When you bring the RV, you have a full kitchen. So blenders to make frozen drinks, condiments to add varnishes, multiple juices to create new connotations. There’s no reason that you have to stick to basic beer out of a cooler like the rest of the tailgaters.

Let’s get crazy with some awesome tailgating drinks! All RV Tailgate Life tested and approved.

It’s Not Just Drinks at the Tailgate

Don’t forget to check out other RV Tailgate Life approved recipes and tips for cooking in small RV kitchens:

• All the Tailgating Food and Recipes Things
• Easy Tailgating Desserts
• All the RV Kitchen Things

Like these tailgate drink recipes? Pin for later and come back as new recipes are added!

Tailgate Drinks

It's not a tailgate until you have fixed a tasty beverage to sip on. Here you'll find RV Tailgate tested and approved tailgating drinks.

1

Pumpkin Spice Sangria

Take the flavors of the Pumpkin Spice Latte and make a tasty adult beverage. Great recipe to make-ahead of time. Perfect fall tailgating drink!

Get the Recipe

2

Sweet Tea Vodka Lemonade Cocktails

Perfect drink for hot days at the lake or summer/early fall tailgating. Easy, cold and refreshing. Can't beat that combo for a tailgating drink! They are so easy to make that you can do this even after a few rounds.

Get the Recipe

3

Peach Sangria

An easy sangria recipe perfect for hot summer days. Make ahead for best flavors! Light and refreshing!

Get the Recipe

4

Jedeye Mimosa

A champagne mimosa perfect for an early morning tailgate! Brunch has never tasted so good.

Get the Recipe

5

Frozen Fruit Slush

A frozen rum cocktail, perfect for hot days tailgating, at the beach, or by the pool. Easy to make and it contains fruit - so it's healthy, right?

Get the Recipe

The post Awesome Tailgate Drinks appeared first on RV Tailgate Life.

And that is taking me back to my childhood, and some old staples. Like Hamburger Helper.

But I remember a pretty bland version of Hamburger Helper. And bland is just not going to cut it, not when you are stuck in a small RV.

That’s where this one-pot hamburger helper comfort food recipe comes in. It’s so much better than what you remember from childhood!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links for various products below. You get the same low prices and we earn a small commission.

Don’t Forget The Spices!

One of the cardinal sins of all cooking, whether at home, in the RV, or on a grill is bland food.

That’s why I recommend lots of different spices and even experimenting with ones that you like.

For example, I’ve made this recipe with several different hot sauces. My current favorites are from All Spice Cafe.

JD Cowles, the spice man at All Spice Cafe, has been working on his spice recipes since the 1980s, trying to perfect the recipe. He lived in China for two years and now is in India for the past two years, learning all about their spice combinations and flavor profiles. You can tell with these spices that it has been time well spent.

That Chipotle Garlic Sauce is my current go-to sauce for those times when I don’t want something too spicy but still with lots of flavor. It is perfect for this recipe! If you like it a little spicier but still most excellent, go with the Cayenne Haberno Hot Sauce.

Another way that I add some lovely flavor to an old bland recipe is with one of my all-time favorite spices – Smoked Paprika.

You’ll recognize it as one of the secret ingredients in the World’s Best Smoked Macaroni and Cheese recipe.

And while not a spice, I highly recommend the use of beef broth in this recipe. Sure, you can substitute it for water, but the flavor is just not as robust and pleasing without the beef broth. Just trust me on this one, OK?

One Pot Wonders in An All-Purpose Pan

Cooking in an RV kitchen is an exercise in small, cramped spaces.

My RV kitchen is not nearly as well stocked as my sticks and bricks kitchen – fewer pots, pans, gadgets, etc.

But the Calaphon All Purpose Pan is awesome for RV cooking.

At 12 inches across and about 3 inches deep, it is big enough to prepare full meals for your family. But since it has just the small handles and not the long traditional handle of a pan, it is easier to store in between uses.

And the Calaphon All Purpose Pan is versatile! You can make this one-pot hamburger helper style meal. You can cook steaks or chicken breasts. Scrambled eggs in the morning.

Because of the higher sides than a standard skillet, you’ll also be able to contain oil splatters better. Combined with the non-stick surface, clean-up is a breeze.

Leftovers? Storing and Reheating Information

I’m usually a solo traveler, so 4 servings is going to be too much for one meal.

But this one-pot homemade hamburger helper recipe makes for great leftovers and an easy meal for travel days. Store any leftovers in an airtight container – Ziploc bags or glass containers are best. If you store the leftovers within an hour or so of cooking, then they should be good for three or four days.

To reheat, just spread out your serving on a microwave-safe plate and pop it in the microwave. Each plate full of pasta and ground beef needs about two minutes in the microwave at full strength to warm up and re-melt the cheese.

Like many chili and other ground beef recipes, often the flavors are even better as leftovers since the spices have time to really do their work and blend together.

Without further delay, here’s the One-Pot Hamburger Helper-Style Pasta Recipe…

One-Pot Hamburger Pasta

Yield: 4 Servings

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

An easy to cook one-pot meal, perfect for feeding a family in the RV.

