It is time for the grand finale of football season! Whether you are celebrating the big game itself or the end to the longest season of the year ….we always feel we need a few Super Bowl party strategies. Here are some of our favorite go-to tips for maximizing fun and minimizing stress on Super Bowl Sunday.
Make Your Party Food Ahead of Time
If you are planning to gather with friends for this event, we suggest making as many things ahead of time as possible. This will help to make things easier for the day of the party while also freeing you up for socializing and/or watching the game.
Classic Guacamole
In our houses, nothing says Super Bowl like your favorite guacamole and chips. Try out this Fresh and Easy Guacamole, as it is is easy to prep ahead. All you have to do is store it in the fridge to chill while waiting for guests.
Warm and Savory Appetizer
The Super Bowl is a great excuse to indulge in the really savory appetizers (without an ounce of guilt of course!). We love this Roasted Cheesy Mexicorn Dip for that reason. The picture does not do this one justice.
Also, it is easy to prep it ahead of time and put it in the oven 30 minutes before your guests arrive. You’ll have a warm and delicious appetizer ready to go.
“Build Your Own” Dinner Bars
We love the “build your own” concept for gatherings in which people are grazing and coming in and out at different times. A nacho or taco bar concept works well for a Super Bowl party for this reason.
Nacho Bar
Queso dip can be a great base for a nacho bar. We grew up on the Rotel/ Velveeta version of queso. We have evolved away from our roots a bit and invented this Texas Style Queso Dip over the years. But we still believe it is a perfect party food! Number one, no one should eat that much cheese alone. Number two, who wants left over queso challenging your willpower for the rest of the week? And lastly, you can prep ingredients ahead and have a crock pot on warm to keep the dip warm and fresh throughout the event.
Taco Bar
The taco bar is also a simple and fun party food solution. First, pick a protein as a base. Two great options are either this recipe for Beef Taco Seasoning or try this Pork Carnitas recipe. Both are simple to prep ahead and easy to keep warm for a few hours during the game. You can also prep your toppings ahead of time in serving dishes. (Check out these cute decorative bowls from Amazon). The taco bar is ready when your guests are!
Make it a “Souper” Bowl Party
Soups and chili are great cold weather foods that you can make ahead and leave simmering for guests as they mill in and out.
Easy Soup Idea
Try making a few batches (depending on your guest list size) of this Simple Chicken Tortilla soup and leave it stove top for the duration of the game. You can also make things easier by pre-chopping garnishes like avocado, cilantro, tomatoes, etc to have out and available.
Football Season Staple- Chili
Chili is another great option for a football party. Not only can you fill the house with the wholesome spicy aromas as chili cooks all day in the crock pot, but you have an easy and filling meal for your beer drinking friends.
Try this Beef and Sausage Chili, made and served from your crockpot (love this Cuisinart Crockpot from Amazon). For a big crowd, I always use paper bowls to cut down on clean up.
Great Dishes to Bring to a Super Bowl Party
Party Sliders to Go
It is easy to make and bring appetizers, veggie platters, or fruit platters to a party. If you are looking for something different, consider these Melty Ham & Swiss Sliders. Beth recently invented and made these for a party. It was easy to prep ahead and then transport on the pan covered in foil to the gathering. When it comes to party food…easy clean up is essential. For these sliders, you can “bake and take” them in a disposable aluminum pan.
A Twist on Traditional Layer Dip
Another easy and fun party food to bring to a Super Bowl party is some type of hearty dip. On another occasion, Beth was in a pinch and not having time for a store run before a social gathering. She made this Taco Layer Dip with Ground Beef out of items she already had in the fridge. Both this dip and the sliders were devoured at the events- definite crowd pleasers.
Themed Charcuterie Boards
We also love the idea of bringing a themed board of some type to parties (KR you are the master!). Whether charcuterie or even a dessert/ treat board, it is easy yet fun addition to any party. Just buy items ahead of time (or when on your way) and put them together once you arrive at your Super Bowl event. Creating boards has almost no physical prep time but it offers a little bit of something for everyone. This long, rectangular charcuterie board from Amazon (check it out!) is perfect for larger events!
Signature Drink
In addition to offering beer and wine at your event, we are big fans of a signature cocktail. Its a fun touch to distinguish your event with the theme. Consider this Whiskey Tango for a Super Bowl party . If your theme is a taco bar, try this Best Margarita! One of my favorite ideas is to set up a corner of the kitchen with a serve yourself bar. Offer glasses, an ice bucket and the drink ingredients. You can then write instructions on a small chalkboard for display. Then, encourage and allow guests to make the signature drink on their own. This is key for those get togethers with larger groups.
Make it FUN!
We love a reason to gather around food and Super Bowl Sunday usually gets everyone involved. It is a great time to indulge in savory appetizers and try out your recipes for big groups. We also have learned over the years that if you try to do too much, it can quickly become no fun. If that is how you feel, we encourage you to NOT try to do it all! If you are hosting, recruit help. Definitely take friends up on bringing side dishes, appetizers and treats.
Oh, and definitely let them bring drinks!
