Ready for football? Whether you attend the game in person or host in your Northwest Indiana home, the food is half the reason people show up early. A good tailgate spread sets the tone for the day. With a simple menu formula and one stop at the Strack & Van Til store nearest you, you can feed a few fans or a whole team with easy tailgate food.

A great tailgate menu comes down to five pieces: One main, two or three snacks or dips, one cold side, something sweet and drinks. This guide walks through each category, offers ready-made shortcuts and provides great tailgate food ideas for a crowd. Need help with exact food portions? See the party food math and meat per person guides for help, so you can focus on the game day lineup.

What food should you bring to a tailgate?

A solid tailgate spread needs one main, two or three snacks or dips, one cold side, one dessert and drinks. Once you fill each slot, you’ve covered every appetite without loading the car with extras.

For portion planning, you’ll find out how much to buy for small groups or full crews in our party food math and meat per person guides. This post focuses on the menu itself and ready-made shortcuts that make game day easier.

Tailgate Menu Formula

Menu Slot	What Fills It	Ready Made Option
Main	Brats, burgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken legs, fried chicken, pulled pork, party-cut subs	Deli fried chicken, deli mains, grill-ready cuts
Snacks and dips	Buffalo chicken dip, seven-layer dip, hummus with pita chips, sliders, wings, walking tacos, chips	Deli dips, bakery slider buns, grab-and-go chips
Cold side	Potato salad, pasta salad, coleslaw, veggie trays, fruit trays	Deli salads and party trays or produce trays
Dessert	Brownies, cookies, bars	Bakery cookies and brownies
Drinks	Water, sports drinks, soda	Grab-and-go multipacks

The mains: Grilled or picked up ready-to-serve

Tailgate mains are divided into four categories, and you can find them in your local Strack & Van Til store: Off the grill, no grill required, upgrade cuts and ready-made deli options. Each one works for Northwest Indiana game days, whether you’re cooking in the lot or picking up food on the way.

Off the grill

Brats, burgers, hot dogs and grilled chicken legs are longtime Strack & Van Til Meat Department tailgating favorites. Call at least 24 hours ahead at 219-961-9119 for large or special orders.

Looking for unusual flavor? Bratwurst is the boss. Try Zombie Dust, pineapple, jalapeño and beer bratwurst, amongst others. “Our brats are made fresh in-store and are sure to please everyone’s taste buds, says Meat Department Director Gary Teachman.

Burgers are always a tailgate staple, but there’s nothing like sinking your teeth into the tender, thick and juicy, restaurant-quality pub burgers from the Strack & Van Til Meat Department near you. Try cheddar bacon made with Wisconsin cubed cheddar cheese and smoky bacon or the Pepper Jack bacon burger. Enjoy a Swiss and mushroom burger or cheddar burger topped with grilled onions or the mozzarella Italian burger. The Blue Cheese pub burger is what Teachman calls “black and blue done right,” and the black pepper burger is a popular choice. “It’s a half-pound burger made from a blend of high-quality Certified Angus Beef and is sure to be the best you’ve ever eaten,” he says.

Hot dogs stay simple and chicken legs hold heat well if the grill gets busy.

No grill required

“Our Own” fried chicken from the Strack & Van Til Deli Department is the easiest main for early arrivals. “Everyone knows what’s cooking from its delicious aroma,” notes Deli Department Director Kristin Snow. “Get some to take to the game or bring home, and we bet you’ll be enticed to sneak a piece before everyone else.”

BBQ Rib Tips made ahead travels well in a crockpot, and party-cut subs cover the crowd that wants something handheld.

The upgrade lane

Marinated kabobs and seasoned cuts from the meat counter provide flavor without extra prep. Grill-ready options can be dropped straight onto the grate, kabobs are easy to make and include a protein, fresh bell peppers and onions. Choose center cut top butt steak, hand trimmed fresh natural chicken, Smithfield Prime pork tenderloin, natural turkey tenders or seafood options such as farm-raised Atlantic salmon or tuna and regular or seasoned skewered shrimp. Enjoy bright, bold options including chicken tomato basil, chicken mesquite and chicken butter garlic. Many Strack & Van Til Meat & Seafood Department locations will even grill them for you.

The buy-ready case

Deli mains travel better than raw meat and eliminate the food safety juggling that comes with ice packs and coolers. They’re easy to order from your local Strack & Van Til Deli, in person, by phone at 219-961-9119 or online at strackandvantil.com/catering. For trays, allow 24 hours’ notice. Pickup is available across Lake and Porter Counties. If you’re heading to a lot with limited space, ready-made is the simplest route.

