Archives for November 2024

Super Bowl food ideas are never in short supply at our house. We look forward to this opportunity for fixing a spread to rival the largest group party — whether it’s Thanksgiving or the Fourth of July.

In this blog I’ll share our family’s favorite Super Bowl food ideas. Even if you’re not a huge football fan, you’ll love the chance to get together with food, family, and friends — a winning combination no matter who is vying for the championship ring.

The Super Bowl Party Isn’t Just About the Game

Our family LOVES the Super Bowl. I’ll be honest — although my husband is a huge football fan, there have been years when our family hasn’t watched a single game . . . until Super Bowl Sunday. Why? When the kids were tiny, my husband would get so worked up, it would scare the kids — especially if his Dolphins were losing. (I know. I know. You can see the problem.) So, he took a break for several years, unless he was home alone. Until January — okay my age is showing. They’re now in February, I know.

Regardless of how many games we watched in the fall, when Super Bowl Sunday came around, we partied like we hadn’t missed a single game and our favorite team was playing. For me, it was about the commercials. Some of our children stay tuned for the half-time show alone. As the kids got older, we invited friends over, and what started out as regular game day fare, turned into a smorgasbord the kids swear has more food than our Thanksgiving feast. I can’t say they’re wrong. Even if we don’t have a single football fan in the crowd, they show up for the food.

**Note: I do not get paid for any of the brands I endorse. That would freaking be awesome, but I don’t. I have used and truly like what I’m suggesting, regardless of compensation or the lack thereof.

Super Bowl Food Ideas

I guess the stereotypical football food is burgers, dogs, pizza, pretzels, chips, and cookies. And we have had those variations. When I decided to write this blog, I sent out a text to the entire Hunt Clan asking what they’re favorite Super Bowl Foods are. Here’s their list:

• Poppers (yes, this is #1 for everyone)
• Ribs
• Burgers & dogs
• Lil’ Smokies (candied bacon-wrapped or bbq slathered)
• Cocktail shrimp
• Shrimp dip w/ crackers and chips
• Deviled eggs
• Macaroni shrimp salad (with NO peas)
• Potatoes (I know that’s vague)
• Pistachio Pineapple Salad
• Broccoli salad

As you can see, we’re heavily into those proteins. I don’t think anyone named a dessert, unless it’s the Pistachio Pineapple Salad. My oldest son never says no to grated apple pie, so that’ll show up anywhere he does. Cookies or some other easy treat might be found, but for the most part, you can see our family favs are highly carnivorous. Even the broccoli salad has bacon.

Last year we challenged everyone to bring something they found on social media. That was a lot of fun, and something we’ll probably repeat. Create a theme, go for a type of cuisine, or stay with the traditional tailgate party vibe. Whatever you do, have fun and create great memories.

Recipes for Super Bowl Food

If you know me at all, you know that I don’t follow recipes very well. I look recipes up, yes. But I don’t follow them to the T. I am more of a concept cooker/baker. So I don’t have a lot of written-down recipes. Below you’ll find some recipes of mine, but others that I have found and tweak. (Does that make me a tweaker?) I’ll probably make more recipe blogs and share my exact recipes at a later time. Until then, enjoy and tweak these into whatever suits your palate.

FROM THE GRILL

I think grilling is a favorite American pass time. We are no exception.

Poppers

Hands down this is a family favorite. We’ve become a little obsessed and now have so many varieties it’s impossible to give you THE one recipe we use. In fact, I’m determined to make a blog completely dedicated to poppers. You’ll find recipes with a long list of ingredients, but the original family popper recipe is simple and yummy:

FOUR INGREDIENTS:

Anaheim chilies, cream cheese, ranch dressing mix, and bacon.

DIRECTIONS

This basic recipe has morphed into many varieties. Add grated cheese to the cream cheese. Use jalapenos or lunchbox peppers. Stuff with marinated chicken breast cubes. Wrap only half the chili, leaving it open face. Use a variety of seasonings in your cream cheese. Let your imagination go wild. I even created an Anaheim sausage popper that is filling enough to be used as an entree. I can’t wait to create a blog of my favorite popper recipes. Keep an eye open for it!!

