Touchdown Football Tailgate Spread

Featured in: Simple Pleasures

This touchdown spread brings classic game day favorites together for a festive feast. Enjoy crispy chicken wings seasoned with smoky spices, baked potato skins loaded with cheddar and bacon, and savory smoked sausages simmered in barbecue sauce. A vibrant veggie platter with celery, carrots, tomatoes, and cucumber offers a fresh crunch alongside creamy, tangy dips. Perfect for sharing, this easy-to-prepare platter packs a flavorful punch and variety for any football gathering.

Updated on Tue, 02 Dec 2025 09:12:00 GMT
A Touchdown Football Tailgate Spread overflowing with crispy wings, loaded potato skins, and fresh veggies. Save
A Touchdown Football Tailgate Spread overflowing with crispy wings, loaded potato skins, and fresh veggies. | oventhyme.com

A festive and crowd-pleasing platter featuring classic game day favorites—perfect for sharing at your next football tailgate. Includes crispy chicken wings, loaded potato skins, smoky sausages, fresh veggie sticks, and creamy dips.

Ingredients

  • Chicken Wings: 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs) chicken wings separated at joints tips removed, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper
  • Potato Skins: 4 large russet potatoes, 2 tbsp olive oil, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp pepper, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 4 strips bacon cooked and crumbled, 2 green onions sliced
  • Mini Sausages: 400 g (14 oz) smoked cocktail sausages, ½ cup barbecue sauce
  • Veggie Platter: 2 cups celery sticks, 2 cups carrot sticks, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, 1 cup cucumber slices
  • Dips: 1 cup sour cream, ½ cup mayonnaise, 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives, 1 tbsp lemon juice, Salt and pepper to taste, 1 cup ranch dressing

Instructions

Preheat Oven:
Preheat oven to 220°C (425°F).
Toss Chicken Wings:
Toss chicken wings with olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Arrange on a baking sheet and bake for 40 45 minutes turning halfway until golden and crisp.
Bake Potatoes:
Scrub potatoes, prick with a fork, and bake directly on the oven rack for 1 hour or until tender. Let cool slightly, cut in half, and scoop out most of the flesh, leaving 1 cm (½-inch) shell.
Prepare Potato Skins:
Brush potato skins with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and place skin-side down on a baking sheet. Fill each with cheddar cheese and bacon. Return to oven for 10 minutes until cheese melts. Sprinkle with green onions.
Cook Sausages:
Meanwhile, combine smoked sausages with barbecue sauce in a small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 8 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Arrange Veggies:
Arrange celery, carrot, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber on a large serving platter.
Make Chive Dip:
For the chive dip, mix sour cream, mayonnaise, chives, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Place ranch dressing in a separate bowl.
Assemble Platter:
Arrange wings, potato skins, sausages, and veggie sticks on a large platter. Serve with dips on the side.
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Required Tools

Baking sheets, Saucepan, Mixing bowls, Sharp knife, Cutting board, Serving platter

Allergen Information

Contains: Dairy (cheese, sour cream, ranch), Eggs (mayonnaise, ranch), Gluten (sausages may contain gluten), Pork (bacon, sausages). Always check ingredient labels for hidden allergens.

Nutritional Information

Calories: 560, Total Fat: 32 g, Carbohydrates: 34 g, Protein: 32 g

This impressive Touchdown Football Tailgate Spread displays delicious, smoky sausages and colorful veggie sticks with creamy dips. Save
This impressive Touchdown Football Tailgate Spread displays delicious, smoky sausages and colorful veggie sticks with creamy dips. | oventhyme.com

Kitchen Guide

How do I get crispy chicken wings?

Toss wings in olive oil and spices then bake at 425°F for 40–45 minutes, turning once for even crispiness.

What’s the best way to prepare loaded potato skins?

Bake potatoes whole, scoop out most flesh leaving the skin, then fill with cheddar and bacon before baking again until cheese melts.

How should sausages be cooked in this spread?

Simmer smoked cocktail sausages in barbecue sauce over medium heat for 8–10 minutes to infuse flavor.

What veggies work best for the platter?

Celery sticks, carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber slices provide a refreshing and colorful crunch.

How can I make the dips flavorful and fresh?

Combine sour cream, mayonnaise, chives, lemon juice, salt, and pepper for a tangy chive dip; serve ranch dressing separately.

Touchdown Football Tailgate Spread

A festive football spread with wings, potato skins, smoky sausages, fresh veggies, and creamy dips for sharing.

Prep duration
30 min
Kitchen time
60 min
Complete duration
90 min
Created by Grace Mitchell


Skill level Easy

Heritage American

Output 8 Portions

Dietary requirements None specified

What you'll need

Chicken Wings

01 3.3 pounds chicken wings, separated at joints, tips removed
02 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 1 teaspoon garlic powder
04 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
05 1 teaspoon salt
06 ½ teaspoon black pepper

Potato Skins

01 4 large russet potatoes
02 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 ½ teaspoon salt
04 ½ teaspoon black pepper
05 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
06 4 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
07 2 green onions, sliced

Mini Sausages

01 14 ounces smoked cocktail sausages
02 ½ cup barbecue sauce

Veggie Platter

01 2 cups celery sticks
02 2 cups carrot sticks
03 1 cup cherry tomatoes
04 1 cup cucumber slices

Dips

01 1 cup sour cream
02 ½ cup mayonnaise
03 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
04 1 tablespoon lemon juice
05 Salt and pepper to taste
06 1 cup ranch dressing

Method

Phase 01

Preheat Oven: Set the oven to 425°F to prepare for baking the wings and potatoes.

Phase 02

Prepare and Bake Chicken Wings: Toss chicken wings with olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Spread evenly on a baking sheet and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, turning halfway through, until the skin is crisp and golden.

Phase 03

Bake Potatoes: Scrub potatoes well, prick with a fork, and place directly on the oven rack. Bake for 1 hour or until tender. Remove, let cool slightly, then halve and scoop out most of the flesh, leaving a ½-inch shell.

Phase 04

Prepare Potato Skins: Brush potato skins with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and place skin-side down on a baking sheet. Fill each with shredded cheddar and crumbled bacon. Return to oven for 10 minutes until cheese melts. Finish with sliced green onions.

Phase 05

Simmer Sausages: Combine smoked sausages and barbecue sauce in a small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Phase 06

Arrange Vegetables: Place celery sticks, carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber slices attractively on a large serving platter.

Phase 07

Prepare Dips: Mix sour cream, mayonnaise, chopped chives, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a small bowl for the chive dip. Pour ranch dressing into a separate bowl.

Phase 08

Assemble Platter: Arrange baked wings, filled potato skins, sauced sausages, and veggie sticks on a large platter. Serve with dips on the side.

Kitchen tools needed

  • Baking sheets
  • Saucepan
  • Mixing bowls
  • Sharp knife
  • Cutting board
  • Serving platter

Allergy notes

Always review ingredients for potential allergens and seek professional medical advice when uncertain.
  • Dairy (cheese, sour cream, ranch dressing)
  • Eggs (mayonnaise, ranch dressing)
  • Gluten (possible in sausages)
  • Pork (bacon, sausages)

Nutrition breakdown (per portion)

Values shown are estimates only - consult healthcare providers for specific advice.
  • Energy: 560
  • Fats: 32 g
  • Carbohydrates: 34 g
  • Proteins: 32 g