion, cilantro, and bell peppers all skewered together on wooden or metal skewers make a fantastic appetizer or main course for your next friend's and family get together!
African-Americans have been hosting gatherings with soul food low country shrimp boils for years. Often called a Southern shrimp boil Big Easy!I love low country boils because they have all my favorite flavors – spicy sausage, tender shrimp, and sweet corn.
Nothing's more Louisiana than gumbo! A classic Southern dish and culinary staple in The Big Easy.This easy gumbo recipe is Cajun cooking combined with Creole seasoning & spicy Thai flavors – served over rice and pressure cooker ready in only 15 minutes!
This Southern stuffed peppers recipe may seem like a fancy dish at first glance – but take another look… They're an old-fashioned Southern meal homemade with ingredients you can easily find in your pantry!
Black folks Southern potato salad recipe is a must-have for any African American cookout, family reunion, picnic, or potluck! It’s a creamy yet tangy dressing balanced by soul food seasonings and flavors. AKA Black cookout potato salad!
What can you add to baked beans for flavor?The answer is in this Southern soul food baked beans recipe!Because the main difference between delicious soul food baked beans and mediocre baked beans is the preparation and seasoning.
How do Black people make coleslaw?With lots of flavor! Black folks’ soul food Southern coleslaw is a classic recipe perfect for pairing with smokey BBQ meats and a great accompaniment with a pulled pork sandwich.
How do you make Black macaroni salad?Black folks' soul food macaroni salad includes flavorful ingredients like sweet carrots, savory onions, and diced celery. Plus, mayo, mustard, and seasonings like thyme, celery salt, and cayenne pepper pack a delicious punch with a tiny touch of sweet heat!
Soul food Southern pasta with Italian dressing and savory shrimp is a Black folks' creative way to make a flavorful soul food pasta dish you've come to expect from your favorite African American cookouts and family gatherings!
African American grandmas and moms have been producing great pots of soul food Southern mac and cheese for years!It just might've gotten lost how impactful this recipe is to the Black community.
Are you craving the perfect chicken salad?A Black folks' Southern chicken salad goes beyond the mayo and chicken chunks! It's packed with flavor and just the right amount of savory, sweet, and crunch.
Add to the menu a tangy and sweet Southern soul food tomato watermelon salad for your next outdoor BBQ party!Summertime is all about the refreshing flavors of juicy watermelon and tangy tomatoes. This recipe for tomato watermelon salad with feta cheese, pickled onions, pickled peppers, and zesty cilantro is a classy Southern dish, perfect for any occasion!
Experience the rich taste of soul food by way of a simple yet flavorful staple dish. Black folks' soul food red beans and rice. A dish that will make your mouth water when you smell the aroma of savory seasonings and spices as the red kidney beans soak in the rich flavors of this dish!
Soul food Southern black eyed peas are intensely flavored in a thick sauce with smokey & spicy seasonings. Warm, comforting, & flavorful good luck you can eat for prosperity in the New Year!
This Southern creamed corn casserole has a sweet corn flavor with onion and garlic for a rich, savory, soul food taste. Add sour cream for a creamy melt-in-your-mouth pudding and parmesan cheese for the cornbread crust.
Candied yams are an old-fashioned Southern African-American recipe. A sweet potato soul food side dish cooked to perfection in a cinnamon-brown sugar glaze.
What makes this a soul food specialty? It’s gotta be the spices! Cinnamon, brown sugar, nutmeg, and vanilla combine with fresh apples to make Black folks baked apple slices.
Black folks, Southern green beans are not just another bland green vegetable! And with Instant Pot, they're ready in only 2 mins with no compromise to the irresistible Southern soul food flavors!
A Black folks' Southern cabbage recipe is a delicious way to enjoy one of the South's favorite side dishes that's warm and sweet with savory soul food flavors!
This homemade creamed corn recipe is sure to be the hit of your next get-together. What’s the best thing about this recipe other than the Southern soul food flavors?The taste is fresh and vibrant because it’s made easily from scratch!
What is a Southern soul food pig pickin cake? It's a homemade, moist yellow cake with whipped pineapple frosting, vanilla pudding & sweet mandarin oranges baked in. Pig pikckin is a one-of-a-kind cake as unique as its name and the official dessert of Southern pig roasts and pig pickins!
How to make banana pudding the Black wayYou'll never be able to look at other banana pudding the same way once you've tried this soul food delicious delight - Southern banana pudding prepared the Black way!
This chocolate banana pudding recipe is as quick and easy as the original soul food banana pudding recipe. You simply add an additional layer of chocolate pudding and crunchy buttery Nilla Wafers for pure chocolate bliss!
This soul food dessert and the darling favorite of the South is loaded with fresh, juicy peaches and topped with a light and airy cinnamon sugar crust. A cobbler so delicious, you may want to eat it all. All by yourself!
Red velvet cake is considered to be soul food of the South! A Black folks' Southern red velvet cake is a made-from-scratch decadent red sponge cake with homemade cream cheese frosting. A cake that's just sweet enough to be irresistible!
