The Super Bowl is upon us, and with it comes betting, parties and food.
The annual festivity is a unique sporting event that appeals to a wide audience, spanning the most die-hard, lifelong Bengals and Rams fans to the most casual of viewers. An all-day affair, the Super Bowl offers no shortage of programming — on top of the actual game of course — meaning you'll be consuming a decent amount of food while sweating the Gatorade color and tilting over your Cooper Kupp receiving yards prop.
But just as there are superstars on the field, not all party food is created equal. There are studs and duds at every table. Below are my personal Super Bowl party food power rankings of 13 popular snacks for the big day:
1. Buffalo Chicken Dip
Buffalo chicken dip is my clear MVP, and it is a travesty that we reserve it for occasions like this. To me, this dip is like watching Joe Burrow or Matthew Stafford Hail Mary. Cheese, cream cheese, ranch dressing, chicken and hot sauce — it's like wings without the sticky hands. I like using chips or even celery as a vehicle for this dip, which you can make as spicy as your 10-leg parlay.
2. Pigs In A Blanket Or Cocktail Wieners
Both variations are perfect bite-sized, mess-free finger foods. This snack can give you the in-person vibe and transport you to SoFi Stadium without having to shell out $20 per frank and $5,000 for a ticket. Plus, who doesn't like meat wrapped in dough? Up your game by dipping them in assorted sauces.
3. Sliders
I personally love food you can eat with one hand, especially if there's a scarcity of seating at your fête, and the miniature version means you'll have room for the rest of the spread. As a former South Carolina resident, I gravitate toward sliders with a form of barbecue — brisket, chicken, pulled pork, etc. Top them off with some cole slaw and the sauce of your choosing (I fancy Carolina mustard barbecue sauce).
4. Seven- Or 10-Layer Dip
If I must consume some form of vegetables at a Super Bowl party, it had better be in the form of seven- or 10-layer dip. This dip is like going all-in on your Chipotle order, only no one is going to charge you extra for the guac.
5. Jalapeño Poppers
I must admit that I had not tried these until somewhat recently. Once I did, my only regret was not trying them earlier. Think of the popper as a socially acceptable way to consume a large amount of melted cheese. The pepper is merely the vehicle with the added benefit of being a vegetable, making this tasty snack basically a salad. Heck, go crazy and wrap them in bacon. Calories don't count during the Super Bowl.
6. Egg Rolls, Wontons Or Dumplings
We all know these dough-wrapped goodies as the delicious add-ons to our Chinese food orders, but if you have not tried the American deep-fried variant, are you really living your best life? Often stuffed with meat and cheese and/or cream cheese, they're a perfect medley in finger-food form.
7. Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs aren't everyone's cup of tea, but they are mine. These one-bite snacks are an entertaining mainstay in many parts of the country. Put a little south in your mouth with the classic version topped with paprika, or spice things up and add peppers, avocado, pancetta, lobster, bacon, lardons, smoked salmon, crab meat — it all works, trust me.
8. Chicken Wings
Don't get me wrong — wings are delicious, but they are not my go-to Super Bowl party food. They lose marks because they aren't a one-handed food and they're messy as sin for which no amount of wet naps can atone. Who is going to high-five you after your first touchdown prop hits if your hands are covered in barbecue sauce? Total party fowl.
9. Nachos
Nachos can be wonderful if done well and consumed immediately. Their tragic flaw is shelf life — or lack thereof — which is problematic given how long the marathon of Super Bowl festivities can take. The combination of heat and moisture quickly transform these into a soggy mess. If you're craving some Southwest vibes, play it safe and stick to the 10-layer dip.
10. Pizza
Pizza is a relatively safe choice, but you can literally eat a slice any day of the week. Don't squander your stomach bandwidth — or this once-a-year fête — on a pedestrian slice when there are better options.
11. Potato Chips
If buffalo chicken dip is your Burrow or Stafford, then chips are your Andy Dalton and Jared Goff: Acceptable, but never going to win you the Lombardi Trophy.
12. Cheese Plate
Normally, I'm all about a cheese board or charcuterie board, but in the grand scheme of Super Bowl apps, sliced cheese feels so ordinary.
13. Vegetable Or Crudite Plate
Who hurt you? I truly commend the effort to be health-conscious, but atone for Sunday's calorie fest on Monday when you aren't surrounded by far superior choices.
