Food & Nutrition Healthy Recipes for the Super Bowl That Are Truly Touchdown-Worthy By Renee Cherry, Elizabeth Bacharach, and Megan Falk Updated on February 11, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Getty Images / Design by Jo Imperio To be real, the food you serve at your Super Bowl party is just as important as the game. Sure, your friends, family, and neighbors are hoping to see your team win a major championship, but they're more likely hitting up your get-together primarily for delicious wings, dips, chilis, and more. One way you can ensure your guests are fueled and satisfied throughout the game? Make one (or five) of these delicious recipes for the Super Bowl. These meals and appetizers for the Super Bowl feature protein-packed, simple ingredients and, more importantly, they're actually easy to make. Before kickoff, crank on the oven (or slow cooker) and fix a handful of these recipes for the Super Bowl, including vegan and vegetarian options. Trust, these pizzas, meatballs, sliders, and other appetizers for the Super Bowl will keep all your riled-up fans from going hangry. 01 of 20 BBQ Chicken Pizza View Recipe Pizza and football go together like PB&J. But if you're set on making a healthy swap for the typical delivery pie, consider this recipe for the Super Bowl. It's lower-carb and packed with protein, thanks to the tortilla crust and chicken, respectively, but it's just as cheesy and flavorful as the real deal. 02 of 20 Creamy, Low-Calorie Mexican Dip View Recipe Creamy and low-calorie aren't mutually exclusive. This dip is one of the best appetizers for the Super Bowl, and it's loaded with nothing but nutritious ingredients, including protein-rich Greek yogurt and avocado, which is packed with healthy monounsaturated fats and vitamins. 03 of 20 Shrimp and Avocado Appetizers View Recipe You can think of this appetizer for the Super Bowl as deconstructed sushi. Crunchy cucumber slices are smeared with a wasabi- and soy sauce-infused spread, then topped with avocado slices, shrimp, and chunks of radish. Fair warning: This recipe for the Super Bowl packs some heat. 04 of 20 Chipotle Bean Nachos View Recipe Every party needs a plant-based dish for the meat-free guests. Rather than serve a boring veggie plate, assemble a platter packed with loaded nachos that can be shared with the whole crowd. Better yet, set out a toppings bar so guests can load up to their liking — and you don't have to do all of the work. Now that's what you call an easy vegetarian appetizer for the Super Bowl. ( These Mediterranean Nachos Will Be a Touchdown at Your Game-Day Party 05 of 20 Philly Cheese Steaks View Recipe If you're planning to go the sandwich route, cold cuts are great, but a piping hot, melty cheesesteak will score you extra points by your hungry guests. This fan-favorite recipe for the Super Bowl offers a whopping 31 grams of protein per serving, and it all comes together in less than 20 minutes. Score. (Use up your leftover meat with these healthy beef recipes.) 06 of 20 Super-Easy Slow Cooker Three-Bean Chili View Recipe Between the countless time outs, touchdown dances, and commercial breaks, the Super Bowl can drag out into a five-hour-long event. Luckily, a slow cooker can keep your eats at the perfect temperature through the fourth quarter. This vegan chili has 17 grams of fiber (nearly 61 percent of the recommended dietary allowance for the nutrient) and 16 grams of protein per serving, so the recipe for the Super Bowl is sure to keep your guests' stomachs from growling. 07 of 20 Instant Pot Candied Cajun Trail Mix View Recipe Courtesy of Cotter Crunch Who said trail mix has to be sweet? This appetizer for the Super Bowl is seasoned with cajun spices such as cayenne, garlic, onion powder, paprika, and pepper, putting the soggy BBQ chips you usually serve to shame. To make, simply toss the spices, nuts, seeds, chickpeas, and a bit of maple syrup into your Instant Pot for 10 minutes and then the oven for 5 minutes. The result? A spicy snack that packs a craveable crunch — and plenty of healthy fats. 08 of 20 Hoison Glazed Turkey Meatballs View Recipe Courtesy of Healthy Seasonal Recipes Swapping red meat for lean ground turkey is a super-easy way to transform regular ol' meatballs into a healthy appetizer for the Super Bowl. To bring some much-needed flavor to the otherwise bland meat, you'll season it with tamari, sesame oil, ginger root, chili paste, and scallions. And with an impressive 12 grams of protein for three meatballs, these football snacks are definitely worthy of being served. 