59 Super Bowl Appetizers for the Biggest Game of the Year
Send your party guests home happy (no matter who wins the big game) by serving up a roster of our best Super Bowl appetizers. Keep it classic with buffalo wings, or switch things up with vegetarian buffalo cauliflower bites. Fill the table entirely with a selection of dips: spinach-artichoke, guacamole, chile con queso—alongside plenty of veg, crackers, and chips for scooping. You could even get a head start by assembling these spicy make-ahead bacon mac ‘n’ cheese jalapeño bites the day before.
Whether you turn finger food into the main course or pick a few more substantial Super Bowl recipes to round out your spread, this starting lineup will make you the true MVP. Now all you need is a Super Bowl drink to wash it down.
Photo by Kelsey Foster1/59Bacon Mac ’n’ Cheese Jalapeño Bites
Mac and cheese collides with jalapeño poppers in this genius recipe, which might just be the best Super Bowl appetizer in existence. Oh, and there’s bacon. You’re welcome.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Drew Aichele2/59
Crispy Baked Chicken Wings
Toss wings in five-spice powder and serve with pickled chiles and spicy sriracha mayonnaise for a crowd-pleasing easy appetizer. Just make sure to have a cooling Super Bowl cocktail on hand to tame the heat.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Drew Aichele3/59
Chile con Queso
Our favorite cheesy dip starts with two types of cheese: cheddar and Monterey Jack. We love using Hatch chiles here, but poblanos or Anaheims would also work.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Sean Dooley4/59
Oven-Fried Crispy Shiitake Imperial Rolls
These rice rolls freeze beautifully, so you can prepare them in advance for a low-maintenance Super Bowl snack. And if you thought it couldn’t get any better: they’re baked, not fried, no no need to babysit a pot of burbling oil.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich5/59
Shrimp Cocktail
Shrimp cocktail is always good, but shrimp cocktail with three distinct dipping sauces? That’s luxury.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton6/59
St. Louis Toasted Ravioli
If you have a pack of cheese ravioli in the fridge, you can make these toasty poppers. Simply dunk in evaporated milk, coat with breadcrumbs, and fry until golden. Serve with a sidecar of marinara, of course.
- Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich7/59
Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower
Time to put that new air fryer to work. These easy buffalo cauliflower bites from Epi food editor Jesse Szewczyk make an ideal game-day snack.
- Photo by Travis Rainey, Styling by Joseph De Leo8/59
Classic Deviled Eggs
Look out! These snacks are ready to play. Serve them up on Super Bowl Sunday for a winning alternative to wings and dip. To give them a real game-time vibe, douse them with hot sauce and top with crumbled blue cheese.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton9/59
Chili Crab Dip With Shrimp Chips
Inspired by chili crab, an aromatic and spicy Singaporean braise, this crab dip gets a little sweetness from tomato paste and dynamic flavor from shallots, garlic, and ginger.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Lillian Chou10/59
Cheesy Samosa Puffs
To make this fun and easy snack, you’ll encase spiced potatoes, cheddar, and cilantro in pastry, then bake until crisp and golden brown.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Drew Aichele11/59
Buffalo Cauliflower
Seeking a flavor-packed app for the vegetarians in your crew? Toss twice-cooked cauliflower in a fiery sriracha-spiked Buffalo sauce.
- Photo by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Christina Allen, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht12/59
Hot and Smoky Tang Wings
Buffalo wings have long been a Super Bowl staple, but if you’re looking to change up your tailgate routine, consider these sweet, smoky, oven-baked wings. Or you can mix and match with our favorite chicken wing recipes.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich13/59
Dill-Pickled Vegetables
Pickling isn’t just for cucumbers. Let carrots, pearl onions, celery, or the veg of your choice hang out in a dilly brine. A day later, your mixed pickle platter will be ready for snacking.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton14/59
Goat Cheese and Salami Stuffed Dates
As a last-minute party snack, these sweet and spicy one-biters can’t be beat.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks15/59
Easy Guacamole
As long as you have ripe avocados on hand, this easy Super Bowl appetizer comes together in no time. Fresh or pickled jalapeño adds subtle heat to this classic guacamole, while chopped cilantro brings freshness.
