The best tailgate recipes for every game-watching party – Photo courtesy of monkeybusinessimages / iStock Via Getty Images Plus
Best-selling cookbook author Tieghan Gerard has been serving up comfort food with a fresh twist to millions of devoted fans, turning her Half Baked Harvest blog into the ultimate playbook for anyone who knows that tasty food makes everything better — especially Sunday football.
What started as a survival tactic of cooking to keep her massive family fed and happy has evolved into something much bigger: a culinary empire that proves that the best game-day spreads don’t come from fancy restaurants, but from someone who gets that food is love.
Throw the best possible game-day gathering with these easy tailgate recipes, whether you’re in the stadium parking lot or huddled around the flat screen in the family room.
Crispy jalapeno cream cheese Buffalo chicken taquitos
Crispy taquitos are even better with a creamy, cheesy Buffalo chicken filling – Photo courtesy of Half Baked Harvest
These taquitos are what happens when you take everything good about Buffalo chicken and make it a portable and addictive tailgate recipe. “Taquitos are a universal favorite,” says Gerard. “Instead of frying, which is traditional, I much prefer to oven bake. It’s healthier, easier, and to be honest, I like the flavor so much better. You actually taste the food, not the fried oil.”
Serve these taquitos with cilantro-ranch and extra Buffalo sauce for others who understand that more is always the correct answer.
Get this recipe: Crispy jalapeno cream cheese Buffalo chicken taquitos
Roasted garlic caprese dip
Roasted garlic caprese dip is a fun twist on typical tailgate snacks – Photo courtesy of Half Baked Harvest
Tailgating food doesn’t have to mean standard chips and dip. This roasted garlic caprese dip is creamy, full of flavor, and requires minimal prep work. It’s the perfect recipe to use up those late summer tomatoes in a most delicious way. Serve with crostini or crackers to scoop up the cheesy dip.
Get this recipe: Roasted garlic caprese dip
Granny’s 7-layer dip
Football food like 7-layer dip will have everyone cheering for more – Photo courtesy of Half Baked Harvest
Need another dip for your game-day spread? Gerard likes this elevated no-cook take on the classic chips, guac, and salsa, perfect when hosting a tailgate party, so you have space in the oven for your other dishes. The family asks Granny to make this for every family gathering and has become a tradition.
Get this recipe: Granny’s 7-layer dip
Sheet-pan Buffalo chicken pizza
Sheet-pan Buffalo chicken pizza is the ultimate game-day recipe – Photo courtesy of Half Baked Harvest
The cookbook author advises preheating the oven before preparing the pizza, as it requires that high heat to crisp the crust and melt the cheese. “Ideally, one to two hours ahead of time to get it really hot,” she says.”But if you’re in a pinch, 30 minutes works just fine too.”
This pizza has just enough kick to make things interesting as tailgate food, and a satisfying heft for those afternoons when you’re glued to a screen, rooting for your team, and wondering why you didn’t make two of them.
Get this recipe: Sheet-pan Buffalo chicken pizza
Hard cider pretzels with creamy honey mustard
Cider is the secret ingredient to these homemade pretzels – Photo courtesy of Half Baked Harvest
Gerard says that using hard cider in the dough adds notes of warming spices and sweet apples to the pretzels. “It’s faint, so you don’t know it’s there necessarily, but it makes the pretzels a little more special than all the rest,” she says. This tailgate recipe screams autumn, especially when you dip the salty pretzel into the creamy, zingy honey mustard.
Get this recipe: Hard cider pretzels with creamy honey mustard
Buffalo chicken dip sliders
Sliders make every tailgate party better – Photo courtesy of Half Baked Harvest
Easy, pull-apart, soft dinner rolls layered with cheese, ranch dressing, creamy Buffalo chicken, lots of scallions, and pickled jalapenos? Um, yes, please. Consider making a double batch for game day, as these sliders go fast. They’re cheesy on the inside, golden and toasty outside, with a delicious garlic butter topping.
Get this recipe: Buffalo chicken dip sliders
Baked crunchy honey Buffalo chicken
Every tailgate should have baked, crunchy honey Buffalo chicken – Photo courtesy of Half Baked Harvest
Perfect for game days, but you may love it so much that it’ll become a weeknight staple. This dish fuses trendy honey and hot flavors with the ease of a sheet-pan meal. The secret: Cornflakes provide the super crunch. “I’ve tested other cereals, but everyone in the family agrees, cornflakes have the best taste and crunch,” says Gerard.
Get this recipe: Baked crunchy honey Buffalo chicken
Lunchroom chocolate peanut butter bars
Tailgate food ideas should include something sweet, like lunchroom chocolate peanut butter bars – Photo courtesy of Half Baked Harvest
Every tailgate needs a sweet. Take the team back to the school lunchroom with these yummy, simple bars made with pantry staple ingredients. Just be sure to let them sit for an hour, then slice and watch them disappear.
Get this recipe: Lunchroom chocolate peanut butter bars
