For a lot of football fans, tailgating is just as important as the game itself, especially when the food is packed with so much wood-fired flavor. Traeger makes celebrating game day with your friends epic and delicious – just remember to keep these tailgating essentials in mind.

What is Tailgating?

The term “tailgate party” comes straight from the back of your truck—the tailgate. It’s all about rolling up to the stadium, setting up in the parking lot, and firing up those portable grills. You’ll find the bed of a truck transformed into a grilling station, coolers stocked with cold drinks, picnic tables loaded with good food, and fans getting ready for the big game. It’s the ultimate pre-game tradition, fueled by smoke and fire, right before the main event kicks off.

Tailgating is more than just a pre-game party though—it’s a full-on event where sports fans and grill masters come together to celebrate their teams and their love of good tailgating food. It’s a time for you to celebrate your favorite teams, bond with fellow supporters, and show off your best grilling skills.

In order to have an epic tailgating party, you need the best tools. Make sure to bookmark this page for easy access to this list of tailgating essentials:

• Portable Grills: Just because you aren’t home, doesn’t mean your food shouldn’t be full of epic wood-fired flavor. Traeger’s portable grills, the Tailgater and Ranger, are great choices for some shareable dishes to share with the group from ribs, and wings, to even pizza.
• Portable Battery & Power Inverter: The only way to get to grilling is to have the power sources to do it! Other than packing your grill, this should be the second thing in your truck.
• Pellets: Take a look at our selection of wood pellets to find the best fuel for your food. Find the best pellets for smoking by reading our guide.
• BBQ Tools: Check out our BBQ tools to get for your big tailgate day. Consider getting a wireless internal meat thermometer like the MEATER so that you can focus more on the game and less on your cooking.
• Disposable Pans/Foil
• Cooler(s)
• Folding Table(s)
• Cutting board and Knife
• Seasoning, Rubs, and Sauces
• Plates and Utensils
• Condiments
• Garbage Bags
• Paper Towels

Make your tailgate legendary with these easy tips that’ll keep the fire going and the food flowing, no matter where you set up shop:

• Form burger patties the night before so you don’t have to handle the meat without a sink and antibacterial soap.
• Marinate or brine meat the night before.
• Serve chili in bread bowls to save on garbage.
• Make portable jello shots in team colors.
• Gain home field advantage by getting to the game 3 to 4 hours early so you can pop up your Traeger canopy, get your Traeger smoking, and set the ambiance for the parking lot tailgate party.
• When your food is off the grill and the fans are fed, shut down your Traeger and let it cool off, it takes just 10 minutes or less.
• Prep everything you can before the tailgate so you're not scrambling when it's go-time. Get your seasoning, sauces, and sides ready the night before so you can focus on the grilling when it counts.
• Don’t be afraid to tweak a recipe to fit your taste or what you’ve got on hand. Tailgating is all about enjoying the moment, so trust your gut and improvise if needed.
• Smoke your meats low and slow beforehand, then just reheat or finish them on the grill when you're at the tailgate. This way, you spend more time hanging out and less time stuck by the grill.
• Expand your tailgate menu with some unexpected dishes—think smoked wings, jalapeño poppers, or even grilled veggies. Variety keeps things exciting and lets everyone find something they love.
• The more you grill, the better you get. Every tailgate is a chance to hone your skills, experiment with new techniques, and get one step closer to grillmaster status.
• For a cleaner setup, stick with foil—it’s durable, traps heat, and makes for easy cleanup. Paper might be traditional, but foil gets the job done without the mess. You can learn more by reading our article about how and when to wrap brisket.
• When it comes to smoking, fat side up allows that juicy goodness to melt and soak into the meat. Fat side down protects the meat from direct heat. Both methods have their perks, so it depends on how you like to roll.