Hosting a Killer Game Day Watch Party

As we get down to four teams in the run for the 2022-2023 NFL Championship, the gossip about our Big Game Party festivities is heating up. From the drinks to the seating to the menu, we want it to be perfect – whether our guests are watching for the game, the commercials or the camaraderie. Here are our favorite tips for throwing a killer watch party – and the Taste of the South Dips we’ll have ready to go on our own tables:

• Timing: A great tailgating party starts early enough to hang out, but not so early that it encompasses the entire day. People are busy! We’ve found that parties that start 90 minutes to an hour before kickoff work out great – there’s time to hang out, watch the pregame, grab a snack, find a seat and get hyped for the game. Speaking of timing, if your friends want to bounce at halftime, especially if they have kids, no shame!

• Drinks: We’re saying it – it’s OK to ask your friends to bring drinks to the party, but if you want people to bring something specific, you need to tell them. Otherwise don’t be surprised if your guests all show up with a case of beer and you’re short on soda, water, lemonade or whatever else you wanted to have available. We also are big fans of having coolers to store all those drinks – free up your fridge for those Taste of the South Dips! And remember, if your guests will be cracking open a few cold ones during your party, check to make sure you have designated drivers, funds for a ride share, or a place for your friends to crash for the night.

• Seating: This one is tough! If you have a larger house, you probably don’t have to worry about seating. If you have a smaller house, you might want to move around your furniture and grab some folding chairs. If you have a neighborhood clubhouse or other larger location for a bigger party, that’ll work too!

Then we get to the fun part… the menu!

We know every city (and every family) has their own set of traditional tailgating snacks – Pigs in a Blanket, Wings, Chili – but we are allllll about the Taste of the South Dips. Here are the ones we’ll be breaking out in our Southern Kitchen this year:

Cast Iron Spinach Artichoke Dip: This family favorite is a perfect blend of cream cheese, parmesan, mozzarella, asiago and our signature blend of spices. You don’t have to serve this one hot, but we prefer it that way. We also LOVE heating up our chips for that extra somethin’ something’.

Buffalo-Style Chicken Dip: This is another one we love to serve hot. The shredded white meat, classic cayenne pepper hot sauce and ranch seasoning brings a little kick to nachos, wraps, veggie trays and – of course – regular chips. If you’re not serving hot wings at your party, you have to try this dip!

Slow Cooker Sausage and Cheese Dip: You know this game-day favorite already, but you’re in for a treat with our take on this Crockpot favorite. Grab this one for the delightful flavor combination of sausage, melty cheese, diced tomatoes and green chiles. If you want something more substantial on your menu, try this one on a pan of tater tots or with crostini. You can serve it cold, but it’s much creamier when it’s warm.

Bootlegger Beer Cheese Dip: Grab the soft pretzels and veggie tray – our Bootlegger Beer Cheese is a fan favorite! This one is good at literally all temperatures and we could probably just eat it with a spoon.Beer cheese comes in a variety of flavors profiles, but ours is a creamy blend of cheeses with a hoppy punch of pale ale. It’s really delightful.

See our full line up of Taste of the South Dips online at https://www.tasteofthesouthdips.com/our-products!