Everything You Need to Tailgate at Home This Year
Homegate 2020, here we come!
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The 2020 football season is about to start, but, like everything else, it's going to be a little different this year. Most teams aren't allowing fans (at least at the start of the season) and others are only permitting a very limited capacity, meaning most game day activities will be happening at home. Fret not, though: We think this is an opportunity to take tailgating to a whole new level. With an entire kitchen and even outdoor appliances at your disposal, there are no limits to what pre-game snacks you can have at your "homegate" this year. We've rounded up some must-have items to make rooting for the home team a ton of fun.
When tailgating at home, there is no such thing as too much team spirit. Snag this three-piece set donning your favorite team's logo and name, and rest assured that while you can't control the outcome of the game, you can control what happens on the grill.
No matter where you're enjoying your pre-game festivities, one thing remains true — no tailgate is complete without snacks. Make your favorite queso, Buffalo chicken dip or spinach artichoke dip in your Instant Pot with ease. It's a real game changer in the kitchen!
We love this chopper for making salsa and guacamole with the simple pull of the lever. Just add in the ingredients, give it a pull and you'll have the perfect game day snack in no-time, and with minimal clean-up, which is a win-win if you're making all the food yourself this year.
You might not be able to attend games this year, but that doesn't mean you have to give up the fun of enjoying sports outside. Set up a projector against the house or put up a white sheet to cheer on your team from the comfort of your own backyard.
Sometimes, a recipe just calls for a classic slow cooker. If you're prepping game-day chili or nachos, you can't go wrong with having one of these kitchen gadgets on-hand. Plus, we love the chalk finish, which makes the surface perfect for showing off what you're cooking or representing with some team spirit.
The biggest benefit of tailgating at home is getting to use all your great backyard cooking gear — making this year the perfect one to add a smoker to your arsenal. Experts recommend this one because it takes less than five minutes to heat up and doubles as a wood-burning smoker and grill.
In testing, this was our favorite plastic cutting board due to its size, stability and stain resistance. If you're taking your cooking outside more this fall than usual, it's good to have the right tools to make prep work as easy as possible.
A great cooler is a must-have for any outdoor dining event, especially when sports are involved. Fill it with your favorite canned cocktails, beer or fizzy drink, so you always have a refreshing beverage at arm's reach.
Fill this drink dispenser with anything from water and iced tea to your favorite bulk cocktail. Either way, it's a convenient way to have enough of your go-to drink out and ready to last the entire game.
Keep everything from wings, pigs in a blanket or your favorite dip warm for the entire duration of the game with an electric food warmer. As long as you have an accessible outlet, you can easily maintain the proper temperature for whatever you make outside.
Related Links:
Over-the-Top Football Party Foods
Game-Day Party Recipes
