A Super Bowl party is about more than the game. There’s the epic commercials, of course, along with the halftime performance and good beer.
But the most important thing is the food. We’ve rounded up 32 healthier versions of all the faves, including dips, wings, chili, and brownies (with plenty of vegan options).
As for the suds, up your Super Bowl party game by serving craft beer made in the city you’re rooting for.
1. Herb-marinated chicken skewers with harissa
These easy-to-assemble skewers are made from boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into cubes and marinated in fresh rosemary, thyme, and oregano.
Dip them in an intensely red harissa sauce made from jarred roasted red peppers, hot Thai chile, spices, lemon, and olive oil.
2. Simple healthy wings
A televised sports gathering without wings is a dud. Yes, we said it. These super simple wings are baked at a high temperature to get ’em crispy.
This blogger serves them with a homemade Paleo Buffalo sauce. We add carrots, celery sticks, and extra hot sauce.
3. Pesto and turkey cucumber roll-ups
Cucumber is the wrap for these easy make-ahead rolls with fresh red pepper, spinach, turkey, and pesto. To get the cukes paper-thin, you can use a mandoline (carefully) or a vegetable peeler with a wide blade.
4. Chipotle chicken chocolate chili
Try saying that three times fast!
This smoky chili gets its rich depth from unsweetened cocoa powder. In addition to flavor, cocoa packs a nutritional punch: One tablespoon has 7 percent of the daily value of fiber and 8 percent of the daily value of iron.
It’s also rich in polyphenols, and studies suggest it could have health benefits like lowering blood pressure.
5. Chipotle chicken sweet potato skins
This recipe tackles a notorious carby snack and turns the game around (see what we did there?).
Swap in sweet potatoes for their white counterparts and top them with spicy chipotle chicken and chickpeas. Layer on spinach and grated cheese, and then bake until melted. Save yourself one before they all disappear.
6. Homemade Paleo pigs in a blanket
These are always a fan favorite. Be sure to use good-quality nitrate-free chicken, pork, or beef hot dogs and wrap them in triangles of a homemade gluten-free dough that bakes up soft and flaky.
7. Cauliflower pizza bites
We called upon the mini muffin tin yet again to make our life Instagrammable. And our friend cauliflower steps in for the pizza crust in these Paleo goodies.
You can use chicken or pork sausage in these. Serve them warm, with a bowl of pizza sauce for dipping. Warning: They’ll go quickly.
8. Zucchini and ricotta tzatziki bruschetta
Your veggie-loving friends will dig this unusual zucchini bruschetta. Ricotta mixed with shredded cucumbers creates a thicker, less tangy version of tzatziki we can’t get enough of.
9. Individual nachos
Homemade bean dip, salsa, guac, and shredded cheese create individual nacho nests. They’re easier to serve than a plate of melty, stuck-together nachos, and a bunch of hands won’t be touching every chip (it’s flu season, after all).
Remember to pick up bags of whole-grain or otherwise healthier chips.
10. Roasted corn and cheese dip
This warm and gooey dip gets a healthy boost from Greek yogurt and veggies — corn, red bell pepper, onion, and jalapeño.
11. Baked mozzarella sticks
Deep-frying at home isn’t something most of us want to do. These mozzarella sticks are baked until their panko-herb crust turns golden brown and the cheese reaches a perfect melty yet dippable consistency.
Serve with marinara sauce or sriracha for a spicy kick.
12. Apple and brie quesadillas
Quesadillas are a winner at any gathering, and they’re easy to make. We searched the web for a fun mix of ’dilla fillings and fell in love with this green and fruity combo.
Apple slices and arugula join gooey cheese between crisp, golden tortillas (we use whole-wheat). Put this in the “healthyish” category.
13. Herbed “cheese” crostini
These spreadable yogurt balls get their flavor from garlic, fresh herbs, and lemon zest. The time consuming part of this recipe is waiting for the yogurt to strain.
Spread the tangy yogurt cheese onto slices of toasted whole-grain baguette or serve with crudités. We love the yogurt because of its nutritional profile. Just 1 cup contains 8.5 grams of protein.
14. Ginger and garlic shrimp
Everyone always gathers around the shrimp at a Super Bowl party, so why not jazz ’em up? These grilled shrimp are marinated in herbs, ginger, and garlic.
They take just 5 minutes to grill, and you can do it ahead of time. Serve at room temperature with the tangy lemongrass-tomato chutney.
15. Baked coconut shrimp
Shrimp are a Super Bowl favorite. These make-ahead baked shrimp have an unsweetened coconut crust and are waaay healthier than the deep-fried versions at chain restaurants.
Apricot jam is the base for the sweet and spicy dipping sauce — look for a jam that lists the fruit as the first ingredient and sugar as the second.
