Your Ultimate Tailgate Recipe Guide

There’s nothing better than great food and good company before the big game. Whether you’re firing up the grill in the stadium parking lot or throwing a backyard watch party, these chef-driven recipes are built to impress a crowd. We’ve gathered our favorite game day meals—from juicy burgers to crowd-sized sandwiches and even a decadent dessert—so you can spend less time planning and more time cheering.

Here’s what we’re making this tailgate season.

Pork Chili Colorado

A game day classic with bold, slow-cooked flavor

If there’s one recipe to anchor your tailgate menu, it’s this rich, hearty Pork Chili Colorado from Chef Edgar Rico. Made with dried chiles, spices, and fork-tender pork shoulder, it simmers low and slow in our Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven for a dish that only gets better the longer it sits. Serve it with tortillas or spooned over chips for an upgraded nacho situation.

Buffalo Chicken Smash Burgers

A spicy twist on two game day staples

Can’t decide between wings or burgers? Get the best of both with this crave-worthy hybrid. Ground chicken patties are smashed on a hot Carbon Steel Griddle and topped with buffalo sauce and blue cheese celery slaw for a messy, satisfying bite.

Juicy Lucy Burgers

Stuffed burgers that live up to the hype

Cheese inside the burger? Yes, please. These Minnesota-born classics are packed with gooey American cheese and seared to perfection Carbon Steel Griddle. Serve them with your favorite fixings and watch them disappear.

Pickle-Brined Fried Chicken

Crispy, tangy, and totally addictive

Brined in pickle juice, this fried chicken recipe is equal parts tangy and tender. A dredge in seasoned flour followed by a fry in our Carbon Steel Frying Pan yields the kind of golden-brown crust dreams are made of.

Grilled Lobster Rolls

For when your tailgate calls for something extra

These aren’t your average lobster rolls. Yuzu butter-poached lobster meets the smoky flavor of the Grill in a recipe that feels indulgent but is surprisingly simple to pull off. Topped with a crisp slaw, they are perfect for impressing the crowd—or treating yourself.

Sonoran Hot Dogs

A loaded hot dog like you’ve never had before

Wrapped in bacon and cooked on the Grill, then topped with beans, salsa, tomatoes, and jalapeños, these Sonoran-style dogs are a full meal in a bun. They’re easy to batch and even easier to devour.

Grilled Shrimp Kabobs

Quick-cooking skewers for a crowd

When you need something fast and flavorful, these shrimp and vegetable skewers are the move. Perfect for cooking on the Grill or Carbon Steel Griddle, these kabobs deliver big flavor with minimal prep—perfect for tailgating.

Smoky Onion Bacon Patty Melt

All the best parts of a burger—with extra crunch

This diner favorite features double beef, smoky onion mayo, bacon-onion jam, and melty cheese between slices of toasted bread. It’s seared to perfection on our Carbon Steel Griddle for those irresistible crispy, lacy edges.

Chicken Fajita Quesadillas

Flavor-packed into a quesadilla

These quesadillas are loaded with seasoned chicken, peppers, onions, corn, and melty cheese. Seared on our Carbon Steel Griddle until golden brown and crispy, they’re a portable option that’s perfect for snacking on the go.

Party-Sized Chicken Parm Sandwich

A sandwich built for sharing (or not)

Crispy chicken cutlets, marinara, mozzarella, and Parmesan come together in this over-the-top sandwich designed to feed a crowd. It’s easy to make ahead and slice to serve—just don’t expect leftovers.

Texas Sheet Cake

The ultimate tailgate dessert

Finish strong with this rich, ultra-moist chocolate cake. Baked in our French porcelain Baking Slab and topped with warm fudge frosting and chopped pecans, it’s a no-fuss dessert that travels well and feeds a crowd.

Ready to Tailgate?

If you're as fired up about summer cooking as we are, we hope this list gave you the inspiration you needed for the ultimate tailgate season. Whether you make one recipe from this list or all of them, all you need for ultimate success is the high-heat capabilities of Carbon Steel.

Whether you go with the Made In Grill, the Carbon Steel Griddle or the classic Frying Pan, wherever you cook this summer, bring Carbon Steel along to the big game.