Super Bowl Appetizers Fit for a Crowd

Updated January 21, 2020
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer
Super Bowl Sunday is a special day—mostly because it provides an excuse to eat lots of cheese, nurse an ice-cold beer, and (of course) watch some football. There’s nothing better than settling in on the couch to watch the game with good friends and great food. These bite-sized, easy-serving Super Bowl appetizers make it easy to enjoy snacking while you keep your eyes on the game. No matter how you like to set up your Super Bowl party, we have an appetizer idea that’s sure to wow the crowd.

We’ve given classic finger foods a serious update with some delicious bite-sized, handheld snacks: Your guests will rave over Cheese Dreams, Bacon-Parmesan Tassies, and Cheeseburger Egg Rolls with Special Sauce. If you’re already late to the party or entertaining in a pinch, back-pocket recipes like Tater Nachos or Alabama Fire Crackers require minimal effort but deliver maximum reward. If you prefer to set up a family-style appetizer spread, boards, chips, and dips are the way to go. But as far as we’re concerned, there are two essential components to any Super Bowl appetizer spread: Cheese and bacon. Our Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers—a staple of our Super Bowl table—have got both. Whether your team wins or loses, you’ll be the MVP of Super Bowl appetizers. Game over.
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Sweet Potato Chips

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Sweet Potato Chips

The secret to crisp sweet potato chips is to fry them in small batches, in peanut oil, at a low temperature. This makes 6 servings when served as a side but will be plenty for 10 with the other foods on the tray.

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Pimiento Cheese-Stuffed Pickled Okra

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Pimiento Cheese-Stuffed Pickled Okra

Two Southern favorites come together to create one delicious recipe.

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Slow-Cooker Beef Nachos

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Beef Nachos

You can also serve the delicious Slow-Cooker Beef in slider buns with your favorite sandwich toppings for a heartier meal.

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Muffuletta Deviled Eggs

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Recipe: Muffuletta Deviled Eggs

This easy appetizer melds the flavors of olives, egg, and salty salami.

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Bacon-Cheese Dip

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Bacon-Cheese Dip

Keep your game day party easy by making this tasty dip ahead of time.

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Bacon-Wrapped Potatoes with Queso Blanco Dip

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Potatoes with Queso Blanco Dip

You can keep the queso blanco warm in a fondue pot or 1-qt. slow cooker. These are hearty, and would be a winner for a tailgate too.

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Bacon-Parmesan Tassies

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Bacon-Parmesan Tassies

These tasty little appetizers made of pastry shells, bacon, and Parmesan cheese will be a hit at your party!

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Spicy Roasted Chile Peanuts and Pepitas

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Spicy Roasted Chile Peanuts and Pepitas

Spicy Roasted Chile Peanuts and Pepitas are an addictive snack. Make extra because they're gone just as quickly as they're put out.

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Grilled Herbed Chicken Drumettes With White Barbecue Sauce

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Grilled Herbed Chicken Drumettes

Even if it's still a little chilly outside, our team says to "bundle up, and get grilling." The results are worth a brief shiver.

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Warm Turnip Green Dip

Jennifer Davick; Styling: Melanie Clarke

Recipe: Warm Turnip Green Dip

It's Southern tradition to have a little hot sauce with your turnip greens, so be sure to offer guests several brands to choose from on the side.

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Chili-Roasted Black Eyed-Peas

Southern Living

Recipe: Chili-Roasted Black-Eyed Peas

Turn canned chickpeas or black-eyed peas into a unique and affordable party snack. Simply toss them in olive oil with a few seasonings and roast until crisp. The key is to bake the beans as long as possible without letting them burn. This will dry them out, making them extra-crunchy like nuts. Enjoy by the handful or sprinkle over a salad.

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Smoked Trout-and-Horseradish Spread

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Smoked Trout-and-Horseradish Spread

You can transform the leftovers from this appetizer into crostini by topping toasted French bread rounds with this creamy spread and a sprinkle of finely diced apples and toasted pecans.

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Super Quick Chili

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Super Quick Chili

Slice tops from hearty round dinner rolls, and then let guests hollow out centers and spoon Super Quick Chili into them. Keep the chili warm in a slow cooker during the game.

