Super Bowl Party Playbook

There’s one team that everyone roots for, whether your eyes are glued to the game or you’re more focused on those fantastic commercials, and that’s Team Food. Not sure where to start when it comes to planning the perfect Super Bowl party? No stress, just get some coaching tips from our Super Bowl party playbook, and you’ll be serving up touchdown-worthy recipes in no time.

1. Make some dishes that don’t require attention while eating.

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For instance, it’s easier to keep your eyes on the pigskin when noshing on meatballs, popcorn, or even pigs in a blanket (though dipping in different sauces complicates things a little). Wings are fabulous finger food, but the presence of bones means they require more attention than many other scarf-worthy snacks, and guacamole demands a modicum of coordination to get it onto your chip. Just have at least a couple grab-and-gobble options for those who are actually there to watch the game first and eat second, in case they truly can’t tear their eyes away from the screen.

Football Stadium Chip And Dip Sports Serving Set, $35.92 on Amazon

For those who pay attention to what they're eating, this whimsical serving platter may be appreciated.

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2. Have enough beer—and beer openers!

It’s key to have enough beer. And to have a way to open it, in case you’re not just dealing with twist-offs and pop tops. Consider stocking up on multiple openers to stash around your viewing area (and kitchen, and yard…); try these ways of securing your bottle opener so it stays in place. But if you do lose track of it, pull out a nifty party trick and up your awesomeness by learning how to open the beer bottle with a pen. If you want to get a little fancier (but not as fancy as Super Bowl wine), consider batching up some beer cocktails for the big game.

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3. Bring out the heaviest players during Half Time.

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This means brats, burgers, and other such meaty mains. Even though your guests have been eating for a good portion of the game, they’re bound to still be hungry after a few beers. And during the half, they’ll have time to devote to properly chowing down. Trust us, more food is good for one and all.

4. Remember to include some healthy options.

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Just because the Super Bowl is stereotyped as a barbecuing, testosterone-fueled, tailgating-type shindig doesn’t mean that every recipe has to be so fat-filled that it’s sure to clog your arteries. Serve prepped veggies with a flavorful homemade dip, like this remoulade or blue cheese dressing, and lighten up your queso. Sneak in some plant-based junk food options, and check out these other healthy Super Bowl snacks. Your waistline will thank you, and so will your guests. (Don’t forget the keto folks, or vegans either.)

5. Call on your Crock-Pot.

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If you don’t want to be distracted in the kitchen, make one (or several) slow cooker Super Bowl recipes that can hang out on the kitchen counter so guests can serve themselves. They’re handy for Super Bowl soups as well, in case you like things that are easy, delicious, and punny. (In which case, check out our Super Bowl Buffet party plan too.)

NFL Team Slow Cookers (all teams), $49.99 - $62.11 on Amazon

If you're all about showing team spirit, pick up a Crock-Pot sporting your logo of choice.

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6. Don’t forget dessert!

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Keep it to finger food, like brownie bars and cookies, but don’t leave your guests craving something sweet (other than the taste of victory, of course). Our personal favorites are these Sticky Peanut Cookie Bars, but if cakes and cupcakes are more your cup-of-tea, we’ve got those too. We also like beer dessert recipes for the occasion, for obvious reasons.

For more Super Bowl recipes, tips, and tricks, visit our Super Bowl headquarters.

Original story by Chowhound Editors, updated by Amy Sowder and Jen Wheeler

In honor of Super Bowl LIII, Chowhound’s joining forces with CBS Sports, TV Guide, and CNET to give away a party-ready prize package that includes an LG OLED 65-inch TV (courtesy of Daily Steals), a 6.5 Liter Air Fryer, and $125 in gift cards for CBS All Access. Enter to win before 3:30 p.m PT on February 3, 2019!

Related Video: Step Up Your Wing Game for This Year’s Big Game

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Soup Up Your Super Bowl

The Super Bowl. Whether you like it or not, you’ll probably be watching. If not for the football, then for the commercials. Or maybe the halftime show (ugh, Justin Timberlake Adam Levine, really?) Or maybe for the food. Yes, definitely for the food. You’re bound to be surrounded by bountiful spreads of wings and dips and pizza for miles. But you don’t need a stadium made of sandwiches or a watermelon sculpted like helmet to enjoy the big game.

