Tasty Touchdown: Super Bowl Menu Playbook

By Tammie Hughes

Perhaps you’ve agreed to a last-minute, impromptu party, or you’re running behind on preparing your list of apps to serve; you’re sure to find an idea that suits you. Let’s dig into our playbook for hosting this year’s big game.

Quarterbacks — the leader, often the captain. These all-stars of your menu will fill the bellies of your guests as they laugh, tease, shout, and cheer. Think heavy handhelds and more filling finger foods.

Chicken Wings (with various sauces, dips, and crudités)
Firehouse Chili (with garlic breadsticks, corn chips)
French Dip Sliders (with au jus, and horseradish sauce)
Mini Meatball Subs
Mini Smash Burgers
Pizza French Bread
Bacon, Beer Cheese, and
Jalapeño Topped Pretzels

Running Backs — carries, takes a handoff, blocks for the QB. These food choices are your runners-up, helping to support your heavier quarterback snacks.

Beef or Chicken Sheet Pan Nachos
Tangy Smoked Sausages (with various mustards)
Jalapeño Poppers
Loaded Tots
Char-grilled Shishito Peppers
Stuffed Potato Skins
Broiled Thick-cut Bacon Skewers with hot Honey Glaze
Antipasto Skewers
Below with tortilla chips
Seven Layer Dip
Spinach Artichoke Dip
Fresh Pico and Guacamole

Tight Ends — the hybrid player (lineman and receiver). Your menu items for the tight end position should effectively serve as crossover fare. Not too heavy and not too light, this is the normal fare that holds a snacking menu together.

Crudités
Charcuterie and Cheese Boards
Deviled Eggs
Pickled Relish Trays (various olives, cornichons, pepperoncinis, pickled okra, hearts of palm, dill pickles, artichoke hearts)

Wide Receivers — outliers, working the sidelines, and can be the star of the play. Wide receivers on your menu lineup serve to let you try something new. It could be a hit, or maybe it sits there on the table untouched. Take a chance and catch yourself a winning touchdown with unusual menu additions.

Philly Cheesesteak Egg Rolls
Thai Chicken Skewers (w/ peanut sauce)
Spanakopita (w/ Tzatziki Dip)
Crab and Cream Cheese Wonton Cups
Coconut-Panko Shrimp (w/ orange sauce)
Fondue (w/ breads and fresh fruits)
Whipped Smoked Salmon (w/ sliced cucumber rounds)
Deviled Crabs (in the shell, w/ lemon-dill tarter sauce)
Ahi Poke Stack (in a tall shot glass)
Bloody Mary Oyster Shooters (tall shot glass with bloody mary mix, swimming raw oyster, celery stick, shrimp and lemon wedge on the side rim)

Kickers — a specialty player, extra points. Your Super Bowl menu playbook should not overlook small desserts and sweet treats.