The 3 Things You Need to Host the Ultimate Backyard Tailgate

We’ve teamed up with Zatarain’s® Smoked Sausage to make sure your game days are packed with flavor. From Blackened Seasoned Chicken Smoked Sausage to Andouille Smoked Sausage, their sausages add smoky depth and fiery zest to any dish at your tailgate.

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When I’m hosting a tailgate, I want my guests to be fed, relaxed, and informed. To feel all three things at the same time, it’s important to have the right snacks, cold drinks, plenty of seating, and a clear view of the game. Here’s everything you need for the perfect backyard tailgate.

Of the three tailgating pillars (refreshments, seating, and sports), food and drinks are the most important, but also the most difficult to master. When it comes to tailgating food, a few things are absolutely true: fingers beat forks, temperature shouldn’t impact flavor (the food should taste good even if it gets cold), and—whenever possible—it should be made ahead of time. This is a tight criteria, but there are recipes that succeed in all three areas, especially those featuring ingredients from our friends at Zatarain’s Smoked Sausage. Bonus: Their smoked sausages are pre-cooked, which means each and every option is big on flavor, low on effort. My personal favorite? Jumbo Pigs In A Blanket, starring Zatarain’s Blackened Seasoned Chicken Smoked Sausage (or their Cajun Style Smoked Sausage or Andouille Smoked Sausage—all equally delicious). They’re finger-food-friendly, packed with tons of flavor (it’s hard to beat a blackened chicken sausage wrapped in Colby Jack and stuffed into croissant dough), and delicious even when made hours before kick-off. When served with a special sauce that’s kicked up by Zatarain’s Creole Mustard, it truly is the perfect tailgating snack.

If you’re looking for more snacking options, you can also count on sausage-stuffed jalepeños, blue cheese dip, and this guacamole plus basically anything you want to dip in it. For drinks, stock up on whatever you and your friends like—beer, seltzers, you name it—but make sure to keep it cold and easily accessible at various places in your backyard. The easiest way to do this is to get your hands on a few good coolers. Of course, if you’re in a pinch, you can always fill up a storage container or spare trash can with enough ice to create a DIY, budget-friendly cooler.

It’s the weekend, you and your friends are relaxing, and that means—at no point—you should stand if you don’t want to. Every backyard tailgate needs seats, and plenty of them. Take inventory of whatever outdoor furniture you already have, consider how many people are coming over, and then plan accordingly. While any seat is better than no seat, there are a few shared characteristics among elite tailgate furniture. To start, you want furniture that can be easily moved. At a tailgate, people are often in motion and where they’ll want to sit will change frequently. Do everyone a favor—get seats that don’t require a football team to be moved.

Second, whenever possible, get something with a cushion. As you get deeper into fall, temperatures will drop and the bare, cushionless, metal patio furniture will become unbearably cold to touch. Cushioned furniture is more comfortable and absolutely warmer. With both of these factors in mind, I think it’s no surprise I love using beach chairs (like these or these) to fill out my tailgate seating needs. Plus, if you grab a couple for football season, it means you’ll be even more prepared come next summer.

The game that you’ve all gathered to watch is what will pace and structure your tailgate. If everyone is on the same page of their tailgating trajectory, hosting becomes much easier. In the first half, people will snack, mingle, and meander around the yard. At halftime, eating and drinking will peak. In the second half, people will settle into their seats, know where their cooler is, and focus on the game.

Of course, if you want this progression to happen, your guests need a clear view of a television at all times. There are two ways to do this: You could round up all the extension cords in your house and try to set up a bunch of TVs throughout the yard or you could project the game onto a big screen in your backyard. I prefer the latter—especially because you can do it for less than $200. Either way, as long as your guests never miss a big play, everyone will be happy, comfortable, and quite full.

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How do you set up your backyard tailgates? Let us know in the comments below!

Our friends at Zatarain’s® Smoked Sausage know the secret to making your tailgate the envy of every sports fan: their smoked sausages. Upgrade your favorite snacks by adding Zatarain’s Cajun Style Smoked Sausage, Blackened Seasoned Chicken Smoked Sausage, or Andouille Smoked Sausage to the mix. Even better: All of their sausages are fully cooked for easy meal prep, so they’re ready for the big game in no time.