Spice-up Your Tailgating

As I write this, I’m a day removed from spending time at several tailgate parties prior to a NASCAR Busch Series race outside of Nashville. I was visiting with tailgaters as I work on a new book – The Ultimate Tailgater’s Racing Guide, which will hit stores next April – and sampling a variety of tailgate entrees. (Yep, there are some benefits to what I do.)

Of course, racing fans aren’t tailgating for just an afternoon. Many of them roll in as early as Wednesday or Thursday and don’t leave until Sunday. You’ve got several meals to make, and one challenge I’m often asked about is how to have variety in those meals without breaking the bank. It’s not just racing fans with this dilemma, either; a lot of offroaders have this same challenge, since they make a weekend of their rides.

One easy solution is to take what is probably the most popular tailgating food – hamburgers – and spice it up. Literally.

Hamburger meat – whether beef or turkey – is darned economical, especially if you buy it in bulk at a warehouse store like Costco or Sam’s. Before you head out to start tailgating, divide the meat into 1 – 1¼ pound segments, put them in separate zip-top bags, and store them in your cooler or refrigerator. If you’re using a cooler, be sure to have enough ice to keep the temperature below 40º at all times.

Having your ground meat in pre-divided bags will make it easy to spice them up in the parking lot… and with some pre-planning you can go from America, to Mexico, to Italy, all between two buns.

Here are four ideas for spicing up your burgers, but there are many others. Next time you’re at the grocery store take a look at the spice aisle and pick-up packets that look good to you. You may be serving burgers three or four times before the race, but it won’t be the same meal over and over again.

Variety Is the Spice of Burgers

• 1 pound lean ground beef or turkey (use 1¼ pounds meat for milder flavor)
• 1 packet spices and seasonings

Combine the meat with your seasoning packet of choice (see options below). Mix thoroughly and shape into patties.

Grill the patties for 7 to 10 minutes, turning once. (For beef cook until internal temperature is 145° for medium; for turkey cook until the internal temperature is 160º.)

Top with your choice of garnishes and serve.

Makes 4 burgers.

Chili Burgers

• 1 (1.25-ounce) packet chili seasoning

Top the burgers with your choice of grilled onions, cheddar cheese, lettuce, and tomato.

Fajita Burgers

• 1 (1.25-ounce) packet fajita seasoning

Top the burgers with your choice of grilled onions and salsa, and consider serving on onion buns rather than plain hamburger buns.

Taco Burgers

• 1 (1.25-ounce) packet taco seasoning

Top the burgers with your choice of guacamole, salsa, jalapeño Jack cheese, lettuce, and tomato.

Italian Burgers

• 1 (1.25-ounce) packet spaghetti sauce spices

Top the burgers with your choice of Mozzarella cheese, Romaine lettuce, and mayonnaise mixed with garlic powder.

Stephen Linn is the author of The Ultimate Tailgater’s Handbook and The Ultimate Tailgater’s Travel Guide: More Than 20 Great Road Trips which are the ultimate how-to resources for the tailgater who wants to do it all, have it all, and host the best party in the parking lot. Learn more and watch his how-to tailgating videos at www.theultimatetailgater.com.