Throw a Super Bowl party

You don’t have to care about football to throw a good Super Bowl party. The game is played in early February, which makes it a good excuse for friends, food and a big screen in the middle of winter. It works best as a potluck: you make one big dip, and everyone else brings something.

Plan it

• Pick your guests. Six to twelve is comfortable in a living room. Fewer than that and it’s a cozy night in.
• Set the time. Invite people for about an hour before kick-off so they can eat and settle in. Check the broadcast time a few days ahead, since it can vary.
• Check the TV and the sound. Test the screen and the volume well before anyone arrives, and decide where the stream or channel will come from.
• Assign dishes. Send a quick message asking each person to bring one dish, and ask about any food allergies or diets so there’s something for everyone.
• Sort the seating. Move furniture to face the screen, and add floor cushions, extra chairs and a side table for plates.

Food that works

Choose food you can eat without cutlery and that stays good for a few hours.

• One big hot dip, such as spinach, queso or buffalo chicken, with chips and vegetables.
• Something to dip into it: tortilla chips, pretzels, crackers, sliced carrots and celery.
• A hearty item, such as sliders, wings, mini hot dogs or a big pot of chili.
• Something sweet, such as brownies or cookies, which travel well.
• Plenty of non-alcoholic drinks. If you serve alcohol, it’s for guests 21 or over in the US, and make sure everyone has a safe way home.

Keep hot dishes in a slow cooker on “warm”, and put out only a little of the cold food at a time. Food that’s been out for more than about two hours should go away.

Games for non-fans

1. Ad bingo. Make bingo cards with things that tend to show up: a celebrity cameo, a talking animal, a car commercial, a movie trailer. First to a line wins.
2. A score guess. Everyone writes down a final score and the closest wins a small prize.
3. A first-score guess. Everyone picks which team scores first, with a snack as the prize.
4. Best snack vote. Guests vote for their favourite dish at halftime.

How to keep the night moving

• Put the food out before kick-off, so the first quarter isn’t a line.
• Use the breaks between plays to refill the bowls and clear plates.
• Let people chat. Not everyone needs to watch every minute.
• Keep a trash bag and a spare roll of paper towels nearby, so cleaning up is quick.

What goes wrong

• The stream drops out. Have a backup plan, such as a second device or a phone hotspot, and test early.
• The food runs out. Ask people to bring more than they’ll eat, and keep a bag of chips as a backup.
• There’s an argument over the sound. Set the volume before the game starts and agree to keep it so everyone can talk.
• Guests are in the way of the TV. Seat people in rows and keep walkways clear.
• Some guests don’t care about the game. Set up a table with a board game or cards in another corner.

Afterwards

Pack up leftovers into containers and send people home with a plate. Keep the bingo cards for next year, and note which dishes were gone first.

Make it work for everyone

Not everyone at a Super Bowl party is there for the game, and that’s fine. Set up a second spot with cards or a puzzle for anyone who wants a break from the screen. Keep a pot of tea or hot chocolate going for non-drinkers, and put out a few vegetarian options. If the party runs late, tell your neighbours and keep the volume reasonable, and make sure no one drives home after drinking.

Make it a winter evening

It’s one of the few winter nights where the whole point is to gather in one warm room. Keep it easy, let everyone bring a dish and send the leftovers home. If you want a second reason to get friends together this season, try a cookie swap.