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ByKaren MinerandJennifer Eager/
Let's be honest — for some people, the Super Bowl is more about the party than it is the game. What other day gives you the perfect excuse to stuff your face from morning 'til night with deliciously greasy fare, washing it all down with beer, beer, and more beer? The answer is no other days.
But whether or not you're a football fanatic or just there for the commercials, we can all agree that some foods have their place at the game day table, and some just don't. (Case in point — do not come to my house with your pea-laden guacamole, please, on Super Bowl Sunday or any other day of the year, for that matter.)
As there is a winner and a loser for the championship game, there are winners and losers when it comes to those party snacks. Here's how the most popular Super Bowl foods rank, from worst to best.
25. That ridiculous snack stadium
Sorry Pinterest, we just can't do it. Sure, it's cute and it totally proves how crafty you are, but can you imagine how that thing is going to look 15 minutes into your party? It's going to start falling into itself the second someone grabs a pizza roll from the bottom of the pile, the ketchup is going to be mixed with the guacamole, and it's going to turn into one huge #fail. We promise you that your guests will love the pigs in blankets just as much if you serve them sans stadium.
24. Fruit, for a lighter option
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Most of us consider Super Bowl parties to be a free-for-all for gluttony. Salty, greasy, fried, and cheesy options are everywhere, and we're here for it. Hear us out, though: fruit is also a superstar at a party buffet. Unlike sad veggie platters, fruit gives us that moral high ground of eating healthy while still actually enjoying the food. Who doesn't love strawberries, grapes, or cubes of melon? Whether your guests want healthy options or a palate cleanser between nachos and Buffalo wings, fruit does the trick. When it comes to serving, piling a few kinds of fruit on a platter is easiest, fruit kebabs keep the kids from eating every strawberry while leaving the cantaloupe untouched, while a fruit salad requires bowls and forks. You decide.
23. Anything football-shaped
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Listen, when we're shoving that [insert football-shaped item here] into our mouths, we do not care even a little bit what shape it is. You're going to spend a whole bunch of time putting chive "laces" onto your deviled egg "footballs," and we're just not going to appreciate it because we've already had three beers. Sorry.
22. The sad veggie platter
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That pre-assembled week-old veggie plate with the limp broccoli, the brown celery, the unripe tomatoes? Just don't. While we commend you for attempting to give your guests a "healthy" option, nobody wants carrots that have developed a whitish exterior or tomatoes that are starting to wrinkle. Maybe just hit up Whole Foods and grab some hummus and seeded crackers instead.
21. Deviled eggs, but not the boring kind
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Deviled eggs, while classic, can be a divisive party snack; people either love 'em or hate 'em. We love them, not just because they taste great, but because they're high in protein, relatively low in calories (at least compared to some other foods we love to eat on Super Bowl Sunday), and are easy to make. The trick is getting creative so your deviled eggs tempt the naysayers. Try incorporatingunique ingredients like olives, bacon, cheese, or fancy garnishes, and watch that tray of deviled eggs disappear faster than Travis Kelce running a pass route.
20. Cupcakes will keep the kids happy
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Yes, Super Bowl parties are known for tons of food, but that party spread isn't complete unless you have a little something sweet. If there are kids present, getting them sugared up so you can send them out to the backyard to run it off will make it easier to focus on the game. Cupcakes are a top choice for a buffet because you don't need a plate. They're also conveniently sized and can be customized to your theme or team. Plus, no matter which recipe you decide to make, decorating cupcakes is super fun. Remember that sprinkles make everything pretty if you aren't handy with a piping bag.
19. Nachos — hear us out on this
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We know. We KNOW. Nachos are delicious. There's no question about it. But nachos are not delicious when they've been sitting for longer than approximately 90 seconds. There is a very small window in which your nacho eating time is optimal, and a party where they're going to sit out for hours is not it. You will have soggy chips, congealed cheese, and a sea of sad faces.
18. Queso dip, sometimes
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Another timing problem — queso has a short life once it's off the heat, and unless you're pouring it down your throat the instant it comes out, you're not living your best life. The only way queso moves up on the list is if you're keeping it warm and snuggly in a Crock-Pot right there on the table, but fair warning — extension cords, copious amounts of beer, and molten cheese might not be the best combination.
17. Guacamole (especially if it contains veggies it shouldn't)
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Just like nachos and queso, guacamole is normally an exceedingly tasty snack. But there are a couple problems with the classic avocado dip: 1. People think they need to healthify it with peas or edamame, or, perhaps worst of all, broccoli. So definitely don't do that, and if a guest brings such an abomination to your party, "accidentally" trip and throw it on the floor. 2. It turns brown after it sits out a while and Super Bowl Sunday is a long day, i.e., not optimal guac conditions. (Though if we had to choose, we'd eat oxidized guacamole for the rest of our lives before we ever allowed broccomole into our mouths.)
16. Spinach artichoke dip: sneaky veggies are the best kind
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We love finding ways to add some healthy snacks to the Super Bowl buffet table. At the same time, spinach and artichoke dip might not top a dietician's list (let's be honest, it probably wouldn't make the top 50) of healthiest options. Still, nobody can argue that it has more going for it than queso. But wait: you've noticed that we've criticized some other snacks because they're best eaten immediately and, to many minds, spinach artichoke dip is meant to be served hot and melty. Never fear — did you know this dip can be served cold? A healthy(ish) dip that's delicious, nutritious, and fresh on the table is a win, no matter which team you're rooting for.
