The Super Bowl is a perfect time for sports fans and families to get together. In many households, the Super Bowl is more about the gathering of friends and family and serving delicious appetizers then enjoying the game. Tamme McCauley of Pacific Palisades discusses below some of the most popular, crowd-pleasing appetizers to serve at your Super Bowl watch-party.
There are plenty of dishes out there that are guaranteed to be crowd-pleasers no matter the preferences of the bunch. Whether guests are meat lovers or prefer veggies, have a big sweet tooth, or more of a savory craving, these easy-to-prepare appetizers, ranging from dips to wings are bound to please just about anyone.
For the Meat Lovers in the Crowd
• Brown Sugar Smokies
This appetizer is the perfect mix of salty, sweet, and smoky! Wrapping little smokie sausages in bacon and then glazing them in brown sugar for a tasty sweet and sticky crunch is a simple and foolproof recipe with only 3 ingredients! This appetizer is something that the kids can even prepare and put together.
• Sausage-Stuffed Jalapenos
Cream-cheese stuffed jalapenos with sausage meat and tangy parmesan can’t be beat as a Super Bowl snack! The cream cheese helps to tone down the kick of the chili pepper while guests keep reaching for more.
Veggie Bites
• Mexican Monkey Bread
Many people can find bread a little bit scary to make, especially as a casual snack, but making monkey bread with biscuit mix instead of traditional dough makes it an easy, pull-apart feast! Spice it up with jalapenos, spinach, and herbs. Don’t forget to add the best ingredient – cheese!
• Potato Nachos
For a different take on traditional corn tortilla chips for dipping, try potato nachos. They’re pretty quick to make and can either be dipped or paired with a range of toppings such as nacho cheese, olives, beans, and much more. Using potatoes makes this snack hearty, and more filling than traditional corn chips.
• Zucchini Boat Pizzas
Perfect as a gluten-free or low-carb snack, zucchini pizzas are simple bite-sized appetizers that can be created with a range of toppings. This means that everyone can create their own as a pre-game activity or have a wide selection of pre-made options to choose from!
Sweet Tooth Treats
• Seven-Layer Bars
Graham crackers, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, walnuts, and coconut make up these seven-layer bars. The ingredients are combined together with sweet, condensed milk. It might seem over-the-top but using different nuts and various types of chocolate can help to reduce the intensity of the sweetness. This is a good option for those looking for a milder but still sweet treat.
• Chocolate Candy Popcorn
Popcorn is always a big game staple, so why not mix it with another sweet treat and cover it in chocolate? For a sweet and salty treat, try using salted popcorn or kettle corn, mixed with chocolate chips, M&M’s, and nuts.
Chips ‘n’ Dips
• Guacamole
Guacamole is the king of all dips and making it at home is just as simple as store-bought but even tastier! Only needing 5 ingredients to make, it can be whipped up quickly in a blender, and can just as easily be made in advance or on-demand.
• Spicy Kielbasa Dip
Perfect as a dip or as a spread on toast or crusty bread, it can be amended to the spice levels of the watching party by adjusting the number of jalapeno peppers, and by removing seeds and the white ribs as needed. The spicy, creamy, and salty flavor will leave your guests asking for more. (And maybe even the recipe).
Additional Super Bowl Appetizers
With millions of pounds of food being consumed over Super Bowl weekend every single year, including record numbers of hot wings, and over $387 million being spent on snacks, Super Bowl watch parties are perfect for foodies.