Super Bowl Appetizers

By Southern Living
Photo: John O'Hagan

Super Bowl Sunday is a special day, and nothing is better than settling in to watch the game with good friends and great food. These Super Bowl appetizers make it easy to enjoy what you eat while you keep your eyes on the game. Classic finger foods have been given an update with these delicious recipes: You’ll enjoy Pepper Jack Grits Poppers, Bacon-Parmesan Tassies, and Shanghai Spring Rolls with Sweet Chili Sauce. If you prefer chips and dips for Super Bowl appetizers, your guests will love our recipes for White Cheddar-Chive Pimiento Cheese, Beer-Cheese Spread, and Colby-Pepper Jack Cheese Dip. And, when you need to score the game-winning touchdown, break out our recipes for Angela’s Spicy Buffalo Wings or the Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches with Cranberry-Coriander Conserve. You’ll be the MVP of Super Bowl appetizers. Game over.

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Sweet Potato Chips

Photo: Jennifer Davick

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.

Recipe: Sweet Potato Chips

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Baked Tex-Mex Red Pepper Cheese Dip

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Baked Tex-Mex Red Pepper Cheese Dip

"This is so addictive, I've never seen it stick around at parties for more than a few minutes!" says Courtney Champion (cooklikeachampionblog.com).

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Pimiento Cheese-Stuffed Pickled Okra

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Two Southern favorites come together to create one delicious recipe.

Recipe: Pimiento Cheese-Stuffed Pickled Okra

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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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Pepper Jack Grits Poppers

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Pepper Jack Grits Poppers

Wow your guests with this 6-ingredient twist on the iconic finger food.

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Bacon-Parmesan Tassies

Photo: Jennifer Davick

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

Recipe: Bacon-Parmesan Tassies

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Spicy Roasted Chile Peanuts and Pepitas

Photo: 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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Colby-Pepper Jack Cheese Dip

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Colby-Pepper Jack Cheese Dip

This cheese dip is made heartier by the addition of chopped cooked chicken. Chopped chipotle peppers, jalapeños, and chili powder add even more heat. Prepare up to a day ahead; cover and chill in an airtight container, and bake just before serving.

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Baked Spinach-and-Artichoke Dip

Recipe: Baked Spinach-and-Artichoke Dip

For easy entertaining, this dish can be assembled up to a day ahead. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and then bake just before serving.

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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.

Tip: After you place the chicken on the grill, don't move it until time to turn or the chicken will stick to the cooking grate.

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Shanghai Spring Rolls with Sweet Chili Sauce

Recipe: Shanghai Spring Rolls

Make the filling ahead of time to meet your party preparation timeline. Serve with homemade chili sauce over a bed of fresh lettuce.

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Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches With Cranberry-Coriander Conserve

For a more substantial appetizer try this delicious pork recipe with dinner rolls. We used frozen yeast rolls to make this appetizer easy.

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Warm Turnip Green Dip

Photo: Jennifer Davick

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

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

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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Layered Spicy Black Bean Dip

Recipe: Layered Spicy Black Bean Dip

This flavorful recipe has a short ingredient list. Just layer cream cheese, shredded cheese, onions, olives, and tomatoes onto a store-bought black bean dip.

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Cheese Straws

Photo: Ralph Anderson

Recipe: Cheese Straws

These are the perfect party snack. They're especially easy to make and travel well. If you like your cheese straws less spicy, reduce the amount of red pepper.

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Smoky Green Chile-Cheddar Cheese with Avocado-Mango Salsa

The smoky flavor of the Cheddar cheese complements the Avocado-Mango Salsa nicely. Smoked Cheddar cheese may be found in the deli seciton of your grocery store.

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Hot Spiced Boiled Peanuts 

Photo: Jennifer Davick

A great finger food for game day, your guests will love grabbing a handful of these peanuts with a twist!

