Former Denver Bronco Ed McCaffrey and his wife Lisa share their tips for hosting the best at-home celebration for the Super Bowl.
1It’s all about the five f-words.
“Food, football, family, friends, and fun. I’ll leave out the other f-word—sometimes I’ve got a few choice ones during the game!” Lisa jokes. But in all seriousness, “We just want everyone to bring a good vibe,” Ed adds.
2Food is central to the celebration.
Ed takes charge of the grill, while Lisa prepares her signature burritos ahead of time. Balance grazing snacks with hot food fresh off the grill. “Mustard makes everything better, and we love to use our McCaffrey Rocky Mountain Spicy Brown Mustard,” Ed says.
3Drink up.
If you’re hosting a large gathering, Lisa recommends hiring a bartender, but for smaller groups, coolers throughout the house with sodas, beers, and seltzers should do. Bloody Marys are a great option for those looking for an early start.
4Secondary activities keep everyone engaged.
Ed provides Super Bowl Squares where people can win bets at the end of every quarter. Lisa indulges in every superstition she’s accumulated throughout the season. Her most important one, she shares, is making a human pyramid with her friends before the game. “But,” Ed warns, “if a tradition doesn’t work once, you have to throw it out.”
5Who’s invited.
Stick to smaller groups if you’re super invested in the game and won’t spend much time socializing, but invite everyone over for the after-party if your team wins. And why not throw out an invite to your dream guest? If Ed could invite anyone to his party, it would be John Madden: “Who loves football, food, and fun more than him? He would be the life of the party.” Lisa wants Mike Pereira to sit with her to debate the referee’s calls.
Game Day Recipes
Spicy Brown Mustard-Marinated Grilled Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 3 lbs. chicken wings (split at joints, tips removed)
- ½ c. spicy brown mustard
- ¼ c. honey
- 3 Tbsp. olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp. smoked paprika
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
Glaze
- ¼ c. spicy brown mustard
- 2 Tbsp. honey
- 1 Tbsp. butter (melted)
Hot Pastrami Sliders with Spicy Brown Mustard-Horseradish Spread
Ingredients
Spread
- ½ c. spicy brown mustard
- ¼ c. prepared horseradish
- 2 Tbsp. mayonnaise
- 1 tsp. black pepper
Sliders
- 12 slider buns (preferably pretzel rolls)
- 1 lb. thinly sliced pastrami
- 6 slices Swiss cheese (halved)
- 1 c. sauerkraut (drained)
- 2 Tbsp. butter (melted)
- everything bagel seasoning (optional)
Grilled Bratwurst with Caramelized Onions and Brown Mustard
Ingredients
- 6 fresh bratwurst sausages
- 3 large onions (sliced)
- 2 Tbsp. butter
- spicy brown mustard
- 6 hoagie rolls
- salt and pepper (to taste)
