28 Best Appetizers for Game Day

Here's a big assortment of happy-making dips, wings, nachos, and sharing snacks to cheer on your A-team.

28 Best Appetizers for Game Day
A close-up of a casserole dish filled with delicious-looking chicken dip.
The Spruce Eats / Sara Haas

I love Super Bowl parties, especially when the Seattle Seahawks are on! The food is never fussy, always delicious, and the activities are already planned: sit around a TV, laugh at the commercials, and eat, eat, eat!

Over the many Super Bowl parties I've thrown, I've learned a few things about planning the food:

  • Tip 1: Keep on eye on the clock. It's safest for everyone if food doesn't sit out all day while you party. Most need to be refrigerated after two hours. It's about four hours from kickoff to the final whistle. So, instead of bringing everything out in the beginning, I recommend staggering the snacks. Bring a new dish out every hour or so. If the food is in a slow cooker (meatballs!) or can be kept warm on the stovetop, it can stay out the whole time. 
  • Tip 2: Make sure to refrigerate your drinks the night before so that they are nice and chilled when your guests arrive. I guarantee no one will complain if a batch of Pitcher Frozen Margaritas arrive at the table with the chips and guacamole.
  • Tip 3: Snacks are great, but don’t forget about dinner. Would it even be a Super Bowl party without chicken wings, meatballs, or nachos? Or all three? Have one (or more!) filling options since the party will creep into dinnertime.
  • Tip 4: Finish strong! Set out some sweet treats in the second half. I recommend chocolate chip cookie bars or sugar cookies (perhaps, decorated with your team colors).

Have fun! 

How to Make the Best Guacamole

Authentic guacamole in a bowl with chips
Elise Bauer

The best guacamole rests entirely in the hands of the avocados. Give your avocados a squeeze at the store; it should yield gently. Add fresh lime juice, chopped red onions, chilis, and cilantro, and a good pinch of salt. That's it! Go all out and make your own tortilla chips for the big day.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

A close-up of a casserole dish filled with delicious-looking chicken dip.
The Spruce Eats / Sara Haas

Contributor Sara Haas says, "Chicken dip is best when warm, so if you bring the dish to a party, wait to heat it up until you arrive. Once it’s hot, hand everyone a plate so that they can dig in and enjoy."

The Best Nachos

How to Make Nachos at Home
Marta Rivera

"The Best" is a strong claim and we’re ready to back it up. Piled high with ground beef, refried beans, and cheese, there won’t be a chip left on the platter. This recipe serves six-ish and can be ready in 30 minutes!

Slow Cooker Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

Meatballs in a slow cooker filled with tomato sauce with a spoon lifting a meatball out of the sauce.
Alison Bickel

These Italian meatballs are a combination of beef and Italian turkey sausage. They're simmered in a slow cooker with a simple tomato sauce for up to 10 hours, an ideal set-and-forget situation. Spoon them into a hoagie or set out toothpicks for poking them one by one.

Loaded Sheet Pan Nachos

Pulling a loaded chip away from a sheet pan of nachos
Alison Conklin

Nothing beats fully loaded sheet pan nachos. This one is loaded with seasoned ground beef, black beans, red bell pepper, corn, black olives, and shredded cheese. The cilantro lime crème on top is bright and cooling.

Mexican Street Corn Nachos

Mexican Street Corn Nachos
Elise Bauer

A simple homemade Monterey Jack cheese sauce is drizzled all over these corn over corn nachos. Buy block and not pre-shredded cheese for the sauce, and add a bit more cornstarch if it’s too thin.

Buffalo Wings

Close up of buffalo wings recipe with blue cheese dressing and celery.
Elise Bauer

Buffalo Wings are a must for any Super Bowl party. Learn how to break down chicken wings if you're up for it. Marinate the wings for at least 30 minutes, and then broil them. Blue cheese dip is a must.

Copycat Chipotle Guacamole

Best Restaurant Guacamole like Chipotle
Marta Rivera

Ripe Haas avocados, fresh cilantro, and extra lime juice makes this guacamole reminiscent of Chipotle (the chain restaurant we love, not the chili pepper). So simple and delicious!

Miso Glazed Chicken Wings

Miso Wings
Megan Keno

Skip the marinade and whisk up an easy and flavor-packed glaze made with miso, store-bought teriyaki sauce, and gochujang. These wings are full of umami, sweet, and spicy!

Tomatillo Salsa Verde

Tomatillo Salsa Verde
Elise Bauer

Pulse roasted tomatillos with cilantro and lime, and keep it chilled until ready to serve. This is a great recipe to make ahead and set out right as the party starts.

Blue Cheese Sauce

Blue Cheese Wing Dip - sauce in bowl surrounded by burgers and sides
Alison Bickle

Blue cheese sauce is a must when serving chicken wings. Thankfully, it’s easy to make from scratch and keeps well in the refrigerator. You may want to make two batches: one that uses a mild blue cheese such as a Danish Blue, and one that uses a stronger cheese, such as a Roquefort or Maytag.

