The Ultimate Vegan Tailgating Guide

Football season serves up some of the best mouthwatering comfort food of the season! The Ultimate Vegan Tailgating Guide delivers on the foods we love from the grill, Mexican flavor, burgers and more!

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Football season has arrived and with it the delicious, lip-smacking ‘football foods’ to enjoy at home or tailgating before your favorite team’s game. There isn’t anything more fun than hanging out with friends over great food and drink at a tailgate party; unless you are vegan. Generally, most tailgating fare is meat-focused or with cheesy overtones that leave our meatless friends hoping for a vegetable platter at best.

This doesn’t have to be the case and in fact I’ve rounded up the Ultimate Vegan Tailgating Guide for recipes that are vegan-friendly but that everyone will love! Note for gluten-free readers: modify non BoulderLocavore.com vegan recipes (linked recipes) as needed.

The Ultimate Vegan Tailgating Guide

Chili

A tailgating classic, chili always hits the spot. Another great thing about chili is it actually tastes best when the flavors are given time to meld together so is a perfect make-ahead dish for the day before. Heat it up at the game.

Slow Cooker Tangy Baked Bean Chili delivers mouthwatering flavors and is perfect to make the day beforehand.

Slow Cooker 3 Bean Winter Chili is full of hearty plant-protein and chunks of sweet potato too offering a great sweet contrast to the spicy flavors.

From the Grill

Burgers are always a main feature at a tailgate party and should still be center stage for the ultimate vegan tailgating guide. Step it up from ho-hum vegie burgers with some of these superstars:

My all-time favorite is a Portobello Mushroom Burger. With a ‘meaty’ filling texture and loads of flavor, even carnivores will be asking for seconds of these.

Jackfruit is on trend as a fantastic meat replacement with shredded meat-like texture and absorbing what it’s cooked in. Everyone will love these BBQ Jackfruit Sliders!

There is always a place for tangy ‘buffalo’ flavored foods at a tailgate party and Buffalo Chick Pea Burgers serve up flavor-packed burgers in style.

Step up bean burgers with these Cajun Red Bean Burgers with Fried Green Tomatoes. Mmm….

For skewer and kabob lovers, my vote is for Vegetable Kabobs that can be assembled beforehand and grilled on site.

Ooey, Gooey Mexican Food

Mexican food is always on point at football celebrations and there are vegan options that are filling and add a spicy flare to pre-game get togethers.

Slow Cooker Vegan Pinto Bean Enchiladas are easy and can the beans can be prepared at home the day before.

Is there anyone who does not love nachos? Fully Loaded Vegan Nachos are great for a crowd!

Vegan Burrito Bowls are a filling option and easy to eat at a tailgate party. Add in some Mexican Fiesta Cauliflower Rice for a grain-free option that’s bursting with flavor.

Having taco fixings ready for self-serving is always a win and Quinoa Taco Meat is a perfect vegan ingredient for a protein-packed ingredient.

Dips

Fresh Pico de Gallo is great as a dip as well as a relish or topping to other dishes.

All the Mexican goodness we love is in this Guacamole Roasted Jalapeno Vegan Queso.

Black Bean Green Chile Hummus offers a spicy spin on the Mediterranean favorite with some southwest flavors.

If you are feeling up to some home prepared chips, Baked Smoked Paprika Chips are a spicy chip great for dipping.

Drinks

It’s easy to cart along canned or bottles drinks but a fun alternative is a big batch of Sangria. It can be made beforehand in a glass jar with a spigot and set out for self-serve.

Tropical Fruit Sangria, Summer Fruit Sangria and Autumn Sangria are all great choices.

Sparkling Apple-Pear Mock Sangria is a tasty choice for those preferring no alcohol (the recipe has an option to spike it as well).

For games in the sweltering heat making Tequila Sunrise Freezer Pops and keeping them in a cooler on ice is another cocktail option that is easily portable and refreshing.

Dessert

Chocolate Chip Cookie Stuffed Brownies for the win! Soft chocolate chip cookies stuffed into fudgy brownies are irresistible. Make a pan the day before and bring them cut to the party.

To celebrate the party theme, Chocolate Pumpkin Football Brownies are a cute and tasty treat!