Even the most ardent football fans are wise to the true highlight of Super Bowl Sunday. This year’s game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers might actually go down to the wire, a few of the dozens of multimillion-dollar commercials might actually make you chuckle, and the halftime show might not be a total disappointment. But deep down, we all know that the best thing about the Super Bowl is the food.
It’s the one day each year I find myself surrounded by an outlandish spread of chips, dips, chicken wings, chili and several of my closest friends. For the past 15 years, I’ve hosted a Super Bowl party (including a socially distant, pregame, outdoor food swap in 2021), and I always enjoy starting the day by waking up early to prepare a big pot of chili.
Whether you’re hosting or attending a gathering this year, here are a few things to consider:
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Make it a potluck. Assign specific dishes or food groups (see below), and invite non-cooks to bring chips, drinks, ice or a favorite condiment. We’ve handpicked our best recipes for wings, dips, nachos and chili to inspire you and your guests. But sometimes the most memorable dishes are the unexpected ones, like the time my friend showed up with moose meatballs made from a moose her dad hunted in North Dakota with a bow and arrow. You never know what might turn up!
What makes Super Bowl parties so expensive — and where you can save
Lean into make-ahead options. As with most parties, much of the fun of hosting comes from being able to interact with your guests. During the Super Bowl, you’re also going to want to be free to enjoy the game. Choosing recipes that can be made entirely, or at least mostly, ahead of time, will “allow you to focus on all of the essentials — eating, drinking, and spending time with friends — all while watching a good game,” Eddie Jackson, former NFL cornerback, chef and Food Network host, says in his book, “Game-Day Eats.” “The key is to make food that allows you to spend your time with your guests, not slaving over the stove.”
Get the recipe: The Office Chili
Be sure to have enough plates, bowls and utensils for everyone attending. Run the dishwasher earlier in the day. Remember that mugs can double as bowls for chili and sturdy tortilla chips make excellent spoons, if/when you run out. This is also the time to use up all that takeout plasticware that you stashed away the past four years.
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Super Bowl LVIII
Get the latest Super Bowl news and check out everything you should know about the matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers. Don’t miss the run-down on prop bets to consider before kickoff on Sunday, Feb. 11, at 6:30 p.m. ET.
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Encourage guests to bring to-go containers (or give away your takeout tubs). Leftovers are a wonderful thing, but less so when the host has nowhere to put them all. I don’t know about you, but my Tupperware cabinet is basically a bear trap. Spreading the bounty will expedite cleanup, too.
Choose recipes that are easy to scale up or down depending on the size of your gathering. Think dips, sandwiches, wings and chili. Keep in mind that cooking times and temperatures may be affected when you adjust the yield on a recipe, so adjust accordingly.
Get the recipe: Sheet-Pan Italian Sausage and Pepper Sandwiches
Store-bought is fine. You should absolutely supplement homemade recipes with store-bought shortcuts. Consult our taste tests of the best store-bought salsas and hummus brands and grab a premade and/or frozen treat or two that can easily be warmed up in the oven. The Super Bowl typically lasts for 3½ to 4 hours, so having sufficient sustenance is key.
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Consider your serving surfaces. Piling all the food and drinks onto a coffee table in front of the TV is a recipe for spills and pet pandemonium. Clear off a kitchen counter and/or create space around the dinner table for a buffet line where people can set out their dishes and refuel during the game.
Variety is key on the beverage front. Lagers, crisp pilsners, radlers and seltzers will cut through the heavy foods. It might be a good day for session IPAs rather than boozy doubles and or imperial stouts. Tap into some of the great new nonalcoholic beers on the market. Or make a batch co*cktail. For the home mixologists, give our drink generator a shake and serve up classic or creative drinks, with or without booze. Depending on your latitude, you may be able to skip buying ice and keep beverages cool on a back patio or balcony.
