Game-Day Nachos
Try making this party favorite in a cast-iron skillet and you’ll never use a cookie sheet again. It’s a real game-changer.
2016 marks the 50th anniversary of the biggest Sunday in pro football — and Lindsay’s 100th birthday, too — so we’re definitely ready to party!
Whether your favorite part of the game is cheering your team, watching the halftime show, laughing at commercials, or snacking up a storm, we’ve got everything you need to turn your living room into World Championship Headquarters.
Snacks Sure to Score
Don’t settle for a six-pack and a bag of chips. We called a huddle and mapped out seven perfect plays for game-day snack action. We’re recruiting some fan favorites and rounding out the team with a few up-and-coming players. Here’s the starting lineup:
Pepperoni Pizza Olives
Nobody can resist the aroma of pepperoni, Romano cheese, and warm green olives, all spiked with garlic and oregano.
Seven-Layer Dip
Break out the tortilla chips and dig into this beautiful bowl, or mix things up with jicama slices and bell-pepper strips.
Buffalo Olive Dip
The perfect option when you want an easy recipe with the flavor of spicy chicken wings, minus the fuss of deep-frying.
Pull-Apart Pizza Muffins
Prepared dough from the deli makes your new favorite snack — no rolling required! Customize with your favorite toppings.
Baked Potato Skins
Don’t forget these football-shaped crowd-pleasers. Top with feta cheese and olives for a fresh twist on the usual bar snack.
Antipasto Platter
Game day doesn’t have to be a coin toss between Team Veggie and Team Carnivore. Satisfy both with a bountiful spread.
Pro-Level Party Starters
Let’s be honest: Anybody can turn the TV to the right channel and put a few beers in the fridge. But when you want to host a party that your guests will be talking about well into the off season, these ideas take your gathering to the next level.
D.I.Y. Nacho Bar
At one end of the table, set out heat-proof plates, a big bowl of tortilla chips, and a slow cooker full of queso dip. Fill the rest of the buffet with bowls of favorite toppings: olives, peppers, taco meat, guacamole, salsa…the options are endless! Then invite guests to design their own creation.
Bowl-Game Bingo
Fill a grid with fun things you expect to see during the game-day broadcast — a surprise halftime performer, a scowling head coach, a retired player in a luxury box, a scenic shot of the host city, a tech company’s racy commercial. The first play to tally up a full row wins bragging rights for the next season. You can even use an online card generator to keep things simple.
Cupcake Kickoff
Nobody wants to eat complicated desserts in front of the TV — you might look down at the wrong moment and miss a critical play! But a sweet treat can help celebrate a winning play, or console fans of the losing team. Follow this frosting chart to transform cupcakes to match each teams’ uniforms.
Home Field Advantage
Top bloggers offer up winning ideas for transforming your house into the perfect football-viewing arena. Here are a few of our favorites:
Gorgeous Gridiron
Drape your buffet in green felt or a paper tablecloth, then mark out yard lines with white tape and die-cut numbers. (via A Night Owl)
Hydration Station
Drape pennant bunting around your beer tub for a festive flair, and set up a dispenser for water breaks. (via Poppy & Blush)
Take Home the Cup
Transform brown paper cups into footballs with white tape “laces” and fill with your favorite armchair munchies. (via Simple as That)