Super Bowl Party Recipes

Planning a Superbowl Party takes some finesse. You want to be sure you have all of your foods prepared in advance to avoid a less chaotic party day.

Finger foods will be your best friend at a party like this. It will reduce clean-up afterward, and save money because you don't have to buy disposable silverware.

Here are some simple finger food ideas for your party.

Chicken Wings: This is quick and easy for anyone. You can buy pre-cooked wings and heat them before the party, or if your crowd is large enough, buy a bag of raw ones from your local wholesale club. Bake them or fry them and brush on your favorite sauce. If you want to have some variety in your sauce options, place bowls of various sauces on your serving table, and allow guests to spoon their own servings onto their plate. Some suggested sauces are: barbeque, buffalo, and chipotle. Store buying these sauces will cut down on prep time, and save you some money.

Chips and Dip: Very simple. Place a bowl of tortilla chips and dishes of salsa (Mild and Hot) there for the guests. Don't forget to include the bowl of original potato chips with some French onion or ranch dip, too. You can either buy the dips, or make them with a packet of ranch seasoning or onion soup mix, and a container of sour cream. Go with whichever option is cheaper on the wallet or more efficient with your timeline.

Cheese and Crackers: For guests that don't prefer chips and dip, you may try crackers and cheese. You can purchase a variety of boxed crackers and a variety of cheeses and serve them on a platter. Try Ritz crackers and cheddar, Club crackers and cheese whiz, or whatever floats your boat. There are party platters pre-made with a selection of crackers and cheeses that you can purchase too.

Fried Mozzarella Sticks: This one can be a pain depending on how many guests you've invited. It can require a lot of time in the oven (for multiple batches) if you don't have a deep fryer. They don't take long in the fryer, and multiple batches can be made up in a pinch. Purchase these ready to go at your grocery store or local wholesale club, and serve with some marinara sauce. If you're daring enough, you can make them on your own with sticks of string cheese, a batter mix, and a deep fryer. Try this recipe.

Fried Mushrooms: The same applies here as with your mozzarella sticks. You can purchase them at your local grocery store or wholesale club, bake or fry them, and have a great snack. If you'd like to cut corners and avoid so many store bought foods, try this recipe.

Potato Skins: This is a hit every time. You can purchase these and bake them ahead of time to be ready and serve with sour cream. They usually come preloaded with bacon and cheddar. They are also very simple to make. It only takes a few potatoes (bare in mind you can make more than one out of each potato when counting for all guests, but it could be more than a few), some bacon bits, cheddar cheese, and an oven. Bake potatoes. Cut into fourths. Dig out the majority of the potato, leaving about ¼ inch of potato on the skin. Top with cheese and bacon. Bake a few minutes more to melt cheese and warm bacon bits. You can take the potato you've scooped out of the skins and mash it for a quick dinner side dish later.

Veggie Tray: For your more health conscious guests, purchase a veggie tray. It will come with pre-cut veggies and dips, which will save you time. If you'd like to make one on your own, purchase some celery, broccoli, and baby carrots. Chop into pieces and serve with a store bought ranch dip, or a homemade version using a hidden valley seasoning pack and sour cream.

Sub Sandwiches: Instead of having it catered in from a local sub restaurant, try this: Purchase a variety of sandwich meats (you can get a variety pack ready for subs at your local Sam's club.), a few bags of hoagie rolls, and a variety of cheeses (cheddar, American, Swiss, etc. based on your preferences), and some traditional condiments (tomatoes, lettuce, onion, peppers, etc.) and let each guest make a sub for themselves.

You can also grill hot dogs in advance, warm them and serve with a variety of condiments. Be sure to have things like chili, onions, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise and pickles on hand. If you're including any of the other suggestions on your menu, you should have most of these items available already.

I hope all of these suggestions will help you in your party planning. In the past, they have always been a hit at the parties I host annually. For a ton of appetizer recipes and ideas, check out this website.