What if there are other food options and what if they are right there in the name? I’m talking, of course, about soup. Superb soup, served in bowls! Yes the wordplay is corny, but these recipes definitely are not, unless you actually want to add corn to them—then go ahead, why not?!

If you have a vested interest in the game, you may want to go with team-themed options. And no I’m not talking about adding rams or patriots to your broth. (Please don’t eat either!) If you don’t care either way, pick something that aligns with Super Bowl food traditions.

NFL Team Slow Cookers (all teams), $49.99 - $62.11 on Amazon

Keep your soup warm in a Crock-Pot that shows your team spirit.

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New England Clam Chowder

If you’re rooting for the Patriots (again), go with a nice New England clam chowder. Our recipe takes you through the process of making the creamy, seafood-laden soup entirely from scratch. And don’t forget this pro-tip: When prepping the vegetables for the soup, save all the peelings and scraps (except the potato skins) to steam with the clams. Get our New England Clam Chowder recipe.

Slow Cooker Pork Ramen

Eva Kolenko

If you’re pulling for the Los Angeles Rams, ramen is a perfect choice—the city is known for many great ramen joints, but more importantly, the name of the team is right there in the name of the dish! This succulent pork version is easy to make in the slow cooker too, and perfect sprinkled with scallions, sesame seeds, and hard-boiled eggs. Eat this and you can’t lose, even if the team you’re rooting for does. Get the Slow Cooker Pork Ramen recipe.

Cheesesteak Soup

Spend With Pennies

If you’re still celebrating the Philadelphia Eagles’ win last year, or you just like lots of meat and cheese, we recommend going with a cheesesteak soup. Yes, such a wondrous thing exists! This recipe is a beefier take on French onion soup. Throw in peppers and onions and top with tons of cheddar and provolone, because Cheez Whiz in soup is just weird. Get the Cheesesteak Soup recipe.

German Beer Cheese Soup

The Wanderlust Kitchen

But what if you don’t care one way or another who scores the winning touchdown and didn’t even know there was a team named after a bird? In that case, use the one beverage that’s bound to be overflowing the day of the Super Bowl as the key ingredient in your soup—beer. Grab a bottle or two and add some extra flavor to the mix. This German beer cheese soup can be made in 30 minutes. Use ale for a full-bodied taste or pilsner or wheat beer if you want something a little subtler. Either way, you can’t go wrong with a gooey bowl of beer and cheese. Get the German Beer Cheese Soup recipe.

Oktoberfest Potato, Bacon & Beer Soup

My Favorite Things

If you’re looking for a heartier option that is also somehow less heavy, go with this brothier bowl. It’s basically loaded baked potato stew (but you could still serve potato skins on the side instead of plain old bread)! Get the Oktoberfest Potato, Bacon and Beer Soup recipe.

And what do you serve any of these delicious choices in? You could go with these lame football-shaped bowls. But why use plastic bowls when you could use bread bowls?! Low-carb diets be damned, bread bowls are the ideal way to eat any soup or stew. Their crusty exteriors add some well-needed crunch and their doughy insides sop up every last drop of broth. If you’re especially handy, bake oblong rolls to get the football shape effect. You can also use them to hold dips, chilis, and other snacks. Because no matter what the occasion, you can never have enough bread.

This post was originally published on January 31, 2018 and was updated on January 22, 2019.

To commemorate Super Bowl LIII, Chowhound is joining forces with CBS Sports, TV Guide, and CNET to give away a prize package including an LG OLED 65-inch TV (courtesy of Daily Steals), a 6.5 Liter Air Fryer, and $125 in gift cards for CBS All Access. Enter to win before 3:30 p.m PT on February 3, 2019!

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Birria, Spaghetti Tacos, and Other Mexican Dishes You Should Try

Here’s the History Behind Football’s ‘Gatorade Shower’ Tradition

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. No, we don’t mean the holidays! We mean the period of time where two of our favorite sports, football and baseball, overlap. Whether you’ve been cracking open a cold one while watching the road to the World Series, or designate every Sunday to cheering for your favorite NFL team at your local watering hole, you’ve surely noticed that sports and drinks go hand in hand. And one specific tradition is a hallmark of many wins: the “Gatorade shower,” when a tub of the liquid is dumped on a player, coach, or unsuspecting reporter in celebration after a win.

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In case you'd like to re-enact the ritual at home...or just need to keep a big group hydrated!

