Super Bowl party ideas and recipes for slow cookers, weight watchers and spice lovers (2024)

Super Bowl party supplies from Celebrate Express come in a time saving kits including plates, napkins, a serving tray and more. Football-theme plates are $4.99 for 8 at celebrateexpress.com.

So the Jets didn't make it to the Super Bowl again. That shouldn't stop anyone from throwing a party for the big game, which remains the premier television event of the year, viewed by an average of 106.5 million viewers.

“Super Bowl parties are unlike other parties, which at a home tend to be what I call fly bys, with people coming and going,” he said. “At Super Bowl parties, people come and stay. They want to see the whole game.”

David Tutera

That means guests who could be sitting in front of a television for at least three but as many as 8 hours, if you consider pre- and post-game commentary.

And while serving the hot wings from a football-shaped platter and drinking beer from Super Bowl XLV cups might add to the day’s fun, Tutera says a great Super Bowl party won’t be as much about the decorations as it is about comfort and access.

So, of course, you’ll want to consider the number of televisions showing the game as well as seating -- both quantity and quality. But there’s more to think about, according to Tutera, an entertainer extraordinaire who has written several books on parties, and is known for designing fabulous events for such celebrity clients as Elton John, Jennifer Lopez, the Rolling Stones and Barbara Walters. He shared some tips for making the most of a Super Bowl gathering.

SUPER BOWL PARTY TIPS

The Football Endzone Inflatable Cooler is $24.99 at partycity.com

Start planning now: Game day is Feb. 6, and if you've decided to throw a party, now is the time to plan the menu, buy the novelty plates and cups, and think about how to best accommodate hardcore sports fans as well as those who'd be more interested in the commercials.

For those who will go all out, there are lots of Super Bowl party ideas online, from the recipes and a money-saving blog entry at celebrations.com to party supplies at party411.com, which can rush delivery of custom invitations, decorations and more. New Jersey Party City stores also are stocked with lots of game-day goodies.

Spread out: For the convenience of game watchers, Tutera suggests having foods, snacks and beverages available at several stations -- the coffee table, an entry table, the kitchen island and other practical areas. "This is so people can graze as the game progresses," he says.

Keep it coming: While the game will be the obvious focus, hosting a Super Bowl party is still entertaining, Tutera says. Since food is the second biggest attraction, keep it exciting by bringing out more and different types throughout the party. "The formula here is no different than a co*cktail party," he says. "Stage the food in hour and a half increments. In the beginning, you can keep the food a little lighter, half-time is when you can start bringing the sweets out."

Compete with eats: If yours is a gang of foodie football fans, make things competitive by having guests bring a dish and then keep score to determine the party favorite. "It's a great way to make the party more interactive and get people involved instead of what would be more typically passive and watching the screen," Tutera said.

Remain casual: "Everything is finger foods," Tutera says. "Cater, take-out, restaurant. Have drinks pre-mixed in pitchers for guests to serve themselves. You should always wind up being a guest at your own party, and at a Super Bowl party for sure."

SUPER BOWL PARTY RECIPES

Super bowl skinny

Lightened-Up Warm Artichoke & Spinach Dip

Cooking spray

2 teaspoons olive oil

1 cup chopped onion (1 medium)

6 cups baby spinach (5-6 ounces), washed and dried

2 cloves garlic, minced

14-ounce can artichoke hearts, rinsed and squeezed dry

3/4 cup 1 percent low-fat cottage cheese

2 tablespoons reduced-fat mayonnaise

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

4 ounces Cabot 50 percent reduced fat cheddar, grated (about 1 cup)

Whole-wheat crackers or pita chips for serving

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat 3 or 4-cup baking dish with cooking spray. (Or use four 12-ounce baking dishes.) (Dip will keep, covered, in refrigerator for up to 2 days until ready to bake.)

2. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook, stirring often, for 2 to 3 minutes or until softened and starting to turn golden. Add spinach and garlic; cook, stirring, for 1 to 2 minutes or until spinach has wilted.

3. Place artichokes, cottage cheese, mayonnaise, mustard, salt and cayenne pepper in food processor; process until smooth. Add spinach mixture and cheese; pulse just until blended.

4. Scrape artichoke mixture into prepared baking dish(es). Bake 25 to 35 minutes or until heated though. Serve hot.

- Recipe courtesy of Cabot Creamery. More Super Bowl recipe ideas at cabotcheese.coop.

Three-bean salad with edamame
6 servings

Edamame, black and red beans give this side-salad by Dana Jacobi enough protein to serve as a meatless main dish. Replacing sugar with Stevia Extract In The Raw cuts down on calories and carbs in the dressing.

