When it comes to game day menu planning it’s best to keep it to no-frills staples that are portable and low on the messy scale. When you’re tailgating you need to keep one of your hands free for cornhole bag throwing, favourite beverage drinking, and stadium seat carrying. That’s why these portable pork parfaits are a terrific tailgate treat.
During my four years at university, I attended my fair share of tailgates. But my favourites were always thrown by a family friend who introduced me and my friends to the pork parfait (or simply, the bbq cup).
These pork parfaits have everything you’d want on a bbq plate – but layered in a cup for easy handling while tailgating.
The tailgate hostess (Mrs. Phillips) was always ready to feed the fans. She’d have some bbq cups premade for those rushing to and from the stadium. But she also had an assembly line hot and ready so you could build your own in the RV.
All you need to mimic her assembly line is your favourite barbecue recipe, baked beans, coleslaw, and barbecue sauce.
Make slow cooker barbecue and slow cooker baked beans the day or morning before the big game. You could make homemade coleslaw (this blue cheese slaw is especially delicious on goodies like bbq sandwiches and buffalo chicken sliders) or save time and get store-bought. Have a bottle of smoky bbq sauce ready to drizzle on top before the fans dig in.
These easy bbq cups are a great handheld option for gameday. Mix up the layers by subbing out the coleslaw for mashed potatoes when the temperatures drop later in the season or substitute the pulled pork for shredded chicken if you prefer. Whether your team gets the L or W, your tailgate is sure to come out on top this weekend.
Baked beans are a classic summer side dish you will find at almost any backyard barbecue or summer party. Not only are they are sweet and salty crowd-pleaser, baked beans are super easy to make (and transport) in your Hamilton Beach® slow cooker for your next potluck.
In the slow cooker crock, mix two cans of pork and beans, two cans of northern beans, onion, jalapeño, molasses (for some added sweetness and nice, deep color), brown sugar, mustard, salt, and pepper.
Cover and cook on HIGH for 5 to 6 hours or LOW for 11 to 12 hours. You’ll know they’re done when the sauce has thickened slightly.
We love making baked beans in the slow cooker because there is no need to dirty any extra dishes. You mix all the ingredients in the crock, set it, and forget it. Once the beans are done, you can use the slow cooker as an easy way to transport the beans to the summer party or potluck. The Hamilton Beach® Set & Forget® 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker’s clip-locked, secure lid has a tight seal to help ensure that you, your shirt, and your car arrive spill-free. It can even function as the serving dish. No need to transfer these baked beans to a serving bowl, just switch the slow cooker to WARM and let party guests serve themselves.
Get creative with toppings and mix-ins for your baked beans. We added a generous sprinkling of crispy bacon on top, but you could add almost anything to these beans. Have plenty of fresh fruit in the kitchen? Chop up summer favorites like fresh peaches or juicy pineapple and stir them into the beans for a tropical spin. Want a little kick? Stir in your favourite hot sauce and top with extra jalapeños or peppers from your garden.
Whether you are serving these beans at your block party or need a go-to side to serve alongside burgers and hotdogs, baked beans will be on your plate all summer long.
In a slow cooker crock, stir together beans, onion, jalapeno, molasses, brown sugar, mustard, salt and pepper.
Cover slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 5 to 6 hours or LOW for 11 to 12 hours or until sauce has slightly thickened. Sprinkle with bacon before serving.
