The Ultimate Summer Rager Grocery List and Playlist

It’s summertime and that means it’s party time. You could have a chill soiree with some fruit salad and lemonade. Or you could have a dang rager. The Sporked crew knows a thing or two about throwing a partay—okay, mostly we know about what foods and drinks to serve. But we like to think we can put together a pretty good playlist, too—one that’s inspired by said foods and drinks. So, here is the ultimate summer rager grocery list and playlist. All you have to do is make the invite list and perfect that move where you lower your shades and say, “Sup.” (Scroll down to get the full Spotify playlist.)

Tombstone Frozen Pepperoni Pizza

The best parties have pizza—just ask any five-year-old. And since this is a rager and not a fancy shindig, you don’t have to splurge for any upscale Neapolitan-style frozen pizza. Get the one that will taste like youth: Tombstone. We’re particularly fond of the pepperoni (it ranked number seven on our best frozen pizza list), but cheese is A-OK as well. 

Song pairing: Chic n Stu by System of a Down

Fat Tire Beer Brats

Beer belongs in more places than the cooler—like in your brats. Our number one pick for the best brats are infused with real beer and they taste like it. They are unbelievably good and juicy. And they go great with beer—even if it’s not Fat Tire. 

Song pairing: Dennehy by Serengeti 

Fritos Hot Bean Dip

Not enough parties serve bean dip. Fix that national problem and serve the best bean dip: Fritos Hot Bean Dip. It’s not actually spicy, it just has more flavor that the regular can. This bean dip is so good you should probably have your own can—the host’s personal bean dip—just to make sure you actually get enough.  

Song pairing: Fye Fye by Tobe Nwigwe & Fat Nwigwe

Tostitos Cheesy Enchilada Dip

There’s a little bit of everything in this dip (the best Tostitos dip). Beans, cheese, spice—it’s a party in a jar. 

Song pairing: Big Dawg by Pink Siifu and Kenny Beats

Casa Sanchez Taqueria Style Avocado Salsa

Store bought guacamole has nothing on this avocado salsa. It’s creamy. It’s just a little bit spicy. And it’s available in two-packs at Costco. What more could you want from a dip?

Song pairing: Bring the Flavor by Queen Latifah

Great Value Bite Size Tortilla Chips

These are so cheap and they are some of the best tortilla chips we’ve tasted. They are salty, so you can snack on them without any dip at all and be perfectly satisfied. Plus, they’re the best size for dipping—not so big that you’ll be left stressing about double dipping. 

Song pairing: Ziggy Starfish (Anxiety Raps) by Open Mike Eagle ft. Gold Panda

Doritos Tapatio

Look, if you haven’t tried these Tapatio-flavored Doritos, you need to. Simply put, they are the best Doritos flavor. If your party is lagging, just get people to taste these and you’ll kick off some conversation. Yes, it’ll be a conversation about chips, but it’s better than talking politics, that’s for sure. 

Song pairing: Cha Cha Cha by Käärijä

Spindrift Spiked

You can’t have a rager in 2023 without hard seltzer. And the best hard seltzer we’ve tasted is Spindrift Spiked. It’s sold in a mixed pack with flavors like pineapple and Half & Half (tea and lemonade). And it’s way better than White Claw. Yep, we said it. 

Song pairing: Slow Motion by Stef Chura

Kona Light

Skip the Bud Light. This is the best light beer you can buy at the grocery store. It actually has real flavor and it’s crazy refreshing. But it’s still a light beer so you won’t be bogged down by too many carbs or a super heavy hop flavor. 

Song pairing: Tomorrow by Earth Dad

Jiant Taco Tuesday

If your crew is all about gut flora, stock up on some of the best hard kombucha. Giant’s Taco Tuesday tastes like roasted pineapple and chile peppers. It really lives up to its name. 

Song pairing: Candy by Rico Nasty

Kin Bloom Mocktails 

There are a lot of really good canned mocktails on the market these days, but this one contains adaptogens, nootropics, Schisandra, Damiana, and L-Theanine—all of which supposedly make you feel chill and happy. And that’s definitely how you should be feeling at a rager, even if you are off the booze. 

Song pairing: Margarita by Sleepy Brown, Big Boi, and Pharrell

Simply Spiked Signature Lemonade

The best lemonade meets alcohol. It’s a summertime classic. And it’s better than Mike’s.

Song pairing: Simply by De La Soul

Liquid Death Mountain Spring Water

Stock your cooler with canned water that looks hardcore as heck. It has a skull on the can. That’s metal, dude. 

Song pairing: Comfortable by Mick Jenkins and Noname

Outshine Fruit Bars

Popsicles? At a grown-up party? You betcha. Not only are these a delicious treat (they’re some of the best popsicles we’ve tasted), but they are also delicious plonked into a cocktail, wine, or even a beer. 

Song pairing: It Could Be Sweet by Portishead

Liquid I.V.

Help your guests stave off a miserable post-rager morning by providing some hydration powder. They can take it with them or drink it there—heck, they can even pour it into a spiked seltzer and, I guess, break even? And if you’re looking for the best Liquid I.V. flavors, look no further.  

Song pairing: XS by Rina Sawayama