For salad:

1 1/2 cups frozen shelled edamame

1 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained

1 cup canned red beans, rinsed and drained

1 medium green bell pepper, seeded and chopped

3/4 cup sweet onion, chopped

2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley

For dressing:

3 tablespoons white vinegar

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

1 packet Stevia Extract In The Raw

1 teaspoon salt

1 /8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

3 tablespoons canola oil

1. Cook edamame according to package directions. Drain in colander and cool under cold running water. Drain well. Place edamame in mixing bowl.

2. Add black and red beans, green pepper, and onion to edamame and toss with fork to combine. In small bowl, whisk vinegar and lemon juice with Stevia Extract In The Raw, salt and pepper until salt dissolves. Whisk in oil. Add dressing to beans and toss, using a fork, to coat salad well. Cover, and refrigerate salad for 2 to 24 hours before serving.

Nutrition information
Per 1/2-cup serving: 190 calories, 9g fat (1g saturated), 20g carbs, 9g protein, 7g fiber, 580mg sodium

- Recipe courtesy of Dana Jacobi

Super Bowl heat

Jalapenos with olive-cream filling
16 servings

Courtesy of Taste of Home MagazineStuffed jalapenos with olive cream

8-ounce package fat-free cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup chopped pimiento-stuffed olives

2 tablespoons olive juice

16 large jalapeno peppers, halved lengthwise and seeded

In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, olives and olive juice. Spoon about 2 teaspoons into each jalapeno half. Serve immediately or refrigerate.

SUPER BOWL RECIPES FOR SLOW COOKERS

Crock-Pot® barbecue ribs
8 servings

Canola or vegetable oil

2 small red onions, finely chopped

3 to 4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

1 lemon, juiced

1 cup brown sugar, packed

1/2 cup cider vinegar

1 cup ketchup

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce, to taste

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

2 racks baby back ribs, cut into 3-4 rib pieces

In a skillet placed on stovetop set to medium heat, heat oil. Add garlic and onions and sauté until softened and lightly browned. Stir in remaining ingredients, except ribs, and simmer gently for about 5 minutes. Remove half the sauce to use for serving. Transfer stoneware to slow cooker heating base. Add ribs and sauce, cover, and cook on Low for 7-9 hours or on High for 3-5 hours. To serve, cut ribs between bones and pass extra sauce.

Crock-Pot® pulled pork for sandwiches
8 servings

2 1/2-pound pork roast

14 ounces barbecue sauce

1 teaspoon brown sugar

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 medium onion, chopped

8 hamburger buns or hard rolls

Place the pork roast in the slow cooker. Cover; cook on Low for 10 to 12 hours or on High for 5 to 6 hours. Remove the pork roast from the stoneware, and pull the meat into shredded pieces. Pour out any liquid in the stoneware. Combine pork with the remaining ingredients in the slow cooker. Cook on High for 2 hours. Serve the pulled pork on hamburger buns or hard rolls.

Super Bowl spicy

Spicy lamb chorizo tacos
about 25 servings

For taco filling:

5 pounds pork butt (medium ground)

5 pounds lamb shoulder (medium ground)

6 tablespoons kosher salt

1/4 cup shallots, finely chopped

1/4 cup garlic

1/2 cup Sambuca

1 1/2 cup paprika

2 tablespoons cayenne pepper

1 tablespoon black pepper

chopped tomatoes

Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

white onions, chopped

guacamole

sour cream

soft corn tortillas, warmed, or hard taco shells

1. Combine taco filling ingredients and mash together by hand until well mixed. Brown the meat in a large pan.

- Recipe courtesy of Chef Aram Mardigian, executive chef at the Borgata's Wolfgang Puck American Grille

Super Bowl splurge

Truffle football cupcakes
Makes topping for 36 cupcakes

Courtesy of Taste of Home MagazineTop pre-made cupcakes with green frosting piped to resemble grass and a luscious chocolate-peanut butter truffle football to make the perfect treat for Super Bowl Sunday.

3 ounces white candy coating, coarsely chopped, divided

2/3 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

3 teaspoons vanilla extract

2/3 cup crushed granola cereal with oats and honey

6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

2 tablespoons shortening

2 cans (16 ounces each) vanilla frosting, divided

Green paste food coloring

36 cupcakes of your choice

1. In a microwave, melt white candy coating at 70 percent power for 1 minute; stir. Microwave at additional 10- to 20-second intervals, stirring until smooth. Stir in peanut butter until smooth. Add the confectioners' sugar, vanilla and cereal. Chill for 2-3 hours or until easy to handle.

2. Shape into 1-in. balls; form each ball into football shape and set aside. In a microwave, melt chocolate and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip footballs in chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Place on a wire rack over waxed paper; let stand until set, about 30 minutes.

3. Pipe frosting laces onto footballs. Tint remaining frosting green, using a 233 or 234 tip, pipe grass over cupcakes. Just before serving, insert a toothpick into each football. Insert toothpick into cupcake to position football.

- Recipe courtesy of Taste of Home magazine (Kim Barker, Richmond, Texas). More Super Bowl recipes at tasteofhome.com.