Print

Ingredients

• 1 lb Ground Beef
• 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
• 1 tsp Roasted Garlic Powder
• 1 tsp Onion Powder
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp Pepper
• 2 cups macaroni
• 1 can Beef Broth (14.5 ounces)
• 2 1/4 cup water
• 1 Tbsp Ketchup
• 1 Tsp Dijon Mustard
• 1 tsp Chipotle Garlic Hot Sauce
• 2 cups Shredded Mexican Cheese

Instructions

1. In a large deep pan, brown ground beef on medium-high heat, with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to season the ground beef.
2. Drain the grease from the pan and return cooked ground beef to pan.
3. Reduce heat to low and add macaroni, beef broth, ketchup, dijon mustard, and hot sauce. Add enough water so that all contents are submerged. Stir well to combine.
4. Cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes until macaroni is cooked through and liquid is gone.
5. Uncover, add cheese and mix well.
6. Enjoy!

Notes

Want it a little more spicy? Try the Cayenne Haberno All Spice Cafe

Recommended Products

• 
  Calphalon Nonstick All Purpose Pan with Cover
• 
  All Spice Café Gourmet Hot Sauces Sampler

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 626Total Fat: 37gSaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 154mgSodium: 1389mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 49g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Facebook

Share Your Creations

Did you experiment with the spices to make this recipe your own? Let everyone know what you did to make it even better!

Like this recipe? Pin for later!

Some more recipes you might like:
Low Country Boil Recipe
Chicken Garlic Pizza Wedges
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

The post One-Pot Hamburger Helper Comfort Food appeared first on RV Tailgate Life.

These monkey bread cupcakes are also great as a dessert in addition to a breakfast or brunch tailgate.

They are so easy to make, you can bring in even little kids to help.

What is Monkey Bread?

Monkey bread is a pull apart bread, named after how a monkey eats.

Have you ever seen a monkey eat? It’s like they take small bites, picking apart a fruit.

And that’s what you do with monkey bread.

Most monkey breads are made with regular biscuits, but I make mine with cinnamon rolls. Because yummy! Who doesn’t want that extra cinnamon baked right into the middle of the dough. But if you only have some biscuit dough that you need to use, you can use that too.

Monkey Bread Cupcakes are Great for Tailgating and RV Breakfasts

Monkey bread is traditionally made in a large bundt pan like the one on the right.

But who wants to store a bundt pan in the RV? Muffin pans are bad enough, but bundt pans are pretty bulky and it is hard to pack them in small spaces. That’s why monkey bread cupcakes are a winner over a traditional monkey bread.

Also, cupcakes are a lot easier to serve up to a crowd than a bundt cake is. Each person can take their own monkey bread cupcake instead of having to pull apart a serving from a larger group.

And now that we are all a lot more conscious about people touching our food and possibly contaminating it, the fewer serving spoons and people touching it the better, amiright?

See Also: Jedeye Mimosas for Your Tailgate Brunch

Let’s Get to Baking

This is a really easy recipe.

Before you get started: You’ll want a pair of kitchen scissors (make sure they are clean, in case someone used them from the kitchen and put them back before washing them) and a small bowl to mix your dough in cinnamon sugar. Then a muffin pan with cupcake liners. A small microwavable bowl to melt the butter and prepare the glaze. A few measuring spoons, and you’ll be ready to go.

Oh yeah, and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Line the muffin pan with 8 muffin liners.

Mix up the cinnamon and the sugar in a small bowl.

Then cut a cinnamon roll into eight pieces – cut in half, then in half, and then in half again.

Roll each piece into a small bowl and dump into the cinnamon sugar bowl.

Mix the pieces up really well so that they are covered in cinnamon sugar.

Then place five of the small cinnamon roll balls into each cupcake tin.

Repeat with each cinnamon roll.

In another small bowl, melt your butter, add the brown sugar, and more cinnamon. Mix well and then spread evenly over the monkey bread cupcakes.

Pop these babies into the oven for 20 minutes on 350 degrees or until the cinnamon rolls are cooked through. (Don’t be surprised when your RV starts to smell like cinnamon and sugar. You will be so hungry by the time these are done baking! I warned you!)

Then, take them out of the oven and while still hot, add a dollop or two of icing to each muffin.

You can serve them up right away. And everyone will love them, trust me!

Making Monkey Bread Cupcakes for a Crowd

If you are going to be making multiple batches of monkey bread, there’s good news… you don’t need all the sugar and cinnamon from the “batter” for the additional batches.

You’ll have plenty of cinnamon sugar leftover from the first round.

However, leave the cinnamon rolls refrigerated until you are ready to cut them up and prepare the dough. The cinnamon becomes sticky and the whole mess is harder to work with as they warm up to room temperature.

Monkey Bread Cupcakes

Yield: 8 Cupcakes

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Additional Time: 1 minute

Total Time: 26 minutes

Easy and delicious breakfast option, great for on the go tailgates.

