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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

The Best Recipes for Homegating

appetizer· round-up· snacks· Tailgating Recipes
September 27, 2018

Best recipes for home gating photo collage

Homegating – a gathering of friends and family to watch sports at someone’s home.

I’ve been a fan of homegating for the last few years. Maybe I’m getting old but the process of setting up a tailgate or even going to a bar to watch a game seems so exhausting. And expensive! Therefore, I much rather spend my afternoon in the air conditioning while I watch sports on the TV from the comfort of my memory foam sofa.

And now with a newborn at home, homegating is much more desirable these days.

If you’re looking to try homegating, I’ve collected some recipes that I think are perfect to serve at any homegating event. Many of these recipes can also be used for tailgating; however, these are especially great for homegating because you’ll have easy access to a stove, oven, and/or grill.

Now, on to the recipes!

Pretzel Bites with Beer Cheese Dip

Pretzel bit being dipped into beer cheese

I love love love soft pretzels. If I’m at a baseball game or movie theater or amusement park, you can bet your bottom dollar that I’ll be enjoying a soft pretzel. So it’s no surprise that these pretzel bites are one of my favorite recipes for homegating. Add in the beer cheese and this snack is unstoppable!

BBQ Chicken Nachos

Picking up a BBQ Chicken Nacho

It’s you favorite gourmet pizza flavor loaded on a bed of tortilla chips. Yum yum yum!

Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken Skewers

Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken Skewers with lime wedges

As much as I love carbs, a spread of just chips and popcorn and pretzels is just not sustainable for hours of football watching. That’s why I always have some protein snacks on my menu. These skewers are on of my favorites because they’re sooooo flavorful and extremely easy to make.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bites with Fudge Frosting

Serving plate of Chocolate Chip Cookie Bites with Fudge Frosting

No homegating experience at my house is complete without something sweet. I love serving these cookie bites for parties and get-togethers because they come in the perfect bite-sized portion, making it super easy to serve (and eat!).

Loaded Totchos

Cookie sheet of Loaded Totchos drizzled with sour cream, bacon and tomatoes

Tater tots loaded with bacon and cheese?! Yes, please!

Beer Battered Corn Fritters

Beer Battered Corn Fritters being dipped into sauce

Think corn bread but fried. Yup, fried.

Cowboy Queso

Skillet of cowboy queso in front of cans of dr.pepper

This is a dip made for hungry guests, that’s for sure! Queso is loaded with yummy sausage to add some heartiness and fill empty tummies.

Cobb Salad Dip

Cobb Salad Dip in a pie dish

Who knew a salad could inspire the best dip I’ve ever had!

Bacon & Gruyere Sliders 

Bacon & Gruyere Sliders on a tray

These sliders may be small but the flavor is wayyyy huge.

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25 Comments

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Comments

  1. Aditi Bahl says

    October 1, 2018 at 6:34 am

    what an amazing collection of finger foods. i keep looking for nice appetisers and this is drool worthy list. m saving this for future ref.

    Reply
  2. Holly says

    September 30, 2018 at 11:55 pm

    I’m drooling all over myself looking at these tasty recipes! I’m so with you on the homegating front – give me my home, my coach, and my food any day!!

    Reply
  3. Nicole says

    September 30, 2018 at 10:55 pm

    Oh my goodness! Homegating is awesome! I didnt know there was a term for it. ALl of these dishes look awesome. Thank you for sharing these ideas.

    Reply
  4. Sri Mallya says

    September 30, 2018 at 9:19 pm

    Everything looks so delicious. I want to try every single recipe

    Reply
  5. Emily Leary says

    September 30, 2018 at 6:38 pm

    All those cheesy, dippy, stretchy, yummy treats! I want to try every single on of them.

    Reply
  6. Tammy says

    September 30, 2018 at 5:29 pm

    I must admit while I don’t watch or follow the games too much, I LOVE the game day food! 😀 I mean just look at all these delicious ideas! I want to jump right in!