Pork Ribs

Given a choice of what to put on the grill, for Super Bowl Sunday, I’ll choose ribs every time. I LOVE pork ribs. They can be as easy or complicated as you have time for. You can use a simple rub or implement a binder and several herbs of your choosing. Once again, keeping to the theme of simple, I’m going to give you a very simple but AH-MAZ-ING recipe.

I am not an expert and don’t claim to be. Like I said, I look for recipes and tweak them to my liking. It has taken us a little while to perfect what we like. In fact, we fixed these today and they were fall off the bone tender and delicious.

INGREDIENTS/ SUPPLIES

Baby back ribs, rub, tinfoil, smoker, apple or pecan wood pellets. (You can choose mesquite or hickory, if you like a really strong flavor.)

We have a list of rubs we use for various dishes, but for pork ribs, our favorite is McCormick Brown Sugar Bourbon Seasoning. If you don’t have a smoker and you’re using a grill, I recommend the Kinder’s Woodfired Garlic for the smoky flavor — or even a combination of both. (Psst. You can use liquid smoke to get a smoke flavor too, especially if you’re only using your oven.) Here’s a great article for smoking meats without a smoker.

DIRECTIONS

I recommend starting the night before, so the ribs can sit all night with the seasoning penetrating and making deliciousness, but if you are busy and forget, it’s not the end of the world. Been there done that.

1. Pat the ribs dry and turn the backside up.
2. With the edge of a knife, lift the edge of the milky-white membrane and pull it up. You might need to get a paper towel to keep ahold of it while you remove it entirely. Yes, you must.
3. Place on cookie sheet and sprinkle seasonings generously over the meat. Do not apply the Brown Sugar Bourbon Seasoning as thick as a rub or it will be too salty. Rub it into the meat. Put ribs in the fridge overnight.
4. Heat the smoker to 250 degrees.
5. Place your ribs directly on the rack. Let them cook for three hours.
6. Wrap them in two to three layers of tinfoil. At this point you can put them back in the smoker or transfer them into the house to your oven. We move to the oven so we can grill the poppers.
7. After another two to three hours, they are ready to eat.

We don’t apply the barbecue sauce until they’re ready to serve. Our favorite is Sweet Baby Rays. Tip: heat the bbq sauce so it doesn’t cool off your ribs.

Burgers & Dogs (is that one or two ideas?)

I don’t know that we’ve ever done burgers without doing dogs. Is that legal? Now, I like burgers and dogs as much as the next person, but I’m a little picky about flavor. For Super Bowl food ideas, on a budget, you gotta do what you gotta do. But if you’re looking to up the game on burgers and dogs, pay attention.

When we were really poor, I’d choose the cheapest dogs I could find. And that’s okay. But if we’re honest, nothing (and I really mean nothing) compares to an all-beef hot dog. I’m not picky about the brand, but the kids swear by Nathan’s. Brats fall in the dog category, too. I don’t have any fancy tricks for grilling them, and we use the basic condiments of mayo, ketchup, mustard, and relish. But we up that, too.

As far as hamburgers go, thick, dense, crumbly meat is not my thing. That’s why I gravitate to burger recipes that use a panade and plenty of seasoning. Here’s where our large collection of seasonings come into play. I don’t have a set recipe written down (I know big surprise — again) so when I need a reminder, I go surfing. Susan Weinrich of Mom’s Dinner has a great recipe and blog that will show you pretty much what I like to do. Don’t forget to tweak where you want. Sky’s the limit on those toppings, too!!

APPETIZERS

I realize that appetizers should have logically come first, but grilling is first on the priority list. Appetizers come second.

Cocktail Shrimp

This is the easiest dish to prepare, and one I could eat all by myself. That’s not going to happen because everyone likes it. Here’s how to make it:

1. Drive to the store.
2. Buy the best-priced ring of shrimp you can find. (price per ounce)
3. Buy enough to satisfy your budget, if not everyone in the family.

See. Easy.