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Angela's Spicy Buffalo Wings

Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Angela's Spicy Buffalo Wings

Hot wings may be the quintessential game-day food. Cool down these kicked-up wings with Cool Ranch Sauce and celery sticks.

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White Cheddar-Chive Pimiento Cheese

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: White Cheddar-Chive Pimiento Cheese

Here's the secret to nice pimiento-cheese texture: Grate the cheese by hand, half on the large holes of a box grater and half on the small holes. Choose an aged sharp Cheddar cheese for extra bite. Chopped chives and Dijon mustard add piquant punch in place of grated onion.

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Chicks in a Blanket

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Chicks in a Blanket

Dough-wrapped chicken-apple sausages are best fresh from the oven, so bake one batch at a time and serve warm.

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BBQ-Ranch Popcorn

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: BBQ-Ranch Popcorn

Try other flavors, like chili powder-lime zest and cinnamon-sugar.

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Buffalo Chicken Pot Stickers

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Pot Stickers

"These pot stickers are hearty while still being the perfect size for snacking."

From the kitchen of Robyn Stone, Carrollton, GA, addapinch.com

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Sheet Pan Nachos with Chorizo and Refried Beans

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Sheet Pan Nachos with Chorizo and Refried Beans

Go full-out fiery with extra jalapeño or ditch the chorizo for a vegetarian app. You can load up these sheet pan nachos any way you’d like.

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Buffalo-Style Sweet Potato Waffle Fries

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Buffalo-Style Sweet Potato Waffle Fries

Frozen sweet potato waffle fries transform into a loaded appetizer platter in this deceptively simple, buffalo-style dish.

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Warm Cheese-and-Spicy Pecan Dip

Victor Protasio

Recipe: Warm Cheese-and-Spicy Pecan Dip

Hot, bubbling cheese and toasted, cayenne-spiced nuts? Talk about a touchdown!

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Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers

With just the right balance of heat, smoke, and creamy cheese, these Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers deserve a prime place on any Super Bowl spread.

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Bacon-Ranch Pasta Salad

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Bacon-Ranch Pasta Salad

This pasta salad is good enough to convert anybody into a football fan, even if it’s only for one day of the year.

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Sweet Onion and Bacon Dip

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Sweet Onion and Bacon Dip

Dips are an ideal way to feed a hungry crowd without fussing over perfect presentation or pre-set portions; this Sweet Onion and Bacon Dip has the potential to be your party’s MVP.

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Baked BLT Dip

Skyler Burt

Recipe: Baked BLT Dip

When it comes to the Super Bowl, appetizers reign supreme; rather than preparing a platter of sandwiches, set this creative BLT Dip out on the table for guests to enjoy.

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Cheeseburger Egg Rolls with Special Sauce

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Cheeseburger Egg Rolls with Special Sauce

A whimsical way to serve up an American classic, these egg rolls are sure to be the star of the show on the fried appetizer spread.

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Tater Nachos

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Tater Nachos

A bag of frozen potato puffs is the secret to seriously upgrading any tired plate of nachos. Bake in a skillet and top with sour cream, avocado, pico de gallo, and scallions.

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Pull Apart Pizza Bread

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Pull Apart Pizza Bread

When it comes to this Pull-Apart Pizza Bread, there’s no slicing necessary. Just set it on the counter and watch the pieces disappear.

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Fried Pickle Chips

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Fried Pickle Chips

Forget about the French fries—this year, we’re all about the fried pickles. These chips are just as addicting as the riff on Comeback sauce we’ve paired them with. Sounds like a match made in heaven.

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Cheesy Collard Dip

Southern Living

Recipe: Cheesy Collard Dip

An afternoon of football and a big dish of cheesy collard greens? Folks, it doesn’t get much more Southern than that.

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Instant Pot Chicken Wings

Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Melissa Gray

Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Wings

Super Bowl party prep will be a breeze with the help of your handy kitchen companion, the Instant Pot. These drumettes are the ideal size to set out as an appetizer.

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Instant Pot Meatballs

Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Recipe: Instant Pot Meatballs

This innovative new way to cook your cocktail meatballs may just convince you to move on from Grandma’s age-old recipe.