How 3 NFL-Tailgating Fanatics Feed a Crowd, From Lambeau Field to Arrowhead Stadium
By Maki Yazawa
Maki Yazawa has been a Miami Dolphins fan since ’93, much to her chagrin. She sometimes sports a Dan Marino jersey and relives the team’s glory days.
For some football fans, the tailgate is just as important as the game.
I witnessed this firsthand at MetLife Stadium before the New York Giants squared off against the San Francisco 49ers last season.
In the sprawling parking lot, a row of truck beds turned into impromptu kitchen counters. The smell of burning wood and charred meat filled the air, and boisterous laughter echoed off the windshields of the sea of parked cars. Hot dogs were sizzling, booze was flowing, and the camaraderie of giddy fans created a festive atmosphere.
Amid all the burger flipping and beer guzzling, I couldn’t help but notice the elaborate cooking setups of many of the tailgaters. I spotted long collapsible tables converted into sprawling buffets, many Crock-Pot slow cookers overflowing with gooey dips, and small portable grills with rows of glistening brats.
After talking with three fanatics from around the country who cook for a horde of hungry fans at home games, I learned that tailgating transcends parking-lot cooking. And whether you’re hosting any large gathering for a special occasion, such as a birthday party, a baby shower, or a gameday bash at home, you can learn a lot from how these tailgaters throw a successful shindig for a big crowd.
What to bring
Plan the menu and outline your strategy
Planning a menu well in advance is key. “A week to two weeks before, we start to determine the menu,” said Rod Herrenbruck, a Kansas City Chiefs fan who prepares for tailgates with his family. Knowing what they’re cooking in advance helps them streamline the prep work and ensure that everything is packed up and ready to take to the stadium once it’s time to hit the road.
Herrenbruck and his family will often curate the menu based on the team the Chiefs are playing (like the time he made a Denver Broncos–inspired drink he named “Orange Crushed”) or the time of year (they’ll serve his wife’s cozy chicken noodle soup when the forecast is below freezing).
Over the years, Herrenbruck has developed a system that he has dubbed “compartment tailgating” to make sure nothing gets left at home. The method is simple: Keep all supplies organized by category in individually labeled storage containers.
“I have a container for my grill and grilling supplies. I have a container for the plates and accessories that go on the table,” he explained. Herrenbruck even has a container for dirty dishes, where he stashes any soiled supplies to make cleanup easier once he’s back home.
And though he doesn’t have a specific storage container recommendation, you could use Wirecutter’s top pick, Home Depot’s HDX Tough Storage Totes, to copy his method, even if you’re working on a smaller scale.
Top pick
Heavy-duty and stackable, these storage containers work well for neatly organizing equipment.
Keep everything hot and ready
If you’re looking to reheat food that you’ve prepped off-site, Philadelphia Eagles fan Dylan Marck, aka the “Maestro of Lot M” at Lincoln Financial Field, uses an Anova Precision Cooker Nano 3.0 (which we tested for our sous vide guide).
He uses his for reverse-searing steaks, a culinary method that entails slow-cooking steak to a desired temperature and finishing it off over high heat, such as on a grill. It gives him greater flexibility, allowing him to cook food ahead of time and then serve his guests à la minute. “It’s the best and easiest way to reheat something,” Marck said.
Guest pick
This trusted sous vide machine offers remote-control access. However, you need to pay for a subscription to use the app it pairs with.
To power cooking appliances and keep dishes hot for the duration of a tailgate, Herrenbruck recommends the Ryobi 18V Portable Battery Powering Station, which he prefers over gas-powered generators.
“You don’t have to worry about the gas, and they’re quiet,” said Herrenbruck. He also likes that it’s small enough to tuck underneath a table and powerful enough to run several Crock-Pot slow cookers and an air fryer at the same time. (If you want something smaller, Wirecutter recommends a few portable power stations.)
Guest pick
This portable power station keeps cooking appliances and other gadgets juiced outdoors.
Serve food safely
Marck takes food safety seriously, which is imperative at all times but especially when you’re cooking for a large crowd. “I’m laser-focused on cooking, making sure everything’s right, and not killing anybody with foodborne disease,” he explained. Spoken like a true chef.
To ensure cleanliness when a handwashing station isn’t accessible in a parking lot, Marck always wears disposable nitrile gloves when handling food. “I probably go through 30 to 40 pairs a tailgate,” he told me.
Guest pick
Available in a 100-pack, these disposable gloves allow for safely handling ready-to-eat food.
Marck also keeps a Thermapen One (which we’ve tested for our meat thermometer guide) handy in the pocket of his Eagles-themed Hedley & Bennett NFL Essential Apron to regularly check whether food is cooked to a safe internal temperature. “I’ve gone through a bunch of them — I lose them because I’m an idiot, [but they’re] lightning-fast,” he joked.