    Reply
  7. Anne Murphy says

    September 29, 2018 at 10:57 pm

    Love the word Homegating! LOL We don’t do gatherings to watch sports, really, but I have found that finger food and small plates are just what we need for family get togethers – everyone can stay in the living room comfortably and chat over nibbles (and when the conversation flags, I bring out another dish!) I have to try those chicken skewers, and Cobb Salad Dip?? You got me right there… Great collection!

    Reply
  8. Eva says

    September 29, 2018 at 1:20 pm

    What a fantastic collection of snacks and finger food. I didn’t expect to find something sweet in there, but sure why not? I certainly do not mind having sweet food watching a game!

    Reply
  9. sheenam | thetwincookingproject.net says

    September 29, 2018 at 12:43 pm

    Everything look SO delicious, specially the chicken nachos! Yum!

    Reply
  10. Karen Roldan says

    September 29, 2018 at 7:13 am

    It’s my first time to hear about homegating! The best recipe (and my most favorite one) is the bacon & gruyere sliders. YUM!

    Reply
  11. jem says

    September 29, 2018 at 1:47 am

    Such a yummy collection of recipes. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  12. Maegan says

    September 28, 2018 at 1:32 pm

    So many great options! I love homegating too 🙂 So much easier to enjoy each other’s company and eat yummy food! I’m a soft pretzel fan too.

    Reply
  13. georgie says

    September 28, 2018 at 1:06 pm

    this is a great round up! I’ve never been tailgating before but I can tell I’d be in it for the food!!! I have no clue about football at all!

    Reply
  14. Kiki Johnson says

    September 28, 2018 at 10:53 am

    I am totally with you. Going out on days like that is more tiring than fun and preparing all that yummy food would actually be way more entertaining! I love the looks of that beer dip! Give me a big pretzel with that and I am a happy girl.

    Reply
  15. Megan says

    September 28, 2018 at 10:27 am

    Oh my god. I’m making some of these this weekend!

    Reply
  16. Michelle says

    September 28, 2018 at 8:22 am

    So many great recipes! I especially love those beer battered corn fritters, I could eat an awful lot of that x

    Reply
  17. Dominique | Perchance to Cook says

    September 28, 2018 at 8:04 am

    I prefer homegating as well! It’s so much more pleasant and you get way better food. 🙂 I want that cobb salad dip!

    Reply
  18. Lauren says

    September 28, 2018 at 7:34 am

    What an awesome round up of recipes! I’m too old for tailgating, plus I’m not really into football so the excitement is lost on me. I can pretend though if it means having all these tasty snacks!

    Reply
  19. Marie – Not Enough Cinnamon says

    September 28, 2018 at 3:59 am

    Homegating sounds right up my alley! And all the recipes…mmm they all look amazing! Who would want to go out when you can eat THAT!

    Reply
  20. Linda Nortje says

    September 28, 2018 at 3:53 am

    This is such a mouthwatering round up for homegating snacks ! Can’t wait to try them all 😀

    Reply
  21. SANDY says

    September 28, 2018 at 2:00 am

    OH MY GOSH! ALL THESE RECIPES LOOK DELISH! I ESPECIALLY WANT TO TRY THE BBQ CHICKCEN NACOS. LOOKS AMAZING

    Reply
  22. Marie says

    September 27, 2018 at 5:57 pm

    So many great recipes! They all look so delicious, but if I had to pick one favourite… it’ll be the bbq chicken nachos!

    Reply
  23. Jillian says

    September 27, 2018 at 5:16 pm

    This round up has it all! YUM!

    Reply
  24. Amanda says

    September 27, 2018 at 8:41 am

    I am drooling over ALL of these recipes. Sheet pan nachos are my absolute favorite thing to whip up on Sundays while watching football. YUM!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. StorageWorks - Self Storage Facilities in Northern California says:
    October 15, 2018 at 11:30 am

    […] Nothing says “fall” quite like football, so why not host a football tailgating party at home? Have a blast with family and friends while rooting for your favorite team! You can make it a potluck or do all the work yourself – the choice is yours. The Certified Pastry Aficionado has lots of delicious “homegating” recipes here. […]

    Reply

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