Print

Ingredients

• 1 cup Sugar
• 1 tbsp Cinnamon
• 1 can Pillsbury Grands! Cinnamon Rolls (5 large rolls)
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tbsp Cinnamon

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin pan with cupcake liners.
2. Combine 1 cup sugar with 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon in a small bowl. Stir to mix well.
3. Cut cinnamon rolls into 8 pieces (half, in half and in half again). Roll each piece into a ball.
4. Place cinnamon roll balls into cinnamon sugar and coat well. Place 5-6 pieces in each cupcake liner.
5. Melt butter and mix with brown sugar and the last tablespoon of cinnamon. Drizzle over cupcakes.
6. Bake for 20 minutes.
7. Top with icing from Grands! Cinnamon Rolls.
8. Enjoy!

Recommended Products

• 
  Pillsbury Grands!, Cinnamon Rolls
• 
  McCormick Ground Cinnamon
• 
  Wilton 415-2872 Baking Cups, STD, Metallic

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 306Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 163mgCarbohydrates: 50gFiber: 1gSugar: 44gProtein: 1g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Facebook

Like this recipe? Pin for later!

You may also like:
Easy Tailgating Desserts for You to Try
Bacon Crack Snacks Go Fast During Tailgates
All the Tailgating Food and Recipes Things

The post Easy and Delicious Breakfast Monkey Bread Cupcakes appeared first on RV Tailgate Life.

And no, a substitute or store brand Coke just won’t work. You want the real thing, Classic Coca-Cola. With all the real sugar and carbonation.

Try this chocolate sheet cake that has a light and airy cake with a rich chocolate glaze on top.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links for various products below. You get the same low prices and we earn a small commission.

Try This Quintessential Southern Dessert

Need to whip up a quick cake that will have everyone raving and asking you for the recipe?

Then you need to try this easy to make Coca-Cola Cake.

I made this for a neighborhood BBQ and let me tell you, everyone was raving about it. Fortunately, I can just send them all to this page to get the recipe!

Timing Your Baking Process

Here’s the thing with this recipe – there’s no downtime.

Normally, you are done when you pop the cake in the oven to bake. And then you can clean up and rest while the cake is doing the baking thing.

Not with this recipe!

As soon as you pop the cake in the oven, you need to start on the glaze. Because you want it to be ready to roll when the cake is done.

The fortunate thing is that the glaze is not hard to make. It just takes a long time because you need to go from 12 ounces of Coke down to about 4 ounces. You need to boil the water out of the Coke, leaving just the essence of the Coke and the sugar. This is going to take a good 15 minutes or so. Maybe even 20. Just under how long it will take the cake to bake.

Then add the butter, more cocoa, and the sifted sugar. Once you have it all in a nice smooth glaze, you pour it directly onto the hot cake. There is no waiting for the Coca-Cola Cake to cool down. Just pour it on there!

Then you let the cake with the glaze topping cool. Trust me on this and don’t stop the process once you pop the cake in the oven initially.

See Also: More Easy Tailgating Desserts for You to Try

Don’t Skip the Sifting

While the Coke is boiling off the water in the glaze, you’ll want to prep the confectioners’ sugar.

Yes, you really need to sift the sugar.

Why?

If you don’t, you’ll end up with small clumps of confectioners’ sugar in the glaze. And while it will still be a good dessert, it won’t be excellent.

You won’t get a smooth glaze on top and you’ll find surprise poofs of sugar when you cut into it or take a bite.

Just not the best experience. So get that sifter out and make good use of it!

I have this old style sifter with a rotary hand crank that I absolutely love. I got it, oh, I don’t know how long ago. It’s just always been in my baking arsenal.

But I love that it always works. No batteries or plugs and it is very light, which make it very RV friendly. The bad news is that it is not very compact, so it takes up a decent amount of storage space.

I like the rotary hand crank style better than the handle squeeze style sifters. I feel like it is harder to keep the sugar or flour going into the right place using the squeeze style.

Squish makes an interesting collapsible mesh sifter that may work for an RVer that is more concerned with storage space. But unlike the other style sifters, there is no mechanical function to help push the sugar or flour through the mesh screens. So you’ll be doing a lot of shaking.

Mix It Up With Your Coca-Cola Cake

Some people like marshmallows in their Coca-Cola Cake.

If you want to add marshmallows, you’ll use 1 1/2 cups of the small miniature marshmallows and reduce the sugar by about 1/4 cup.

If you are a pecan person, and what good Southerner isn’t, you might want to try adding some pecans to the glaze. You can add 1/4 – 1/2 cup of coarsely-ground pecans to the glaze. Or just sprinkle them on top of the glaze after you pour it onto the cake. Either way, it’s a good addition to the cake.

Don’t Have Buttermilk?

The last time I made this Coca-Cola Cake, I didn’t have any buttermilk on hand. Well, I did, but I wasn’t confident that it was safe to use.

But a really good substitute for 1 cup of buttermilk is 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and then the rest of the cup of milk. Stir and let it sit for about five minutes (or about the time it took me from gathering ingredients to actually needing it in the recipe).

Since this recipe calls for only 1/2 cup buttermilk, you can use 1/2 tablespoon of white vinegar and just under 1/2 cup of milk.

