WEST DES MOINES, IOWA (February 6, 2026) — One of the culinary experts at Midwest retail grocer Hy-Vee is sharing his picks for what he sees as the top trends for fans hosting watch parties for this weekend’s big game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Hy-Vee Chef Alex Strauss develops recipes for Hy-Vee’s in-store offerings and creates unique entrees for Hy-Vee’s catering customers. Here’s what Chef Alex sees as the hottest snack trends for this weekend’s watch parties:
Hot honey everything — The sweet, spicy sauce is showing up everywhere from cocktails to pizza. Chef Alex recommends trying hot honey lemonade, hot honey on pizza paired with a variety of spicy meat toppings, hot honey in sauces for chicken wings, and even on burnt ends. If smoking a full brisket for burnt ends is too much for your gathering, use chuck roast for a more affordable option with just as much flavor.
Bulk up your board — Charcuterie boards are still a party staple, but Chef Alex recommends taking inspiration from the traditional British “Ploughman’s Lunch” for your party offerings. This traditional English pub meal combines bread, cheese and pickles with items like ham, apples and hard-boiled eggs.
K-Pop party snacks — Add a Korean inspiration to traditional party dips and use Korean barbeque influences like bulgogi, a popular Korean dish made of thinly sliced beef marinated in a mix of soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger and pear, for those who are grilling. Using grated pear in the marinade helps tenderize the meat and adds a subtle sweetness.
Pick up a pickle — The classic dill pickle flavor is showing up everywhere, from dips to pizza toppings to beer. Chef Alex recommends adding pickles and pickle flavor to potato or pasta salads for your game day spread.
Nachos with naan — Indian food is also gaining popularity, and Chef Alex recommends incorporating Indian flavors into a traditional party favorite by making what he calls “naanchos.” Cut the traditional Indian flatbread into triangles and use them to replace tortilla chips. Top with tandoori chicken, mango chutney and a drizzle of yogurt mint sauce for a unique game-day snack.
For those sticking with the more traditional route, pizza still remains one of the top picks for watch parties. Hy-Vee just launched its brand-new Hy-Vee Tavern Inn ultra-thin crust pizza, which comes in six varieties, including Pepperoni, Supreme, Cheese, Four Meat, Combo and Breakfast in the frozen aisle.
Hy-Vee Inc is an employee-owned corporation operating more than 560 business units across nine Midwestern states with sales of more than $14 billion annually. The supermarket chain is synonymous with quality, variety, convenience, healthy lifestyles, culinary expertise, and superior customer service. Hy-Vee was recently named one of the top grocery stores in America by USA Today. The company’s more than 70,000 employees provide “A Helpful Smile in Every Aisle” to customers every day. For additional information, visit hy-vee.com.
