Big-screen TV. Check.
Comfy couch and chairs. Check.
Friends and family. Check.
Coldplay and Beyonce ready to ignite the half-time show. Check.
Multi-million dollar commercials ready to roll. Check.
Plenty of toilet paper. Check. More on that later.
That’s the basic framework for Super Bowl Sunday on Feb, 7 — for the big, 50th edition of the most-watched sporting event in the U.S. And you’re officially hosting a Super Bowl viewing party. What to do?
Fear not. We’ve got some tips to help make your soiree the best it can be when it comes to food, drinks, décor and more.
“The biggest mistake [Super Bowl party] hosts make is trying to do too much and not having good time management,” said celebrity “Rock Star” chef Anne Burrell, co-host (with chef Tyler Florence) of the Food Network reality competition show “Worst Cooks in America” (airing Sundays at 8 p.m.).
“Do all your prep work first. Chop all your stuff ahead of time. … Clean as you go. Use your mis en place [having a spot for all your ingredients] containers. It then becomes fun rather than stressful. In planning the Super Bowl menu make sure you have a good mix of stuff, especially stuff that can be done ahead of time. A big pot of chili or meatballs can totally be done ahead of time. Lasagna can be done ahead of time. These are big crowd-pleasers that you can do in volume.
“And don’t be afraid to farm stuff out. People always want to bring something, so assign people what you’d like them to bring. And I don’t mean ask them to bring 50 beef sandwiches. [Laughs].
“And always make sure you have plenty of ice and plenty of toilet paper!”
Setting the scene
“I’m always about paper plates and cups. They come in so many different colors and patterns,” Burrell said. “And even tablecloths that are paper or plastic. Choose the colors of the two teams. Pretty presentations also go a long way to making it look great. Set out cheese and crackers on a pretty cutting board. Arrange food at various places in the room. Use the coffee table, TV tables. Spread people out.
“Always have garbage and recyclables cans nearby so folks can easily throw out stuff. I’m a big fan of keeping things neat. … And at the end of the day when you’re a little drunk, you don’t’ want to spend time cleaning for hours.”
And if there is spillage, Burrell lives by the golden rule: “White wine gets out red wine. For big stains, salt works really well.”
Make sure there’s ample seating in the TV viewing area. Short on couch space or chairs? Arrange some pillows on the floor; you’d be surprised how many folks will curl up on the floor for the game. Even outdoor patio chairs can come in handy if they’re not to large or unruly.
The food
The menu doesn’t have to be complicated or too vast. Burrell suggests having the food arrive in waves. Arrange hors d’oeuvres, chips and dips, nachos (check out one recipe here), vegetable platters for the first and second quarters. Save the really hearty food for half-time when guests will most likely get up and stretch and need some real comfort food to get them through the rest of the game. That’s the time to bring out the slow cookers and warming pots. Have plenty of serving utensils.
“When I have a party I welcome people and make them their first drink. Then I show then where to go for seconds,” Burrell said. “I’m a big fan of DIY food. Have sandwiches, but put out the ham or turkey and roast beef with all the fixings. People can make their own and it cuts down on a lot of host stress. Stock up on things like humus, olives, pickles, chips and salsa and folks will help themselves. … A taco station is a great idea.”
Her three go-to party foods include meatballs, chili and lasagna. Burrell’s recipe for polpettini (tiny Italian meatballs) is easy to make (see recipe below) and makes 40 servings per batch.
What’s a Super Bowl party without chicken wings, you ask? The Food Network has a recipe that takes a bit of time, but the wings can be made ahead of time and warmed up in your oven (200 degrees F) for game day, if you prefer. Just make the ranch dipping sauce on game day morning and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve the wings.
Something the kiddies might enjoy making (and eating) are mac ‘n cheese bites. The recipe is easy to follow and each batch yields 36 bites (make sure you have two or three mini muffin pans to make the process go faster).
If sandwiches are what your guests crave, Burrell suggests making sub sandwiches, using two-foot or three-foot loaves of bread, found at most grocery stores or bakeries. “You can get crazy with what you put inside it,” Burrell said. Slice it up ahead of time for ease of serving.
Another sandwich option are “rolls,” those pinwheel-style discs that are easy to make and an ideal finger food for Super Bowl or any party. And they, too, can be made the day before (make several rolls, depending on the number of people at your party) and refrigerated until game time. A great recipe for chicken club ranch rolls can be found here (definitely opt for the frozen breaded chicken tenders for a sure time-saver). Pulled pork is also a great choice for big gatherings and can be used for sliders or as taco filling. The pork can be made as early as two days ahead and reheated easily on game day.
“I’m also a huge fan of a big pot of boiled hot dogs,” Burrell added. “They’re so easy to do, and again it’s DIY, so everybody gets what they like.”
A very good burger is also a very good choice for a Super Bowl party, and sliders are always a hit. This recipe from myrecipes.com yields 24 of the tiny burgers. Your outdoor grill will be needed (if a grill is not an option, you could sub a cast-iron stove-top skillet for your cooking method.
Beverages
“Have mix of stuff, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, and keep in mind what kids can drink [if your party includes children],” Burrell suggests. “Definitely have plenty of beer, wine, know your audience. Have signature cocktails, they’re always fun. I’m always fan of doing Prosecco and Aperol [an Italian bitter] on the rocks. The Prosecco is about $12-$15and it goes a long way.”
Desserts
When it comes to the sweetest part of the day, think easy-breezy. Fan favorites such as cookies and brownies can be made days ahead and are the perfect way to cap off a big meal. Multiple coffeemakers would be ideal (borrow one from family or a neighbor), or if you prefer, pick up one or two hot carryout coffee kegs at your nearby coffee emporium (it’s a bit pricey, but it is very convenient).
If you want something a bit more sensational, try this recipe for “Game Day Chocolate Cake,” (it takes a bit of time, so don’t wait till the crazy haze of game day to make it).
At the end of the day, Burrell’s recipe for a great Super Bowl party involves some of the same ideas and advice she incorporates in “Worst Cooks in America,” now in its eighth season.
“Whether you’re planning big event or [intimate] dinner, find a recipe that is doable,” she said. “That’s not hardest recipe. Don’t try to over-achieve. Then read recipe from start to finish. Carefully. All the steps all the ingredients. Make sure you have all the ingredients beforehand. What I’ve found in my experience is that home cooks don’t read the whole recipe. Then they come to a step or ingredient and they’re stuck.
“Cooking is also a lot about the low-tech solutions. Start small and work your confidence up to bigger stuff.”