Dips, sliders and game-day favorites

These are the staples that show up at nearly every tailgate:

• Buffalo chicken dip with tortilla chips
• Taco layered dips
• Hummus with a bag of pita chips
• Sliders and wings with blue cheese dressing
• Chips, pretzels and snack mix to cover the gaps while the grill works

These items fill the snack and dip slots quickly, and most can be picked up ready-made or assembled in minutes.

Cold sides and make-ahead dishes

Cold sides are the easiest part of the menu because they can be made the night before or picked up from the deli case on the way to the lot.

Deli or homemade classics

Potato salad, pasta salad and coleslaw cover the cold side slot without needing a grill. Homemade versions hold well in a cooler, but you can skip the prep and still get homemade flavor from Strack & Van Til. The Deli Department carries traditional potato salads including Our Own Homestyle or mustard, plus Loaded Baked or Premium Potato. Pasta options include spinach and pasta salad with pine nuts and parmesan, sweet bowtie pasta with bacon or Caprese pasta salad with fresh mozzarella.

Charcuterie boards

Charcuterie boards work well for tailgates since they’re mostly finger food. Order a ready-made board from the Strack & Van Til Deli or create your own with specialty cheeses, salamis, olives, nuts, fruit spreads, honey, crackers and bruschetta toast.

Fresh trays

The Strack & Van Til Produce Department uses veggies and fruit from the Produce Department to make refreshing trays that fill the fresh category and travel well. For sizing, servings and freshness tips, see the veggie tray guide and fruit tray guide. Order at 219-961-9119 or online at strackandvantil.com/catering.

Desserts that don’t melt

Brownies or cookies are the safest sweet option for hot lots. Anything with frosting or chocolate drizzle risks melting before kickoff, so stick to sturdy bakery items. Place Strack & Van Til Bakery special order platters 48 hours in advance at 219-961-9119 or online at strackandvantil.com/catering.

Feeding a whole crew

Tailgating for a full group takes coordination, especially on rivalry weekends or early kickoffs. A few simple rules keep the menu balanced and the cooler organized:

Assign slots potluck-style

If everyone brings chips, you end up with five bags and no main dish. Assign the five menu slots so each person covers one category, keeping the spread balanced and preventing duplicates.

Use a crockpot for temperature control

A crockpot of chili or pulled pork holds temperature better than anything on a grate. It also frees grill space for brats or burgers.

Pack coolers in order

Stay organized and don’t forget what you need by reading the tailgate checklist for coolers, ice and packing order.

One store covers the whole formula

Strack & Van Til makes the five-slot menu easy: The Meat & Seafood Department handles mains, the Deli covers sides and dips, Produce trays fill the fresh slot and the Bakery handles dessert. Get everything you need with one run to your local store.

Tailgate food from Strack & Van Til

Everything here is available in-store across Northwest Indiana.

• In-store made brats and pub burgers from the meat counter
• The Deli Department’s “Our Own” fried chicken, sides by the pound and party trays
• Bakery cookies and buns baked in-store
• Order from Strack & Van Til for pickup from stores throughout Lake and Porter Counties.

These items match the menu formula directly, so you can build the spread without extra stops.

FAQ: Tailgate food ideas for Northwest Indiana game days

What is the easiest tailgate main to bring? Deli fried chicken from Strack & Van Til travels well and needs no grill space.

How do I know how much food to buy? Use our party food math and meat per person guides for portion planning.

What cold sides travel best? Potato salad, pasta salad and coleslaw hold well in coolers and are available in the Strack & Van Til Deli Department.

Can I order everything ahead? Yes. Order by phone at 219-961-9119 or at strackandvantil.com/catering for deli trays, bakery platters and mains across Lake and Porter Counties.

Build the spread in one store run

A Northwest Indiana tailgate menu comes down to five slots: One main, two or three snacks or dips, one cold side, one dessert and drinks. Fill each category with grilled items, deli shortcuts, fresh trays and bakery sweets from your local Strack & Van Til. The meat counter, deli case, produce department and bakery cover every slot in one run, whether you’re heading to South Bend, Chicago or a backyard watch party. Plan the menu, then let your hometown Strack & Van Til make it happen.

By Karyn G. Zafran