Football Fever! Fun Recipes for NFL Playoff Games & Superbowl Parties

Updated with New Recipes & Party Ideas!

Who knows all the February holidays? The shadow of Groundhog Day, the romance of Valentine's, the Washington and Lincoln birthdays, sure. But the Superbowl is February's favorite "holiday" with a rowdy, enthusiastic, go-Chiefs! go-49ers! fanbase, when even genuine football stars and what's-a-punt? clueless fans convene before the big-screen. Here's a special collection of fun, football-friendly recipes. Party on!

Whole Food, Fresh & Fun. Potluck & Party-Friendly Fare. How to Throw a Great Superbowl Party.

~ Skip Straight to the Recipes ~

~ Ya Gotta Have Gwoc. Lots of Gwoc. ~
~ Healthy Snacks for Hungry Fans ~
~ First Down First Bites ~
~ Warm Up the Team with Chili ~
~ Half-Time Fare ~
~ Soups that Make Crowds Stand Up & Cheer ~
~ Salads that Score ~
~ Sweet Endings & Winners ~

How to Throw a Superbowl Party
That's All About
the Football
the Food
the Football AND the Food

• KNOW YOUR FANS Our usual crowd is a mix of season-long football fans and "I'm Just Here for the Party" Superbowl folk. Make room for both!
• PICK UP FOOTBALL THEME PARTYWARE like tablecloths, napkins, paper plates, etc. at a party store, a dollar store, even the grocery store. If your local team is playing, you'll find tons of special products that are extra fun.
• TIME THE PARTY to start about an hour before kickoff, giving people a chance to visit and snack before the game starts.
• THINK THROUGH where folks are going to put plates and cups while watching. I pull small tables/stepstools from other rooms, making sure that one's within easy reach of every seat. You can even re-purpose medium-size shipping boxes or bankers boxes as seat-side tables, filling them with something kinda heavy, then wrapping up in that festive partyware.
• SET UP AN APPETIZER BUFFET NEARBY BUT NOT TOO CLOSE You want the food handy to "grab a bite" during commercial breaks. But you also don't want to block the TV with people walking by or the buffet so close that chitchat around the buffet means real fans can't hear the announcers.
• BUT KEEP THE BEVERAGES IN THE KITCHEN with an appetizer or two. This is a good way to limit alcohol intake but it also gives non-fans a good reason to congregate away from the TV. If there happens to be a small TV in the kitchen at low volume? All the better.
• KEEP THE FOOD COMING! I like to set out cold appetizers just before people arrive, then put out series of hot appetizers during the first half, then time the "main course" for halftime, it's served from the kitchen. During the second half, I leave out a few leftover appetizers on the buffet and put out a couple of small sweets, cookies and bars.
• AIM FOR FINGER FOOD OR TOOTHPICK FOOD And stock up on napkins! Forks just make everything more complicated. I try to confine any forks/spoons to a halftime "main course".
• FAN FAVORITES Forget diets, forget carrot sticks, nobody's expecting healthy food at a Superbowl party. Just go with the chips & guacamole, wings, mac 'n' cheese ball flow ... it's just one day a year.
• WHO NEEDS TO COOK? Absolutely nobody. One year, I stocked up on Trader Joe's hot appetizers and just kept 'em coming. It was really fun to try so many new things and the only effort was keeping track of oven temps and times and afterward, carrying out all that dang packaging! Or join the throngs who make pizza delivery either the busiest or second busiest day of the year for pizza joints!
• MORE IDEAS? Let me know how you throw a great Superbowl party!

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Ya Gotta Have Gwoc. Lots of Gwoc.
You Know. Guacamole!

Did you know that Superbowl fans consume 80 percent of a year's avocado appetite? So let's kick off this party with real guacamole, really, really GOOD guacamole, the family favorite, My Guacamole. It disappears in a flash at all the family parties!

And grab the big bag of chips because between guacamole and Best Quick Tomato Salsa (Red Salsa)? What a kickoff!

• THE RECIPE My Guacamole Restaurant-style guacamole, our house recipe.