Bonus: A 3-ounce serving of jumbo shrimp (four or five shrimp) has about 7 grams of protein. Keep in mind that shrimp are naturally high in sodium.
16. Spicy popcorn
Popcorn gets a spicy upgrade here, with cayenne, cumin, and paprika flavoring the melted butter that gets drizzled over the bowl.
17. Vegan jalapeño poppers
Bring a platter of these to a Super Bowl party and you’ll definitely be on the invite list again next year, even if you were yelling real loud about that interception.
Vegan cream cheese flavored with smoky chipotle chile fills each jalapeño half. Breadcrumbs make a toasty topping as they bake.
18. Healthier Rice Krispies treats
These vegan treats don’t have marshmallows, which normally contain gelatin (made from animal bones). Instead, the recipe swaps in brown rice syrup and peanut butter.
These treats do contain a fair amount of sweetener, so you’ll want to watch how many you grab at the party.
19. 7-ingredient vegan stuffed mushrooms
These baby ’bellas are stuffed with nutritious black rice and walnuts and topped with vegan Parm. Plus, they look adorable together on a plate, which is always a bonus in our book.
20. Vegan pigs in a blanket
Swap in baby carrots for the mini hot dogs and wrap them in puff pastry. Now you’ve got the cutest, tastiest snack on the table — especially if you call them “snuggy bunnies.”
21. Mini tortilla taco cups
Everyone’s on the side of this team of cute one-bite vegetarian tacos. With avocado, corn, red pepper, and Greek yogurt, this light, veggie-filled snack looks and tastes amazing.
22. Spicy roasted chickpeas
Bowls of nibbles are an important part of any Super Bowl party. Instead of fried chips, put out a bowl of these winners. They’re easy to make, and the cayenne pepper delivers just the right amount of kick.
23. Sun-dried tomato hummus
Hummus is a classic party snack, but it’s time to do away with the store-bought stuff. This colorful version is made from pantry staples.
In this recipe, canned chickpeas whirl up with a jar of sun-dried tomatoes and a little tomato paste. Serve with your favorite whole-grain chips, pita, or veggie sticks.
We cheer for chickpeas because 200 grams (1/2 cup) contains 8.2 grams of protein and 7.3 grams of fiber.
24. Zucchini fries
We know, we know — fries are supposed to be made out of potatoes. But we promise the Parmesan crust does an excellent job of hiding the green of the zucchini. We love to dip them in fresh tomato sauce.
25. Chips and broccomole
Guacamole is an instant win, but this brocco-mole changes the game. There are no avocados in the recipe; instead, it’s vitamin-C rich broccoli. We blend it with full fat cream cheese, not the low fat stuff.
As if the deliciousness of this dip weren’t enough to convince you, the FDA says just 1 cup of broccoli has over 200 percent of the daily recommended value of vitamin C.
26. Caesar bites
Salad may sound like a Super Bowl party fumble, but we’ll let you in on a secret: You can eat this salad with your hands.
Transform a classic Caesar into finger food by spooning it onto endive spears. Top it with freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano and whole-wheat croutons.
27. Sweet pea crostini
Bring something a little different to the party with this quickly assembled snack. Season blanched peas (frozen ones are fine) with lime juice, garlic, olive oil, cumin, salt, pepper, and fresh cilantro. Then mash them to a course texture.
Spread on slices of whole-wheat baguette and sprinkle with toasted chia seeds and shredded Pecorino. We’re in love.
28. Individual 7-layer dip
How awesome are these dips for one? This is your chance to get truly creative with layered ingredients in clear glasses or jars (we’re not using plastic these days).
Pair with whole-grain tortilla chips and sub plain Greek yogurt for sour cream. Go ahead, double-dip.
29. Sweet potato Parmesan tots
These tots use sweet potato in place of the usual white taters. They have a crunchy panko crust on the outside and cheesy, sweet deliciousness inside. To heat things up, this recipe also includes an easy homemade sriracha ketchup.
30. Strawberry footballs
Talk about a dessert that scores. These are so cute you might not want to eat them. Wait… who are we kidding? We adapt this recipe by using dark chocolate with at least 70 percent cacao.
31. Rainbow fruit skewers with yogurt sauce
It doesn’t get much simpler than this, folks. These rainbow-colored skewers are totally customizable, healthy, fresh, and quick to assemble.
Choose your favorite fruits, and then dip them in a mixture of honey and plain yogurt. Add a dash of cinnamon if you’re feeling spicy.
32. No-bake brownies
Vegan, gluten-free, and no-bake? Count us in! Nuts, dates, and cocoa powder transform into squares of sweet deliciousness. Plus, no-bake means that’s one less thing to think about on game day.
Bottom line
A Super Bowl party needs snacks, and these crunchy, gooey, salty, and sweet versions of our favorites will make football fans cheer for healthy ingredients. On game day, your guests will consider you the true all-star.