Chocolate Sheet Cakes for Tailgating

Every tailgate needs a dessert. And I’ve found that sheet cakes are great desserts for large crowds, commonly found at tailgates or backyard BBQs. Or church socials.

They are easy to make and easy to transport if you make them ahead of time. So much easier than cupcakes, although I do love a good cupcake.

With a sheet cake, your guests (and let’s be honest, you too) can get as little or yes, as much, as you want. So you can get a little taste or a big old hunking piece of cake.

That also makes it easier to spread out the good stuff to more people if a large crowd shows up by just cutting smaller pieces. Harder to do with cupcakes or cookies.

Now, for the recipe you’ve been waiting for…

Coca-Cola Cake

Yield: 20-25 pieces

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

A light and flufly chocolate cake that is a Southern staple of backyard BBQs and tailgates.

Print

Ingredients

Coke Cake

• 1 can (12 ounces) of Coca-Cola
• 1 cup butter, cubed
• 1/4 cup baking cocoa
• 2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Coke Glaze

• 1 can (12 ounces) of Coca-Cola
• 1/2 cup butter, cubed
• 1/4 cup baking cocoa
• 4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan, including all the way up the sides of the pan.
2. In a small saucepan, combine 1 can of Coca-Cola, butter and cocoa, bringing to a slight boil, stirring occasionally.
3. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Add the boiling Coke mixture, stirring until mixed.
4. In a small bowl, whisk eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla and add to the large bowl of flour and Coke. Stir until well mixed. Transfer to the greased pan.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean.
6. While cake is baking, begin preparing glaze.
7. In a small saucepan, bring 1 can of Coke to a boil and cook down until Coke is about 1/2 cup, usually about 15-20 minutes. Add in butter and cocoa until buter is completely melted.
8. Remove glaze from heat and add confectioners' sugar, stirring until smooth.
9. Pour over hot cake and let cool until glaze is firm.
10. Enjoy!

Notes

The cake batter will be warm to hot so be careful when handling the bowls and the baking pan.

Recommended Products

• 
  HERSHEY'S Natural Unsweetened Cocoa
• 
  Coca-Cola Soda Soft Drink
• 
  Pyrex Portables Glass Food Bakeware and Storage Containers

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 188Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 36mgSodium: 180mgCarbohydrates: 27gFiber: 0gSugar: 19gProtein: 2g

This nutritional information is automatically calculated and should only be used as a guide.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Facebook

Try More Tailgate Dessert Recipes

Looking for some more awesome tailgating desserts? They are also perfect for backyard parties or other large gatherings. Here are some of my favorites:

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake is to Die For!
Banana Pudding Cake Perfect Tailgating Dessert
Crock-Pot Dump Cake: Warm Dessert for Cold Tailgate

Like this recipe? Pin for later!

The post Coca-Cola Cake: A Southern Classic Sheet Cake appeared first on RV Tailgate Life.

And this tailgate recipe for Chicken Garlic Pizza Wedges does just that.

The garlic, oregano, and Italian seasons are in your face. This is not some bland and blah recipe. You’ll be remembering this one for awhile.

Preparing the Chicken Garlic Pizza Wedges for Your Tailgate

This recipe is enough for one 12 inch pizza. But you will probably want to double or even triple it if you have a crowd at your tailgate.

Yes, it really is that good. You might even hear a few moans from the crowd. Don’t expect for these pizza wedges to sit around long. In fact, I don’t even know how to store the pizza wedges because I’ve never had leftovers.

There are three layers – the pizza crust, the base layer, and the chicken topping. You could mix the base layer and the chicken topping, but I like the chicken a little crispy from the oven.

You mix all the base layer ingredients together and spread evenly on the pizza crust. No need for any oil on the pizza crust either.

Then add the chicken to the top.


Pop the pizza in the oven for about 8-10 minutes.

You want the edges to be a golden brown, but don’t overdo it!

Once the pizza is done baking, pull it out and let it cool slightly. Then cut into wedges or slices to enjoy.

I personally, think they are best warm, straight out of the oven. But they aren’t bad cooled either.

If they last that long.

Short-cut Options on the Chicken

This recipe calls for about 4 ounces of shredded chicken. That’s not a lot, so you won’t want to fire up the grill just for one chicken breast.

So what you can do is get a can of chunked chicken. You know, from your quarantine stash. Shred it with a fork to get the desired consistency for the pizza topping.

Now, canned chicken is completely bland. No spices, nothing. So after you shred the chicken, add about a teaspoon of Italian seasoning to give it that something extra.

You could also use leftover chicken from the smoker or BBQ meals, no problem. If the chicken is already flavorful, leave off the Italian seasoning.

A smoked chicken flavor profile on top would be most excellent. You could even cook this on the smoker if you’ve got one going for the main meal.

This recipe is also really good with spicy pickled onions.

Chicken Garlic Pizza Wedges

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Total Time: 13 minutes

An easy appetizer for tailgating or even main course for family meals.

