It’s football season, ya’ll. I love getting together with friends to watch a game and enjoy great food together. The only problem is, there aren’t a ton of vegan tailgate foods. So I ventured to create a flavorful and fun vegan tailgate party menu. You’ll score big at your next tailgate party with crowd-pleasing recipes for the big game.

Vegan Tailgate Party Spread

Appetizers are the perfect foods to serve at a tailgate party. Check out these recipes for mouth-watering, filling apps that will please a crowd.

Move over hot wings. . .These meaty Buffalo Maitake Mushrooms are juicy, succulent, and loaded with flavor! Plus the Ranch Dressing recipe that goes with it is absolutely delectable.

Filled with roasted corn, black beans, cilantro, a kick of spicy chipotle, and melted cheese, you won’t find anything tastier than these Mexican Stuffed Sweet Potato Skins. Serve with a side of guacamole, salsa, pico de gallo, and vegan sour cream.

If you love a great barbecue sandwich, you have got to give these Pulled Jackfruit BBQ Sandwiches a try! Jackfruit shreds easily and the mildly sweet flavor is perfect for the robust flavors in this recipe. Served dripping with Gojujang sauce and zesty cabbage slaw, these are unlike any barbecue sandwich you’ve ever tried.

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Last, but definitely not least, are these Beyond Meat Taquitos. Your guests will be so impressed that they will never guess how quick and simple these are to make.

Keep the Party Going

Guests will surely hang around long after the game is over. Be prepared with a midnight snack for when everyone has the munchies! Nothing could be simpler than some festive bowls of various flavors of seasoned popcorn.

Whether you are serving a crowd or just a few friends, make your tailgate party the most memorable ever with some or all of these great vegan tailgate recipes!

Popcorn is such a simple and easy snack, but those butter-laden genetically modified versions are best avoided. Did you know that popcorn is actually a healthy, whole-grain, antioxidant-rich snack? It’s also low in calories! Check out these 4 homemade popcorn seasonings for some healthy and delicious popcorn varieties that are sure to spice up your snacking.

First Things First. . .Tips for Perfectly Popped Popcorn

• Use the stove. Airpopped popcorn is fine, but a little oil makes it SO much better.
• Choose an oil based on the flavor you are going for. For example, use coconut oil for Asian or Indian inspired flavors, or olive oil for Italian. Grapeseed oil has a neutral flavor for many varieties of seasonings, whether you’re going for sweet or salty.
• Use a heavy-bottomed pot with a lid. This will distribute heat evenly as well as avoid burnt popcorn. The lid is necessary to trap steam and pop the corn.
• Don’t overfill the pot. If your popcorn gets too crowded, it’s likely to overflow the pot as well as burn on the bottom.
• Don’t crank the heat up too high. Keep the heat at about medium to avoid burning your oil.
• Don’t be afraid to experiment. Because the flavor combinations are endless.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons of good quality oil, like coconut oil, extra-virgin olive oil, or grapeseed oil

1/2 cup non-GMO popcorn

Instructions

1. Place heavy-bottomed pot on the stove and add oil. Turn heat to medium.
2. Test temperature of oil by dripping a few drops of water in the pot. When the water sizzles, the pot is preheated and ready.
3. Then, pour in your popcorn, and put the lid on the pot. Occasionally shake the pot gently.
4. Once kernels begin to pop, pay close attention. Continue cooking until the popping sound slows to about one pop per five seconds.
5. Finally, remove the lid, pour popcorn into a large bowl, and season as desired.

What’s for dinner? This dreaded question plagues many a household on a daily basis. And some people think it is even more of a struggle to plan a vegan main course. The truth is, there are tons of delicious plant-based foods that make a hearty, filling main course. I have loads of recipes on my website to get you started.

When it comes to a main dish, I love to cook a big, hearty dinner with enough left over for lunch the next days (or even for a couple of days). I like to call this nextovers, and sometimes when I have a particularly busy week, I’ll plan for extras to last me several days. This doesn’t mean I always eat the same thing, rather I like to experiment with ways to repurpose last night’s dinner into something new for lunch. That veggie and tofu hot dish makes a delicious soup with some vegetable broth and some spices added in. Get creative, and then let me know what you come up with!

Variety is Key

Sometimes a quick, simple meal is in order on busy weeknights, and other times you want to take your time and prepare something really special. There are lots of both types of recipes on my blog. From pasta and soups to tacos and burgers, you’ll find lots of variety and flavors to please even the most selective eaters in your home. Just because you choose to eat vegan, doesn’t mean the main course will be boring. Just check out a few of these recipes!

Vegan Pasta Main Courses

• Asian Rotini Pasta Salad with Creamy Peanut Dressing
• Beyond Meat Bolognese
• Shanghai Style Dumplings
• Spiced Pumpkin Ravioli
• Baked Ziti with Sausage
• Mac and Cheese Muffins
• Spaghetti with Marinara Sauce
• Sun-Dried Tomato Linguine

Soups

• Borscht
• Butternut Squash Soup
• Carrot, Ginger, and Turmeric Soup with Sweet and Spicy Carrot Chips
• Coconut Lentil Soup
• Leek, Fennel, Apple & Walnut Soup
• Potato Soup

More Creative Vegan Main Courses

• Buffalo Cauliflower Tacos with Vegan Ranch Dressing
• Carmelized Onion, Fig and Arugula Pizza
• Grits, Greens, and Black-Eyed Peas
• Jackfruit Tacos
• Leek Rarebit
• Mediterranean Vegetable Kebabs
• Mushroom, Artichoke and Red Bell Pepper Paella
• Polenta Two Ways
• Ramen
• Thai Green Curry
• Tofu Makhani with Naan Bread
• Vegan Mushroom Lentil Burgers
• Vietnamese Summer Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce
• Vegan Oyster Rolls

Don’t Forget the Sides

Complete your main course with a delicious vegan side dish. Many of these recipes can stand alone or serve well alongside one of the recipes listed above. Especially when trying to serve a crowd, side dishes often come to the rescue!

• Barley Braised Greens
• Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Reduction
• Mexican Pinto Bean Salad
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Grapes
• Roasted Garlic Cauliflower Mash
• Romanesco Broccoli
• Zesty Sweet Potato Fries
• Vegan Mashed Potatoes and Mushroom Gravy
• Extra Crispy Onion Rings
• Crispiest Fries with Garlic Tahini Hummus Sauce

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What’s your favorite?

Do you have a favorite vegan main course dish to share? Comment below with your suggestions!

This refreshing Mexican Pinto Bean Salad is a perfect side dish for tacos or other Mexican inspired dishes. It’s not overly spicy, but it has plenty of Mexican flavor. Because it mixes up in just a few minutes, this salad is a great last-minute item to toss together to take to a party.

I love versatile recipes like this one. This Mexican Pinto Bean Salad can stand alone as a delicious lunch, and it makes a great side dish as well. You can also serve it atop tortilla chips with a bit of vegan cheese for delicious nachos.

I’ve made this dish to take to family gatherings or dinner parties, and loads of people always ask for the recipe. I love that sometimes the most simple recipes make a big statement. Just a few great ingredients come together to create a dish that you’ll make again and again.

Make it a Meal

Serve this salad alongside Jackfruit Tacos for a perfect Mexican pair!