15. Is it even a party without cheese and crackers?
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Cheese and crackers are a must-have at any party. Simple to prepare and loved by everyone (who eats cheese, anyway!), we'd find it strange to see a Super Bowl spread that didn't include it. Bonus: kids who are picky eaters might happily eat cheese and crackers, so their parents will be glad they get something other than chips and cupcakes. It doesn't matter whether you arrange fancy imported cheeses with baguette slices, water crackers, artisan ciabatta, breadsticks, or fan out a sleeve of Ritz crackers with a block of cheddar. The fans want cheese in any form and will line up to get it.
14. Chili, because beans
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We all know what happens when we eat chili — don't pretend like it doesn't happen to you. Sure, it tastes great, but the after-effects keep this menu item at a firm number 11.
13. Sliders — a lot of work for little pay
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Preparing these tiny little burgers is a painstaking process. Yes, they are super cute, and yes, they will look "totes adorbs" on Instagram, but regular ol' burgers get the job done a lot faster and a lot easier.
12. Pulled pork sandwiches — good, but messy
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There's a lot to be said for pulled pork — it's super easy (thank you, Crock-Pot), and one batch feeds a ton of people. But for all it's delightful drippy barbecue sauciness, it can be a bit messy. Maybe this is a good weekend to take a page from Grandma and cover those couches in plastic?
11. Buffalo chicken dip, a no-brainer
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Even though this dip runs a slight chance of pulling a queso and congealing, we cut it a lot of slack because it's made from Buffalo chicken and cheese, which is like Buffalo wings but better because no bones — plus cheese.
10. Seven layer dip = seven layers of happiness
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Layered dip just might be the greatest party dip ever invented. It's the food you eat when you need a break from the other food. You can mindlessly dip chip after chip and, miraculously, when you're done dipping you're ready to get back on that horse and take down some hot dogs and co*cktail meatballs. It's basically seven layers of magic.
9. Homemade Chex Mix
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We know you can buy Chex Mix at the grocery store. We also know it comes in tons of flavors, but we don't care –homemade Chex Mixtastes better. We think customizing our snacks is just plain cool, and switching up the nuts, changing pretzel shapes, or finding new add-ins is almost as fun as eating the stuff. And nobody can argue that Puppy Chow, with its chocolate-peanut butter coating and enough powdered sugar to spike a horse's blood sugar, isn't a genius invention. Or maybe someone could argue that, but we wouldn't listen. Does making Chex Mix yourself involve work and a long grocery list? Sure, but considering how much tastier it is and that you end up with enough mix to snack on for months, it's totally worth it.
8. Hot dogs, because you just have to
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There's really no question about it — hot dogs are required at football parties. You've already got the grill fired up from your hours-long slider-making endeavor anyway, so it's no extra effort. Plus, wieners are the best vehicle for that ill-advised chili.
7. Bowl of random chips that will need constant refills
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Everyone, and we mean everyone, loves chips. Some of us pretend we don't, but most would park themselves in front of a chip bowl and never move if it didn't bring judgy glares from everyone else who wanted a turn. And if there's onion dip nearby, forget it. Those hosts who spent hours making the perfect spread for the party might get annoyed when the humble bowl of chips becomes empty every hour or so. But what can we say? Maybe buy a few more bags, and don't forget the dip.
6. co*cktail meatballs — isn't that the law?
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Why are co*cktail meatballs so dang good? Is it the toothpick? Is it the sauce? All we know is that they're quite possibly the world's most poppable food.
5. Pigs in a blanket — totally different from hot dogs
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You might not know this, but you actually have separate compartments in your stomach for pigs in blankets and hot dogs, so obviously you'll want to eat both. But if you are forced to choose, just remember that the best pigs in blankets usually involve cheese and/or a bacon wrap situation.
4. Jalapeño poppers for spicy goodness
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Cheesy, spicy appetizers are high on our list, and jalapeño poppers are a classic party food. The spiciness of these little bites may vary with each pepper, but that's part of the fun. Besides, the cream cheese filling helps to mitigate the bite of the extra hot ones (and so does beer). You can buy jalapeño poppers premadeorcraft your ownwith all manner of mix-ins — the sky's the limit. However your little poppers debut, they'll be gobbled up in no time.
3. Pizza — the easiest crowd-pleaser
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Pizza is the near-perfect Super Bowl food. Allow us to expand:
- Nobody expects you to make your own pizza, so delivery is totally acceptable and that means you don't have to do a thing.
- It's cheese...
- And bread. Combined.
The only way pizza could be a more perfect game day food is if it was potato skins or chicken wings.
2. Potato skins — huge pain, but totally worth it
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We won't pretend potato skins aren't a lot of work. Scrub the potatoes, bake the potatoes, scoop out the potatoes, bake the potato shells — it's an endless amount of potato tending. But man, is the end result worth it! The crisp outer shell. The cheese. The bacon. The sour cream. So. Worth. It.
1. Chicken wings, obviously
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Do not even think about having a Super Bowl party without wings. Please. We will even forgive you your pea guacamole gaffe if you've got a gigantic pile of wings happening. But forget the Buffalo sauce here — you've already got that covered in dip form. Use this opportunity to branch out into other preparations. From bacon-wrapped to Asian flavors, there's a whole new wing world out there, and this is the day to try them all.
