This One Basic Staple Is the Key to a Make-or-Break Super Bowl Party, According to Guy Fieri

Plus, his must-have food stations for game day.

Over the last two decades, Guy Fieri has built a Flavortown food empire—and he shows no signs of slowing down. The busy food personality and restaurateur hosts quite a few popular shows on Food Network including Tournament of Champions (which returns on February 19, 2023, on Food Network and discovery+) and owns many successful restaurants across the globe.

Now, Fieri is gearing up to take on a new role: On February 12—Super Bowl Sunday!—he’ll be hosting a tailgate pop-up outside of State Farm Stadium in Phoenix, where the biggest football game of the year will be played. Part food festival, part music festival, Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Tailgate presented by Cash App is poised to be one of the most exciting parts of game day.

“I have a lot of excitement and passion about what we’re doing here because it’s something that’s never been done,” says Fieri about the upcoming event, which 10,000 fans will get to attend (for free!) while chowing down on yummy food from Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives restaurant pop-ups and listening to tunes from Diplo and LOCASH.

Ahead of the event, Fieri talked with Parade about how to throw the ultimate tailgate party. Keep reading to learn his best piece of advice for making sure your party goes off without a hitch, what he says you never want to run out of and his favorite snacks to serve. (Plus, make sure to check back next week when Fieri shares his cheesy, gooey trash can nacho recipe with us!)

Related: What America Eats: Guy Fieri's Guide to Tailgating

What’s the number one thing you need to make a tailgate party a success?

Preparation is everything. Being prepared for the party means having enough ice and drinks. Nobody’s going to make a beer run in the middle of the Super Bowl. It happens all the time that somebody forgot something—so make a list two days ahead of time, and inventory it.

I also think offering a variety of food is great for folks. Have a little deli station where they can make sandwiches and so forth. A little nacho station is also great. I’m a big chicken wing guy. Not everybody likes them as spicy as I like them, so have some baked or fried chicken wings and then three or four different sauces. I think a little variety for people makes them feel special. It doesn’t mean that it’s a ton of everything for everybody, but you give people a little selection.

I’m usually so busy watching the game and getting involved that I forget to eat. But I think that’s a good way to do it just to keep yourself from getting stuck in the kitchen and having to yell around the corner, “What’s going on?”

Related: Guy Fieri's Favorite Tacos

What's the one thing you should never run out of?

I say it all the time: ice. Here’s the reason: When you don’t have it, you do not have it. It’s not like, oh, let’s just make some ice. You need clean ice, and you need cold ice. If you’re making mixed drinks, clean, cold ice makes better drinks. But you do not want to take the ice out of the cooler that is around the cans because those cans have had things on them. They may look clean, but that ice is not to be consumed that way. So I think ice is a big one.

What's the one thing that will make your tailgate party the most epic one yet?

I’m a big outdoor TV guy if the environment lends itself to that and you’re in that kind of weather. Having the TV outside—even if you have to run the cable, go get yourself one or borrow one for a friend—I think TV outside is great. There are hardcore football fanatics watching at some point—and they don’t want people walking in front of them—so I think having a variety when it comes to the viewing area is good.

Related: 60 Football Finger Foods That Will Score You Big Points

What's the one thing you should never do when hosting a tailgate?

I think running out of anything, not having enough beverages. Or having any type of distraction from being able to watch the game. It’s definitely not the time to change service providers on your satellite or your cable or try some new app you’ve never worked with.

What else do you need for the ultimate tailgate menu?

I’m a huge pretzel guy. I love the soft pretzels, I love the steam. Superpretzel makes some great ones. I’m a crunchy, salty kind of guy, I’m not a big sweets guy.

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I also think you could serve really good hot dogs. We have a kind of hot dog out in California called Caspers—it’s got a really nice casing to it, a nice snap. I think a nice little hot dog bar, some chili, go Chicago dog if you want, go danger dog—there are a variety of things you can do with it. Again, preparation is the key.

Next: 49 Tailgate Snacks, Meatballs & Easy Keto-Friendly Recipes