09 of 20 Individual Spicy Greek Layered Dips View Recipe The sneaky way to make sure everyone gets enough of each layer in the infamous seven-layer dip is to make mini individual dip cups. Serve this Mediterranean-style dip as an appetizer for the Super Bowl, and you won't have to put up with that guy who just takes all the cheese. (Rude.) 10 of 20 Hearty Beef and Bean Chili View Recipe To satisfy the self-described meat lovers hitting up your party, whip up this hearty chili. The recipe for the Super Bowl features sirloin beef, jalapeños, celery, and kidney beans and provides 21 grams of hunger-stifling protein per serving. Since meal prepping right after cooking for a party is a hassle, make a huge pot of this recipe so you'll have leftovers to eat throughout the week. 11 of 20 Vegan Pretzel Bites with Spicy Mustard Dip View Recipe Courtesy of Vegan Richa Nothing says "game day" more than a warm pretzel. And now, you can enjoy these football snacks without having to score a seat in the stands. The vegan appetizer for the Super Bowl is shaped into bite-sized pieces that are perfect for snacking, and the spicy mustard dip is infused with nutritional yeast, giving it a cheesy flavor that will make you forget it's plant-based. 12 of 20 Baked Chicken Wings with Raspberry Hoisin Glaze View Recipe Courtesy of Joyful Healthy Eats A game-day party isn't complete without chicken wings, and this healthy version is sure to win over guests. The appetizer for the Super Bowl requires just seven flavorful ingredients, including raspberry jam, ginger, and hoisin glaze that, when combined, deliver an addicting sweet and tangy taste. Plus, you'll bake — not fry — these wings, saving you time standing over a hot fryer and some stubborn stains on your jersey. ( Recipe Ideas for Healthy Chicken Wings to Spice Up Your Snack Game 13 of 20 Buffalo-Style Stuffed Celery View Recipe Does anyone ever actually eat the celery that comes with wings? Nope. Stuff some stalks with a bleu and cream cheese mixture, though, and you'll definitely have takers. Just make sure to leave out extra hot sauce for any heat seekers to drizzle (or pour) on top of this appetizer for the Super Bowl. 14 of 20 Sun-Dried Tomato Hummus View Recipe Courtesy of Half Baked Harvest Give the tried-and-true chickpea spread a fresh update by adding sun-dried tomatoes and tomato paste. Packed with lycopene (a good-for-you antioxidant responsible for that fire-engine-red hue), these colorful additions make hummus even more of a crowd favorite. Pair the appetizer for the Super Bowl with veggies for extra fiber or pita chips for a hearty crunch. 15 of 20 BBQ Spaghetti Squash Sliders View Recipe Courtesy of Feasting at Home Vegetarians and vegans, rejoice! This recipe for the Super Bowl is free of meat and full of pickled onions, arugula, and, of course, spaghetti squash. And thanks to the homemade BBQ sauce, these plant-based sliders taste so much like traditional pulled pork that even meat lovers will be asking for seconds. 16 of 20 Picadillo with Olive and Raisins View Recipe Courtesy of Healthy Seasonal Recipes Essentially a hash made of ground beef and lots of spices, this picadillo pairs perfectly with corn tortillas for a taco-like snack or with cabbage leaves as a paleo lettuce wrap. With its surprisingly sweet taste from the raisins, you might just want to eat the appetizer for the Super Bowl straight-up with a spoon. No judgement. 17 of 20 Romesco-Stuffed Brussels Sprout Bites View Recipe Chelsea Kyle You don't need a fork to wolf down this handheld, vegetarian appetizer for the Super Bowl. In-season Brussels sprouts act as a vessel for a homemade romesco sauce, featuring roasted bell peppers and almonds, and crumbles of tangy feta. Just think of them as a souped-up, veggie-forward version of nachos. (BTW, you need to try the TikTok-approved smashed Brussels sprouts.) 18 of 20 Socca and Parm View Recipe Caitlin Bensel Don't let your gluten-free guests go hangry. This appetizer for the Super Bowl is basically a large chickpea pancake that's delicious on its own or dipped into pesto, and it's made with simple ingredients such as chickpea flour, water, oil, and spices. Top off the flatbread with hunks of Parmesan cheese, and you've got a carb-rich munchie that's destined to be devoured before the first quarter ends. (Don't forget to stock up on gluten-free beers, too.) 19 of 20 Chicken-Quinoa Meatballs View Recipe Caitlin Bensel Unlike traditional meatballs, this appetizer for the Super Bowl features protein from both animal and plant-based sources. Along with the muscle-building macronutrient, the quinoa gives the bite-sized dish some digestion-boosting fiber. Present the meatballs on a platter with some toothpicks for a large crowd or, if you're hosting an intimate game-day gathering, place them on a bed of kabocha squash puree, which adds sweetness, alongside a spoon for serving. 20 of 20 Chunky Pepita-Lime Guacamole View Recipe Caitlin Bensel This appetizer for the Super Bowl is sure to convince creamy guac proponents that chunky versions are far superior. The texture-packed dip features chunks of lime, diced avocado, crunchy pepitas, and chopped cilantro stems. To balance out the earthiness of the avocado, mix in a minced red chili pepper, which brings some seriously addictive heat. Pair with a side of tortilla chips, and you'll bring home the Vince Lombardi Trophy for best dip on the block. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit