Family Fun Night: How to Host a Chopped-Themed Dinner & Activity Night

Turn family dinner into an unforgettable event with a Chopped-themed night! Mystery ingredient bags, creative cooking, scorecards, and fun for kids and adults. Learn how to host your own with tips, ideas, and a free Canva scorecard template.

Why We Host Themed Dinner Nights

In our home, we make it a point to gather around the dinner table not just to eat but to connect, laugh, and make memories. With life’s busy schedules—school, work, activities—family dinners can feel rushed. That’s why I started a monthly themed dinner and activity night.

Each month, we pick a new theme, decorate the table, cook, and include a game or activity. It transforms an ordinary evening into something memorable. My kids now look forward to it, and honestly, it’s become one of my favorite family traditions.

This month’s theme: Chopped. And it turned out to be the best one yet!

The Inspiration: Why Chopped?

If you’ve ever seen Chopped on Food Network, you know the thrill. Chefs are given baskets of surprise ingredients and must create a dish that uses them all—no matter how strange the combo.

The challenge was irresistible for us. I tailored the bags to my kids’ ages (12 and 7) so they could handle it but still be pushed creatively. Each bag included a “weird” item to spark imagination while keeping everything doable.

The result? Lots of laughs, some surprisingly delicious dishes, and memories we’ll never forget.

Table Decor & Dinner Setup

Creating the right atmosphere made our Chopped night feel extra special. Here’s how we set the stage:

• Black Tablecloth – To give that dramatic, competition vibe.

• Centerpiece – A skinny rectangular cutting board with a handle sat in the middle. On top, I placed an apple with two seafood shuckers crossed in an “X”—our playful nod to the chef knives on the show.

• Candles – Two tall, skinny candles on either side added ambiance.

• Placemats – Wooden slabs for a chopping block feel.

• Napkins & Scorecards – Red napkins folded into envelopes, with Chopped scorecards inside (which you’ll be able to download as a free Canva template).

It was simple but bold—and really set the stage for a competition-style meal.

The Mystery Bags & Rules

On the counter, I lined up four brown paper bags, one for each of us. Inside? Mystery ingredients.

The Rules:

1. Everyone had to use every ingredient in their bag.

2. We could also use pantry or fridge staples.

3. Each person was assigned a course (appetizer, side dishes, main course, dessert).

4. Dishes had to be plated nicely and presented to the family.

5. We scored each dish using our Chopped scorecards.

Our Family’s Chopped Dishes

Here’s how each course played out:

Appetizer – My Son (Age 12)

Bag Ingredients: Rotisserie chicken, crescent rolls, bacon, BBQ sauce
Dish: BBQ Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Rolls

He shredded chicken, tossed it with BBQ sauce, wrapped it in crescent dough and bacon, and baked them golden. Crispy, smoky, and delicious—he absolutely nailed the appetizer.

Side Dishes – Me (Mom/Host)

Bag Ingredients: Parmesan garlic sauce, pine nuts, linguini, tomatoes, corn on the cob
Dishes:

1. Garlic Parmesan Corn on the Cob – Roasted corn brushed with creamy parmesan sauce.

2. Summer Pasta – Linguini with tomatoes, basil , and pine nuts.

They paired beautifully with the main course.

Main Course – My Husband

Bag Ingredients: Steak, shrimp, Cajun seasoning, heavy whipping cream
Dish: Cajun Steak & Shrimp with Garlic Parmesan Cream Sauce

Seared steak, Cajun-spiced shrimp, and a creamy sauce—this dish felt restaurant-worthy and tied everything together.

Dessert – My Daughter (Age 7)

Bag Ingredients: Fruity Pebbles, Rice Krispies, vanilla extract, marshmallows
Dish: Fruity Pebble Rice Krispie Treats

With a little help from me, she melted marshmallows, stirred in vanilla, and folded the cereals together for colorful, chewy treats. She was so proud of her creation!

Scoring the Competition

We used the Chopped scorecards to rate:

• Taste

• Creativity

• Presentation

It was hilarious listening to the kids give “serious” feedback. At the end, we tallied scores—but truthfully, everyone won.

Tips for Hosting Your Own Chopped Night

• Pick age-appropriate ingredients. Add one oddball for fun.

• Use scorecards. It makes it feel official. (Download my Canva template!)

• Be safety-conscious. Adults should handle knives/heat when needed.

• Emphasize presentation. Encourage kids to explain their dish.

• Keep it fun. No one gets chopped—just cheered on.

Variations & Fun Add-Ons

• Holiday Edition: Use seasonal ingredients (pumpkin, candy canes, Easter Peeps).

• Cuisine Night: Italian, Mexican, Asian-themed bags.

• Friends Night: Invite another family, split into teams.

• Timed Rounds: Set a timer for extra suspense.

Chopped Dinner Night

Here’s a condensed version you can save or print:

Chopped-Themed Dinner Night

Prep Time: 30 minutes (decor & bags)
Cook Time: ~1.5 hours (all courses)
Total Time: ~2 hours

You’ll Need:

• Brown paper bags (1 per person)

• Pantry & fridge staples

• Mystery ingredients (customize per person)

• Scorecards (download my Canva template)

• Table decor (black tablecloth, cutting board centerpiece, candles, etc.)

How to Host:

1. Assign each family member a course.

2. Fill their bag with 3–5 mystery ingredients.

3. Decorate the table for drama.

4. Cook, plate, and present!

5. Score each dish and celebrate together.

💡 No eliminations here—just creativity and family fun.

This Chopped-themed dinner night was our most exciting theme yet. My kids said it was the best family night ever, and I have to agree. Between the cooking, presenting, and scoring, it was more than dinner—it was an experience.

If you’re looking for a way to make family time extra special, I can’t recommend this enough. It’s simple to set up, endlessly customizable, and creates memories that will last a lifetime.

Want to try your own Chopped night? 🎉

👉 Download my free Canva Chopped Scorecard Template here and host your own competition!

If you do, I’d love to see it! Share your dishes, tag me on social, and inspire other families to bring the joy of Chopped into their kitchens.