A tailgate is already a good excuse to gather friends, fire up the grill and enjoy some game-day favorites. But if you want to take the festivities up a notch, invite everyone to bring their best recipe for a friendly tailgate chili cookoff! With a little planning, you can turn a few slow cookers and a hungry crowd into a spirited competition that gives everyone something to cheer about before kickoff.
Set the Rules Before the First Ladle
Every good competition needs a game plan. Decide how many contestants you can accommodate, how much chili each person should bring and whether entries need to be homemade. Give everyone a heads-up about any equipment requirements, too, especially if the tailgate location has limited access to electricity. Keep the rules simple so the focus stays on the food, not a complicated scoring system.
Make Room for Every Kind of Chili
Not everyone has the same definition of the perfect bowl. Some swear by a hearty beef chili, while others prefer smoky brisket, white chicken chili or a meatless version packed with beans and vegetables. Encourage contestants to put their own spin on the classics, whether that means experimenting with spices or adding an unexpected ingredient. You can even introduce categories like spiciest chili, most creative recipe and best vegetarian option to give different cooking styles a chance to shine. Just ask everyone to label ingredients and common allergens.
Build a Topping Bar Worth Talking About
Half the fun of chili is dressing it up! Set out a spread of shredded cheese, sour cream, sliced jalapeños, diced onions, scallions and hot sauce so guests can customize each serving. Crushed tortilla chips, crackers and cornbread make easy additions, too. Since everyone will want to sample multiple entries, provide small tasting cups and spoons rather than full-size bowls. Guests can save room for their favorites instead of committing themselves to one giant serving.
Let the Crowd Decide the Champion
Give guests a say in the outcome with paper ballots or tokens they can use to vote for their favorite entry. For a fairer contest, assign numbers to the chilis and keep the cooks’ identities under wraps until voting ends. Along with an overall People’s Choice winner, consider awards for Best Heat or Most Unexpected Ingredient. The prize doesn’t need to be elaborate; a novelty trophy, a silly apron or simply bragging rights until next week’s game will do the trick. Announce the winners before kickoff for one last round of friendly competition.
Keep the Chili Hot and the Party Rolling
A successful cook-off requires a little attention behind the scenes. Use slow cookers to keep chili at 140°F or hotter and make sure you have a reliable power source if you’re tailgating in a parking lot. Keep perishable toppings refrigerated until serving time, and don’t leave chili sitting out at room temperature for more than two hours. Bring extra serving spoons, napkins and trash bags to make cleanup easier, too. With the food handled safely and the competition underway, everyone can get back to what matters: good company, great chili and game day.