The Super Bowl is just around the corner, and some of you may be celebrating by throwing big parties with food and drinks. People definitely need snacks to munch on during the game, so if you’re wondering what to bring to the table, here is a list of good options:
Snyder’s of Hanover Pretzel Pieces: These are so incredibly flavorful; the salt practically punches your face, and the crunch mellows it out. Any of the flavors will satisfy, but my personal favorites are the hot buffalo wing and honey mustard & onion flavor. They are available everywhere (even at the Arbor) if you want other options besides actual wings.
Hot Chips With Tapatío or Valentina: The sauces are optional but are worth a try if you haven’t yet. Sabritas Turbos Flamas and Baked Hot Cheetos pairs particularly well with the hot sauces. For a healthier alternative, try Popchips’ Crazy Hot with Tapatío. To appease the crowd, get a bag of Munchies Snack Mix, a mix of spicy and salty SunChips, Cheetos, Doritos and pretzels.
Tortilla Chips and Dip (Specifically Guacamole and Salsa): Tortilla chips are always a hit for any occasion. Avocados are on sale right now for as low as 50 cents, so make your own guacamole if you’re on a budget. Jarred salsa from any grocery store is tasty and cheap and will work whether you’re in a pinch or not. If you really want to have a good time, whip up a seven-layer dip.
Charcuterie Board: For a more sophisticated take, you can arrange some cheese, crackers and perhaps a bottle of wine. Get a wooden board or a plate, and start by placing brie, cheddar, gruyère, camembert or your personal favorite cheese on a board. Next, place the crackers, cured meat, dried fruits or nuts around the cheese. Persimmon, which pairs well with semi-soft cheese, is in season right now. But for the cheaper option, you can opt for grapes.
Popcorn: For the broke college students who still want to entertain some party guests, you can buy microwaveable popcorn or popcorn kernels and pop them yourself. You can dress them with Tapatío, Cholula, Valentina, butter, salt or Kernel Season’s Popcorn Seasoning. PopCorners and SkinnyPop have affordable prices and a variety of flavors from kettle corn to butter, but my personal favorite is white cheddar.
TGI Friday’s Potato Skins: These are intensely flavorful and salty. They’re like the rare pieces of potato chips that you savor, but these bags of chips are all of those flavorful pieces that you rarely come across. They have flavors in cheddar and bacon, bacon ranch and sour cream and onion. Any one of them will satisfy your cravings as you watch the halftime show.
Brownies: For those with a sweet tooth, bake a batch of brownies with a cheap and easy brownie mix, or buy them pre-made at a grocery store. Since it’s a big celebration, you can also make slutty brownies with a pack of cookie dough and a box of Oreos. Simply press the cookie batter evenly in a baking pan, then place Oreo cookies on the cookie batter, and finally top the pan with brownie batter.
If you’re too lazy to go out and try these snacks, you can just order Domino’s delivery.
Pro-tip: ask for their “Mix & Match” deal, which includes your choice of medium two-topping pizzas, an eight-piece chicken (boneless or wings), specialty chicken, stuffed cheesy bread, pasta and oven-baked sandwiches for only $5.99 each.