Guest pick
This ultra-accurate, waterproof instant-read thermometer has a built-in rotating screen and a bright backlight.
Guest pick
Comfortable and sturdy, this apron with built-in pockets comes in versions for all 32 NFL teams.
Level up your tools (and menu)
While hot dogs, burgers, and chicken wings are the quintessential tailgate grub, Marck often skips the Philly cheesesteaks during Eagles tailgates and opts for a more fine-dining parking-lot experience.
He has made everything from smoked, dry-aged duck (which he once served to actor Robert De Niro) to freshly made ceviche. “We make a joke that we’re the best restaurant in Philadelphia on Sundays — I kind of half believe it,” Marck said with a chuckle.
Pushing the boundaries of what can be made from the comfort of a parking spot, Marck has slowly built a portable, chef-level cooking setup. Last year, he invested in a Hasty Bake Ranger 380.
Guest pick
Lightweight but high-capacity, this charcoal grill can also bake or smoke food.
The Hasty Bake Ranger 380 is an expensive piece of hardware that has a multitude of capabilities: It can grill, bake, and smoke, all in one. “I have the flexibility to go from smoking a leg of lamb or a prime rib to grilling hot dogs in 10 minutes — it’s created endless opportunities,” Marck said. Its portable, lightweight design makes it especially great for tailgating (and worth the small fortune it costs). For some more affordable options, check out our guide to portable grills.
You can also level up tailgating classics like burgers and hot dogs with the right tools. Meticulously organized in Herrenbruck’s compartments are a portable griddle for firing up smash burgers, multiple Crock-Pot slow cookers for serving his beloved lasagna dip, and a dazzling hot dog roller that can make 18 dogs at a time, a recent addition to his tailgating setup (here’s Herrenbruck’s glorious video of it in action).
Guest pick
This electric-powered hot dog roller has an 18-dog capacity and a built-in shelf for warming up buns.
Bring the good vibes
When husband-and-wife duo Justin and April Batzler pull up to Lambeau Field in their decked-out Green Bay Packers–themed ambulance — fittingly named the Lambeaulance — Cheeseheads know they’re in for a treat. “It’s like the beacon of the tailgate,” said Justin Batzler about the party mobile, which they keep stocked up with fun games and plenty of booze at all times.
Tailgating usually entails getting to the stadium hours in advance, which means there’s a lot of time to kill before kickoff, and the Batzlers know that keeping a crowd entertained is just as important as keeping them well-fed. “I try to add something new every year, whether it’s a game or an activity,” said Justin Batzler.
Neatly stowed in the Lambeaulance is a treasure trove of good-time supplies, including a portable pop-up bar and a garnish tray for a build-your-own Bloody Mary station featuring their go-to, Mr & Mrs T Original Bloody Mary Mix. “[We fill the] garnish tray with olives, pickles, dilly beans, and asparagus,” he said.
Guest pick
This pop-up bar folds compactly and comes with a comfortable carrying case.
Create a DIY drink station with this five-compartment garnish tray, which has a built-in lid for housing lemon wedges and olives.
There’s also a 30-foot-long shotski, a contraption made of interlocking wooden skis with built-in holes for disposable shot glasses, which Justin Batzler built for tailgaters to take a celebratory shot together during the traditional Lambeau Field fireworks display. “[After] we do the shotski, we do a group photo at every single game — for eight years, we’ve only missed one photo,” he said. This small tradition, they’ve discovered, brings the community together, no matter which team spectators are rooting for.
Before the game starts, the Batzlers get the tunes going on Bluetooth speakers. Their curated Packers playlist sets the vibe as guests mingle and enjoy the assortment of games, including Jenga Giant, Hammerschlagen, and a themed Shut the Box that the Batzlers custom-built over the years. Of course, you can find versions of these fun games (or the equipment to play, such as a blacksmith hammer) commercially available.
Guest pick
This gigantic version of Jenga stacks to over 5 feet tall and comes with a zippered bag that neatly fits the blocks for easy transportation.
This travel-friendly, fun math game conveniently folds up and comes with a carrying case.
Beyond the game, tailgating cultivates a sense of community, drawing folks from all backgrounds together to connect, enjoy great company, and, of course, share an abundance of delicious grub. And with these experts’ tips and gear recommendations, you can throw the ultimate tailgate of your own, even if you’re hosting just dozens, not hundreds, of people.
This article was edited by Megan Beauchamp and Maxine Builder.
Meet your guide
I cover all things kitchen-related, from how to correctly dispose of used cooking oil to how to decide whether the latest trendy cooking gadget is worth your time, money, and counter space. My goal is to share the best tools and techniques to help new cooks build confidence in the kitchen and to help seasoned cooks refine their skills.
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