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But where exactly did this tradition come from? Sports lore says the custom started with Jim Burt of the New York Giants in 1984, when he doused coach Bill Parcells following a much-needed win for the team (and as a prank on the coach, after he had been tough on Burt in practice that week). Parcells was also the recipient of the first Gatorade shower at a Super Bowl, when the Giants won in 1987. Even former President Ronald Reagan got a modified version of the bath, when Giants player Harry Carson dumped a tub of popcorn on the politician during a White House visit celebrating the team’s Super Bowl victory.

But that doesn’t mean the tradition is limited to just one outdoor sport; baseball players love the Gatorade shower, too.

In the past few years, one of the most well-known MLB players to get in on the fun is Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez, who started his “Salvy Splash” in 2014, and now does it every time his team wins.

“I like to celebrate the player of the game by pouring the cooler on him during his live post-game interview,” Perez says. “It’s fun for my teammate and funnier when I can also get the broadcaster.” He says some of his favorite “Splash” memories include dousing coach Ned Yost after winning the World Series in 2015 and splashing Jimmy Fallon on “The Tonight Show.”

So why has this one-time prank become such a part of sports? Perez puts it this way: “It’s just fun! Especially after a win, it’s nice to laugh and have a good time.”

Need some ideas of what to eat while you’re watching your favorite sport? Read ahead for some tried-and-true recipes.

Cheeseburger Tots

Homemade Interest

Tatertots are not just for school lunches! This recipe combines the concept of a classic mini cheeseburger with golden, crispy tots for an easy to grab bite. Get the Cheeseburger Tots recipe.

Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Chowhound

You’ll want to keep making this simple pulled pork, which can serve as a base for a number of dishes, time and time again. Use it in sliders, top nachos with it, or add it to tacos and watch them fly off the platter. Get our Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork recipe.

NFL Team Slow Cookers (all teams), $49.99 - $62.11 on Amazon

Go all in and serve your shredded meat out of a Crock-Pot sporting your team's logo.

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Loaded Nachos Potato Skins

Chowhound

How can you watch a football game and not eat potato skins? It’s a question for the ages. This loaded version is spicy and filling, and will have you reaching for more. Get our Loaded Nachos Potato Skins recipe.

Game Day Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Ball

Belle Of The Kitchen

You’ll need something sweet to go with all the savory foods you’re serving. This cheesecake ball is not only delicious, but since it’s in the shape of a football, it’s Instagram-worthy, too. Get the Game Day Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Ball recipe.

Quinoa Chili

Cooking Classy

Try this vegetarian twist on the tailgate staple, which counts quinoa as a base. You won’t even miss the meat, promise. Get the Quinoa Chili recipe.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Chowhound

No one will believe that this homemade buffalo chicken dip is actually as easy to make as it is. So, we say, keep the details to yourself and just let everyone believe you’re a genius in the kitchen. We won’t tell. Get our Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe.

Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites

Two Peas And Their Pod

These mini bites are perfect for popping into your mouth during half time. Craving something sweet? Top them with cinnamon and sugar instead to satisfy your sweet tooth. Get the Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites recipe.

To celebrate Super Bowl LIII, Chowhound is joining forces with CBS Sports, CNET, and TV Guide to shower a lucky someone with prizes: an LG OLED 65-inch TV (courtesy of Daily Steals), a 6.5 Liter Chefman Air Fryer, and $125 in gift cards for CBS All Access! Enter to win before 3:30 p.m PT on February 3, 2019.

Related Video: How to Make Blue Gatorade Pickles

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Beyond Basic Guacamole: 11 Loaded Recipes Perfect for the Super Bowl

Guacamole is one of my favorite foods ever. Heck, if I had to make a list of my most beloved things in this world, period, it would still be high up there, right behind sunsets and puppies. I love making it, and have avocados and limes at the ready pretty much all the time, just in case a craving strikes.

Being an avid guacamole fan, I can’t help but cry a bit on the inside any time I head to a get-together and see a plastic tub of store-bought stuff set out. I appreciate the thought, but c’mon, you can do so much better. Real-deal guacamole is so easy to make and way fresher and tastier than that sad, browning sludge from the supermarket.

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This Mexican mortar and pestle is the traditional way to grind avocados into guacamole, and doubles as a serving vessel too.

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There’s one other thing that makes the homemade version far superior: Although the classic kind will always be a hit, guacamole can also be a vehicle for showing off your finesse and creativity. Add-ins and extras can take it from basic to brilliant in a flash.

If you’ve got guests coming over this game day, you’re probably going to want to put guacamole at the center of the spread. This is just the time to load it up and make it every bit as action-packed as the plays on the screen. For some out-of-the-box guac inspiration, here are 11 inventive recipes that will keep everyone dipping through halftime and beyond. Looking for more Super Bowl recipes? Check out our Super Bowl headquarters. Happy snacking!

Bacon and Tomato Guacamole

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This one’s a no-brainer. Avocado, bacon, and tomatoes are a tried and true sandwich pairing, so it’s only natural that they would be best friends when mashed together in a bowl. This recipe also introduces chipotles, which bring just enough extra smokiness for taste buds to take note. Get our Bacon and Tomato Guacamole recipe.

Guacamole Taquero (Tomatillo Guacamole)

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For a more subtle guacamole twist, try adding tomatillos, which release their juices for a looser condiment that’s as easy to use as a dip as it is to drizzle on nachos, tacos, and more. Get our Guacamole Taquero (Tomatillo Guacamole) recipe.

Spring Pea Guacamole

Tasting Table

Peas don’t just help maximize the greenage in guacamole. They also add a welcome sweetness that pairs perfectly with charred jalapeño and crunchy, nutty sunflower seeds. Get the Spring Pea Guacamole recipe.

Grapefruit Guacamole

The Kithcn

You may be used to lime in your guacamole, but its main reason for being there is to offer acidity, which is something that any citrus can provide. By swapping in juicy grapefruit, you get all the lush, floral notes that are unique to that fruit, which are heightened even further through the addition of cumin. Get the Grapefruit Guacamole recipe.

Pomegranate Guacamole

Cookie + Kate

This recipe could get by on looks alone, with its stunning contrast of pomegranate’s ruby red against avocado’s opaque green. Luckily, it tastes good, too, bringing all the fruity spunk you never knew you wanted in your dip. Get the Pomegranate Guacamole recipe.

Avocado Hummus

Cooking Classy

In this world of all manner of unholy food mash-ups, guacamummus (or hummamole, if you must) seems like less of a trend-riding novelty than a commentary on modern-day society. It’s an allegorical representation of two tribes—one of the avocado, and one of the chickpea—that are often at odds with each other, yet united in a common goal of dip democracy. Their only solution is to unite and stand as one kickass spread. Get the Avocado Hummus recipe.

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Guacamole with Jicama and Mango

Serious Eats

To any naysayers who dare think guacamole is boring, this recipe’s for you. Jicama brings the heft and snappy crunch, while mango—well, mango always knows how to be the life of the party. Get the Guacamole with Jicama and Mango recipe.

White Bean Guacamole

Creme de la Crumb

If your favorite part of guacamole is the creamy factor, you can take it one notch further by adding white beans to the mix. Get the White Bean Guacamole recipe.

Celery-Spiked Guacamole with Chiles

Marcus Nilsson/Bon Appetit

While you could break out the crudités for dunking, things get much more exciting when you chop up those veggies and literally put them inside your dip. Studs of celery will keep your guests crunching, while spicy serranos liven things up, just in case the third quarter of the game starts to drag. Get the Celery-Spiked Guacamole with Chiles recipe.

Basil and Blue Cheese Guacamole

Ciao Veggie

Is it just me, or is the whole point of blue cheese dressing fishing out the cheese crumbles? I’d rather see those nubbins set adrift in a mash of avocado, riding a cresting wave of pale green. Get the Basil and Blue Cheese Guacamole recipe.

Fully Loaded Guacamole

Blogging Over Thyme

This is it. This is the recipe for when you’ve gone off the rails and have nothing to lose. Or at the very least, you’re looking at a pantry full of scattershot ingredients that would go great together in a dip. Get the Fully Loaded Guacamole recipe.

In honor of Super Bowl LIII, Chowhound is joining forces with CBS Sports, TV Guide, and CNET to give away a prize package that would make anyone green with envy, including an LG OLED 65-inch TV (courtesy of Daily Steals), a 6.5 Liter Chefman Air Fryer, and $125 in gift cards for CBS All Access. Enter to win before 3:30 p.m PT on February 3, 2019!

Related Video: How to Make Pistachio Guacamole

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How to Throw a Keto Super Bowl

If you’re trying to keep it keto, February is a bit of minefield. For starters, the cold weather has us all craving dem’ starchy comfort foods. Then Valentine’s Day busts in, bringing an onslaught of sugary sweets and chocolate with it. And of course, there’s the Super Bowl—that glorious junk food-filled Sunday munch-a-thon in early Feb. It’s all enough to send any diet packing, nevermind the fairly rule-heavy keto diet.

