How to Make an Elevated Tailgate Snack Tray
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Tyson Foods, Inc. The opinions and text are all mine.
#TysonBlackenedChickenStrip #CollectiveBias
When it comes to football season, food is just as important as the game! Whether you’re tailgating outside the stadium or homegating with friends, the key to a winning spread is having easy, elevated tailgate snacks that everyone will love.
Today, I’m showing you how to create a tailgate snack tray featuring Tyson® Blackened Chicken Strips, vibrant fresh vegetables, and a zesty chipotle lime dip. This setup is stylish, simple to serve, and perfect for any football party or game-day gathering.
Elevated tailgate snack tray with chicken strips, fresh vegetables, and chipotle lime dip
Choose Your Foundation
The secret to an elevated snack tray is in the presentation. Instead of using one large communal platter, I prefer creating individual snack trays that each guest can personalize and enjoy — no shared hands, no mess, just fun and flavor!
We found the perfect serving base using small stainless-steel trays (the kind made for toaster ovens). They’re compact, reusable, and just the right size for chicken strips, wraps, veggies, and a dipping sauce in a mini glass container.
This personalized setup feels elevated but is still casual enough for a tailgate or backyard football watch party.
Load Up with Tyson® Blackened Chicken Strips
No tailgate snack tray is complete without chicken! Tyson® Blackened Chicken Strips are the MVP of this recipe — packed with flavor, protein, and convenience.
These strips are made with 100% real, simple, all-natural ingredients, chicken raised without antibiotics, and no artificial ingredients. They’re fully cooked, perfectly seasoned, and ready in minutes — ideal for busy game days.
We grabbed a bag at our local HEB in the frozen food aisle. If you’re hosting a crowd, display the components buffet-style — think warming dishes of chicken strips, bowls of fresh veggies, and small jars of dip — so guests can build their own custom snack trays.
Serving Option #1:
Arrange 3–4 Tyson® Blackened Chicken Strips on each tray with fresh-cut veggies and dip.
Serving Option #2:
Wrap chicken strips in soft tortillas with lettuce and your favorite sauce for Blackened Chicken Strip Wraps.
Add Homemade Chipotle Lime Dip
Every tailgate deserves a signature dip, and this Chipotle Lime Dip is a total crowd-pleaser. The smoky chipotle flavor complements the blackened seasoning of the chicken strips perfectly — with a fresh, tangy finish from lime and cilantro.
Chipotle Lime Dip Recipe
Ingredients:
Juice from ½ lime
½ cup fresh cilantro, lightly packed
½ cup Greek yogurt
⅓ cup mayonnaise
1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce + 1 tbsp sauce
½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
½ tsp smoked paprika
Directions:
Add all ingredients to a food processor and blend until smooth.
Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to use.
Prepare the dip the day before your event to save time on game day.
Step 4: Assemble and Serve
Once all your components are ready, it’s time to assemble your tailgate snack trays:
Add Tyson® Blackened Chicken Strips or wraps as your main protein.
Include colorful fresh vegetables like celery, carrots, or bell peppers for crunch.
Finish with a small serving of chipotle lime dip in a mini jar or ramekin.
The result? A beautiful, elevated tailgate snack tray that’s flavorful, easy to serve, and perfect for any football celebration.
This Elevated Tailgate Snack Tray Checks All The Boxes!
✔️ Easy to assemble and serve
✔️ Portable and mess-free for tailgating
✔️ Features real, simple ingredients
✔️ Customizable for every guest
Whether you’re cheering from the stands or watching from home, this Tyson® Blackened Chicken Strips snack tray makes every game day delicious.
So grab your trays, fire up your favorite team’s playlist, and get ready to impress your guests with an elevated football snack experience that scores big every time!