The Super Bowl is a major event, and what's a Super Bowl party without an array of delicious snacks? But it's not JUST going to be (root) beer, Buffalo wings and burgers. If you're aiming to offer your guests some healthier options without sacrificing flavor, here's a curated collection of recipes that put a nutritious spin on classic game-day fare. This guide provides a variety of appetizers, main courses, and even desserts that cater to different dietary needs, ensuring everyone can enjoy the festivities.
Appetizers That Score Big on Flavor and Health
Appetizers are where the fun’s at, and they don’t have to come from a bag or box. Super Bowl starters are a must, but why not make them a little healthier while still packing all the flavor?
- Cilantro Lime Guacamole: Simple, smooth, and incredibly flavorful, this guacamole is a perfect dip for chips or healthier options like carrot, jicama, or zucchini sticks. It can also be used as a spread on your sandwich.
- Nutty Slow Cooker Snack Mix: Snack mix is a perennial party favorite, and this recipe uses a slow cooker to make the process stress-free and super tasty. The addition of nuts provides healthy fats and extra protein.
- Football Deviled Eggs: These adorable deviled eggs are a fun and tasty finger food for the Big Game. Eggs are a great source of protein and essential vitamins, making them a guilt-free addition to your spread. To make them, mix together yolks, yogurt, mustard, sriracha sauce, salt, and pepper. Spoon the mixture into the empty egg cavity and garnish with chives.
- Loaded Mediterranean Cauliflower Nachos: These nachos are piled high with creamy feta cheese, crunchy cucumbers, hummus, olives, and tzatziki sauce.
- Yukon Gold Crispy Potatoes: Yukon gold potatoes are smashed thin, oven-roasted, dusted with parmesan, and drizzled with truffle oil for a crave-able side dish or party appetizer.
- Cowboy Caviar: Some call it Cowboy Caviar; others call it Texas Caviar. Different names, same idea, and lots of variations-we love ours for how delicious and health-supportive it is. Black-eyed peas contain vitamin K, black beans aid in lowering blood pressure, and avocados contain omega-3 fatty acids.
- Best Guacamole: For this recipe, we prefer to keep it simple to really let the star of the show-avocados-shine. Make this as is for a simple, staple dip you can return to again and again.
- Fried Buffalo Artichoke Hearts:
- Crispy Parmesan Broccoli Stem Fries:
- Pimento Cheese-Stuffed Mini Peppers:
- Bacon Guac Bombs:
- Veggie Peel Chips:
- Cool Ranch Zucchini Chips: How thinly you slice your zucchini will affect how long these flavorful chips will take in the oven. We recommend checking on the chips after about an hour, though it'll almost definitely take longer than that. Better safe than sorry for this delicious snack!
- Crispy Hot Honey Cauliflower Nuggets:
- Air Fryer Everything Bagel Avocado Fries:
- BLT Egglets: They’re kind of like a cross between a BLT sandwich and egg salad, but portable, and we are here for it.
- Tempeh Buffalo “Wings”:
- Air Fryer Loaded Zucchini Skins:
- Black Bean & Corn Salad: This easy salad comes together quickly and works as a side dish, a great topping for tacos, or as an appetizer with tortilla chips. Think of this as a medley of the most exciting parts of a vegetarian burrito bowl, unadulterated by rice, and hyped up by a little honey-lime action.
- Sushi Popcorn: This sushi-inspired popcorn is flavored with a mix of Japanese seasonings like togarashi (a chile blend) and crumbled nori (dried seaweed). The result is an umami-packed salty snack that will have you skipping ordering that sushi takeout.
- Cauliflower Wings: This recipe transforms this staple veggie into crispy, golden bites that were made to be drenched in your favorite sauce. We went with buffalo here, but you can really get creative with these cauli wings.
- Zucchini Pizza Bites: There's no need to skip the pizza when you can cook up these mini veggie versions! To make them, you'll broil the zucchini slices until they're tender, then load them up with plenty of tomato sauce, cheese, and pepperoni.
- Beet Hummus: While regular hummus is wonderful, this vibrant flavor-packed hummus will add a fun touch to your game day snack table! It has the same base of chickpeas, but cooked beets give that bright hue and a sweet, earthy flavor.
- Spring Rolls: Pro tip: Grab pre-cut veggies from the store to save a little time when making this recipe! Along with the raw vegetables, you'll also roll up springy rice noodles, cooked shrimp, herbs, and fruit. Serve them with peanut sauce and sweet chili sauce.
- Roasted Red Pepper Hummus: Hummus is well regarded as one of the healthiest snacks you can have, thanks to the protein-rich chickpeas. Kick the flavor up a notch by adding a jar of roasted red peppers.
- Avocado Dip: Think of this as the smooth and creamy cousin to guacamole. It's made with Greek yogurt, giving it a tang and packs it with filling protein. It makes a fantastic veggie dip!
- Cowboy Caviar: You're in for a treat if you've never had this snack! It's like salsa but with so much more flavor and texture interest. It's got beans, chopped up veggies, and lots of spices.
