The Best Trader Joe’s Items for Easy AF Tailgating

Football season is officially upon us, which means your upcoming Sundays are most likely booked and consist of crowded couches, messy buffalo wings, and heady IPAs. For those of you fortunate enough to attend the games and tailgate, Trader Joe’s has a bountiful arsenal of easy and appetizing tailgating foods and treats you can bring along. But don’t worry. If you didn’t score tickets to your favorite team’s live game, these yummy Trader Joe’s tailgating snacks taste just as delicious on that crammed (and loud) sofa of yours.

Pre Game

Everything But the Bagel Greek Style Yogurt Dip

Trader Joe’s cult seasoning Everything But the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend just got a little bolder with their new Everything But the Bagel Greek Style Yogurt Dip. Imagine your favorite seasoning perfectly mixed with a creamy and rich Greek-style yogurt—and it only has 60 calories per serving. Add this wonderful condiment to your game day spread as a dip or topping. It will surely impress your fellow football watchers and anyone who loves sea salt, sesame and poppy seeds, and garlic and onion. This is a healthful yet decadent dip swirled with a salty, umami crunch; a perfect medley of deliciousness. And we’re just getting started.

Organic Buffalo Style Hummus

Featuring your beloved buffalo components (but great for those looking to skip the blue cheese), this hummus is composed of chickpeas, chili powder, red jalapenos, and cayenne flakes for a spicy, piquant bite. This fiery, creamy concoction just might become your favorite dairy-free dip.

Pimento Cheese Dip

If you like pub cheese, then this tub of creamy goodness is right up your alley. Pimento cheese, also known as the “caviar of the south,” is a creamy dip made of hunks of salty cheddar, tangy pimento peppers, mayonnaise, and spices such as onion powder. It’s thick and creamy, and a perfect addition to your next tailgating adventure.

Related Reading: Kick Off Football Season with These 14 Greasy & Greasy Pub Grub Recipes

Organic Pita Chips with Sea Salt

These organic pita chips are the perfect vessel for copious amounts of dipping into your “caviar” (aka, Pimento Cheese Dip), or the aforementioned hummus and yogurt dip. Crunchy, salty, with a bready bite, these pita chips are a great go-to snack cracker no matter what you’re serving on the side.

Organic Elote Corn Dippers

In a perfect world, we could all carry around Mexican street corn on a stick for staving off snack attacks. But that’s not always feasible. That’s where this elote dipper chip comes in, which is basically a dream come true. These spicy corn chips are fabulous on their own or dipped in guacamole or even just straight up with plain sour cream, as recommended by a Trader Joe’s employee. They hold just enough spice and kick without being overbearing, and the thick scoop-shaped chip holds up extremely well for all sorts of dipping adventures. For those tailgaters who love a little Mexican flair, these will be a favorite for the next game.

The Live Game

Shawarma Chicken Thighs

Light up your grill and get ready for these tender, marinated chicken thighs immersed in a spice medley of onion, garlic, cumin, and more. No vertical skewer required! A Trader Joe’s employee suggests wrapping the chicken in a Trader Joe’s Whole Wheat Pita and topping it with Trader Joe’s Avocado Tzatziki Dip for a full Middle Eastern meal that will certainly spice up your regular tailgating food spread.

Mini Chicken Tacos

These mini tacos are an employee favorite. Chicken breast and leg meat are marinated in a green chile tomatillo sauce and served in a crispy mini taco shell. These bad boys originally debuted in 2006 and have a cult following. Pro tip: they also make a great nacho base for anyone looking to up their homemade nacho game.

Related Reading: The Essential Trader Joe’s Items You Need in Your Freezer

Peppercorn-Garlic Boneless Pork Tenderloin

Chowhound

A savory and delicious pork tenderloin marinated in peppercorns and garlic (my friend, who is also a TJ’s employee, raved about this one) can be grilled or roasted, and served on its own or shredded and piled in a Trader Joe’s Aloha Roll, a sweet take on a Hawaiian pull-apart bread, for sliders.

Related Reading: Pull-Apart Sliders Are a Party Game-Changer

Organic Coleslaw Kit

Skip the chopping and slivering and let Trader Joe’s do all the grunt work. Assemble a delicious and nutritious coleslaw in seconds with a mix of organic purple and red cabbage and carrots, accompanied by a creamy and tangy dressing. This coleslaw can stand on its own or go on top of your mouth-watering pulled pork sandwich.

Sports Commentary

Ghost Chile BBQ Sauce

Spice and heat fans take note; all others beware. This Ghost Chile BBQ features Bhut jolokia, one of the hottest peppers in the world. The sauce is balanced with a sweet BBQ blend of tomatoes, molasses, and sugar, but it’s definitely not for the faint of heart. If you can handle the heat, use this bad boy as your special marinade for meats, tofu, and more during the next game.

Hot & Spicy Dill Pickle Chips

Pickles with heat can add depth and zing to your sandwiches. These Hot & Spicy Dill Pickle Chips will be a nice complement to sweet pulled pork, juicy hamburgers, flavorful veggie burgers, and more. Or you can bread them and crisp them in the air fryer.

Honey Pale Ale Mustard

Great as a topping for the brat, burger, or soy dog you’re definitely going to be grilling. Not overly sweet, this mustard has a nice balance with a touch of honey, mellow beer, and mustard spice, and will pair perfectly with your IPA and grilled meat platter.

Bloody Mary Salsa

A mix of briny, acidic, sweet, and spicy, this salsa hits all of the notes, and may inspire you to make some Bloodies for the next game. It’s tangy and zesty and great for topping your hamburgers or Beyond Meat burgers, or used as a traditional salsa. You do you.