Kick off fall with these healthy tailgating recipes.
Happy tailgating season! Time to enjoy cooler weather, football games, and, most importantly, food.
While most tailgating foods have lots of calories and fat, it is possible to whip up some dishes that won’t throw you too far off your healthy diet.
Check out these healthier swaps for traditional tailgating food. Your family and friends will love them!
Instead of nachos, try this chicken nacho salad.
There is less fat in this recipe with no cheese or sour cream. Also, consider using multigrain tortilla chips instead of corn tortilla chips.
¾ cup pico de gallo
4 teaspoons olive oil
6 cups iceberg lettuce, chopped
2 cups rotisserie chicken, shredded
2 avocados, peeled and sliced
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Combine ½ cup pico de gallo and oil in a food processor. Mix until smooth and set aside. Spread lettuce evenly over a platter, top with chicken and avocado. On top drizzle blended pico de gallo and add remaining, unblended pico de gallo. Pepper to taste and serve with tortilla chips.
Instead of a hamburger, go with a turkey burger.
Lean meats, like ground turkey and chicken, are a healthy alternative for red meat. Use whole wheat buns too as opposed to white bread.
1 pound ground turkey
2 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons canola oil
¼ cup course-grained mustard
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
4 hamburger buns
Lettuce, tomato, onion (optional)
Warm up your grill. Thoroughly mix mustard and honey together in a small bowl. In a separate bowl, add ground turkey and mustard mix with salt and pepper. Combine well with hands and form into four burgers.
Lightly brush the patties on both sides with oil. Grill for 5 to 7 minutes per side until fully cooked. Pour remaining mustard mixture on cooked patties and place on buns. If desired, serve with lettuce, tomato and onion.
Instead of dip made with sour cream, try dip with Greek yogurt.
Using Greek yogurt instead of sour cream makes this black bean dip high in protein. Serve with veggies instead of chips to make this snack even healthier.
1 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
½ cup Greek yogurt
¼ cup salsa
2 tablespoons lime juice
½ tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon chili powder
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Put beans, Greek yogurt, salsa, lime juice, honey, cumin, chili powder, and garlic powder in a food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy. Pour into a serving dish.
Want more healthy recipes? Check out our suggestions for French fry alternatives as well as dishes you can make on the grill.
