It’s the biggest football game of the year and arguably the biggest party day of the year, too. If you’ve volunteered to host this year’s Super Bowl party for your friends and family, you’re going to need to have more than a big-screen TV and a competitive football pool if you want to really wow your guests.
We’re here to help with fun games, decorating tips, recipes, and more that will make your party guests cheer as much for you as they’ll do for their favorite team. Whether your guests are watching for the game, the commercials, or the halftime show, these Super Bowl party ideas will wow just about anyone.
How do you throw a fun Super Bowl party?
The key to throwing a truly memorable Super Bowl party is to think outside of the box. Go beyond the expected football pools and sliders, and deliver a few unexpected surprises that will set your party apart from the others.
Want to know how to host a great Super Bowl party? Here’s a few of our favorite standout ideas:
Broaden your beer offerings
Instead of picking up a case of typical Budweiser or Corona, why not offer local brews from the cities of the two competing teams? Before the big game, do a bit of research and pick up a couple of 12 packs of some microbrews with a bit of local flavor.
Stage a team spirit competition
Provide face painting supplies along with spray-on hair dye, colorful streamers, temporary tattoos, and more. Then, challenge partygoers to create the craziest, most team-spirited costume they can. Organize a catwalk for showing off the results, and vote for the best team spirit costume.
Create a football-themed food backdrop
Your neighborhood party supply store is well stocked with ready-made Super Bowl decor, but we like the idea of creating a DIY backdrop that is not only football appropriate, but also lends an air of sophistication to your event. Get the step-by-step directions for one of our favorite looks here.
Make take-home swag bags
Goodie bags are not just for kids! Make some swag bags for your guests to take home, and fill them with bags of chips, homemade football-shaped cookies, a bottle of Gatorade, and your favorite hangover cure… just in case.
What are the 5 most popular Super Bowl foods?
1. Chips & dip
Whether it’s potato chips and homemade French onion dip or tortilla chips, salsa, and guacamole, your Super Bowl party snack table is not complete unless it includes bowls of salty chips and dips. Keep an eye on bowls, and replenish chips and dips frequently throughout the night.
2. Chicken wings
A Super Bowl without wings? Perish the thought! Of course, you can always opt for takeout wings (be sure to order way in advance, since Super Bowl Sunday is the biggest day of the year for eating chicken wings, with an estimated 1.42 billion chicken wings being consumed during Super Bowl LV). If ordering out is not your thing, you can make your own. There is no shortage of recipes for all types of wings, from dry rubs, to honey/barbecue, boneless to Cajun, but for the Super Bowl, we recommend going classic with this recipe for Authentic Buffalo Chicken Wings.
3. Pizza
Some people love making their own pizza, but for most of us, ordering a few pies for the big game is good enough. Pizzerias are another takeout/delivery business with an incredibly busy Super Bowl, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time between when you place your order and when you expect your pizzas to be eaten. When ordering, do a variety of topping options — cheese, pepperoni, veggie lover, and more — so there’s an option for every pizza fanatic on your guest list.
4. Nachos supreme
Nachos and football go together like hot dogs and baseball, but for the biggest football event of the year, you really need to up your game. This nachos supreme recipe fits the bill. With seasoned ground beef, salty tortilla chips, black beans, and oodles of cheese, this one is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Looking for a healthier option? Swap out the ground beef for ground turkey, or go entirely meat-free by upping the number of beans in your recipe.
5. Cheese and crackers
Both filling and able to sit out on your table from kickoff to the post-game wrap-up, a platter of cheese and crackers is a must-have for any Super Bowl party. In keeping with your “big game” theme, Pinterest is filled with ideas for creating football-friendly cheese-and-cracker platters that are as fun to look at as they are to eat.
With a combination of homemade and store-bought snacks, and your flair for great decorating and fun games, you are sure to have a Super Bowl party your guests will talk about all year long.
