Football Party Food, Decor, and Party Favors

One of my favorites days of the year is the day of the Big Game. I love football and like many of you, I love cheering for my favorite team. The fun of watching the game at home is multiplied exponentially when I have family and friends over to cheer along with me. Homegating is one of my favorite ways to entertain and enjoy my favorite sport.

I recently had one of my little sisters over to help me put together a big Superbowl party to help us cheer our team on. The party featured Coca-Cola and Reese’s cups, as well as other tasty snack items. We served Coke marinated kabobs, cola cupcakes with Reese’s footballs, veggie cups, tortilla chips and salsa, Coca-Cola, Coke Zero, veggie straws, and Reese’s cups and footballs.

The food served at events like a Superbowl homegating party is a vital part of the gathering’s success. Your guests will want a central place for the food to be where they can come and go and grab snacks and drinks at will. I placed my items on a table decorated with a football theme and my team’s colors. Also, consider adding a word or phrase that your team is known for, or any football word such as “WIN”, “GO TEAM”, or “TOUCHDOWN.” For my centerpiece word, I simply bought wooden letter cutouts and spray painted them with team colors. It was so easy! Rise Up Red Sea!

Make sure you have appealing and delicious food choices on your Superbowl table. Here are two recipes I served that were a big hit.

Coke Marinated Chicken Kabobs

Ingredients

• 2  cups Coca-Cola
• 2 tbs soy sauce
• 1/2 tbs minced garlic
• 1/2 C brown sugar
• 1/2 tbs balsamic vinegar
• 1 tbs orange juice
• 6 chicken breasts, cut into one inch pieces
• 15-20 bamboo skewers (soaked in water at least 30 minutes)

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients, except the chicken, in a medium sized bowl. Stir until well blended.
2. Place chicken in a large bowl and pour marinade over the chicken. Cover and store in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
3. Place chicken pieces onto skewers, discard marinade, and grill until cooked thoroughly.

The Coca-Cola marinade adds such a nice flavor to the chicken. Everyone really loved these kabobs.

Coca-Cola Cupcakes with Reese’s Footballs

Ingredients

• 2 cups Coca-Cola
• 1 cup Hershey’s unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 2 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners and spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a small saucepan, heat the Coca-Cola and melted butter over medium heat. Meanwhile, stir the sugars and cocoa powder together. Add the sugar mix to the saucepan and whisk until dissolved. Remove from the heat and let cool.
3. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt together and set aside.
4. Whisk the eggs, one at a time, into the cooled cocoa mixture until combined.
5. Carefully add the cocoa mixture into the flour mixture, stirring until mostly blended (some small lumps will remain). Do not over-stir.
6. Pour the batter into the prepared cupcake liners and bake for 18-20 minutes. Check for doneness with a cake tester or toothpick. Transfer the cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely.
7. Frost with your favorite frosting (add green food dye for more of a flair), and place a REESE’S football on top.

I like to keep my sports-related gatherings simple and casual so I use paper plates and plastics cups and utensils.This helps everyone feel more relaxed and allows more play with the colors and theme. I make a place setting available to everyone, but sometimes my guests simply graze right from the table, which is okay by me.

I like to plan something fun during halftime and at this Superbowl party I gave every guest a s’mores kit so we could make s’mores during halftime. Each bag contained two graham cracker halves, a Reese’s football, a marshmallow, and a quarter of a Hershey’s bar. We love using Reese’s cups in s’mores. These kits are nice because they provide a fun treat, an activity, and even a possible take-home party favor.

Leave me a comment and let me know how you plan to homegate for the Superbowl!

My sister and right hand girl for my Superbowl event.

Enjoy the game!