The Best Tailgate Menus to Kick Off Football Season

Score a total touchdown with these snacks.

For Ree Drummond, football isn't just a game―it's a way of life. With her three boys playing at different colleges and her whole family following the NFL season, The Pioneer Woman is gearing up for the most exciting time of the year: tailgating time!

Everyone knows that the food is half the fun during football season, and Ree makes tailgating easy with big-batch recipes that travel well and are sure to please a crowd. Here are three winning menus to try, whether you're gathering for an early-morning bite, midday snacks or dinner under those Friday night lights. Once you choose a menu, there's just one other question to answer: Are you ready for some football?!

Fueling up before the big game is essential, even if you're not actually on the field. These breakfast-inspired bites will get you ready for a day full of cheering and keeping score. The mix of sweet and savory recipes are worth celebrating as much as your team will when they score that first touchdown!

For those who prefer to ease into the morning, try the rainbow skewers. The mix of fresh fruit is an unexpected way to start a tailgate, especially with the sweet doughnut hole on each end. And those who prefer something heartier will love the breakfast burritos. Ree calls them the "best make-ahead breakfast" because you can wrap them in foil and keep them warm in a slow cooker. Serve them with a classic brunch cocktail and you'll be ready go, fight and win all morning long.

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When game time is scheduled for midday, you'll need plenty of afternoon bites. These hearty bites, along with a big batch of festive lemonade (spiked for the adults if you'd like!), will keep everyone happy.

Someone will surely bring chips or pretzels to the festivities, so why not make a creamy onion dip for the whole gang? Then you can break out the real game day hero (pun intended!): an Italian sandwich piled high with freshly sliced deli meat (four kinds, in fact), cheese and other toppings.

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If you’re headed out for an evening game, this selection is perfect: The dishes are punched up with jalapeños and hot sauce to keep you alert all through the second half. Your whole cheering section will love the buffalo chicken sloppy joes, a nice switch from the usual chili, and Ree's jalapeño appetizers will spice things up, too. But don’t fret about all that heat. Brookies and a big batch of Spiked Arnold Palmer will give everyone a proper cool-down.

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