Add to the entertainment. Offer up Super Bowl squares, silly prop bets or another game to give everyone a rooting interest. For the recreational gamblers, there have never been more ways to wager on the game. (How long will Reba McEntire’s rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” last?) Stay tuned for a special Super Bowl (Taylor’s Version) bingo card from The Post later this week, and check out Super Bowl squares strategy tips from The Post’s Neil Greenberg.
For more inspiration, check out collections of our best recipes for:
- Wings
- Dips
- Nachos
- Chili
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I can provide information and insights on a wide range of topics, including the concepts mentioned in this article. However, I have personal experiences or emotions like humans do. I rely on the information available on the internet to provide accurate and up-to-date answers.
The concepts mentioned in the article include Super Bowl parties, hosting tips, potluck ideas, make-ahead recipes, serving suggestions, store-bought options, beverage choices, and entertainment ideas. Let's dive into each concept:
Super Bowl Parties
Super Bowl parties are popular social gatherings that revolve around watching the Super Bowl game. They often involve friends, family, and food. The article mentions that the food is considered the best thing about the Super Bowl. It suggests hosting a potluck-style party where guests can bring specific dishes or food groups. This allows for a variety of food options and reduces the overall cost of hosting the party.
Hosting Tips
The article provides several tips for hosting a Super Bowl party. Here are some key points:
- Encourage guests to bring to-go containers to take home leftovers and expedite cleanup.
- Choose recipes that are easy to scale up or down depending on the size of the gathering.
- Supplement homemade recipes with store-bought shortcuts to save time and effort.
- Consider the serving surfaces and create a buffet line to avoid spills and pet pandemonium.
- Offer a variety of beverages, including non-alcoholic options, and consider the duration of the game when planning the amount of food and drinks.
Potluck Ideas
The article suggests assigning specific dishes or food groups to guests for a potluck-style Super Bowl party. It also mentions that unexpected dishes can be memorable, such as moose meatballs made from a moose hunted with a bow and arrow. The article provides recipes for wings, dips, nachos, and chili to inspire hosts and guests.
Make-Ahead Recipes
To allow hosts to spend more time with their guests and enjoy the game, the article recommends choosing recipes that can be made entirely or mostly ahead of time. This way, hosts can focus on essential activities like eating, drinking, and spending time with friends. The article mentions Eddie Jackson, a former NFL cornerback, chef, and Food Network host, who suggests this approach in his book, "Game-Day Eats."
Serving Suggestions
The article suggests having enough plates, bowls, and utensils for everyone attending the Super Bowl party. It also recommends running the dishwasher earlier in the day to ensure clean dishes are available. Additionally, it suggests using mugs as bowls for chili and using sturdy tortilla chips as spoons when necessary. The article also mentions using takeout plasticware or giving away takeout tubs to guests to expedite cleanup.
Store-Bought Options
The article advises supplementing homemade recipes with store-bought shortcuts. It suggests consulting taste tests of store-bought salsas and hummus brands and grabbing premade or frozen treats that can easily be warmed up in the oven. The article emphasizes the importance of having sufficient sustenance throughout the 3½ to 4-hour duration of the Super Bowl game.
Beverage Choices
The article recommends offering a variety of beverages at the Super Bowl party. It suggests lagers, crisp pilsners, radlers, and seltzers to cut through the heavy foods typically served at such gatherings. It also mentions session IPAs as an alternative to boozy doubles and imperial stouts. The article suggests tapping into the market of nonalcoholic beers or making batch co*cktails. It also mentions the possibility of keeping beverages cool on a back patio or balcony, depending on the latitude.
Entertainment Ideas
To enhance the Super Bowl party experience, the article suggests offering additional entertainment options. It mentions Super Bowl squares, silly prop bets, or other games that give everyone a rooting interest. The article also mentions the availability of various ways to wager on the game, such as predicting the duration of a rendition of the national anthem. It suggests staying tuned for a special Super Bowl bingo card from The Post and checking out Super Bowl squares strategy tips.
I hope this information helps you understand the concepts mentioned in the article. If you have any specific questions or need further clarification, feel free to ask!
