If you’re anything like us, fall means enjoying your deck during football season. There’s nothing better than gathering up the gang for some excellent football and great food. The summer temperatures are easing up, and that’s a clear signal to take the party outside. Here are a few tips to help you and your friends make the most of your deck this football season.
Deck Prep
Cleaning your aluminum deck is the first step to preparing for your outdoor football party. Spray down your patio furniture. Clean the cushions if you have them. Sweep the leaves and dirt off the deck. If it’s looking grimy, hose it down or even get the pressure washer out. Tidy up your grill supplies and give the grill itself a good cleaning. Scrub the grill inserts and empty the grease trap. Make sure you have enough propane and/or charcoal on hand. Now, your deck should be ready for a crowd!
Football Party Recipes
What’s a party without some excellent snacks? Potlucks are an ideal approach for fall gatherings, but the host must still have some grub ready when the guests arrive. Here are a couple of our favorite football party recipes:
Tacos
Walking tacos are delicious and easy to prepare. Plus, cleaning up the mess is a breeze. And since your guests will build their own, nobody has to pick off the toppings they don’t like. Adjust the amount of ingredients based on how many guests you expect.
Here are the necessary steps to set up your Walking Taco Bar:
- Brown and drain ground beef; add taco seasoning per the package’s instructions.
- Chop tomatoes, lettuce, onion, and black olives in individual bowls.
- Shred your favorite kind of cheese & put it in another bowl.
- Set out other popular taco toppings: sour cream, salsa, hot sauce, etc.
- Put out a bunch of spoons and individual-sized bags of Fritos – your guests can now build their walking tacos!
Wings
Dry rub chicken wings are a twist on classic wings, which are a perennial party food. Grilling the wings instead of frying keeps them healthier and makes less mess. The dry rub is the perfect combination of sweet and spicy. All you have to do is grill your wings and toss them in the dry rub while they’re hot. Many recipes tell you to coat the wings with the rub and put them on the grill. That’s a mistake because the sugar will burn, and then the chicken will burn.
The recipe below is for about 24 chicken wings; adjust your ingredients based on how much chicken you make. Mix all the dry rub ingredients and save the leftover rub for another day:
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (or more if you like more spice)
Wahoo Decks Wishes You a Great Football Season!
Enjoying your deck during football season is all about friends, food, and the football games. We hope you make the most of this season, no matter how your team does!