We tried six Super Bowl food deals to help you decide what to serve: Here's what we liked
The best part about the Super Bowl is the food. Hands down, no questions. Mix in some deals and coupons, and it's lit.
We decided to put some popular Super Bowl party food items to the test. We chose a sampling of restaurant menu items with game-day specials to find the best balance between deliciousness and frugality. Which establishment gave you the biggest bang for your buck? Which restaurant had the best-tasting food?
Our investigative food team (read: Life team reporters and other USA TODAY staff who like to eat) got right down to business to try and determine the best deals and food options for your big day this Sunday. All of our participants said the food served at a Super Bowl party was at least somewhat or very important to them, so we took this task very seriously.
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The Super Bowl food deals
Pizza Hut, the official sponsor of the Super Bowl, is giving anyone who makes a purchase on its website this Sunday 20 percent off at the NFL Shop.
Wingstop is giving customers a coupon code via email for five free boneless wings when they place pre-orders online between Jan. 30 and Feb. 3. The coupon can only be used between Feb. 4 and Feb. 7.
More:The ultimate Super Bowl food guide
Auntie Anne's select locations will give fans a free snack stadium holder when they purchase a pretzel pack.
Chili's Grill and Bar select locations are offering free delivery on Super Bowl Sunday when you order through food-delivery site Bite Squad.
Wing Zone is giving customers 10 free wings with pre-orders placed by Jan. 31.
Buffalo Wild Wings' deal is unique as it doesn't require a purchase. The casual-dining restaurant is giving free wings to everyone in the United States if the Patriots and Rams go into overtime.
Super Bowl deals we ordered
Auntie Anne's: mini pretzel dog package
Wingstop: mild wings
Wing Zone: tame wings
Buffalo Wild Wings: medium wings
Pizza Hut: cheese pizza
Chili's Grill and Bar: triple dipper with big mouth bites, buffalo wings and Southwestern egg rolls
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The taste test
From our limited tasting experiment, it appears that free food appeals to all. Even though Wing Zone didn't rank in regards to taste, our testers thought it had the best deal. The establishment gives you 10 additional wings when you pre-order.
Coming in at a close (tied) second in the best-deal category were Chili's, Pizza Hut and Buffalo Wild Wings.
"Free delivery and overall discounts would get me to buy rather than specific items," said a taste tester who thought Pizza Hut's 20 percent discount at the NFL shop was the best deal.
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However, most testers would rather eat the mini pretzel dogs and wings at a Super Bowl party over pizza. One person commented that they wouldn't eapizza because it didn't "feel snacky enough for a party," and they'd prefer bite-sized food items to mix and match.
Even though Auntie Anne's didn't have the best deal, most of our tasters enjoyed the pretzel dogs more than any other food item.
"I really think these were the best. Very good texture and flavor with the dogs, and not very messy. I'm also a huge sucker for carbs," said one taste tester about Auntie Anne's pretzel dogs.
When it comes down to choosing what food items to serve for a Super Bowl party, the consensus was that people wanted foods that weren't too messy to eat.
"I'm looking for flavor that's not too messy and works well on paper plates. Pizza and pretzel bites are really great for that. I like wings, but they are quite hard to eat in front of people you don't know super well," commented one taste tester.
The verdict: Best Super Bowl food deals
Auntie Anne's: mini pretzel dog package
Verdict: Tasted the best and easiest to eat.
Wingstop: mild wings
Verdict: No one thought Wingstop had the best deal or the best food.
Wing Zone: tame wings
Verdict: Best food and best deal combined.
Buffalo Wild Wings: medium wings
Verdict: Tasted good and tied for second-best deal.
Pizza Hut: cheese pizza
Verdict: Tasted good and tied for second-best deal.
Chili's Grill and Bar: triple dipper with big mouth bites, buffalo wings and Southwestern egg rolls
Verdict: Tied for second-best deal.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: We tried six Super Bowl food deals to help you decide what to serve: Here's what we liked