Print

Ingredients

• 1 prebaked 12-inch pizza crust
• 1 cup shredded Italian 5 cheese blend
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 cup red onion, chopped
• 3-4 cloves, garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 4 ounces shredded chicken, cooked
• 1 teaspoon Italian Spice Blend

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. In a small bowl, mix cheese, mayonaise, onion, garlic and oregano.
3. Spread evenly on pizza crust.
4. Mix plain shredded chicken with Italian spice blend. Spread evenly on top of pizza crust + base.
5. Bake at 450 degrees for 8-10 minutes, until edges are lightly browned.
6. Cut into wedges to serve.
7. Enjoy!

Notes

Want to cheat on the shredded chicken? Get canned chicken, so this is a great recipe to use up that quarantine supply.

Recommended Products

• 
  Kraft Natural Shredded Italian Style Five Cheese Blend (8 oz Bag)
• 
  Boboli, Original Pizza Crust, 14oz Package (Pack of 3)
• 
  Swanson White Premium Chunk Chicken Breast, 4.5 Ounce

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 218Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 240mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 8g

These amounts are automatically calculated based on the ingredients. This is an estimation only to serve as a guide.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Facebook

Like this recipe? Pin for later!

Looking for some more recipes for your next tailgate? Try these:

– Bacon Wrapped Asparagus: Easy Tailgate Appetizer
– World’s Best Smoked Macaroni and Cheese
– Bacon Crack Snacks Go Fast During Tailgates

The post Tailgate Appetizer: Chicken Garlic Pizza Wedges appeared first on RV Tailgate Life.

Or for a day at the pool? Maybe you’d rather spend the day on the boat at the lake or the beach.

But however you are spending these hot summer days, you need a refreshing drink to cool you off.

That’s where this frozen fruit slush come in!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links for various products below. You get the same low prices and we earn a small commission to help us buy more RV tailgating gadgets. Or game tickets if you go on a shopping spree.

Frozen Tailgating Drinks

Hot tailgates call for cold drinks.

And one of the big advantages to RV tailgating is that awesome power source we have. Power to run the blender!

I mean, it’s hot, so you are already running the generator for the air conditioner insider anyways. Add a blender to the mix! Just be sure to watch how much power you are drawing, so you don’t flip a breaker.

Now some people might go all fancy on their RV blenders and get the Margaritaville Blender with the ice reservoir.

I mean, it’s nice and all, but in this case, I’ve stuck to the basic Oster blender. I even went with the plastic jar instead of the glass one. It saves a little on the weight in the RV and if it breaks, it won’t hurt the dogs paws – at least, not nearly as bad.

The downside is that eventually the plastic jar will get scratches on it from the ice. That’ll make it real hard to get clean, kind of like old cutting boards. But that just means that you have to soak the blender jar in hot water to kill anything.

Frozen Fruit Slush is Great for Tailgating

I like easy drinks to make at tailgating.

Seriously, no one has time for big, complicated drinks when there is tailgating to be had!

The most complicated thing about these drinks is going to be the frozen fruit. You’ll want lots of these drinks and that takes up a lot of freezer space!

Or perhaps you’ll need to bring a cooler just for the frozen fruit!

Frozen Fruit Slush

Yield: 4 Drinks

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 3 minutes

A frozen rum cocktail, perfect for hot days tailgating, at the beach, or by the pool. Easy to make and it contains fruit - so it's healthy, right?

Print

Ingredients

• 1 Bag Mixed Frozen Fruit (20 oz)
• 1.5 Cups Malibu Rum
• Ice or water for consistency purposes

Instructions

1. Empty frozen fruit into blender
2. Add Malibu Rum
3. Blend until reached desired frozen cocktail consistency
4. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

If your drink is not the desired consistency, you may need to add additional ice or water. It should be easy to drink, like a daiquiri.

Recommended Products

• 
  Oster 6684 12-Speed Blender, Black

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Facebook

More Hot Tailgating Drinks

Are you looking for more drinks that will make your hot tailgating days a little bit cooler?

Then try these delicious drinks:

• Easy Sweet Tea Vodka Lemonades
• A Mimosa Made for a RV Jedeye!
• Easy Peasy Peach Sangria

Like this recipe? Pin for later!

The post Try this Frozen Fruit Slush At Your Next Hot Tailgate appeared first on RV Tailgate Life.

Below is a collection of tailgating desserts, tried and tested by yours truly. These desserts are either great to make ahead or in the RV.

What Makes a Tailgating Dessert “Easy”?

To be an easy to make tailgating dessert in the RV, the recipe typically requires few specialized tools, a minimum amount of bowls to clean at the end, and must taste great.

Bonus points if they are no-bake desserts, since the oven takes propane and makes it difficult to cool the RV.

Make ahead recipes are awesome for tailgating because you can take advantage of your full-sized home kitchen. But that means the dessert needs to travel well.

Like these dessert recipes? Pin for later!

Easy Tailgating Desserts

Every tailgate needs a dessert. And these are the easiest tailgating desserts to make in your RV or at home, ahead of time

Coca-Cola Cake: A Southern Classic Sheet Cake

A light and fluffy chocolate cake topped with a smooth chocolate glaze made with the most Southern of Southern drinks: Coca-Cola.

