Title: Test Kitchen Chef
Location: Utah
Education: Self-trained with a deep focus on food science; SCA Certified Judge
Expertise: Outdoor cooking, smoking, grilling, meat mastery, and family-style meals made simple.
Caytlin McCleery is a culinary powerhouse and served as a recipe developer at The Stay At Home Chef from 2021 to 2025. She joined the team, bringing with her a passion for food that started in childhood and evolved into a full-blown career built on science, fire, and flavor.
Her recipes and cooking tips reach millions each month, and her approachable teaching style has made her a trusted name among home cooks. Caytlin’s creations blend scientific precision with down-to-earth technique, empowering everyday cooks to serve up crowd-pleasing dishes without stress.
Experience
Caytlin’s food journey started early—long before she was skipping college classes to binge Alton Brown reruns. As a self-taught chef, she honed her craft through hands-on experience and a deep dive into the science behind great cooking.
She has developed recipes and led live cooking events for major brands like Cutco and CampChef, and has made media appearances on Food Network, ABC4, The PitMaster’s Podcast, Fox13, Good Things Utah, and more. Caytlin is also an SCA Certified Judge and a seasoned outdoor cooking expert, with a smoker and grill collection that rivals most restaurants. Her favorite way to cook? Outside, over flame.
Beyond the screen and the smoker, Caytlin has spent years teaching cooking classes and catering events—from small gatherings to massive crowds. Her food is built to feed and impress, whether it’s a neighborhood cookout or a holiday dinner for twenty.
Giving Back
Caytlin is deeply connected to her community. She regularly donates her time and skills to causes she believes in, cooking for displaced families, shelters, and local service efforts. Her food has comforted, nourished, and brought joy to thousands.
Life at Home
Caytlin lives just south of Salt Lake City with her husband and five kids—an in-house tasting panel she calls her toughest (and most enthusiastic) critics. Her home kitchen is always buzzing with recipe tests, dinnertime debates, and a whole lot of flavor. She’s also a proud military mom and a firm believer that good food brings people together.
There is something about cooking food outside, it just tastes better.
Caytlin McCleery
Caytlin’s Signature Recipes
About The Stay at Home Chef
The Stay At Home Chef helps home cooks make restaurant-quality meals using simple, everyday ingredients. Our library of thoroughly tested recipes and helpful guides makes confident cooking accessible to everyone, whether you’re cooking for one or feeding a full house. Learn more about us and our editorial standards here.