21 Winning Breakfast Tailgate Recipes

A square of Cheddar-topped casserole on a plate with tomato wedges and parsley garnish, with a bowl of orange wedges in the background
Photo: Baking Nana

Early kickoffs give you less time to grill, smoke, or deep fry your favorite tailgate foods. But you can embrace the pre-lunch hour start time with a winning buffet of breakfast tailgate foods that will get everyone at your house or stadium pre-party ready for the game. Instead of burgers and chicken wings, focus on comforting casseroles and slow cooker breakfast recipes. These tailgate-friendly breakfast recipes are easy to bake and take as you head out the door, or you can make them ahead of game day so you don't have to rise and shine too early. And while you're planning the breakfast tailgate menu, don't forget the fixings for Bloody Marys and mimosas. It's still a party, after all.

01 of 21

Pancake Casserole

Pancake Casserole
Rebekah Rose Hills

For an all-in-one breakfast tailgate food, turn to this loaded pancake casserole, which features a sweet, cake-like base that's topped with cheese and bacon (or sausage, if you prefer.) "This was so easy to make and the kids ate all of it," Allrecipes cook William Seagraves wrote. "I did not cook the bacon separately, but chopped it up and put it on top of the mix and bake it for 20 minutes. This gave me time so I could do other things."

02 of 21

Game Day Breakfast Sliders

Game Day Breakfast Sliders
Baking Nana

The recipe title tells all. These were made for serving a game-ready crowd a piping hot breakfast. "These were delicious! Made a small batch using bacon instead of ham and a variety of cheeses. Yum!" writes reviewer cecia66.

03 of 21

Best Breakfast Casserole

a square of sausage and egg casserole with a crescent roll base, topped with Cheddar and green onions, served on a white square plate with strawberries and cantaloupe behind it
lutzflcat

Start the breakfast tailgate prep the night before by making this eggy, meaty casserole and letting it sit in the fridge overnight. When it's time to begin the tailgate or head to campus, just bake it 25 minutes, and it will be ready to serve. Some reviewers suggest using chorizo for a spicy kick.

04 of 21

Perfect Summer Fruit Salad

Perfect Summer Fruit Salad
RainbowJewels

There's always room for something fresh and light amid the casseroles and sticky buns. "This is delicious!!! I wasn't sure if I was going to like the syrup, but was pleasantly surprised. I'm going to make again for a family BBQ this weekend. I just used the fruit I had on hand and it was very good," writes Allrecipes cook Melissa Slack.

05 of 21

Donut Muffins

Donut Muffins sprinkled with sugar
Gitano

No tailgate would be complete without something sweet. If you don't want to make a monkey bread or syrupy French toast casserole, consider these donut-inspired muffins. They're light and airy and coated in a cinnamon-sugar mix that makes them the perfect sweet ending before the game starts.

06 of 21

Overnight Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole

Overnight Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole
Overnight Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole

Some breakfast casseroles sit in the fridge overnight, then you cook it. This one, on the other hand, cooks while you sleep so you wake up to a creamy, comforting meal.

07 of 21

Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Buttermilk Biscuit Breakfast Sandwich

a Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Buttermilk Biscuit Breakfast Sandwich on a white plate with an orange wedge
lutzflcat

Wrap up these breakfast biscuits and keep them warm in a slow cooker. If you're at home, use this recipe to create a breakfast biscuit buffet, with options for everyone to DIY their own tailgate-ready breakfast sandwich.

08 of 21

Sausage Balls

This three-ingredient recipe yields dozens of bite-size sausage balls. If you have a hungry crowd, double the recipe. We assure you they'll disappear before halftime.

09 of 21

Cinnamon Swirl French Toast Casserole

Cinnamon Swirl French Toast Casserole on a plate with a bacon slice and orange slices
My Hot Southern Mess

While you're prepping your ingredients for your tailgate, get a jumpstart on one recipe by making it ahead and letting is sit overnight. This French toast casserole turns creamy and tender in the egg bath. It's baked the next morning, just before serving.

10 of 21

Bacon for the Family or a Crowd

A closeup of crisp bacon strips on a square white plate
CookinBug

Don't you dare stand over a sputtering and spitting skillet, flipping bacon all morning. Use your oven and a sheet pan to cook slice after slice without the mess and hassle of the stovetop method. "This is so perfect. I'll never go back to pan frying again!" wrote Allrecipes cook Denise Buxton.

