8 GREAT SUPER BOWL PARTES (OVER 50 RECIPES)
Below is my index to 7 Super Bowl parties, but the anxiety over food costs this year, needs a wallet-friendly discussion. I’ve found 3 options which are delicious, satisfying, unique and fun enough to overshadow the fact that they’re also economic. I’m sticking to sequential order with this index, so scroll down . It’s the last entry.
Anyone who has ever planned a Super Bowl party knows it’s different than any other. It’s not a celebration but an anticipation of a celebration. The guests aren’t there to socialize but to watch the game and the hosts are expected to join in, not focus on hospitality. The party isn’t the event, the game is and the memory of the occasion will be the final score.
However don’t kid yourself it is still a party, one which needs special planning because there are particular menu requirements. If you miss the mark, your guests, and possibly your carpets and upholstery will remember. The food has to be flavorful and appetizing, but not ’serious’. It has to be easily consumed, but neither dry nor heavily sauced. Accidents are likely because people are distracted. Above all, it has to be stable enough to be made ahead and held for serving. Other party’s schedules depend on when the food is ready. This one’s timing depends on the timing of the game.
Despite these conditions, a lot of foods fit the bill. So many in fact that when I was framing this post and considering different menus, I reviewed ones I had written on SuperBowl parties in the past and realized there were some darned good ideas there which deserved to be seen again, not buried deeper under still more recipes.
I decided to do something different with this post. I’m writing brief summaries of 5 of my Super Bowl posts with a listing of the recipes in each. Look them over, choose one you like and select the month and year from the drop down menu tab in the right margin of any site page to access the full recipes. Then stock up on paper napkins and enjoy!!!
Feb 9 2012: Things You Should Know When Planning a Super Bowl Party – Before and After Using Leftovers.
This post is about how to plan the menu and the advantage of having ideas for using leftovers in mind as you choose the dishes to include in that plan.
One plan is to have, as with any party a main attraction, a focus food, and prepare the other foods to compliment it. Ham is ideal for the occasion and for those who host this event annually, taking advantage of the sales in December is a true economy. But not only does the food have to compliment the ham, be easily consumed, stable with no runny sauces. It has to be familiar and seasonal, dishes perhaps associated with football games even though this party is indoors.
For example, if you go with the ham, baked beans spring to mind, and a green bean salad in vinaigrette. To round out the buffet, I chose sliced Deli cheese- Swiss or provolone-and a selection of artesian bread loaves. To add the “special” touch, I might put out a grill to make Panini, as an option. For starters, I would chose fresh salsa or guacamole and a salmon dip with taco chips. There would also be bowls of different flavored popcorn and pretzels, as well as a plate of bite-sized, maple flavored meringues for later. All this and more suggestions for appetizers (snacks) and dessert are in this post.
Recipes in this Post for Leftovers
Tortellini alla Panne
Glamorous Ham Casserole
+4 More Recipes
Jan.31,2013: An Easy Super Bowl Party to Plan and Host
This post points out that the wise host or hostess of a Super Bowl Party will take into account that special consideration must be given the menu of any event where the focus of attention will be other than pure socialization and where seating at a premium may result in mobile eating. This becomes even more important if the party is to be indoors, which most Super Bowl Parties, by their nature, are.
Yet not all Super Bowl gatherings require a ham and loaves of bread. Some are small gatherings of a few friends where a casserole supper is more appropriate. Cold cuts are another option, especially when accompanied by a warm dish to lift supper out of the ‘Deli’ category and lend a ‘special’ note.
Spills, however, are still real possibilities and “wet” foods, ones requiring a lot of sauce, gravy or broth like stews and soups should be avoided. This is especially true of recipes based on an excess of ingredients that really stain like red wine. Above all avoid recipes that aren’t fork-friendly. Read more in this post.
Suggested Recipes
Boston Baked Beans
Two Sauce Lasagna
Feb.2, 2014:Super Bowl Recipes – Pulled Pork and Wings
This post offers a third plan for Super Bowl parties and other casual gatherings that involve eating, and not regular seating. I still want to serve a roast because they offer the most efficient and economical solution to the problem of serving a large group. Basically, it’s just one main dish, cooked in an oven, or one pot, with others singly or combined, on the side. Roasts are simpler to cook and carve, don’t require sauces or gravies, stay tasty even when done ahead and served at room temperature and can be served on bread as easily as a plate.