- Cheese-Stuffed Baby Peppers: Three ingredients, two steps, and ten minutes: That's all you need for this easy peasy snack. And don't worry about the cheese part. Goat cheese spreads are often much lower in fat than other types of cheese.
- Pico de Gallo: Nothing but freshness here! With tomatoes, onions, jalapeños, cilantro, and lime juice, pico de gallo has everything good and nothing bad in each bite.
- Spicy Sriracha Popcorn: Skip the microwave and pop your own popcorn! It's healthier and way more flavorful thanks to the spicy kick Ree adds to her recipe. You can make it on the stovetop or use an air popper.
- Fancy Roasted Cocktail Nuts: Nuts are packed with healthy fats and protein, which means they are as filling as they are tasty. Make them even tastier with some salty, sweet, and savory additions.
- Healthy 7-Layer Dip: This dip is so tasty, you'll forget that it's healthy. It's got black beans, avocado, queso fresco, tomatoes, and olives, plus green onions and cilantro for added freshness.
Hearty Main Courses with a Healthy Twist
For a more substantial offering, consider these main courses that don't compromise on health:
- Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders: Get all that crunchy, spicy goodness in this healthier version of Nashville hot chicken. These chicken tenders are doused in the signature red-hot spice and have a juiciness from a good dunk in buttermilk.
- Meatball Bar: Meatballs are versatile, bite-sized, and easy to serve-perfect for feeding a hungry crowd. Serve them with toothpicks for easy grabbing, or pair them with slider buns for a fun DIY mini sandwich station.
- Healthy Oven-Roasted Greek Chicken Meatballs: These meatballs are bursting with vibrant Mediterranean flavors, made with ground chicken, feta cheese, fresh herbs, and spices.
- Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs: These juicy meatballs are a family favorite, healthy, quick, easy, and super versatile.
- Wild Mushroom Meatballs: Rich and savory wild mushroom meatballs with fresh herbs and grass-fed ground beef.
- Chili Cook-Off: Host a chili potluck or cook-off with winners and prizes.
- Chorizo Chili: An easy, healthy recipe for chorizo chili packed with spicy-smoky flavor, poblano chilies, smoky chorizo, ground beef, beans, and plenty of spices.
- Kale and Grass-Fed Beef Chili: A quick and healthy chili loaded with good-for-you veggies and the perfect amount of spices.
- Pumpkin Turkey Chili: A sweet and spicy combination of pumpkin, ground turkey, warming spices, and lots of black beans.
- 1-Pot Chili with Quinoa, Butternut Squash, and Beans:
- Gumbo: A legendary gumbo recipe. Technically, it’s my husband’s masterpiece, and let me tell you, it’s legendary.
- Chorizo Street Tacos: A mouthwatering fusion of savory, spicy chorizo, zesty spices, and fresh ingredients.
- Blackened Scallop Tacos: Quick and flavorful tacos with blackened scallops, warm tortillas, and a mango avocado salsa.
- Steak Tacos: Quick and easy healthy steak tacos topped with a mouthwatering lime cilantro coleslaw.
- Air-Fryer Taquitos: With flavorful shredded beef stuffed inside crispy, crunchy tortillas, everyone will be reaching for these snackable taquitos. They're great on their own, but even better when slathered in salsa, guacamole, cheese, or sour cream.
- Air Fryer Falafel: Bite-sized chickpea balls get transformed into perfectly golden and tender falafel with the help of an air fryer. Not only are they fluffy and herbaceous, but they're packed with protein, too. Serve them with plenty of tahini yogurt sauce.
- Air Fryer Chicken Tenders: As crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside as your favorite bar snack, air fryer chicken tenders avoid the deep frying. That means you can enjoy a little more of the dipping sauce then, right?
- Turkey Burgers: The great thing about turkey burgers is that you can really play around with the seasonings if you want. This recipe uses a mixture of breadcrumbs, Worcestershire, seasoned salt, and black pepper.
- Veggie Burgers: Each bite of this burger has so much flavor that you'll never miss the meat. It's hearty, full of mushrooms, chickpeas, and rice and then piled high with all the fixings.
- Slow Cooker Refried Beans: Making refried beans is so rewarding! All you have to do is add a few ingredients to your slow cooker and press a button. The result is the most amazingly flavorful, healthy, and versatile dish.
- Make-Ahead Sandwich Rolls: You can make these up to six hours in advance so you don't have to worry about assembling them as the game starts. The options of meats and sauces are endless! And if you can find low-carb wraps to use, too.
Sweet Endings Without the Sugar Crash
When it comes to desserts, you don’t have to sacrifice sweetness for health. Homemade, sugar-free treats are a perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth while keeping your blood sugar in check.
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Bark: A layer of bananas gets covered in smooth, unsweetened peanut butter, then drizzled with melted chocolate and frozen until stiff enough to snap into single servings. Hot tip: the flaky sea salt is optional but a remarkably delicious upgrade if you have it on hand.
Beverages
- Bloody Mary (Virgin): Turn it into a Bloody Mary bar and your guests will love you forever! This is THE bloody mary mix recipe you need, vetted by hundreds of picky bar customers and crafted by a seasoned bartender. Just add your alcohol of choice, or enjoy it as a virgin bloody mary.
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