11 of 21

Hash Brown Casserole for the Slow Cooker

a scoop of Hash Brown Casserole for the Slow Cooker on a white plate with buttered toast in the background
Meghan Mangan

Start this first thing in the morning, and it'll be ready when it's time for your official tailgate to start. "I was looking for something simple with just a few ingredients for breakfast and I found this recipe. It's so easy to put together and it's absolutely delicious. I'm making it a second time today and I added bacon bits for a more hearty flavor," write Allrecipes cooke Renee Warnock. For an overnight recipe, some reviewers suggest doubling it and cooking it longer.

12 of 21

Tater Tot and Bacon Breakfast Casserole

A square of Cheddar-topped casserole on a plate with tomato wedges and parsley garnish, with a bowl of orange wedges in the background
Baking Nana

Get your breakfast potatoes, meat, and eggs in one place with this potato tot casserole. Reviewers are a big fan of how easily it comes together. "Easy to make and was a hit. I made it for a family brunch and there wasn't any leftovers," wrote reviewer linda a monore.

13 of 21

Texas Sausage Kolaches (Klobasneks)

a tray of Texas Sausage Kolaches (Klobasneks)
John David Plumpton

In the heart of Texas, the love for football is great, and the love for kolaches and sausage kolaches (also called klobasneks) is plentiful, too. Consider this a spin on the sausage biscuit. After they're cooked, you can keep them warm in a slow cooker or oven.

14 of 21

Southern Grits Casserole

a square slice of Southern Grits Casserole with a sprig of parsley on top
Melissa Goff

Most breakfast casseroles use canned croissants or biscuit mix to bind all the ingredients together, but this one takes a cue from Southern breakfasts. Grits adds body and chew to this easy casserole.

15 of 21

Marcia's Famous Sticky Buns

a pan of Marcia's Famous Sticky Buns flipped out onto a white plate
BDEGER

Consider this the time-crunched football fan's sweet secret weapon. Instead of making your own dough for these sticky buns, you can use frozen bread dough. You'll assemble everything the night before the game, and cook it the next morning. "Perfect just as written- can't even try anything else when this is so good and so easy," writes Allrecipes cook Anna Marie.

16 of 21

Bloody Mary Mix

several glasses of Bloody Mary Mix with garnishes

It isn't many cocktail mixes that get better as they sit, but this Bloody Mary Mix is best when it sits overnight. So make this the night before and set it up as part of a Bloody Mary Bar for the game.

17 of 21

Baked French Toast

Baked French Toast
Irena Lenko

"LOVED This recipe. The only change I made was the bread. I used day old challah bread," wrote Allrecipes cook SMM.

18 of 21

Baked Ham and Cheese Party Sandwiches

four slider-sized ham sandwiches on a square white plate
Kim's Cooking Now

Instead of ham biscuits, opt for a sandwich that's a bit more brunch-worthy. These come together in just 15 minutes and then bake until warm and melty. If you're not at home, you can warm them in your slow cooker at the tailgate, or assemble them at home, and put them in a baking pan on the grill to get them toasted.

19 of 21

Dark Chocolate Marbled Banana Bread with Greek Yogurt

a loaf of Dark Chocolate Marbled Banana Bread with Greek Yogurt with two slices
Nanda

At a breakfast tailgate, banana bread is to brownie squares what bacon slices are to chicken wings. This version of banana bread uses rich dark chocolate to add depth to the loaf. "This bread is wonderful. My son said it smelled like oreo brownies baking and he couldn't wait to taste it. He loved it! It is moist with good banana flavor," writes Allrecipes cook Kar.

20 of 21

Bacon Cheddar Deviled Eggs

For breakfast, you may think scrambled or fried eggs are requisite, but we dare you to serve deviled eggs instead. These are made with cheddar cheese and bits of bacon, so we consider it practically a one-bite omelet.

21 of 21

Ooey-Gooey Cinnamon Buns

Ooey-Gooey Cinnamon stacked on a platterBuns
Jessica Stoklosa

You think everyone is coming to your tailgate for the game, but they're really there for the cinnamon buns, rich with a caramel glaze and crunchy pecans.

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