- Photo by Nicole Franzen16/59
Crispy Cauliflower With Honey and Hot Pepper Flakes
Take your Super Bowl appetizer spread to the next level with these crispy, tempura-battered cauliflower bites, drizzled with homemade hot honey.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson17/59
Traditional Soft Pretzels
This Super Bowl app is a labor of love, but once you've made a traditional German-style pretzel from scratch, you'll never settle for those beer hall imposters again.
- Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht18/59
Buffalo Wings
Buffalo sauce stars in countless all-American game-day dishes. There’s silky buffalo chicken dip and crispy cauliflower bites, but it all started with hot wings.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton19/59
Horsey Goat
This easy recipe combines fresh goat cheese, horseradish, and heavy cream in a simple spread. Smear it on bread or serve with crackers and crudites.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Lillian Chou20/59
Honey Butter Potato Chip Tower With Crispy Salami
Crisp up salami slices in a skillet, mix with store-bought potato chips, drizzle everything with spiced honey butter, and build a tower as high as it’ll go.
- 21/59
Ultimate Nachos
The key to crispy nachos is to limit the number of ingredients that go into the oven with the chips. Start with three essentials: a dollop of homemade pinto bean dip, sliced jalapeños, and plenty of grated cheddar cheese.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano22/59
Chicharrones (Pork Cracklin’s)
These are not the crispy-puffy pork rinds you’ll find in the snack aisle. “In the northern part of Mexico, chicharrones are meaty chunks of juicy fried pork belly with shatteringly crisp skin, often cooked in its own rendered fat,” writes former associate editor Jarrett Melendez. They’re a bit of a project, but definitely worth it.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton23/59
Hot Pimento Cheese Dip
Pimento cheese is perfect as a spread, but it also makes a great queso-like dip. This particular version is smooth and velvety, with a kick of smoke and heat from chipotle in adobo sauce.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich24/59
Cheddar and Herb Gougères
Filled with shredded cheddar cheese, these French pastry puffs are light and delicate as can be. The dough freezes well, so they’re a great last-minute appetizer recipe to keep on hand.
- Photo by Ed Anderson25/59
Cashew and Coconut Shrimp
We love the combination of hot, crispy shrimp and a zingy dipping sauce. Watch it disappear at your Super Bowl party.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Monica Pierini26/59
Crudités With Chile-Lime Salt
This zesty spiced salt wakes up any sliced raw fruit or veggie, no dip required. Don’t feel limited to the veg listed in the recipe, go for anything crisp and fresh.
- Photo and Food Styling by Joseph De Leo27/59
Salsa Roja
If you’re serving tacos, nachos, or quesadillas, complete the spread with homemade salsa. This one gets lots of smoky flavor from dried chiles.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone28/59
3-Ingredient Microwave Cheese Sauce
This velvety-smooth cheese sauce comes together in less than 10 minutes. Serve it with chips, fries, or chili dogs, or transform it into the best queso you've ever had.
- Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton29/59
Ceviche Verde With Pepitas
In a sea of buttery garlic bread and spicy chicken wings, this vibrant green ceviche will brighten things up.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Ali Nardi30/59
Creamy Pinto Bean Dip
Serve this lightly spiced, last-minute bean dip with tortilla chips and watch it disappear before halftime.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Billingskog31/59
Pickled Shrimp
This pickled shrimp recipe is perfect for a party, and it can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.
- Photo by Christina Holmes32/59
Jalapeño Poppers With Smoked Gouda
The moderate heat of jalapeños provides a perfect counterbalance to this rich filling, a combination of cream cheese and smoked Gouda.
- Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Kate Schmidt33/59
Boneless Buffalo Chicken "Wings"
These fried and sauced chicken breast strips have all the spicy flavor of Buffalo wings—without the hassle of bones. Serve them with tangy blue cheese dip and celery sticks.
- Photo by Ken Goodman34/59
Smoked Feta Dip
Queso, who? This smoky feta dip is the creamy, cheesy spread of the season. And if you want more dip recipes, we’ve got you covered.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Ali Nardi35/59
Vegetarian Buffalo “Meatballs” With Blue Cheese Dip
These spicy "meatballs" combine white beans and mushrooms for a meatless take on your favorite party snack.
- Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott36/59
Baked Three-Cheese Onion Dip With Chive and Pepperoncini
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Drew Aichele37/59
Maple-Wasabi Wings
No need to heat the frying oil: These wings get extra-crispy in the oven. Tossed with a soy sauce, maple syrup, and wasabi glaze, they hit the salty-sweet-spicy trifecta.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert38/59
Southern Party Mix
You can make croutons with any type of bread—croissants, cornbread, or even biscuits. And those croutons aren't just for salad. For this Southern-style party mix, cube and toast leftover biscuits, then toss with Chex cereal, pretzels, pecans, and spices.
