Super Bowl Sunday is one of the biggest days for football and mouthwatering food! And it’s my excuse to make all the best party dips, savory finger foods (these jalapeno poppers are a must), and comforting mains like a big bowl of chili.
Photo: Gayle McLeod
I’m always asked to host a watching party purely for my assortment of amazingly delicious Super Bowl recipes (and clearly not for my football knowledge, lol). I’ve made every single one of these recipes numerous times over the years, and I can confidently say they’ll be winners on your table, no matter who actually wins the game. So here’s my approach to building the ultimate game day spread:
Choose the right appetizers. Super Bowl food should be easy to grab and easy to snack on all game long. I like making a mix of dips, crunchy bites, and saucy favorites, so there’s something for every craving.
Plan a few hearty options. If you’re feeding a crowd, add one or two filling mains. Think slow-cooked meats, chili, or build-your-own plates that keep everyone satisfied.
Prep ahead whenever possible. Making dips a day in advance or starting your slow cooker recipes in the morning saves so much stress on game day!
I have the #1 guacamole recipe for a reason! It's creamy, fresh, and perfectly limey, and a must-have for scooping with chips or spooning onto tacos and nachos.
A big pot of this beef chili is my secret for feeding a crowd. It’s cozy, filling, and easy to keep warm throughout the game. Plus, everyone can customize their toppings!
This spinach artichoke dip always catches everyone by surprise. It's creamy, savory, and cheesy, without any dairy! I love serving this with tortilla chips or crackers.
I love how these wings come out perfectly crispy without the mess of deep frying. They're coated in lemon pepper seasoning and served with an amazing lemony butter sauce. But, you can always use ranch dressing as well!
This is certainly a classic party dip that never goes out of style. Every scoop gets a little bit of everything—guacamole, refried beans, sour cream, and all the best Tex-Mex toppings.
This is the perfect way to feed a hungry team with very minimal effort. Just toss everything into the slow cooker! The tender, shredded meat works great for tacos, served alongside coleslaw, or for a build-your-own-plate situation.
I love serving these loaded nachos for game day. It's really easy to assemble and bake, but the best part is how creative you can get! I'm going classic with ground beef (made with my taco seasoning), but you can add different meats, toppings, and more.
This tzatziki is great for a light and refreshing addition to your game day spread. I always serve this with an array of fresh cut veggies, but it can also be paired with any grilled meats for a creamy, cooling contrast.
This fresh salsa brings everything on the table to life. I keep it nearby for topping tacos, scooping with chips, or adding a pop of freshness to meaty Mexican dishes.
These oven-baked potato skins are forever a classic game day appetizer. Each skin is crispy, cheesy, and topped with cool sour cream and fresh green onion. For more topping ideas, check out the post!
Carnitas is one of those proteins I can serve a dozen different ways. Whether tucked into tacos or piled onto nachos, everyone loves how tender and flavorful the meat is!
When I want something easy and dependable, hummus is my go-to. It’s great for grazing and pairs perfectly with crunchy veggies or crackers. And homemade tastes much better than store-bought!
Hot honey chicken is having a moment, and I'm all for it. The sauce is the perfect balance of sweet and spicy, and the fact that it's coated on juicy drumsticks makes it 100x better. Just ask my friends!
Once you make French onion dip from scratch, you'll never go back to packaged versions. This recipe is ultra-creamy, made with sweet caramelized onions, and turns out perfectly every single time.
I consider these a healthier version of deep-fried chicken, but equally delicious! Between the bold spiced seasoning, crispy outer skin, and juicy insides, it's the perfect chicken meal to serve for game day.
I always like to include something fresh and crunchy, and coleslaw does the job. It’s especially great alongside pulled pork or rich, saucy mains. For a no-mayo version, this vinegar coleslaw is everyone's favorite!
This slow-cooked barbacoa (shredded beef) is another amazing option for a taco bar. It's rich with flavor, perfectly tender, and is guaranteed to be a hit with everyone.
When in doubt, a platter of classic deviled eggs never fails for a Super Bowl appetizer. They can easily be made ahead of time and are perfect for snacking throiughout the night.
These cauliflower bites are the perfect vegetarian option, but equally delicious! They hit all the same tangy, spicy notes as classic buffalo wings, just in a crispy, veggie-forward form.
Whenever I want a break from classic wing flavors, this Asian spin is my favorite! The soy garlic sauce adds a savory, slightly sweet twist that always keeps people coming back for seconds.
I love how this black bean dip has a similar flavor profile to my black bean soup, with warm, spiced flavors. But it’s an easy, healthy, scoopable snack! You could also dollop this on tacos for a creamy topping alternative.
This grilled steak is always a fan favorite for the Super Bowl. Tacos are a must, but you can also slice it into strips to serve on a plate or dice it up to make a protein and rice bowl. Just dollop some guac or pico de gallo on top!
I love offering these as a lighter alternative to traditional fries. They’re crisp, ultra-cheesy, and flavorful thanks to freshly grated Parmesan and a zesty Italian seasoning. Plus, I love the lemon parsley aioli that I always serve alongside the fries.
