Pierogies for a tailgate: store-bought frozen pierogies boiled, browned in butter with slow-cooked onions on the stove or a griddle at home, then packed hot in foil pans for 10. About 1 hour 15 minutes at home, because the Acrisure Stadium guide says grills outside the garages and Kamin lots aren't spelled out, so this one cooks before you leave.
Feeds: 10 · Hands-on: about 1 hour · Total: about 1 hour 15 min at home, plus about 5 min at the lot
Home gear: a large pot, a big skillet or an electric griddle, 2 half-size foil pans with lids, heavy foil, an empty cooler and 2 old bath towels
Pack for the lot
- Foil pans of pierogies and onions, wrapped, in the towel-lined hot cooler
- Sour cream, in the cold cooler on ice
- Sliced green onions or chives
- Instant-read thermometer
- Tongs and a serving spoon
- Plates, forks and napkins
- A trash bag (everything stays in your 1 space)
Lot notes
- The Acrisure Stadium rule: the guide says grills outside the garages and Kamin lots aren't spelled out, so plan food that holds up cold or warm from home. The rules it does publish: "No open flames in garages, and no grilling in the Kamin lots." Alco allows "moderate and responsible tailgating" in surface lots but doesn't spell out grills, so this recipe cooks at home. If Alco confirms grills for your lot, you could brown the boiled pierogies on a griddle there instead.
- Your space: your tailgate stays inside your 1 paid space, with no tents, so 2 foil pans on a folding table is the right size.
- Holding hot: a towel-lined cooler with nothing cold in it holds hot pans for a couple of hours. Once the pierogies fall below 140°F, eat them within 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F.
- Cleanup: everyone has to be out within 1 hour after the game. Leftovers that sat out past the 2-hour mark get thrown out, not repacked.
Can you make pierogies ahead?
Yes. Boil and brown them the day before, chill them in the foil pans, then reheat them covered in a 350°F oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until they reach 165°F, right before you pack the hot cooler.
How do you keep pierogies hot at a tailgate?
Pack them in lidded foil pans, wrap the pans in foil and towels, and carry them in a preheated, empty cooler. Open it only to serve, and check that they stay at 140°F or above.
How much do you need for 20 people?
Double it: 120 pierogies (about 10 lb), 3 sticks of butter, 6 onions and 32 oz of sour cream. That's 4 foil pans, which fit in 1 large cooler or 2 medium ones.
Can you grill at Acrisure Stadium?
The guide says Alco allows "moderate and responsible tailgating" in surface lots but doesn't spell out grills. There's no tailgating or open flame in the garages and no grilling in the Kamin Science Center lots, so plan on cooking at home.
Which pierogies work best?
Potato and cheese is the classic, and sauerkraut or onion fillings work too. Any frozen pierogies are fine here, since the butter and onions do most of the work.