What makes this apple pie a Southern soul food specialty?The flavor! This soul food apple pie recipe features fresh apples sweetened with brown sugar and spiced with a blend of cinnamon and nutmeg. Seasoned to perfection, the apples are roasted and then baked in the pie to leave you reminiscing on the best Southern dinners!
A Black folks’ sweet potato pie recipe is a delightful Thanksgiving and Christmas dessert packed with flavorful seasonings and spices in the tradition of Black folks’ soul food cooking.
Similar to our original Black Folks' Sweet Potato Pie, this Southern sweet potato pie recipe is made with fresh sweet potatoes and soul food spices and seasonings. But for this recipe, it's the Southern charm added to the pie after it bakes...A thin layer of homemade cream cheese frosting is spread on top to savor the sweet taste of Southern hospitality!
Ambrosia salad is a Southern dessert made with tropical and citrus fruits like mandarin orange, pineapple, and shredded coconut. While ambrosia of the gods bestowed immortality on all who ate it. Human ambrosia simply bestows a very divine and refreshing taste after fried chicken and potato salad!
One of the healthiest recipes known on Earth is fruit popsicles. You can prepare homemade fruit popsicles with as little as five essential ingredients you already have in your refrigerator, like blueberries, raspberries and blackberries.
What are Black folks tea cakes?An African American Southern dessert, Black folks tea cake is a sweet little biscuit. Light, airy, and sometimes compared to soda bread or pound cake. Tea cakes are a traditional African American treat that dates back to the 1600s.
TikTok dessert recipe for Booty Dip: An easy, no-bake chocolate chip marshmallow dip perfect for all holidays made by simply mixing cream cheese, brown sugar, whipped cream, marshmallow fluff and chocolate chips. AKA: Big Booty Dip!
Nobody eats because there are lukewarm hot dogs, hamburgers, and cold chicken wings!
Wondering how you heat food at a tailgate?
If you’re a tailgater, here are a few solutions to keep your food warm throughout the party.
Make sure you use disposable foil and trays to insulate your food through transport.
Use an Instant Pot, Crockpot, or air fryer appliance to keep food hot at home or your tailgate if you have electricity.
Coolers can also keep hot food hot by trapping and retaining heat.
What is American tailgate food?
American tailgating is about having fun with friends and family while enjoying delicious food and drinks.
There are plenty of American tailgate party foods to choose from, so you can easily find something to please everyone, especially among these flavorful soul food Southern tailgate food recipes!
What is soul food? Soul food recipes are African-American recipes full of flavor! A legacy of Southern cooking the Black way. Check out this collection of the best soul food recipes!
We're breaking out our best game-day tailgate roster with these insanely delicious and hearty Southern soul food tailgate recipes!Starting with easy Southern BBQ chicken wings with savory soul food flavors for your next tailgate party.
Air fryer, Instant Pot Omni Plus oven/air fryer, or conventional oven
Ingredients
12chicken wings
2tablespoonsseasoning saltFamous Dave’s Country Roast Chicken Seasoning or similar (Contains soulful flavors such as paprika, mustard seed, garlic powder, onion powder, bell pepper, and lemon zest all in one!)
2tablespoonsgarlic & herb seasoningWeber Seasoning Roasted Garlic & Herb, or similar
In a small bowl, mix the chicken seasoning and the garlic & herb seasoning.
Rub the seasoning mixture on the chicken pieces to coat them.
Then use a basting brush to coat the chicken with the BBQ sauce.
Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil, or if you have an air fryer tray or baking sheet, line it with parchment paper and then spray the paper.
Place the chicken wings in or on the air fryer basket or tray.
Air fry at 350 degrees F for a total of 30 minutes.
Halfway through, after about 15 minutes, flip the wings over in the air fryer and return to cooking.
Air fry at 350 degrees for the remaining 15 minutes.
Serve this Southern soul food BBQ chicken wings recipe right away, and enjoy!
Video
Notes
How do you make soft BBQ chicken?Optionally, you can use the below instructions and marinate the chicken in a buttermilk brine to tenderize it before adding the BBQ sauce.This additional step is easiest with an Instant Pot electric pressure cooker.Instructions for a buttermilk marinade chicken brine
To make homemade buttermilk, use 3 cups of milk and 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. In a medium-sized bowl, stir the two ingredients together and let them sit for 5 minutes.
Open the Instant Pot lid and add the buttermilk and 1 teaspoon of salt to the stainless steel inner pot.
Add the chicken pieces, skin-side up, to the pot with the buttermilk. (No Instant Pot? No problem! – allow the chicken to marinate in the buttermilk for 4 hours to overnight.)
Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is in the sealing position – up) and pressure cook on high for 20 minutes.
When the cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for at least 10 minutes.
To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
Remove the chicken from the Instant Pot (you can discard the buttermilk) and set the chicken pieces aside on a rimmed baking sheet to cool off to the touch.
You can make the buttermilk for this recipe yourself. Because let’s be real – it’s not a common pantry ingredient!Buttermilk for this recipe: ½ cup of buttermilk = ½ cup of milk + ½ tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Stir and let it sit for 5 minutes. What can you substitute for the poultry and herb seasonings?You can use your favorite all-purpose seasoning or a combination of these soul food seasonings to make 4 tablespoons. Homemade soul food chicken seasoning:
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