The Top 10 Tailgating Sandwiches Across the U.S.

Copy these tried-and-true sandwiches from restaurants across the country at your next tailgate party.

By: Farima Alavi
Related To:
Recipes Entertaining Parties

College football season kicked off last weekend, and with football comes tailgating. Whether you go all out for your tailgate party or you prefer something low key, one thing is true — there will be food and plenty of it.

Sandwiches are a staple food because they're portable and filling. The experts at TravelChannel.com sampled sandwiches from restaurants across the country, and they've shared some of their favorites below.

The Yardbird

Slow's Bar-BQ | Detroit

Photo by: Scott Stewart

Scott Stewart

Amish chicken is drenched in mustard sauce and tossed with sauteed mushrooms and cheddar cheese in this juicy sandwich.

Make This: The Yardbird

La Torta del Rey

Los Reyes de la Torta | Phoenix

Photo by: Mark Skalny

Mark Skalny

With 12 total ingredients, there is something for everyone.

Make This: La Torta Del Rey

Big-Ass Roast Beef

Big-Ass Sandwiches | Portland, Ore.

No need to keep the fries on the side — this sandwich has French fries piled right on top of slow-cooked roast beef.

Make This: Big-Ass Roast Beef

Pork Belly Cubano

Bunk Sandwiches | Portland, Ore.

Thick-sliced, caramelized pork belly is the star in this classic sandwich recipe.

Make This: Pork Belly Cubano

Crab Cake

Faidley Seafood | Baltimore

Photo by: unknown

unknown

Filled with 6 1/2-ounces of jumbo lump crabmeat, these fried patties are super tasty.

Make This: Crab Cake Sandwich

Italian Beef

Al's Beef | Chicago

You may not see it, but there is Italian sausage underneath the fall-apart tender beef, making it the perfect sandwich for meat lovers.

Make This: Italian Beef Sandwich

Heart-Stopping BLT

Crown Candy Kitchen | St. Louis

This isn't your odrinary BLT — a mountain of thick-sliced, crispy bacon will keep you full for hours.

Make This: Heart-Stopping BLT

The 4-Courser

The Fifty/50 | Chicago

It's surprising what all you can fit between a smoked pretzel bun. The 4-Courser consists of smoked pulled pork, gouda bechamel sauce, pickles, jalapeno chips, sweet potato chips and waffle-ized macaroni and cheese.

Make This: 4-Courser Sandwich

Chicken Cheddar Biscuit

Time-Out | Chapel Hill, N.C.

Fluffy biscuit, gooey cheddar cheese and crispy fried chicken — this sandwich is delicious no matter what time of day you're tailgating.

Make This: Chicken Cheddar Biscuit

Media Noche

Aguila Sandwich Shop | Tampa, Fla.

If you love a classic Cubano, you'll love Aguila's twist. The egg roll is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, giving it the perfect texture.

Make This: Media Noche Sandwich

Game-Day Party Food Ideas

See All Photos

Shop This Look

Powered By:Wayfair.com
We may make 💰 from these links.

Try these other tailgating sandwiches on TravelChannel.com >>

Keep Reading

Next Up

Hot Dog Topping Recipe: Marinated Black-Eyed Pea Salad (a.k.a. Little Rock Caviar)

A staple at the chef's family get-togethers, this flavor-packed relish can marinate in the fridge for a couple of days before you deploy it for hot dogs. You'll have no problem using any leftovers as a dressing for green salads or a straight-up side dish.

Hot Dog Topping Recipe: Bacon Jam

A splash of vanilla bridges the gap between salty bacon, sweet brown sugar and hot, grassy dried chiles in this easy but masterfully balanced recipe.

Hot Dog Topping Recipe: Old-School Chow Chow

There are a few steps to this old-fashioned topping. First, you make sauerkraut. Then, you toss it in a sweet-and-sour syrup that adds another spike of flavor. Altogether, it's less than half an hour of work for an impressive result.

Hot Dog Topping Recipe: Pushcart Onions

You can't go wrong with this classic hot dog topping, a natural partner for squiggles of ketchup and mustard.

Hot Dog Topping Recipe: Purgatory Sauce

You'll want to pour this garlicky tomato gravy on everything. Spiked with smoked sausage, it's an idea belly warmer for the cool days of fall.

Hot Dog Topping Recipe: Pork Chile Verde

Let the pit master do the work. Thick with smoked pork and green chiles, this is the rare chili that comes together in just a few minutes – and it still tastes like it's been simmering for hours.

Hot Dog Topping Recipe: Smithtown Beer Cheese

Kentucky invented beer cheese, and today locals jealously guard their secret recipes. If you don't have one of your own, you can't do better than this one from a beloved chef.

Hot Dog Topping Recipe: Mustard Slaw

Mustard and chopped chiles add some bite to this creamy slaw, but celery seed and sugar keep it firmly in nostalgic territory. It's a mouthwatering balancing act.

Hot Dog Topping Recipe: Collard Slaw

You can do more with collard greens than stew them to death. In this recipe, vibrant raw collards add texture and flavor to a classic creamy slaw.

Hot Dog Topping Recipe: Smoked Pimento Cheese

This twist on a classic spread gets its subtly smoky flavor from store-bought smoked cheddar–and its creamy texture from another secret ingredient: sour cream.

Meet the Team

Get to know the talented writers and editors of HGTV's show and design blog. 

Go Behind the Blog

From the Archives

Take a look back at our past posts, from entertaining and design trends to up-and-coming HGTV shows.  

Read All Our Past Posts