Tailgate food ideas for a crowd: what travels well and what it costs

The best tailgate food ideas for a crowd are the ones that need no grill and no plates: boxed lunches at $14.50 each, Pinwheel Sandwiches, $79 a tray, 60 pieces, and a Cheese & Sausage Tray, $79, 120 pieces. A cold spread for 20 with drinks comes to $301.80 before tax. If you want hot food in the parking lot, a tray of BBQ Pulled Pork with buns works, but you need a way to keep it warm. Call (630) 553-9533.

What makes tailgate food different

Think about the lot, not the kitchen. There is no counter, no sink and often no shade. People eat standing, with a drink in the other hand, and the food sits in a trunk for a few hours before the game. So pick food that:

• Is fine at room temperature or cold.
• Can be eaten with one hand.
• Does not need a knife, a ladle or a second dish.
• Packs flat in a car.

Most of our cold platters already work this way. Hot trays are fine too, but plan how you will keep them hot.

Three ways to feed 20

Boxed lunche Our Boxed Lunch come individually boxed on fresh baked French rolls. Basic Boxed Lunch is $14.50 each, Executive Boxed Lunch is $16.50 each, and the minimum is 20 boxes. For 20, that is $290 or $330. Nobody shares a tray, and everyone knows what they got.

A cold spread. This is the one most tailgates end up wanting.

• 1 tray Pinwheel Sandwiches: $79, 60 pieces (3 each)
• 1 Cheese & Sausage Tray: $79, 120 pieces (6 each)
• 1 tray Potato Salad: $49
• 1 tray Assorted Home Baked Cookies: $45, 40 count
• 20 Soft Drinks at $2.49: $49.80

That totals $301.80, about $15.09 a person. With 9.25% sales tax it is $329.72. Swap the potato salad for Fresh Vegetable Crudités, $59, if you want something lighter.

Hot sliders. One tray of BBQ Pulled Pork, $95, serves 20, and one tray of Slider Sandwich Buns is $12 for 24. That is $107 for 20 guests. Add a Chafing Dish Set at $17 to hold the pork hot. Ask us when you order what you need to hold it hot where you park. For slider math at other sizes, see pulled pork sliders for a crowd.

Add one sweet and one fruit

Cookies are the easiest dessert because they need no plate. Brownies, $59, 35 count, are good if you have napkins. For something fresh in warm weather, a Watermelon Wedge Platter, $59, 40 to 45 pieces, is listed as vegan and gluten-free, and a Seasonal Fresh Fruit Display is $74.

Drinks

Soft Drinks and Bottled Water are $2.49 each. For a bigger group, Iced Tea, Punch or Lemonade is $89 for 50 6-oz servings, cups included, which works out to about $1.78 a serving. Bring your own cooler or dispenser stand for that.

Ordering

Trays and platters have no minimum, and boxed lunches start at 20 boxes. We need about three days' notice. Most tailgate orders are pick-up at our kitchen in Yorkville, which keeps it simple, though delivery can be quoted when you order. For a game on a Saturday, pick up Friday, since we close at 2 on Saturdays. Other fall ideas are in fall party food ideas. When you know your numbers, send a request on the quote page. More on the drop-off options is under drop-off catering.

Questions

What is the easiest tailgate food for a crowd?

Boxed lunches, because every person gets their own and there is nothing to serve. Pinwheels and a cheese tray are the next easiest.

How much tailgate food do I need per person?

We plan about 3 to 4 pieces of finger food plus a sandwich or a box per guest, more for a long pre-game. It is a planning guide, so round up if the day is long.

Will cold food stay safe in the car?

Keep cold trays in a cooler and out of the sun. We cannot control the time they sit after pick-up, so plan to serve soon after you arrive.

Do you sell grills, coolers or decorations?

No. We sell food, plates, napkins, silverware and serving tools.