20+ Tailgating Recipes for Chilly Days

Updated September 30, 2019
Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Temperatures are dropping and tailgating season is officially underway. Whether you're in the mood for a hot dip, a steaming bowl of chili, or even some classic mulled wine, our most comforting recipes are sure to keep you warm while you cheer on your favorite team. 

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Louisiana Hot Crab Dip

Credit: Ryan Moriarty; Styling: Emma Crist

Louisiana Hot Crab Dip Recipe

Fresh crab meat is the star of this classic New Orleans appetizer.

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Sausage, Bean, and Spinach Dip

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia DeGaris Pursell

Sausage, Bean, and Spinach Dip Recipe

Make the ultimate spinach dip by adding ground sausage, pinto beans, cream cheese,and  Parmesan. It's almost hearty enough to be a main dish.

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Spinach-and-Artichoke Dip

Credit: Raymond Hom; Styling: Pamela Duncan Silver

Spinach-and-Artichoke Dip Recipe

A go-to appetizer for parties, this spinach and artichoke dip has all the creamy-inside, brown-and-crispy-on-top texture and cheesy taste that makes dips like this appealing, but with less calories and fat.

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Boiled Peanuts

Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Victoria Cox and Elise Mayfield; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen

Boiled Peanuts Recipe

Hot, homemade boiled peanuts are truly delicious, but you can order them already prepared online. Matt and Ted started their business with this regional treat (5 pounds for $26.50); boiledpeanuts.com.

Prep: 5 minutes; Soak: 8 hours; Cook: 5 hours; Cool: 1 hour.

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Hot Brown Fondue

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Hot Brown Fondue Recipe

This creamy dip is the perfect recipe to use up leftover roasted turkey or chicken.

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Yummy Sausage Cups

Credit: Gooseberry Patch

Yummy Sausage Cups Recipe

These yummy sausage cups are the perfect morning treat. Easy to grab and go, these little cups will be a hit at your next brunch.

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Caramel Apple Dip

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Caramel Apple Dip Recipe

This easy caramel apple dip recipe is perfect for fall entertaining. Incredibly easy and incredibly tasty, your guests will keep coming back for more. Next time you're in the mood for a sugary spin on savory chips and salsa, try slicing up some apples to serve with caramel apple dip—you won't be disappointed. 

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Warm Gumbo Dip

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Warm Gumbo Dip Recipe

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Colby-Pepper Jack Cheese Dip

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Rose Nguyen

Colby-Pepper Jack Cheese Dip Recipe

This colby-pepper jack cheese dip is made heartier by the addition of chopped cooked chicken.  Chopped chipotle peppers, jalapeños, and chili powder add even more heat. Prepare up to a day ahead; cover and chill in an airtight container, and bake just before serving.

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Touchdown Butterscotch Dip

Credit: Gooseberry Patch

Touchdown Butterscotch Dip Recipe

Paired with this warm dip, fruit has never been more tempting. Made with butterscotch chips, rum extract and chopped pecans, this dip is a rich memorable treat.

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Hot Caramelized Onion Dip with Bacon and Gruyère

Credit: Jonny Valiant; Styling: Linda Hirst

Hot Caramelized Onion Dip with Bacon and Gruyère Recipe

Serve this addictive onion dip with a sliced baguette or apples, or thick-cut potato chips.

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Easy Chili

Credit: Photography: Greg DuPreeFood Styling: Rishon HannersProp Styling: Thom Driver

Easy Chili Recipe

Look no further for the ultimate, easy chili recipe. You may think you know how to make chili, but our homemade chili recipe is a gamechanger. With just a push of a button, your weekday dinner is taken care of as the chili cooks away in the slow-cooker. Add chili to your next barbeque to top grilled sausages for an upgraded version of chili dogs. You can easily substitute ground turkey instead of beef for a lighter option and the rest of the ingredients should already be stocked away in your pantry. To top the hot, spicy chili, add shredded Cheddar cheese and corn chips for extra flavor and texture. To go beyond our favorite classic recipe, find more chili recipes here. 

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White Chicken Chili

Credit: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro, Laura Martin

White Chicken Chili Recipe

When the cold weather season starts to feel endless, take a break from traditional chili and warm up with a steaming bowl of this white chicken chili. Loaded with tender chicken and creamy white beans, this easy weeknight dish is both hearty and healthy. Hot sauce and green chilis add a kick of heat to this white bean chicken chili, while shredded Monterey Jack cheese mellows out the spice. Making eight servings, this white chicken chili recipe is ideal for family gatherings around the holidays. Top your bowl of white chicken chili with crushed tortilla chips for a satisfying crunch.

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Chili-Cheese Mac

Chili-Cheese Mac Recipe

Meaty, cheesy, and delicious—kids will love this comforting dinner of this chili mac and cheese. But, that's not all, parents will love it too—it's quick and hearty, but not too heavy. Plus, it holds up well, and it’s even better leftover. 

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Queso-Filled Mini Peppers

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Tina Stamos

Queso-Filled Mini Peppers Recipe

Tortilla chips usually go hand-in-hand with queso, but mini sweet peppers make a tasty and colorful bite-sized vessel for the rich cheese dip. Don’t worry if the queso looks a little broken when the cheese melts in the evaporated milk, the cream cheese will make it smooth again. Pickled jalapeños add a tangy note to the dip, but if you like your queso extra spicy, use finely chopped fresh jalapeños instead.

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Chile con Queso

Credit: William Dickey; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey

Chile con Queso Recipe

Diced green chiles can be substituted for roasted green chiles.

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Roasted Poblano Queso

Credit: Stephen Karlisch

Roasted Poblano Queso Recipe

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Buffalo Beef Dip

Credit: Sara Tane

Buffalo Beef Dip Recipe

Why make the same old Buffalo chicken dip when you could incorporate beef? Beef is naturally richer and more savory, so its no surprise how delcicious it is when paired with the iconic heat of Buffalo sauce. Serve this perfect twist on a crowd-pleasing favorite while watching the big game. Our bet is that you never go back to the bird. Be sure to look for packaged, pulled beef without sauce (since you will be adding your own). Alternatively, you can always use leftover smoked, shredded beef from your favorite BBQ restaurant. 

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Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Credit: Time Inc. Video Studio

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Recipe

For the perfect punch of peppermint flavor that isn’t overpowering (as a splash of extract can often be), swirling a candy cane into your mug of hot cocoa provides just the right touch. Plus, this simple trick for making peppermint hot chocolate makes good use of the abundance of candy canes your kids tend to collect around the holidays. They’ll enjoy having their own personal stirring sticks as much as you’ll enjoy the splash of peppermint schnapps added to your grown-up mug. 

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Toasted Coconut Hot Chocolate

Credit: Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Catherine Crowell Steele; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Toasted Coconut Hot Chocolate Recipe

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Spiced Mulled Wine

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Spiced Mulled Wine Recipe

Oven-drying orange slices gives them a longer shelf life, which is ideal for gift-giving. For a sweet homespun touch, hand-write the recipe on an old-fashioned recipe card.

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