My 15 Favorite Healthy Tailgate Recipes

Tis the season!

I'm a lover of all things football, fall, and.....snacks. Gameday snacks.

Tailgating is truly one of life's greatest pleasures. Food. Family and friends. Football. A beautiful excuse to get drunk at noon. All of which makes tailgating American AF. And whether or not you're a football fan, you can't deny how much fun it is.

Unfortunately, there's usually nothing healthy about tailgating other than the social interaction.

So I rounded up my favorite healthy tailgate recipes from around the web. Bring a dish so you've got options, and then fill your plate with proteins (like wings and burgers) and fatty dips like guacamole + veggies. The carby chips, bread, and brownies are what's gonna spike your blood sugar and make you overeat!

HEALTHY TAILGATE PICK: WINGS

Wings are always a top pick because they're a super filling source of protein and fat. And they're delicious. If you don't like wings, you're a weirdo.

Go with REAL wings though and make sure they're unbreaded. First of all, naked wings are better and crispier, second of all, breaded wings come with unnecessary carbs and extra oil (the breading will soak it up), and third of all, boneless wings are chicken nuggets. Do not kid yourself.

FAVORITE WING RECIPES:

• Lemon-Pepper Wings

• Crispy Baked Buffalo Wings by The Real Food RDs

• Honey-Lime Chicken Wings by PaleOMG

HEALTHY TAILGATE PICKS: FATTY DIPS

Dips are a tailgating must, but the stuff you buy at the store can be pretty horrific. (seriously, check the label on a Dean's Sour Cream and Onion Dip....yikes) Here are some easy, fatty dips to have with chopped veggies, kale chips, brussels sprouts chips, or my personal fav if you really wanna treat yourself - gluten-free pretzels.

FAVORITE DIP RECIPES:

• Herby Yogurt Ranch Dip

• Avocado Ranch Dip

• Buffalo Chicken Dip

HEALTHY TAILGATE PICKS: SLOW COOKER

The slow cooker is a tailgate staple. You can just bring the whole damn thing and find a plug. Plus - slow cooker recipes take almost no prep which gives these recipes an A++.

FAVORITE SLOW COOKER RECIPES:

• Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken

• Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Meatballs by PaleoLeap

• Slow Cooker Boiled Peanuts by 100 Days of Real Food

HEALTHY TAILGATE PICKS: THE GRILL

If you're not grilling, you're not tailgating. Loiter around that grill as much as possible - that's where you'll find the proteins and veggies! Skip the bun - wouldn't you rather have another beer instead? (or water bottle filled with vodka + a bag of lemons + a bottle of club soda + a red solo cup with ur name on it....not that I do that....every game....). (pictured: Chicken for EVERYTHING - not a grill recipe, but can totally be made on the grill)

FAVORITE GRILL RECIPES:

• Beer-Braised Brats with Quick Red Sauerkraut by Wholefully

• Thai Grilled Chicken by Root + Revel

• Easy Grilled Vegetables by Gimme Some Oven

HEALTHY TAILGATE PICKS: SWEET TREATS

If you need a dessert, here's some lower sugar, high (healthy) fat options that won't keep you going back for more. If you're drinking alcohol, I highly recommend you skip the sweets. With alcohol in your system, you'll be storing any excess sugar as fat. However, these options will do the least amount of damage.

FAVORITE SWEET TREAT RECIPES: 

• Chocolate Hazelnut Brownies by Rachel Good Nutrition

• Homemade Chocolate by Body Unburdened

• Oatmeal Cookie Dough Bites

What are your favorite healthy tailgate recipes? Hit me in the comments.