• THE RECIPE Avocado Dip

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Healthy Snacks for Hungry Fans

• THE RECIPE Easy Brussels Sprouts Bites Grab the toothpicks! Surprisingly popular at parties!
• ANOTHER TAKE Easy Easy Grilled Mushroom Appetizer Two ingredients and a real crowd pleaser.

• THE RECIPE Buffalo Chicken Dip with Spaghetti Squash
• ANOTHER TAKE Spinach & Artichoke Gratin

• THE RECIPE Cucumber Dip with Feta Creamy dip for vegetables or steak.
• ANOTHER TAKE Miss Jennie's Famous Benedictine Spread Makes up in minutes, famous in Kentucky.

~ Savory Roasted Pecans ~
~ Stuffed Mushrooms with Cauliflower & Smoked Gouda ~
~ Herbed Goat Cheese ~
~ more appetizer recipes ~
from Kitchen Parade

~ Edamame in the Shell ~
~ Baba Ganoush (Middle Eastern Eggplant Spread) ~
~ more appetizer recipes ~
from A Veggie Venture, my food blog

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First-Down First Bites

• THE RECIPE Best Quick Tomato Salsa (Red Salsa) For chips, tacos, burritos, eggs & more
• ANOTHER TAKE Slow-Roasted Tomato Salsa Smoky with flavor.

• THE RECIPE Easy-Easy Triscuit with Cheddar & Basil A quick last-minute appetizer, such a surprise!

• THE RECIPE Five-Minute Shrimp Cocktail Sauce Just five minutes and six ingredients.

MORE IDEAS
~ Game-Day Pretzels ~
~ Easy Shrimp Bites ~
~ Deviled Eggs with Tomato-Herb Relish ~
~ more appetizer recipes ~
from Kitchen Parade

~ Homemade Onion Dip ~
~ Spinach, Artichoke & Bacon Dip ~
~ Hot Corn Dip ~
~ more small bites & finger food recipes ~
from A Veggie Venture

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Warm Up the Team with Chili!

• THE RECIPE Chocolate Chili My long-time recipe, meaty and full of spices and a touch of chocolate.
• ANOTHER TAKE Crockpot Chili with Spicy Sausage Brown the meat, dump and go.

• THE RECIPE White Chicken Chili An old favorite, a little lighter.
• ANOTHER TAKE My Chicken Noodle Soup The way I make it, meaty and noodle-y with just a few noodles.

• THE RECIPE Vegetable Chili with Sweet Potatoes & Chipotle Vegan chili, colorful vegetables and beans warmed with chili spices.
• ANOTHER TAKE Beefy Tomatillo Chili A big pot of rib-sticking chili.

CHILLIN': Favorite Chili, Chowder & Cornbread Recipes

Yes, another collection of recipes, just my favorite chili and chowder recipes with a side of cornbread, thank you very much. Here you go, Chillin': Favorite Chili, Chowder & Cornbread Recipes. It's football friendly!

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Half-Time Fare

• THE RECIPE Oaxaca Tlayuda (Mexican Flat Tacos) Easy, healthy build-your-own crispy baked tortillas.
• ANOTHER TAKE Slow Cooker Shredded Beef Tacos So handy to have on hand!

• THE RECIPE Chicken Nachos with Homemade Pickled Jalapeño Rings Party food in a flash.
  
• ANOTHER TAKE Easy Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas A quick green chile fix without hours in the kitchen.

• THE RECIPE Minnesota Sloppy Joes Sloppy joes made from scratch in the crockpot.
• ANOTHER TAKE Slow Cooker Vegetarian Lentil Sloppy Joes A little bit spicy, many rave reviews.

MORE IDEAS
~ Fun Pretzel Roll Hot Dogs ~
~ Easy Skinny Turkey Roll-ups with Fresh Veggies ~
~ Baked Baby Back Ribs with Spicy Berry Sauce ~
from Kitchen Parade

~ Homemade Black Bean Burgers ~
~ Reuben Casserole ~
~ Slow Cooker Vegetarian Lentil Sloppy Joes ~
from A Veggie Venture, my food blog

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Soups that Make Crowds Stand Up & Cheer

• THE RECIPE Gumbo A classic Cajun gumbo, except that the roux is cooked in the oven.
• ANOTHER TAKE Vegan Chickpea Gumbo

• THE RECIPE Homemade Lentil Soup Comfort food for a crowd.
• ANOTHER TAKE Scandinavian Split-Pea Soup Traditional on Tuesdays, without fail.