Hunt’s Shrimp Dip

Whether you’re dipping crackers, chips, or veggies, this dip checks all the boxes. (Unless you’re allergic to shellfish, then it’s checking you into the hospital and we don’t want that. Omit the shrimp, and it’s still pretty awesome.) When I was dating my husband, this dip was at every family gathering, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas. As usual, I tweaked it to my liking. It was a little too oniony for me. My brother calls it cuppa cuppa cuppa, and you’ll see why.

INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

Mix everything except shrimp together until well blended. Add shrimp with liquid and fold together. Refrigerate overnight for best favor. Add milk to thin if needed. Makes 3+ cups. If you don’t want chunks of shrimp, simply use the mixer for a few seconds after adding.

Candied Bacon-Wrapped Lil’ Smokies – the Best Super Bowl Food Idea EVER

Remember me saying how we started inviting friends over to our Super Bowl Party? Our son’s girlfriend’s family joined us and brought this amazing dish!!! It’s kinda like crack. The crack of the meat world. So you basically better make a lot. I don’t have a recipe, but NeighborFood has a great version very much like ours but with a dip that I’m dying to try.

Deviled Eggs

I don’t think I’ve ever used a recipe for this dish, simply because I watched my mom make it so many times. Soul Food Cooking does it just like Momma did, so take a look. Tip: to keep your yolks from turning green, don’t leave them to cool in the hot water or pan.

SIDES

Now, don’t get me wrong, sides aren’t the least important, but we always consider them last and divvy them out by each person’s ability. Yes, everyone helps make the food — even a 10 year old.

Macaroni & Shrimp Salad (with NO peas)

Keeping with the shrimp theme. This recipe is taken from my Wedding Reception Pasta, but that version has peas and no shrimp. Did I mention I’m a recipe tweaker? My foody son hates peas, so I added the “no peas” just for him. He better read this blog and share it.

INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

1. Cook pasta according to directions.
2. Mix may, sour cream, 1/4 c. milk, and seasonings together.
3. Combine sauce with pasta.
4. If you want bacon: crisp, cool, & crumble — or buy it done for you. Add
5. Drain shrimp or chop precooked shrimp and fold into pasta.
6. Add milk a little at a time if it’s too dry — or if you make it a day ahead and the pasta has absorbed some moisture.

Potatoes

Meat and potatoes. They’re the basics, although they take a million forms. Everyone’s favorite Super Bowl Potato option is Twice Baked Potatoes. They are labor intensive, but oh, so delish!! Pioneer Woman and I jive because she also believes in keeping things simple. Check out her recipe, here.

We also like Dutch oven taters, potato salad, tater tots, and loaded mashed potatoes (obviously).

Pistachio Pineapple Salad

This salad/dessert has a lot of names that I can’t think of right this moment. It’s assigned anyone making their first contribution to a family gathering. It’s really that simple. Feel free to add or delete any ingredient, substituting whatever makes your heart glad. (Yes, that includes the type of jello.)

INGREDIENTS and DIRECTIONS

Broccoli Salad

I really try to get my family to eat healthy. Adding vegetables is usually a challenge, but this recipe is a favorite and easily makes the cut. Do I need to mention that I don’t have it written down? Thankfully, Spend with Pennies has a VERY close version to mine. I just don’t add the vinegar, and I’m not sure the quantities are the same because I usually eyeball it. Trade out your favorite nuts. If you don’t have a red onion, use a yellow. (But chop them up tiny!!!) Go with your gut. You’ve got this!

SUPER BOWL FOOD IDEAS HONORABLE MENTIONS

The following Super Bowl foods get an honorable mention because they occasionally make the menu, but not always.

No matter what you choose, cook with love. Delegate if you’ve got people old enough to help. If you have littles, keep it small. It’s not about the game or the food. It’s about the memories and the love. Whatever keeps the people in your life coming back together again and again.

Your Turn!

Do you have a Super Bowl tradition? Is this your first year? What’s your favorite part of the Super Bowl? Who do you like to share it with? I love to hear what you have to say. Thanks for sharing.