Healthy Tailgate Food Ideas: The Best Game Day Recipes

We’re in the thick of football season, and tailgate parties are beginning to ramp up. Balancing healthy eating and creating crowd-pleasing, game day food might seem incompatible, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. With a little planning and some healthy swaps, your tailgate recipes will have your friends and family going back for seconds. We’ll go over a few of our favorite easy, healthy tailgate recipes that you can create with your Blendtec.

High-Protein Buffalo Chicken Dip

Buffalo chicken dip is one of the most classic game day recipes out there and for good reason. A mouth-watering combination of savory and cheesy flavors makes this recipe an instant hit at any tailgate party. The best part of this recipe is the hidden protein.

The combination of cottage cheese and Greek yogurt makes it protein-packed while still being delicious. Cottage cheese has about 25 grams of protein per cup, and Greek yogurt isn't far behind with about 20 grams. If you want to make this recipe lower in fat, you can opt for low-fat cottage cheese and Greek yogurt.

Serve this dip with a platter of veggies, pretzels, crackers, and baked tortilla chips so the party guests have a few healthier options to pair their high-protein buffalo chicken dip with. Be careful though, if you bring this to one tailgate party, you might be bringing it to the next tailgate— and the next, and the next.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded (rotisserie chicken works well)
• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup hot sauce (like Frank’s RedHot)
• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese
• 1/2 cup ranch
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Green onions or chives for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. In a blender, combine the Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, hot sauce, ranch or blue cheese dressing, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth and creamy. This mixture will create a tangy and protein-packed base for the dip.
2. Combine with Chicken: Pour the blended mixture into a large mixing bowl. Add the shredded chicken 3/4 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese and all of the Monterey jack cheese, stirring everything together until well combined.
3. Pour the mixture into an oven-safe dish. Top the dip with the remaining 1/4 cup of shredded cheddar cheese.
4. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the dip for 20-25 minutes, or until it’s hot and bubbly. If you'd like a crispier top, broil for an additional 2-3 minutes, keeping an eye on it so it doesn’t burn.
5. Once out of the oven, garnish with chopped green onions or chives.

Chips, Salsa and Guacamole

Chips, salsa, and guacamole are a delicious and healthy snack combination that's perfect for your next tailgate party. Not only are they easy to prepare, but they also offer a crowd-pleasing mix of flavors and textures. The crunchy tortilla chips paired with the zesty salsa and fresh guacamole make for an irresistible trio. To add extra nutrients to the mix, consider serving the salsa and guacamole with sliced bell peppers, carrots, and other veggies for dipping.

With the help of your Blendtec blender, you can whip up both the salsa and guacamole in just a couple of minutes, saving time without sacrificing flavor. This satisfying snack will definitely keep everyone at the tailgate munching happily between game-day activities.

Salsa Ingredients

• 1 can rotel (10 oz)
• 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 oz)
• 2 tablespoons white onion (roughly 1/8 of a medium sized onion)
• 1/2 fresh jalapeno
• 1/4-1/2 bunch cilantro (depending on how much cilantro you prefer)
• 1/2-1 lime, juiced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cumin

Salsa Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in blender and blend until you achieve your desired consistency. For a more mild salsa, remove the jalapeno membrane and seeds before blending.

Guacamole Ingredients

• 3 large, ripe avocados
• 2 cups cilantro leaves (about 1 bunch)
• 2 jarred banana peppers (stem removed, seeds removed)
• 1 lime, juiced
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/4 white onion
• 1 teaspoon salt

Guacamole Instructions 

1. Add all ingredients except the avocado to your blender and pulse several times until ingredients are diced.
2. Add the avocados and pulse several times until your desired consistency is reached

Healthier Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers

Jalapeño poppers are a long-time favorite appetizer of football fans. While they aren’t usually considered a healthy option, with a few swaps and an air fryer, you’ll have a healthified version of this tasty finger food in no time.

Our recipe replaces cream cheese with cottage cheese, and sour cream with Greek yogurt, so you’ll be getting a great amount of protein and lowering the amount of fat. Airfrying instead of traditional deep frying in oil will also take the calorie count and fat content down while keeping jalapeño poppers crispy.

Ingredients

• 8 large jalapeño peppers
• 1/2 cup cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup finely chopped green onion
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs or panko 
• Olive oil spray

Instructions

1. Slice the jalapeños in half lengthwise, and carefully remove the seeds and membranes using a spoon or knife. (If you want more heat, leave some seeds in.)
2. In a blender, combine the cottage cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, Greek yogurt, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper until smooth. Add the finely chopped green onion and pulse a few times to combine.
3. Spoon the cheese mixture into the jalapeño halves, filling them evenly.
4. Sprinkle whole wheat breadcrumbs or panko over the stuffed jalapeños, lightly pressing it into the filling so it adheres.
5. Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Lightly spray the stuffed jalapeños with olive oil spray to help crisp up the breadcrumbs. Arrange the jalapeños in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 8-10 minutes, or until the jalapeños are tender and the breadcrumbs are golden and crispy.
6. Remove the jalapeño poppers from the air fryer and let them cool slightly before serving. These healthier jalapeño poppers are perfect for dipping into salsa or Greek yogurt-based ranch dressing.

Wholesome White Chicken Chili

White chicken chili is a tasty and healthy option for your next tailgate party. Unlike traditional beef-based chili, white chicken chili is made with lean chicken breast, which keeps it lower in fat while still packing plenty of flavor.

Loaded with protein from the chicken and fiber from white beans, it's a satisfying meal to enjoy for a big game. The green chilies, cumin, garlic, and onion add a flavorful kick without being too heavy. You can also customize it by topping it with fresh cilantro, avocado, or a spoonful of sour cream.

Not only is white chicken chili a nutritious choice, but it's also easy to make ahead of time. You can prepare it in your Blendtec blender and slow cooker, making it convenient to prepare at the tailgate. It’s a crowd-pleaser that’s filling and delicious which makes it great for staying energized during game day.

Ingredients

• 1(15 oz.) can low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 avocado pitted and peeled
• 2 cans northern white beans drained and divided
• 1 1/2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breast cubed
• 1 can diced green chilies
• 1 onion diced
• 1 can whole kernel corn not drained
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper
• 1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 bunch cilantro for garnish; optional

Instructions

1. Add chicken broth, avocado, and ¾ cup of beans to blender and secure lid. Select blend on a Medium to Medium-Low speed for 30 seconds.
2. Pour into a 4-quart slow cooker.
3. Add remaining beans, chicken, green chilies, onion, corn, salt, black pepper, cumin, and garlic powder to slow cooker and mix well to blend flavors.
4. Cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-6 hours.
5. Garnish with cilantro and sour cream and serve.

Make Tasty Tailgate Food With Blendtec

Make your next tailgate a hit with the help of your Blendtec! With our blender's powerful blending technology, you can prepare smooth, healthy, and crowd-pleasing dishes without the hassle. Whether you're making smoothies or savory snacks, Blendtec has you covered for quick and tasty game-day food that’s sure to impress.