Continue Reading

The Best Chocolate Dessert Ever!

You need to try this sinfully delicious chocolate cake right this second! Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links for various products below. You get the same low prices and we earn a small commission...

Continue Reading

Enjoy A Skillet Sugar Cookie

Ever tried baking in your cast iron skillet? Try this skillet sugar cookie today! Cast iron skillets are one of my favorite cooking tools. I have cast iron skillets at both home and in...

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Tailgating Sugar Cookie Bars - Rock Your Team Colors

Tailgates are a perfect time to represent your team! And what better way than with desserts? Food and team spirit all in one neat package! These tailgating sugar cookie bars are a perfect chance...

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Reese's Peanut Butter Brownies Perfect for Tailgating

I admit it, I’ve been on a brownie kick lately. The latest concoction are these Reese’s peanut butter brownies. You’ll just have to suffer through the gooey yummyness. And I make no apologies to...

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Easy and Delicious Breakfast Monkey Bread Cupcakes

A twist on the traditional monkey bread that make this recipe great for
serving up at tailgates, homegates, and other large gatherings.

Continue Reading

S'mores Fudge - No Campfire Required!

Do you love the yumminess of s’mores but are currently under a camp fire ban? You should try S’mores Fudge! S’mores fudge is really easy to make. And you’ll have people raving over how...

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Pumpkin Swirl Brownies Perfect Fall Tailgating Dessert

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The post Easy Tailgating Desserts for You to Try appeared first on RV Tailgate Life.

Leave behind your bland, boxed mac and cheese! This one will top all the rest. Spices + all the different kind of cheeses make this so tasty for even the pickiest of eaters at the tailgate.

Now, you can try to argue that your recipe is better, but what’s your cheese to pasta ratio?

Does your macaroni and cheese look all dry like the Atlanta Mayor’s did on Thanksgiving?

We will be having none of that!

Have Your Tried Smoking Your Mac and Cheese?

Being that this is tailgate central around here, we love to smoke up some ribs. Or steaks. Or chicken. Or whatever else we can get our hands on. But definitely some ribs.

And since properly smoked ribs are smoked low and slow, we’ve got plenty of time to sneak a casserole dish of macaroni and cheese on the smoker for finishing, right?

The embers and the smoke give the macaroni and cheese a new, added dimension that you won’t find if you don’t smoke it. Now, you can smoke it the entire time but with the lower temps on a smoker, it’ll take awhile. And I’m usually running behind trying to keep up with all the cornhole games. Or football games. Or whatever else is going on at the tailgate.

As a result, I like to cook the mac and cheese about half way in the convection oven in the RV. This gives it a head start and then you can finish it on the smoker.

With the ribs or smoked prime rib. And garlic toast. And crab stuffed potatoes. And baked beans. And smoked sweet potatoes.

If You Don’t Have A Smoker

You can still enjoy this recipe if you don’t have a smoker. You’ll just want to bake the macaroni and cheese in your oven.

Bake it for no more than 35 minutes if you bake it in the oven. The last thing you want to do is dry it out. Remember the Atlanta mayor? None of that!

Never Leave a Tailgate Hungry

If I’ve said it once, I’ve probably said it a million times.

But I think that picture just proves it. If you leave a tailgate hungry, you’re just doing it wrong!

Seriously, find some new tailgate friends if your tailgate plate doesn’t look like this. Or something equally delicious. Every single week.

At least you’ll be able to contribute to the meal with yep, the World’s Best Smoked Macaroni and Cheese!

All the Cheese

The secret to the smoked macaroni and cheese recipe is in the cheeses.

Yes, 40 ounces of cheese to 16 ounces of pasta! We aren’t fooling around here people.

I recommend that you buy your cheese in blocks, not pre-shredded. Why?

Pre-shredded cheese has all sorts of fillers. Wood pulp? Eeewwww.

I don’t know about you, but for the couple of minutes of shredding cheese, I’ll leave out the wood pulp. And get a better tasting product that isn’t dried out.

My RV kitchen is stocked with an OXO Good Grips Multi Grater. The Good Grips handle makes it easy to keep in place while quickly shredding cheese. It also folds down nicely to keep your RV kitchen organized.

Save Some Cheese for the Top

There are two kinds of smoked cheeses in this recipe – Smoked Cheddar and Smoked Gouda.

Now, these may not be over in the regular processed cheese section at your local supermarket. I normally find these in the specialty cheese section, near the lunch meat deli counter. But your mileage may vary.

Anyways, you’ll want to save half of each of the smoked cheeses to put on top, while the rest is mixed inside with the macaroni.

Having a crispier top of all the smoked cheeses really makes sure that the first bite and each bite thereafter is full of smoky flavor!

Leftovers? Who Said Anything About Leftovers?

If by some miracle of miracles, the smoked macaroni and cheese is not completely demolished at your tailgate meal, then again, get some new friends.

But you can cover it up and put it in the fridge. Then when you are ready for leftovers, you can just heat it up in the microwave.

