One of my favorite things about football season is the tailgating experience. Sometimes I look forward to the act of tailgating more than the game itself. There’s nothing quite like the pre-game energy happening in the parking lot of the stadium. The moment you exit your car, you can smell the hot dogs and hamburgers grilling. It’s an intoxicating experience. But don’t forget the grab-n-go snacks like some potato chips or grass-fed jerky sticks.
My Tailgate Essentials
Because of my busy schedule, I never know whether or not I’ll be able to attend a game until the last minute. This gives me very little time to prep anything as far as food goes, so I leave my shopping until the last minute. I’ve recently started taking advantage of the Walmart Online Grocery Pickup (OGP) feature. It has quickly become an essential part of my tailgating experience. I’m able to promptly schedule and pay online for all the items I want to bring to the tailgate, without having ever to walk the aisles of the store. I simply stop at Walmart on the way to the stadium, park in the designated Online Grocery Pickup space, pick up my pre-paid groceries, and then I’m on my way. It’s that easy.
As I previously stated, I had very little time to prepare for this recent tailgate experience, so I decided to grab a few of my favorite tailgate essentials from Walmart on the way to the stadium: Hebrew National Beef Franks, RO*TEL Original Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies, Rosarita Traditional Refried Beans, buns, and some chips. My buddy Dan always has a crockpot and grill going at his tailgate, so I knew I would be able to heat up my beans and grill my hot dogs when I arrived.
What’s particularly nice about these items is how universal they are. The RO*TEL Diced Tomatoes are made from vine-ripened tomatoes with green chilies and a mix of spices. They work great with soups, chilis, and my personal favorite, my wife’s queso. I bought them to go into my buddy’s chili. I heard there would be tacos at this particular tailgate, so Rosarita Traditional Refried Beans were the obvious choice. The Mexican-style beans are great in recipes as well as a side dish. And last, but certainly not least and probably the most obvious–Hebrew National Beef Franks. You simply can’t attend a sporting event and not have a hot dog.
If you’re ready to join the huddle and shop for your next tailgate, click here. Otherwise, if you’re feeling what I bought at Walmart then click here and fill your cart!
