No matter which team is playing on Super Bowl Sunday, one thing is always a given: There will be food—and lots of it. Whether you're cooking for your family or contributing a dish to a tailgate party or potluck, the last thing you want is to spend the day stressed out in the kitchen. In this party playbook, you'll prep most of the dishes ahead of time, leaving just a few finishing touches for game day.
26 Super Bowl Appetizers That Will Win Big on Game Day
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Pigs in Blankets
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A must-have Super Bowl food (or any game-day food) for many, pigs in blankets are super snacks that can be prepared up to one month in advance. (Yes, you read that right!) Our genius recipe not only avoids having to roll individual mini sausages on the day of the event, but it actually skips that pesky step entirely. Instead, we make our pigs out of whole frankfurters or sausages by wrapping them in buttery puff pastry, and cutting them into snackable pieces. A brush of sweet and savory honey mustard and sprinkle with poppy seeds or sesame adds a special touch (but that doesn't mean you can't still serve them with more mustard and ketchup for dipping).
Make-Ahead Strategy: Cut the individual dogs and spread evenly, but not touching, on a sheet tray; freeze until firm. Then transfer the unbaked pigs in a blanket to airtight freezer bags or containers for up to one month. Rearrange them on a sheet tray and bake per recipe instructions just before serving.
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Spicy-Sweet Maple Snack Mix
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Fill small bowls with this savory-sweet and crunchy snack mix, and set them around the party for snacking. This totally addictive mix is the perfect complement to Super Bowl drinks, whether you're enjoying a beer, a co*cktail, or a mocktail. Best of all, the mix is so easy to make.
Make-Ahead Strategy: Bake and cool the mix up to one week in advance of the event. Store at room temperature in an airtight bag or container.
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Seven-Layer Bean Dip
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Our take on the beloved three-in-one dip that layers bean dip, pico de gallo, and guacamole, along with cheese, sour cream, and olives definitely earns a center spot on the coffee table during the game. If made in advance, seven-layer dip is a dish that you can pull from the fridge and set out with a bag of chips to get the party started. Don't worry about the guacamole turning brown: As long as it is sealed between the layers of pico de gallo and sour cream, it should retain its iconic bright green color.
Make-Ahead Strategy: Rather than individual glass jars as this recipe suggests, layer the dip in a big bowl and assemble the night before. Just place on the table with chips and it's ready for kickoff.
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Meatball Parmesan Sliders
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Super Bowl snacks are perfect to nibble on all game long, but bites like our warm Meatball Parmigiana Sliders will be especially appealing around the dinner hour. Marinara and mozzarella-drenched meatballs are addictive when sandwiched between buttery brioche sliders. Get a second tray ready to go as the first one is served—these will go fast!
Make-Ahead Strategy: Simmer the meatballs up to three days in advance and store refrigerated in an airtight container. Reheat over medium-low heat on the stove top and assemble the sandwiches right before serving.
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Easy Chili Verde
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The halftime show is packed with star-studded performances, but it's also a time to mingle and fill up on something other than snacks. Serve our Easy Chili Verde, a spin on a classic football tailgating recipe. It puts store-bought salsa to work, allowing you to skip one step in this longer simmering recipe. (To speed things up, we also adapted this recipe to work for the pressure cooker.)
To serve: Place the pot of chili out along with a stack of mugs, spoons, and all the toppings. Everyone can ladle and fix a cup of chili to their liking.
Make-Ahead Strategy: Prepare the chili up to five days in advance. Dishes like this actually taste better with time as the flavors continue to meld. Store refrigerated in an airtight container. Reheat over medium-low heat on the stove top. Prepare the toppings the day before and store refrigerated covered in bowls.
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Football Cupcakes
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Finish off the Super Bowl spread with our adorable Football Cupcakes. You'll find that these sweet treats are as fun for children as they are for adults. Andes mint-crafted footballs and green sprinkle turf adorn these festive mint-chocolate cupcakes—and while they look fancy, they are quite easy to make.
Make-Ahead Strategy: Cupcakes can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to three days.
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33 Super Bowl Desserts That (Almost) Taste Sweeter Than Winning
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Chocolaty Pretzel-and-Peanut Cookie Bars
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TheseChocolaty Pretzel-and-Peanut Cookie Barsare where dessert meets snack mix: Crunchy, savory favorites are baked right into chewy, caramelized condensed milk and chocolate.
Make-Ahead Strategy: Make up to three days ahead and store in a cool place.
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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert in cooking and entertaining, I can confidently provide information related to the concepts discussed in the article about Super Bowl food. I have extensive experience in preparing dishes for large gatherings and have a deep knowledge of various cooking techniques and recipes.
The article discusses different appetizers and snacks that are perfect for Super Bowl Sunday. Let's go through each concept and provide some information:
Pigs in Blankets
Pigs in blankets are a classic Super Bowl food that can be prepared well in advance. Instead of rolling individual mini sausages, the recipe suggests wrapping whole frankfurters or sausages in buttery puff pastry and cutting them into snackable pieces. The pigs in blankets can be prepared up to one month in advance by cutting the individual dogs and freezing them until firm. They can then be transferred to airtight freezer bags or containers. On game day, simply rearrange them on a sheet tray and bake according to the recipe instructions.
Spicy-Sweet Maple Snack Mix
This savory-sweet and crunchy snack mix is a great addition to any Super Bowl party. It can be made ahead of time by baking and cooling the mix up to one week in advance. Store it at room temperature in an airtight bag or container until the day of the event.
Seven-Layer Bean Dip
The seven-layer bean dip is a beloved dip that combines layers of bean dip, pico de gallo, guacamole, cheese, sour cream, and olives. It can be made in advance and stored in the fridge until ready to serve. To prevent the guacamole from turning brown, make sure to seal it between the layers of pico de gallo and sour cream. Instead of using individual glass jars, you can layer the dip in a big bowl and assemble it the night before. Just place it on the table with chips, and it's ready to go.
Meatball Parmesan Sliders
Meatball Parmesan sliders are a delicious and satisfying option for Super Bowl snacking. The meatballs can be simmered up to three days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat them over medium-low heat on the stovetop and assemble the sandwiches right before serving.
Easy Chili Verde
Easy Chili Verde is a spin on a classic football tailgating recipe. It can be prepared up to five days in advance and tastes even better as the flavors continue to meld. Store it refrigerated in an airtight container and reheat it over medium-low heat on the stovetop. Prepare the toppings the day before and store them covered in bowls in the refrigerator.
Football Cupcakes
Finish off the Super Bowl spread with adorable Football Cupcakes. These mint-chocolate cupcakes are decorated with Andes mint-crafted footballs and green sprinkle turf. The cupcakes can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days.
Chocolaty Pretzel-and-Peanut Cookie Bars
Chocolaty Pretzel-and-Peanut Cookie Bars are a delightful combination of dessert and snack mix. They can be made ahead of time, up to three days, and stored in a cool place.
These concepts provide a range of make-ahead strategies and tips for preparing Super Bowl dishes in advance. By following these suggestions, you can reduce stress and enjoy the game day without spending too much time in the kitchen.