Seriously though, how did this survive your meal? Some thing must be wrong…

Smoked Macaroni and Cheese

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Additional Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

This is the world's best smoked macaroni and cheese recipe. Moist and flavorful because who wants a dried out bland macaroni and cheese? Not us!

Print

Ingredients

• 1 box (16 ounces), elbow macaroni pasta
• 8 oz Smoked Cheddar Cheese
• 8 oz Smoked Gouda Cheese
• 8 oz Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• 8 oz Colby & Monterey Jack Blend Cheese
• 6-8 oz Velveeta Cheese
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp Pepper
• 1 tsp Paprika
• 1 tsp Onion Salt
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 2 eggs
• Butter

Instructions

1. Cook macaroni according to directions on package until al dente or slightly less than al dente. Do not overcook! Drain and set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3. Shred all cheeses. Set aside half Smoked Cheddar and half of Smoked Gouda for later.
4. In large bowl, mix shredded cheeses (except the set aside cheese), salt, pepper, and paprika to taste. You do not want a bland mac and cheese, so be generous.
5. Add heavy cream and milk. Stir to combine and mix well. "Sample" to ensure that you have enough spices. Add additional spices if necessary.
6. Add eggs. Mix well.
7. Add pasta. Mix well.
8. Butter a 9x13 glass casserole dish. Pour pasta and cheese mix in casserole dish.
9. Top with the remaining Smoked Cheddar and Smoked Gouda.
10. Bake for 20 minutes in oven.
11. Add to smoker, uncovered, for an additional 20-30 minutes.
12. Let cool for approximately 15 minutes until fully set.
13. Enjoy the best Smoked Macaroni and Cheese ever!

Notes

• Use aluminum foil under casserole dish to protect it from scratches on the smoker.
• Most smokers are going to run about 225-230 degrees for ribs. Depending on temperature, you may need to increase or decrease cooking time.
• You can bake the macaroni and cheese on the smoker without the step in the oven first. However, your total cook time will be increased due to the lower temperature. You should estimate one hour if you intend to bake/smoke it entirely on the smoker.
• If you do not have a smoker, then total oven baking time is approximately 35 minutes.
• Do not overbake/oversmoke your Smoked Macaroni and Cheese. It should be slightly jiggly when you take it out of the smoker.

Recommended Products

• 
  OXO Good Grips Multi Grater
• 
  Barilla Pasta, Elbow, 16 Ounce
• 
  Pyrex Portables Glass Food Bakeware and Storage Containers

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Facebook

Try This Smoked Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

Once you try this Smoked Macaroni and Cheese recipe you’ll agree that it is the world’s best!

You may also like:
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Bacon Crack Snacks
Low Country Boil

Like this recipe? Pin for later!

The post World’s Best Smoked Macaroni and Cheese appeared first on RV Tailgate Life.

This Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake is absolutely perfect for a tailgate. You make it ahead of time and then serve up the deliciousness for dessert.

Now, this recipe is not of the no-bake variety. If you wanted to make it easier, and not deal with the water bath necessary for a baked cheesecake, then you can go with the no bake variety. But traditional cheesecake is still the best.

Perfect Dessert to Make Ahead

Some recipes are great for making right at the tailgate. This cheesecake, however, is not one of them. There is a long baking time and then it needs to be refrigerated for at least four hours. Overnight is best to make sure it all firms up the right way. And to let all the flavors blend perfectly. There’s also the matter of the roasting pan for the water part of the baking. So many pans but so little room in the RV oven.

In other words, make this Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake before you head out to the RV tailgate!

This will give you more time to enjoy your friends and less time cooking.

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours

Additional Time: 4 hours

Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes

This Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake is absolutely perfect for a tailgate. You make it ahead of time and then serve up the deliciousness for dessert. Impress all your friends with your cooking skills!

Print

Ingredients

Brownie Base

• 6 tbsp. Unsalted Butter, melted
• 1 1/2 c Sugar
• 1 tbsp. Vanilla
• 2 Eggs, large
• 1 c Flour
• 1/4 c Hershey's Cocoa
• 1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
• 1/2 tsp. Salt

Cheesecake

• 2 lb Cream Cheese, Softened (4 8 oz packages)
• 5 Eggs, large
• 1 1/2 c Brown Sugar
• 1 c Peanut Butter, Smooth
• 1/2 c Whipping Cream
• 1 tbsp. Vanilla

Filling

• 1 c Peanut Butter Chips
• 1 c Chocolate Chips
• 6 Reese's Cups with Reese's Pieces, quartered

Toppings

• 6 Reese's Cups with Reese's Pieces, halved
• Fudge Sundae Topping
• 1/2 c Peanut Butter Chips
• 1/2 c Chocolate Chips

Instructions

Brownie Base

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a deep 9 inch Springform pan with butter.
2. In a large bowl, mix butter, sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
3. Add eggs one at a time until smooth again.
4. Add flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Mix thoroughly.
5. Spread brownies into pan. Bake 25 to 30 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.

