The Best Dip Warmer and More for Your Football Watch Party
Keep the beer cold and the dips hot with these handy game-day gadgets.
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Football season is right around the corner, which can only mean one thing: snack time. After all, attending weekly watch parties can build up an appetite. Whether rooting for your favorite teams every Sunday or defeating your pals at fantasy football, you'll want to bring your A game with a tasty spread of delicious eats. Want to bump your hosting status from amateur to legendary? The right kitchen appliance or gadget can definitely do the trick.
If your goal is to make cheesy dips and hearty chilis or crispy wings and fries without breaking a sweat, we've got an array of small kitchen appliances that will make the world of difference when it comes time to cook and serve the marquee game-day classics. And don't forget, there are also drinks to consider. Since beer is the tipple du jour, we found some cool glassware and sturdy insulated can coolers that'll help keep everything extra chill. While we're on the subject, don't forget that you can have your game-day booze delivered along with most of your food staples, saving you lots of time, trouble and trips to the store.
Feeling better? Like you might just pull this off after all? If you're playing host for the big game this year, don't go it alone. Check out these great gadgets and kitchen gear for making your 2023 football watch party the best, and easiest, one ever.
You could mess with a deep fryer to make wings, fries, poppers and other classic game-day snacks, but with air fryers in the mix, why would you? Save yourself a whole lot of mess -- and calories -- and get freakishly similar results to deep frying with an air fryer. The super convection cooking zaps the outside of foods for a crispy crust without burning or overcooking. You're talking to a full air fryer convert and, honestly, these things couldn't be easier to use. Plus, your home won't smell like a carnival food truck afterward.
You can pay a lot more than $47 for an air fryer if you want loads of fancy settings and features, but this nearly 4-quart Chefman analog fryer has great reviews and enough cooking capacity to air-fry up batches for the gang.
Lodge 10.5-inch cast iron grill pan
If you're going the burger or steak route for your watch party, a cast-iron grill pan is essential. Cast iron gets screaming hot and holds that heat evenly for a perfect sear and char on the outside of your meats. Lodge is a trusted, legacy cast-iron producer and 10.5 inches should be good to hold four or five burgers or a couple of big steaks at once.
BruMate insulated can coolers
These sleek can coolers do exactly what they say they promise to. You can find them in any shape and size to fit beer bottles, large cans or even slim cans for hard seltzer.
Double-walled beer mugs
For a more classic approach to cold beer, these J.A. Henckels double-walled beer mugs will keep your brews chilled without freezing your fingers. They're freezer- and dishwasher-safe and condensation-free so you won't even need coasters.
Crock-Pot 6-quart slow cooker (Update: Out of stock)
Slow cookers are a game-day watch party workhorse. You can cook a chili, tender pork shoulder or pulled chicken just by tossing ingredients in and letting it do its thing while you handle other jobs. Even better, you can serve whatever you made right in the cooker so it stays warm all evening and saves you on dishes.
This $30 Crock-Pot ticks all the boxes I look for in a slow cooker: a large 6-quart cooking capacity that's great for groups; a locking lid in case you ever need to take it on the go. Plus, I personally love the slick black paint job and the price is just right.
Read more: Best Slow Cooker Recipes for Game Day
Handmade chip and dip bowl (Update: Out of stock)
Chips and salsa is much a staple as anything else on game day. This handmade bowl-in-a-bowl accommodates both and looks pretty darn cool doing it.