This is for all the honey mustard lovers at your Super Bowl party! These chicken wings bake easily in the oven and the sauce is the perfect blend of tangy and sweet. Just make sure to save extra sauce for dipping!
If you make any of these Super Bowl recipes, let me know how they turn out in the comments below! Your review will help other readers in the community. And if you’re hungry for more healthy food inspiration and exclusive content, join my free newsletter here.
This roundup was originally published January 2020, but updated to include new recipes, photos, and information for your benefit!
About the author
Lisa Bryan
Lisa is a bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, and YouTuber (with over 2.5 million subscribers) living in sunny Southern California. She started Downshiftology in 2014, and is passionate about making healthy food with fresh, simple and seasonal ingredients.
Hi, this might be a silly question, but for the ginger garlic wings, is the recipe calling for thawed chicken wings or did you cook from frozen? Thank you! I’m a fellow celiac, and these look like they’ll be delicious!
One of the best recipes I’ve made! I loved the flavor and so did my family. Will be adding this recipe to my meal rotation.
Amazing! Glad the whole family loved those wings, Alexis. Enjoy!
Super great. Ty
Glad these recipes are helpful, Eileen. Enjoy!
This is the first time I visited your website. Just wondering if everything you make, not just the Healthy Super Bowl recipes are all on the healthy side? As I need that badly.
Generally yes, most recipes on Downshiftology are healthy :) Everything is also gluten-free as I have celiac, which you can read more about in the “About Me” section.
My Dr said I have to make drastic changes to my diet before damage is irreparable. I think I can actually do this Mediterranean meals and enjoy it plus get healthier
Its really yummy ,,,,,, am so happy to read it and tried it last night ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Its really supper cool ,,,,,,,, thank you so much for this
It sounds like you may have needed to just reduce the sauce a bit more to get it to thicken up. The type of honey shouldn’t matter. Hope your next try comes out even better!
Watching the Super Bowl is a great place to fall off of your diet! :) Thanks for these recipes that can help us eat healthy while watching the game and enjoying the food!
Thx for the great shrimp recipes! YES to artichoke recipes, my fave veg!
So happy you’re enjoying all of these different options for Super Bowl, including the shrimp and artichoke recipes. Happy game day, Linda!
Hi, this might be a silly question, but for the ginger garlic wings, is the recipe calling for thawed chicken wings or did you cook from frozen? Thank you! I’m a fellow celiac, and these look like they’ll be delicious!
Hi Morgan – That recipe calls for thawed chicken wings!
Can we use drum sticks instead?
Hi Crissy – That’s fine!
One of the best recipes I’ve made! I loved the flavor and so did my family. Will be adding this recipe to my meal rotation.
Amazing! Glad the whole family loved those wings, Alexis. Enjoy!
Super great. Ty
Glad these recipes are helpful, Eileen. Enjoy!
This is the first time I visited your website. Just wondering if everything you make, not just the Healthy Super Bowl recipes are all on the healthy side? As I need that badly.
Generally yes, most recipes on Downshiftology are healthy :) Everything is also gluten-free as I have celiac, which you can read more about in the “About Me” section.
All of your recipes look absolutely YUMMY and exactly what I am looking for in healthy alternatives. Thank you and can’t wait to try.
Hope you enjoy these recipes Sandy!
My Dr said I have to make drastic changes to my diet before damage is irreparable. I think I can actually do this Mediterranean meals and enjoy it plus get healthier
Thanks sharing this article about the healthy super bowl recipes
Its really yummy ,,,,,, am so happy to read it and tried it last night ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Its really supper cool ,,,,,,,, thank you so much for this
The sauce didn’t thicken for the soy honey wings… 🤷♀️ Does they type of honey have an effect?
It sounds like you may have needed to just reduce the sauce a bit more to get it to thicken up. The type of honey shouldn’t matter. Hope your next try comes out even better!
“Reduce it more”
Meaning cook it a little longer ?
Yes!
Yummy recipes, will be trying them out one after another. Thanks Lisa.
Of course! Hope you enjoy these recipes :)
The baked zucchini fries were a big hit. Thanks for sharing. #SuperBowlLIV
Hi Robert – Amazing! Glad to hear these were a hit during the Super Bowl :)
Watching the Super Bowl is a great place to fall off of your diet! :) Thanks for these recipes that can help us eat healthy while watching the game and enjoying the food!
Hi Vicky – There’s always a way to turn “not so healthy” food into healthier versions :)
These are really great choices! I love all of them!
Hi Toni – Thanks so much! Can’t wait for you to try.
Wow so many delicious recipes. I dont watch the games that much but I think that this is such a good collection I could use all the time.
Hi Roxana – These recipes can definitely be made anytime, anywhere :)
What a thorough round up of amazing recipes to make for game day! The carne asada fries are calling my name!
Hi Emily – Those homemade carne asada fries are the best – especially since they use fresh ingredients :)
I love this list and those meatballs sound amazing!
Hi Kathleen – Thanks so much! Hope you enjoy those meatballs :)