The trouble is that most roasts require constant carving while serving or, if done in a pot are far too liquid for buffets. Either way it’s awkward. I considered barbequing, but in winter, the weather is iffy. Finally, the light bulb lit and I remembered pulled pork. It can be cooked in a crock pot, kept warm and simply served with a ladle. The wings are traditional to this event and can be cooked and served from a crock pot as well.
Spinach Salad is a perfect light addition to the pork and wings and can fit on a roll with the pork. The wild rice and black eyed peas also goes with both meats and serves as a nice, contained bed for the pork in place of bread. Meringues are a light, easy finger food to end the meal on a low key. Learn more about this option in this post.
Recipes in This Post
Honey Spiced Wings
Jerk Pulled Pork
Spinach Salad
Wild Rice and Black Eyed Peas
Meringues
Jan. 27,2015: A Bit More Elegant Super Bowl Sunday
It’s been kind of fun over the years watching this day grow into an annually celebrated event, evolving its own food traditions. Of course, from the beginning, anything served had to be casual, easily eaten, and sports spectator friendly. As time passed and the game became more of a social occasion covering several hours with elaborate half-time shows, the menu became more extensive.
The food still has to be casual, easily consumed and sustainable at room temperature but now the preference is for full flavor as well. South Western cuisine has become a favorite, probably because that cuisine, generally, fits the requirements. It not only offers many pick-up dishes but also barbeque plays a large part in preparing them. Barbequing is excellent for preparing meats ahead and serving later at room temperature. It’s the spirit of tail-gating indoors.
However, the presence of upholstery and carpets do create a couple of problems, namely spilling and stains. Overly greasy finger foods and runny casseroles can leave permanent memories. Not that people are more carless on this day, but they are distracted. So I’ve stuck to roasts, rolls and drier sides, but this year I’m going to try something different. My guests are fewer so I’m going to focus on a casserole, in an attempt to see if I can cut down on cost and work. Hopefully, my choices which will still keep the spirit intact.
Here are some straightforward and basic recipes to consider which allow adding your own individual touches. Find all in this post.
Glamorous Ham Casserole
Classic Quiche Lorraine
Hamburger Onion Tart
Meat Pudding
Pie with a Meat Crust: Filled with:
1) Niblets corn drained+ jarred roasted red peppers+ tomato sauce
2) Fresh sliced mushrooms+ cream of mushroom soup + egg
3) Substitute cooked brown rice for the mushrooms in above
4) Cooked sauced spaghetti or other pasta + beaten egg +cheese
5) Equal amounts of pizza toppings For more fluidity omit the egg.
Garnish as pleased
Jan.25, 2018:Super Pizzas for the Super Bowl
Obviously, the special circumstances surrounding a Super Bowl affect the party’s menu choices. This is a casual gathering of friends with a common interest in a sporting event, not in fine dining. People will be distracted and only graze until half-time. The favorites for this phase of the party are the traditional snacks, Doritos (of course) pretzels, potato chips, cheese straws and nuts. I’ve found different flavored popcorn is popular too. I list some suggestions below.
Half-time circles dinner hour across time zones, from early bird in the west to continental in the east and by then your guests will have worked up an appetite, but they’re still distracted either by the show or the score. So some form of finger food is the best solution. I’ve written several posts with menus and recipes for different levels of this party, roasts and artesian bread, ’neat’ casseroles etc. All share an avoidance of fluid dishes and have the ability to be consumed from hand held plates. This is an occasion where sudden moves are common, spills and dropped utensils frequent and the wise course is to stay away from foods that drip and stain and/or leave grease marks.
Pizza is a perfect solution. It’s moved to gourmet status, giving you a chance to show off your ingenuity, while offering the down-to-earth foods your guests want. A selection will earn you a place on the score card. A nice touch is to include a platter of raw vegetables, by themselves, not with a dip. Flavored popcorn is another good addition to the menu.
See All the Recipes in This Post.
Flavored Popcorn
Pizzas:
Tomato, Feta and Spinach Galettes.
Artichoke Pizza
Smoked Salmon and Spinach Pizza
Asparagus Pizza
Pizza Margarita Plus
Mexican Beef Pizza
Tomato, Eggplant and Pepperoni Pizza
Jan. 16, 2020: Smaller parties with more casual recipes
The Super Bowl and spectator parties will, like all events for the past 11 months, be different this year- few fans in the stands, few guests at the parties. In fact, some at home parties may be for residents only. But, as with other celebrations, we’ll try with some adjustments and changes, to create new, fond memories.
