How to Host Jo’s Great SuperBowl Party…and Still Enjoy the Game!

Now that the college bowl games are complete and NFL playoff games are in motion, it’s time to think about the Super Bowl coming right up on February 11th (with Usher as the half-time entertainment)!  About 20 years ago I (Joanne) stumbled across a Super Bowl Party spread in InStyle magazine and it made quite an impact on me! I “borrowed” all the ideas and have subsequently hosted at least a dozen Super Bowl parties (super fun when the Seattle Seahawks were in the Big Game), re-using the formula year after year.

I love this event mainly because the bar is low in terms of food, drink, and decor (chips, dips, and astroturf) and the February timing is great because damp/dry January is over for some and it’s still dark and dreary in Seattle and everyone is ready to get out and gather!

Here is my FabList of elements for a fun Super Bowl party.

 

Nerf Balls:

For a cute invitation, buy Nerf footballs and write the party details on each one with a Sharpie.  Enclose in a mailing envelope and send.

AstroTurf:

Sold at Home Depot on a roll in the flooring section, or on Amazon.  I buy a big piece and then cut smaller pieces to fit every horizontal surface – side tables, coffee tables, dining tables, kitchen counters, and even the toilet seat lid (that detail is always a surprise hit!).  On my dining table, I used white out and a yardstick to make the yard lines. After the party I roll them up and label each piece with what surface it covers with a piece of masking tape and I’m ready for next year.

Hot Dog!

When the Seahawks made it to the Super Bowl and I wanted to focus on the game and not be tied to the kitchen, I rented a hot dog roller from our local equipment/party rental store and haven’t looked back.  They are also for sale here if you think you’ll get a lot of use out of it!!  I then set up a condiment bar (I have a collection of these bowls just for the occasion) with all the toppings – onions, relish, tomatoes, shredded cheese, banana peppers, sauerkraut, etc – and you could even go a step further and have some signature dog suggestions:

  • The I Wish We Were in Hawaii Hot Dog! Grilled pineapple, red onions, and teriyaki sauce
  • The Italian-American Hot Dog! Grilled onions and bell peppers, ketchup, and pepperoncini.
  • The I Wish We Were in Mexico Hot Dog! Grilled corn, cotija cheese, cilantro, and mayo.
  • The Chicago Dog! Pickled peppers, diced tomatoes, yellow mustard, and chopped onions.
  • The Deli Dog. Sauerkraut, curry mustard (stir together a little curry powder + Dijon mustard), and everything bagel seasoning.
  • The Banh-Mi-But-Make-It-A-Hot Dog Dog. Sriracha mayo (literally just stir together sriracha and mayo), jalapeño, pickled carrots, and cilantro.

These hot dog boats are cute for serving – and they don’t need to be washed!

Crock Pot for Chili:
For chili dogs, and for those who just want chili instead of a hot dog, I make a pot of chili (here is my go-to recipe) and keep it in a crock pot to stay warm throughout the game.  I do a vegetarian chili for those who don’t eat meat. All the same toppings and the same bowls above can be used for serving a nice warm cup of chili.

Chip & Dip Buffet
Let’s face it – it is all about the chips and dip.  I ask everyone to bring their favorite chip and dip and it’s fun to see what arrives!  For the chips, serve in big bowls like these or provide these cute individual football cups.

Decor
Other than astroturf, there is tons of football decor for sale including paper lanterns to hang throughout the room, balloon garland, front door banners, plates, napkins, and tablecloths (if you don’t go the astroturf route).

Football Flags
To engage the audience I bought these penalty flags for crowd participation! You can store them for the next year’s party as well.


Outfit
Yes, I did invest in these striped referee shirts and whistles to wear!  The whistles come in handy when a dip is running low or general order needs to be restored!

GO TEAM!

 

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Joanne & Chrissie

Chrissie and Joanne love discovering, curating and creating. They developed FabList as a place to share their favorite finds with you.

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Chrissie and Joanne love discovering, curating and creating. They developed FabList as a place to share their favorite finds with you.

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