Peanut Butter Cheesecake Filling

1. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth.
2. Add eggs one at a time until smooth again.
3. Add sugar, peanut butter, and whipping cream. Beat until smooth again.
4. Add vanilla. Mix well.

Making Layers

1. When brownie base is done baking, immediately take out of the oven. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Spread filling chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, and Reese's cups quartered on top of the brownie base while it is still hot.
2. Cover brownie base and fillings with peanut butter cheesecake filling.
3. Wrap bottom and sides of pan in two layers of aluminum foil to prevent water from getting into the brownie cheesecake pan. Top should remain uncovered.
4. Place brownie cheesecake pan into a larger baking or roasting pan. Pour hot water into the larger pan so that it covers about an inch of the brownie cheesecake pan.
5. Bake for 90 minutes or until cheesecake is firm or lightly browned.
6. Remove from oven and allow to cool for one hour or more.
7. Use a knife or flat blade along the edge of the cheesecake to loosen from the pan.
8. Refrigerate for at least four hours - overnight is better.
9. When preparing for serving, add melted fudge sundae topping, additional chocolate and peanut butter chips. Place halved Reese's Cups around the edge.

Recommended Products

• 
  Kitchen Aid Tilt Head Mixer
• 
  Springform Cake Pan Set

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Facebook

If you’ve been around here before, you know that I love peanut butter and chocolate together. Some of the other really great tailgating desserts are:

• Reese’s Peanut Butter Brownies
• Decadent Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies
• No Bake Peanut Butter Brownie Balls

Just another reminder that if you ever leave a tailgate hungry, you are just doing it wrong!

Don’t forget to pin for later!

The post Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake is to Die For! appeared first on RV Tailgate Life.

Cast iron skillets are one of my favorite cooking tools. I have cast iron skillets at both home and in my RV. Being a good southern woman, I use both on a regular basis.

An iron skillet is seriously one of the best pans ever. They retain heat very well. You can cook pretty much anything in them. Even on a campfire. Or in this case, bake in the oven.

Yes, today, we are going to enjoy a Skillet Sugar Cookie.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links for various products below. You get the same low prices and we earn a small commission to help us buy more RV tailgating gadgets. Or game tickets if you go on a shopping spree.

The icing can be customized for your favorite team’s colors. Just add a few drops of food color until you reach your desired color. Here, I added yellow. Because what other color would you expect from a Georgia Tech fan?

Recommended Tools and Ingredients

As you can probably tell from my collection of recipes that I have shared with you, I love baking. And if you are baking, you must absolutely use only the best vanilla. And for that, I recommend Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract.

My mom first introduced me to this vanilla. And once you try it, you can absolutely tell the difference between real bourbon pure vanilla extract and all those imposters. Yes, it’s expensive but worth every single penny.

And for this recipe, you’ll need a cast iron skillet. The best ones are those passed down between generations. Is your mom or grandma not ready to part with her cast iron skillet? Or perhaps you don’t have a cook in the family. Then you’ll need to pick one up. Lodge Cast Iron Skillets are top notch and typically come pre-seasoned. Make sure whatever skillet you pick up has a handle on both ends. These things are heavy, especially when fully loaded with food. It will take two hands to pick the skillet up.

See Also: How to Restore & Season a Rusty Cast Iron Skillet

Skillet Sugar Cookie

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 22 minutes

Total Time: 27 minutes

An easy skillet cookie recipe that you can customize to your favorite team colors for tailgating.

Print

Ingredients

Cookie Dough

• 1 c Sugar
• 1/2 c Butter, Softened
• 2 Eggs
• 1 tsp. Vanilla
• 1 1/2 c Flour, All Purpose
• 1 tsp. Baking Powder
• 1 1/2 tsp. Corn Starch
• 1/2 tsp. Baking Soda

Icing

• 2 c Confectioners Sugar
• 1/2 c Butter, Softened
• 1 tbsp. Vanilla
• 1 tbsp. Milk

Instructions

Cookie Dough

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grease (and grease some more) black iron skillet. Set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar together until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla until smooth again. Slowly add dry ingredients - flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cornstarch. Mix until thoroughly combined.
4. Spread cookie dough into a thin, even layer in skillet.
5. Bake for about 22 minutes (12 inch skillet) until just lightly golden on top. Bake longer if a smaller skillet and thicker cookie. Remove from oven and let cool completely before adding icing.

Icing

1. In a medium sized bowl, mix butter, confectioners sugar, and vanilla (and food coloring, if desired) until smooth. Add milk to get to desired consistency.
2. Decorate completely cooled cookie as desired. Top with sprinkles.
3. Enjoy!

Recommended Products

• 
  Lodge 12 Inch Cast Iron Skillet
• 
  Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla
• 
  Kitchen Aid Tilt Head Mixer

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Facebook

If you liked this skillet sugar cookie recipe, you might also like:
Sugar Cookie Bars
Reese’s Peanut Butter Brownies
Death by Hot Chocolate Pudding Cake

Like this recipe? Pin for later!

The post Enjoy A Skillet Sugar Cookie appeared first on RV Tailgate Life.