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Bacon-and-Greens Salsa

Photo: William Dickey

Recipe: Bacon-and-Greens Salsa

For the ultimate Southern-style warm dip, combine chopped greens, corn, and bacon and serve with pork skins, sweet potato chips and hot sauce.

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Andouille Mini Dogs

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Andouille Mini Dogs

Smokies are always a big hit at parties, so turn it up a notch by adding a bun and a dab of mustard and relish to make mini hot dogs.

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Shrimp Boil Skewers

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Shrimp Boil Skewers

Serve this colorful appetizer in small cups if you want to skip the skewers.

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Easy Barbecue Sliders

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Easy Barbecue Sliders

We believe simple also means delicious, and the proof is in the first bite with these Easy Barbecue Sliders. No cooking at all is required with this appetizer! Just pick up a little more than a pound of shredded barbecue from your favorite restaurant, pile it on some French rolls, and slather it with barbecue sauce and a heaping scoop of coleslaw. This recipe is easy to double, so you can make your party as simple and as big as you like. You, your family, and your guests will love these bite-size barbecue sensations. Grab a handful of napkins and savor the flavors.

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Spicy-Sweet Deviled Eggs

Recipe: Spicy-Sweet Deviled Eggs

Mango chutney is the secret ingredient that makes these deviled eggs so irresistible. Snip and arrange chives for a fun garnish.

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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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Blue Cheese Ranch Dip

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Blue Cheese Ranch Dip

This dip requires only four ingredients and five minutes prep time. Serve it with carrot and celery sticks, sturdy potato chips, and hot wings.

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Easy Snack Mix

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Easy Snack Mix

Stack cups in your team's colors next to this simple snack mix so that guests can help themselves.

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Angela's Spicy Buffalo Wings

Photo: 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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Hot Crawfish Dip

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Hot Crawfish Dip

Get your mudbug fix with this delicious dip and pair with crusty French bread.

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Slow-Cooker Beef Nachos

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Beef Nachos

Perfect as a bowl-game party bite, you can also serve this recipe in slider buns with your favorite sandwich toppings.

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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

Photo: Hector 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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Potato Skins

Photo: Erin Adams

Kick up the flavor on traditional potato skins by topping with mouth-watering pimiento cheese.

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Pepper and Chicken Nachos

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Pepper and Chicken Nachos

Pick up some colorful peppers from the market and smother them with chicken, cheese, cilantro, and spices for a fresh and easy dinner.

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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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Brisket Shooters

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Brisket Shooters

Save time and pick up brisket and sauce from your favorite barbecue joint to use in these party bites.

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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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Cajun Corn Pups

Photo: Hector Sanchez
"These combine all-American flair with the deeply traditional flavors of south Louisiana."

Genêt Hogan, Woodstock, GA, raisedonaroux.com

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Pulled Pork Nachos

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Gussy up these nachos any way you like. Want to use grated cheese instead of queso? Simply spread the chips on baking sheets, sprinkle with cheese, and bake at 350° until the cheese melts. The pulled pork also makes delicious quesadillas, tacos, or sandwiches.

 

Recipe: Pulled Pork Nachos

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Sweet-and-Sour Meatballs

Recipe: Sweet-and-Sour Meatballs

These too-easy meatballs are the perfect appetizer for your next tailgate or party. Meatballs may be thoroughly cooked without sauce and frozen. Thaw and reheat with sauce.

Watch: Sweet-and-Sour Meatballs

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Beer-Cheese Spread

Photo: William Dickey

This recipe makes a lot, but it can be frozen for up to a month. It fits perfectly into 4 (10-oz.) ramekins. Try it over French fries, hot dogs, and chili too.

Recipe: Beer-Cheese Spread

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Turkey-Cheddar Kabobs With Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

Photo: John O'Hagan

Recipe: Turkey-Cheddar Kabobs With Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

Save time by making crowd-pleasing Turkey-Cheddar Kabobs the night before. The kabobs are easy to pick up and eat even if you don't have a plate handy.

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