For me, fewer people means more casual and more casual means less work, easier prep, serving and clean –up for the cook. So, though I’ve written many Super Bowl posts over the years, for different types of parties, menus and recipes, this will be a first, the small Super Bowl party for fewer than 8 participants.
However, be there 2 or 20, the food requirements are the same. Traditionally, Super Bowl food should be fun, filling, easily eaten, preferably from paper plates, without utensils. Hopefully, for a smaller group, it will involve minimum prep, easy serve and quick clean-up.
The answer which sprang to mind was a sandwich or taco filling crock pot recipe. It could be prepped hours ahead, cooked in and served from the same pot, leaving only the one pot to clean. Best of all, the pot could be plugged in near the T.V. for access-because Super Bowl is the one T.V. event when no one wants to miss commercials.
Here are 9 recipes which fill the bill, chosen for their easy prep, lack of need for many condiments and accompaniments and ingredient versatility. (For more options see posting for Aug. 15, 2019.)In these days of rising food prices, I concentrated on dishes which could use meats interchangeably. Anyone who follows my blog knows that chicken, turkey and pork are substitutes for each other. In the recipes below pork also stands in for the beef.
Most slow cooker recipes are conversions from conventional stove top and oven ones. I’m including a conversion chart in case you want to experiment with some family favorites. There are a few helpful tips about crock pots to know first though.
1) You can keep food warm in a crock pot on low, but never use one to reheat food. Don’t turn it off for hours and turn it on again to warm food for serving.
2) Crock pots, like microwaves, retain moisture. A rule of thumb is to use about ½ the liquid of a conventional recipe. You can add more as the dish cooks.
So for Super Bowl this year, get some paper plates and napkins, a plastic mat for the crock pot, plan to put your feet up, sit back, relax and let the others serve themselves.
CONVERSION CHART
IF RECIPE SAYS COOK ON LOW COOK ON HIGH
15 to 30 minutes 4 to 6 hours 11/2 to 2 hours
35-45 minutes 6 – 10 hours 3 – 4 hours
50 minutes to 3 Hours 8 to 18 hours 4 to 6 hours
RECIPES
Far East Steak Sandwich
Meatballs for Sauce
Beef (or Pork) Fajitas
All in One Mexican Turkey Ole
Cranberry-Barbequed Chicken:
Easy Mexican Chicken
Oriental Chicken
Barbequed Pulled Pork
Shredded Pork
Jan. 23, 2025: Wallet-Friendly Parties
My first menu suggestion is the Crock Pot Barbequed Pork Butt recipe in last week’s post (Jan.16, 2025) https://www.eatingonadime.com/crock-pot-hot-dog-recipes/Pork Butt is often featured on sale in suermarkets now. I found it in te Food Lion chain for as ittle as https://www.eatingonadime.com/crock-pot-hot-dog-recipes/https://www.eatingonadime.com/crock-pot-hot-dog-recipes/for Super Bowl on hogie rolls , with extra sauce, sautéed onions (stove top or microwaved), sliced tomatoes and/or shredded lettuce.
Second choice is Hot Dogs with a Topping Bar ( see post Aug. 29, 2024) Hot dogs also have experienced a price hike, but there’s still a wide variety out there. The major exense here will be in the toppings offered. You can even specialize, beans and cheeses, for example, but make them worthy of remembering. Don’t skimp on toppings.
The easiest way to cook hot dogs for a crowd is to make a shalloe cut down the length of each and bake them on a foil covered baking sheet for 10-12 min.at 400 deg. Indoor grills, even George Foreman ones are good too. For buffet or self-serve, a single buffet burner holding a soup pot or Dutch oven of water, can boil them and hold them at a simmer for seconds. Crock pots can also be used with directions (https://www.eatingonadime.com/crock-pot-hot-dog-recipes/) The same is true of Instant pots (https://www.recipesthatcrock.com/instant-pot-hot-dogs-in-bulk/)
Third option is Sliders. This category has such a wide variety of fillings, covering such a wide price range, that I couldbarely cover it in a book, let alone a post, so I refer you to The Pioneer Woman (https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/meals-menus/g46672633/slider-recipes/) There are also several other sites devoted to sliders on Google.