- Photo by Andrew Purcell, Food Styling by Carrie Purcell39/59
Vegan Sour Cream and Onion Dip
This ultra-creamy dip has all the caramelized flavor of classic onion dip, but thanks to plant-based butter and cream cheese, it’s completely dairy-free.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton40/59
Stuffed Mushrooms
If you consider the Super Bowl a holiday, this recipe is for you. The classic hors d'oeuvres is perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or the biggest game day of the year.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Ali Nardi41/59
Creamy Avocado Dip With Scallions
Avocado, yogurt, and a mix of caramelized and fresh scallions give this dip a creamy texture and flavor that sits between onion dip and guacamole. Pair it with pita chips, tortilla chips, or carrot sticks.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Billingskog42/59
Homemade Cheese Spread With Garlic and Herbs
Here's a DIY version of the intensely herby, spreadable Gournay cheese originally from France.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone43/59
Classic Spinach-Artichoke Dip With Mozzarella and Parmesan
Two kinds of melty cheese—mozzarella and Parmesan—make this dip extra luxe. Oh, and there’s cream cheese too.
- Photo by PEDEN + MUNK44/59
Crispy Potato Skins With Fried Herb Aioli
Potatoes and aioli are already a match made in heaven, but the fried herbs take this dish over the top.
- Photo by Peter Frank Edwards45/59
Bacon Crackers
When a cracker slowly sops up the fat from smoky, crisping bacon, it transforms into something more akin to pie crust. These easy bacon crackers are pure porky perfection.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Megan Hedgpeth, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich46/59
Warmed Spiced Olives
A warm, richly spiced oil turns a bowl of mixed olives into party fare. Snack on these during the commercial breaks.
- Photo by Tara Donne, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Cyd McDowell47/59
Creamy Cauliflower Dip
Earthy and rich without being heavy or filling, this creamy vegetable dip is our ideal Super Bowl snack.
- Photo by Nigel Parry49/59
Salt Cod Fritters
These fritters from chef Eric Ripert would make an excellent addition to an Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes menu. After that, you’ll be finding any excuse to make them again—the Super Bowl sounds like a fitting occasion.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova50/59
Gyoza
Gyoza are very versatile—you can pan-fry, steam, boil, or deep-fry them. Present them on a platter and watch them disappear.
- Tara Donne, food and prop styling by Diana Yen51/59
Beer-Battered Onion Rings
A glug of high-quality beer in a tempura-like batter makes onion rings lighter and more flavorful.
- Photo by Denny Culbert52/59
Air Fryer Crispy Herbed Chickpeas
The high heat of an air fryer, circulating at a super-fast speed, dries out the chickpeas so they’re almost dehydrated.
- Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Erika Joyce53/59
Easy Hummus With Canned Chickpeas
Boiling canned chickpeas in water for 20 minutes before puréeing them yields a silky-smooth texture—no soaking garbanzos necessary.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Ali Nardi54/59
Cauliflower-Carrot Cheesy Tots
Cauliflower and carrot add sweet, vegetal flavor and a good dose of fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins to this fun play on tater tots.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Ali Nardi55/59
Five-Cheese Pimento Cheese
Complete your Super Bowl snacking lineup with this five-cheese version of the classic Southern spread.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone56/59
Simple Spinach Dip
As long as you’ve got frozen spinach, cream cheese, and heavy cream, you can throw this dip together in a flash.
- Photo by Matt Ball57/59
Roasted Garlic Pull-Apart Cheese Bread
Pull-apart bread is the very definition of fun. Just plop it down in front of a table of people and watch it disappear within 5 seconds (yes, it really is that good). It can pass as an appetizer or accompaniment to a pot of soup.
- Lara Ferroni58/59
Pretzel Bites with Quick Cheddar Dip
When formed into bite-size nuggets, these soft pretzels are easy to pop into your mouth. They’re also small enough to eliminate the temptation to double-dip in the accompanying cheese sauce.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle59/59
Turkish Spiced Meatballs with Pomegranate Yogurt Sauce
These warmly spiced lamb meatballs are so juicy, light, and flavorful—not to mention easy. They’re sure to be the hit in your spread of Super Bowl appetizers.
