Need suggestions for lots of tailgating food for cheap?

Question

I am hosting a large White Sox tail gating party, with about 20 people. I need ideas of what to cook/bring for food, that will keep about 16 hungry men and 4 women happy. Something that wont break my bank account. I will have a gas grill there and also a large weber charcoal grill. I am trying to avoid the staple foods like hot dogs, burgers, chicken, brats, polish sausage etc.

Thanks!

Answer 1

If you could arrange a big dutch oven with your charcoal grill, try some Jambalaya. It is cheap, filling, and feeds a ton of people. You could do all the chopping/prep work ahead of time and just throw it all together at the game. The following recipe will feed 20+.

3 pounds boneless skinless chicken (a combination of white and dark meat is best)
3-1 lb. pkgs. smoked sausage (Andouille is best, but you can use whatever)
3 large onions, diced
2 bell peppers, diced
3 bay leaves
Cajun seasoning (I like Tony's)
4 cups white rice
8 cups chicken broth (or 3 cans)

Dice chicken to 1-inch pieces, coat generously with cajun seasoning, set aside. Cut sausage into 1/4 inch slices, brown in large dutch oven. When all the sausage is well browned, add in the chicken. When the chicken is browned, add in the onions and bell pepper and the bay leaves. Cook 5 minutes. Stir in the rice and cook for 2 more minutes. Add in the chicken broth, stir, and cover. Let it simmer without stirring for 30 minutes, or until the liquid is all absorbed and the rice is tender.

**If you want to spend a little more, throw in 2 lbs. of cajun seasoned shrimp halfway through the cooking.

Answer 2

Without the staples your guests will arrive and leave hungry. However, if you have already anticipated making those staples then consider roasting corn on the cob. It is often a hit with most people.
Simply clean up corn and remove the top layers of the husks but not all of them. Rinse in water. Place on grill and roast. The water will help steam the corn within. It takes very little time to cook or prepare .

Answer 3

you could try soups and stews heated at home & then just sat on the grill to keep em warm, potatoes wrapped in foil and baked on the grill, cheese & fruit tray, try grilling mushrooms, zucchini, sliced onions, and peppers. Marinating the vegetables in fat-free Italian dressing before grilling will add extra flavor. fruit kabobs, Corn on the Cob. you could try fajitas...marinate flank or skirt steak and some chicken, grill and slice up, Grill peppers and onions, as well. Serve with tortillas , along with salsas, guacamole, lettuce, cheese. Grilled shrimp or chicken quesadillas or roasted sweet potatoes

Answer 4

how about some chili or baked bean casserole, in big pots on the grill or in crockpots...grilled pizza is fun and you can make it super cheap...roasted veggies are awesome with some skewers...some salads like macaroni and potato always go good, keep on ice...I'm a big crockpot cooker, pulled pork sandwiches are a huge hit, cheap to do with pork roast and very low maintenance, just get buns and saurkraut and mustard etc and you are all set, you could serve them with some chips...

Answer 5

get some ribs. i would go to a Sam's Club and get slabs of them. i bet 8lbs would do the trick. what about jerk chicken? different spice to the usual makes it mo betta - less boring. you can make fajitas. i think skirt steak is what they use (or try a local mexican grocery store - they have it marinated and spiced already). those are cheap too. put cheese, pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, onions, bell peppers, and salsa. you can buy most of it pre-packaged or ready to cook if you don't want the hassle. not the onions...

Answer 6

Ummm I don't mean to sound daft..but not too sure what "tailgating food is".(and you've stated you don't fancy hot dogs, burgers, chicken, brats or polish sausage etc........ I can throw a few ideas and recipies you may choose to try...tis up to you~
how about making up some kabobs...using chunks of meat (chicken or beef) with green/red peppers/onions and skewer them on* then put on grill.....maybe grill up large homemade pizzas using different toppings.., grilled veggies, perhaps you may want to grill a nice HAM*, roasted potatoes, corn on cob....

Tex Mex Salad
3-4 tomatoes chopped
1/2 large green pepper chopped and cubed
1/2 large yellow pepper (or red) chopped and cubed
3 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 clove garlic minced
2 tbsp chopped broadleaf parsley
1 tbsp chilli powder
2 cups Rotini pasta cooked and drained
1/4-1/2 cup cheddar cheese cut and cubed
salt , pepper to taste

Combine tomatoes and peppers in a large bowl.
Combine oil, vinegar, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper and chilli powder in a cup. Mix up well, pour over tomato mixture.
Sprinkle cubed cheese and cooked drained pasta into the tomatoe mixture in large bowl. Gently stir, Chill for 1hr to enhance flavours*
(I've never had any complaints on this dish Yum)
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Ceasar Salad

Romaine lettuce
1/2cup or more of Parmesean Cheese grated

Dressing:
1-2 garlic cloves sliced
1/2cup veg. oil
1 tsp. salt,
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 Tbsp. worchestershire sauce
2 Tbsp vinegar
3 Tbsp lemon juice

Mix all ingredients together in a cup & leave in fridge for 2-3hrs., cover cup with seran wrap.

Wash up Romaine lettuce, pat dry, wrap in a clean dish cloth and put in fridge till ready to use for the salad(sameday)
Break up the lettuce into bite sized pieces, remove the garlic from the cup of dressing..start to layer in salad bowl - Lettuce , sprinkle some parmesean cheese, more lettuce , more cheese,...Drizzle the dressing over and gently toss* adding more cheese as needed*
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Whatever you choose to make for your White Sox tail gating party I hope you all Enjoy and have a blast* ~:) Keep on Smilin*

Answer 7

Get about 20 pounds of talapia (fish), lay it out in one layer inside aluminum foil..cut up 5 peppers (red, yellow, green whatever you want) and two vidalia or other sweet onions....drizzle with olive oil, lemon/lime juice and a few dashes of soy sauce, salt and pepper, a bit of garlic salt...wrap tightly in two layers of foil, grill for about ten minutes...it's awesome and cheap...a good side dish would be rice pilaf.
Go Cubs!

Answer 8

Rotel dip. Ground beef, rotel tomatoes(canned), velveeta,tortilla chips& a crock pot. Tuna salad sandwiches cut into triangles. bacon strips rolled around small chicken breast cubes & small pieces of pepperjack.Toothpick it on the grill.

Answer 9

Chili Cheese Dip: Cut Velveeta cheese into blocks and no beans chili then melt in the microwave. Chili Cheese dip! Stuff is delicious.

Answer 10

fruit grows on shrub or vines and fruit and vegetables grow in the floor.