• THE RECIPE At Last! Black Bean Soup My signature recipe for thirty years.
• ANOTHER TAKE Homemade Lentil Soup Comfort food for a crowd.

MORE IDEAS
~ more soup recipes ~
from Kitchen Parade

~ Homemade Vegetable Beef Soup ~
~ Oven-Cooked Lentil Soup ~
~ Lasagna Soup with Fresh Spinach ~
~ more soup recipes ~
from A Veggie Venture, my food blog

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Salads that Score

• THE RECIPE Dill Pickle Pasta Salad A surprising pickle-y combination, a favorite for potlucks and pickle fans.
• ANOTHER TAKE Best-Ever Macaroni Salad The summer classic, just better.

• THE RECIPE Bloody Mary Salad A jello salad with kick.
• ANOTHER TAKE Tomato Soup Vegetable Salad An old-fashioned salad makeover.

• THE RECIPE Quinoa & Black Bean Salad Transport straight back to Deep Mexico!
• ANOTHER TAKE Ina Garten's Tabbouleh Salad It has a secret ingredient!

MORE IDEAS
~ Alice Waters' Coleslaw ~
~ Wild Rice Salad ~
~ Spinach Salad with Fruity Vinaigrette, Fresh Fruit & Maple-Glazed Pecans ~
~ more salad recipes ~
from Kitchen Parade

~ Winter Greens Salad with Oranges, Avocado, Olives, Feta & Orange-Cumin Vinaigrette ~
~ Classic Seven-Layer Salad ~
~ Summer Black-Eyed Pea Salad ~
~ more vegetable salad recipes ~
from A Veggie Venture, my food blog

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Sweet Endings & Winners

• THE RECIPE Sugar Cookie Bars Bake, frost and sprinkle all at once.
• ANOTHER TAKE No-Chill Cutout Sugar Cookies Just mix and roll, no need to wait.

• THE RECIPE Homemade Microwave Caramel Corn No mess, no fuss in a paper bag.
• ANOTHER TAKE How to Cook Popcorn in a Microwave in a Paper Bag How to make airpop popcorn in the microwave, just popcorn kernels, a paper sack and NO oil.

• THE RECIPE Big Fat Chewy Molasses Cookies Mix & bake in one hour!
• ANOTHER TAKE Chocolate Ginger Crinkle Cookies Chocolate-y ginger-y cookies that take hold and grab.

MORE IDEAS
~ Snickerdoodle Bars ~
~ Old-Fashioned Chocolate Chip Cookies ~
~ Oatmeal Raisin Cookies ~
~ more cookie recipes ~
from Kitchen Parade

~ Carrot Cake Cupcakes ~
~ Baked Pumpkin Donuts & Donut Holes ~
~ Pumpkin Bars ~
~ more sweets with vegetables ~
from A Veggie Venture

Bookmark! PIN! Share!

How do you save and share favorite recipes? recipes that fit your personal cooking style? a particular recipe your mom or daughter or best friend would just love? If this collection of fun, football-friendly party recipes hits the mark, go ahead, save and share! I'd be honored ...

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Kitchen Parade is written by second-generation food columnist Alanna Kellogg and features fresh, seasonal dishes for every-day healthful eating and occasional indulgences. Quick Suppers are Kitchen Parade favorites and feature recipes easy on the budget, the clock, the waistline and the dishwasher. Do you have a favorite recipe that other Kitchen Parade readers might like? Just send me a quick e-mail, you'll find my current address in the FAQs. How to print a Kitchen Parade recipe. Never miss a recipe! If you like this recipe, sign up for a free e-mail subscription. If you like Kitchen Parade, for more scratch cooking recipes using whole, healthful ingredients, you're sure to like my food blog about vegetable recipes, too, A Veggie Venture.

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