How to Make Crispy Air Fryer French Fries

Air Fryer French Fries Recipe
Alison Conklin

Skip the deep fryer and toss Russet potato wedges into the air fryer instead. The key to getting extra crispy french fries is to soak the potatoes in water for at least an hour or up to 24 hours before air frying. Ketchup seems like the obvious choice!

Ginger Honey Chicken Wings

Ginger Honey Chicken Wings
Elise Bauer

Make your wings slightly sweeter with a simple mixture of honey, ginger, and soy sauce. The drummettes are tossed in the marinade, baked, and then basted in the reserved marinade right before serving.

Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Air Fryer Chicken Wings on a Platter
Alison Bickle

Save room in the oven and make chicken wings in an air fryer! These are flavored with a mix of gochujang, soy sauce, and sesame oil, and served with a sriracha mayo for dipping.

7 Layer Bean Dip

7 Layer Bean Dip
Elise Bauer

The secret to the perfect 7 layer dip is making sure the refried beans are warm. That way the cheese melts and helps create a contrast between warm, cheesy beans and fresh, crunchy toppings. Be sure to get sturdy chips that can stand up to this hearty dip.

Potato Skins

A platter of potato skins ready to be served.
Kelly Hamilton

Super Bowl party goals: eat potato skins while watching the pig skin get tossed from end zone to end zone. To get them extra crispy, these are double-baked and filled with bacon and cheese. Save the flesh for Potato Dinner Rolls.

Queso Dip

Get ready for game day with a bowl of ceamy queso dip topped with pico de gallo and surrounded by tortilla chips
Marta Rivera

Smooth and creamy Queso Dip is a must. Evaporated milk helps prevent the dip from curdling. Use a slow cooker to keep it warm throughout the party. Serve it with pretzels or tortilla chips.

Old Bay Chicken Wings

Old Bay Chicken Wings
Elise Bauer

Old Bay seasoning is usually reserved for shrimp or crab but it's amazing on chicken too! Here, it's mixed with melted butter and lemon juice to create a simple sauce that coats the wings. This recipe only calls for four ingredients and is ready in 45 minutes.

Cacio e Pepe Chicken Wings

Parmesan and Pepper Fried Chicken Wings Recipe
Aaron Hutcherson

This is a genius take on cacio e pepe, wing-style. Crispy fried wings are tossed in melted butter, Parmesan, and black pepper for an Italian-inspired party wing.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

buffalo chicken dip warm out of the oven

Cream cheese, sour cream, and shredded cheese are mixed with chunks of chicken, hot sauce, spices, and crumbled blue cheese. It gets baked until creamy and bubbly—it's the perfect dip to spread on hearty bread or wheat crackers.

Air Fryer Cauliflower Buffalo Wings

Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites topped with sauce and next to a bowl of dip, carrots, and celery.
Nick Evans

Need a vegetarian option? These spicy cauliflower "wings" are coated in breadcrumbs and air-fried until crispy. Then, they are tossed in an easy homemade buffalo sauce.

Caramelized Onion Dip

Caramelized Onion Dip
Elise Bauer

Caramelizing onions brings out its sweet side. Mix them with sour cream, mayo, and a few spices, and you have the perfect dip for ridged potato chips. This one is served chilled so go ahead and make it the day before the party.

Mushroom Crostini

Three crostini topped with savory mushrooms and caramelized onions on a white plate.
Simply Recipes / Jessica Gavin

A little fancy and totally worth it, Mushroom Crostinis are the appetizers to make! Toast slices of baguette, sauté mushrooms with caramelized onions, and bring it all together with an herby goat cheese spread.

Slow Cooker Spinach Feta Dip

Mediterranean spinach feta dip in the slow cooker
Nick Evans

Pull out the slow cooker and make this warm dip for pita chips and sliced veggies. The recipe is for a small 3- to 4-quart slow cooker, but it can be doubled for a larger one.

Oven-Fried Potato Chips

oven fried potato chips
Elise Bauer

Treat guests to these crispy oven-fried potato chips. Use a mandoline to get super thin slices. Create your own seasoning or keep it simple with a sprinkle of coarse salt. Serve them with an aioli on the side.

Baked Stuffed Jalapeños

Stuffed Jalapenos
Sally P Vargas

Stuff jalapeños with cheese and then bake until slightly blackened and super melty. Here’s a guide to help decipher whether your peppers are spicy or mild. Your guests may thank you for it!

Chipotle Meatballs

Chipotle Meatballs
Elise Bauer

These all-pork meatballs are baked in a muffin tin and drenched with a spicy chipotle sauce. Serve them over rice or in warmed tortillas.

Turkey Meatballs (That Aren't Dry!)

Turkey Meatballs
Elise Bauer

Ground turkey and sautéed mushrooms and shallots make for a tasty and moist meatball. Use a cookie scoop to quickly portion out the meatballs and cook them in batches in a hot skillet.