If you’re one of the many who has joined the (keto) movement of late, you know that getting your body into a state of ketosis (and staying there) is tricky business. Since you’ve put in the time already, you’re not gonna want to give it all up for a lousy beer and plate of chili nachos, right?? The good news, as it relates to the keto-fication of a Super Bowl menu, is that meat and cheese are cornerstones of the keto diet and a lot of what people expect for Super Bowl anyways, so worry not! We’ve got ideas (and recipes) for throwing a delicious keto Super Bowl party.

Snacks and Apps

Queso and Keto Chips

You’re going to want some salty, cheesy indulgences on Super Bowl and lucky for you, cheese is fair game. Bust out the Instant Pot or slow cooker to keep the queso from congealing throughout the game. Check out our guide to healthier queso here and get our Texas Queso recipe, but be sure to sub in one of the low-carb, gluten-free flours (like almond flour) for cornstarch when thickening.

NFL Team Slow Cookers (all teams), $49.99 - $62.11 on Amazon

Keep your queso melty in a Crock-Pot that sports your fave team logo!

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Crazy Guacamole(s) Bar

Chowhound

Avocado is truly the crown jewel and face of the keto movement. It’s high in healthy fats and low in carbs. Consider making a couple guac variations since people just can’t seem to get enough. You can start with a standard base and then add fun mix-ins like crab meat, diced ahi tuna, or bacon. Get our Easy Guacamole recipe to start, and our Dungeness Crab Guacamole with Endive recipe to start branching out.

When in Doubt…Wing it!

Chowhound

Wings are perhaps the most classic Super Bowl snack that you don’t really even have to do much to in order to make them keto. Check out our guide to healthier baked chicken wings, but be careful to focus on the Alton Brown method of steaming for achieving that crispy skin and leave out the flour coating. Get our very keto-friendly Easy Buffalo Wings recipe here.

Bigger Things

Keto Chili

Gnom Gnom

Chili is a sleeper when it comes to keto busters and beans are mostly the culprit, although somewhat-high-in-sugar tomatoes share some of the blame. Since you’re ditching the beans, feel free to amp up the onion and pepper count (maybe add a few different kinds/colors) or add in some diced zucchini for texture. Trust us, it works! Get this Paleo/Keto Chili recipe.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Chowhound

Buffalo chicken dip, or “buff chic dip” as it’s known in my Rhode Island hometown, is another keto recipe that gives us hope we might actually be able to pull this off. Totally addicting is how I would describe it, and guests will agree. Just make sure to be selective with your dip vehicles. Celery sticks are best, and swap out the bread and saltines for these nifty coconut keto chips. Get our Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe.

Lettuce Wraps

My PCOS Kitchen

Lettuce be the first to tell you that lettuce cups OR wraps can add a lot of fun wiggle room to a keto snack menu. Anything from steak and cheese to pulled pork (with a low-sugar, vinegar-heavy BBQ sauce) can nestle up in those babies and keep the carb count down. Get the Steak and Cheese Lettuce Wraps recipe.

Drinks

Beer, especially in large quantities, will throw a keto diet wildly off track. While some low carb beers are certainly better than others (Miller Lite and Michelob Ultra being among the lowest), take this as an opportunity to explore more interesting boozy bevs.

Chowhound

There is some low-sugar, keto-friendly wine on the market, but if Super Bowl doesn’t feel much like a wine affair, how about some large batch cocktails? Try to keep them low-sugar, of course, like vodka (or even slightly carb-ier whiskey) and unsweetened peach tea with fresh lemon juice. Get the not-so-Sweet Tea Lemon Bourbon Cocktail recipe.

For more Super Bowl recipes and other advice and tips, check out our Super Bowl headquarters!

To commemorate Super Bowl LIII, Chowhound’s joining forces with CBS Sports, TV Guide, and CNET to give away a prize package that includes an LG OLED 65-inch TV (courtesy of Daily Steals), a 6.5 Liter Air Fryer, and $125 in gift cards for CBS All Access. Enter to win before 3:30 p.m PT on February 3, 2019!

Related Video: How to Make Keto Burrito Peppers

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Cullen Skink (Scottish Smoked Fish Chowder)

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