Ready to cook up a storm during tailgating season? Here are 17 great gift ideas for the tailgate fanatic in your life.
Need more inspiration? Check out our guide to the best BBQ gift ideas this year .
Portable Charcoal Grill
Where else would we start?
A good tailgate grille doesn’t have to be big, but it needs to be portable and reliable.
The Weber Kettle is one of the best tailgating grills on the market. It is easy to break and easy to store.
The Perfect Tailgate Apron
No more arguing about who’s in charge. A good apron is the ultimate test of who’s in charge.
Personalized aprons are a great idea, and this one has plenty of room in the included pouch for you to sneak in a beer or five.
BBQ Tool Set
With a whole host of different grilling or smoking techniques and tricks at your disposal, it’s often that you suddenly realize you don’t have the right equipment at hand. Nothing quite frustrates when you’re on the road or driving close behind you.
Eliminate the hassle with a good set of grilling tools. Spatulas , tongs, knives, magnetic knife holders and more. Everything you could possibly need.
Digital Electric Smoker
If you really want to set yourself apart, then a steakhouse is the way to go. Leave the grilled burgers to the beginners and surprise the competition with smoked breast, pork tenderloin and chicken.
An electric smoker is easy to use and gets the job done quickly and smoothly. They’re great for any type of party, but they’re sure to make the tailgate yours when you start producing cured meats.
Cooler-Meets-Folding Table (With Cup Holders)
This folding table has it all. Cooler? Check. chip tray? Check. beer holder? Wow
Folding tables are great for keeping everything compact and that and more. Just make sure to grab your drink holder before anyone reaches you.
Cooler Beer Belt
For everyone who likes to have more beer under their belt. Literally.
Not only do these belts keep a constant supply of beer, but they are also equipped with cooling material so they taste as fresh as if they came straight out of the fridge.
Football-Themed Cups
Mugs run out pretty quickly, so if you want to stock up, why not go all out? These soccer goggles are different than your usual red or blue and I like to think that the proximity markings make drinking games a little easier…
Football Field Tablecloth
Continuing the football theme, this tablecloth makes a great addition to the BBQ party.
This pack comes with 4 colorful washcloths and is approximately 78 inches long. There is also enough for everyone.
The Beer Mitt
OK, there might be a beer theme going on here too.
Despite all the talk of coolers and beer ice packs on your belt, this is a great gag gift to get under the skin of your fellow observers.
Armed with subtle heating pads, this sneaky beer mitt will warm up the victim’s cold in no time.
NFL Snack Helmet
I once tried to come up with the idea of a chip bowl helmet for my son and that’s not a million miles away.
With a fries tray on top and a nutshell in the front shield, this thing has plenty of room for snacks.
It comes in a variety of colors and can even be purchased with your team badge printed on it (you know, just to make sure you don’t piss anyone off).
Good Ol’ Football Koozie
This football shaped can hug is definitely an eye-catcher and a great gift for your sports friends.
Electric Cooler With Dual AC
For all those fun gifts, sometimes you just need something practical and simple.
Every tailgate needs a cooler, and this one gets the job done better than your regular boring box at home.
It’s big, it has a powerful electric fan. What else would you like?
Foldable Leak-Proof Wine Bag
If beer isn’t your thing but you don’t want the pain of trudging through endless bottles of wine, then look no further. These leak-proof bags are up to the task.
Each holds a full bottle of liquid wine and is easy to clean and reuse. They are space-saving, lightweight and allow wine drinking. This is exactly my dream present.
Game Day Kickasserole Dish
Casserole may not be the right choice for everyone, but if you want to do it, then you have to do it right.
Portable Fan
Forget food for a second (just a second, I promise), never underestimate the importance of a good electric fan. Especially important if you work several hours at a time on the grill or smoker.
With a good fan or two running all day, you’re safe. Above all, it helps you save energy reserves when the real fun begins: the beer.
If you want something a little more effective, take a look at our Outdoor Fog Enthusiast’s Guide.
Football Cutting Board
Okay, it might not be the most practical cutting board, but if anything gets the job done on a tailgate, this is it.
Sewing prints seem to lend themselves so well to cooking. measure meat slices? Easy. Mark beer pong formations? Finished. Do you track how much you’ve been drinking? Something like..?
S’mores Maker
Do you cook outdoors if you don’t add s’mores at the end?
These s’more cages make everything a breeze and help you cook in seconds. The perfect way to become a hero when you’ve been assigned babysitting duties. Or heck if you love s’mores. We don’t judge.
Writer & content creator. BBQ fanatic!
