35 Super Bowl Food Ideas That Are Perfect for the Big Game

Each one of these dishes is a touchdown.

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Photo:

Victor Protasio

Whether you’re genuinely interested in the game, or are just there for the commercials and the halftime show, you still need to eat on Super Bowl Sunday. With that in mind, we compiled a list of Super Bowl food ideas that includes plenty of classic game day recipes, several crowd pleasers that are anything but ordinary, and even a few sweet treats to enjoy at the end of the night. 

More specifically, you’ll find plenty of chicken wings recipes, multiple cheese-focused dishes, and some surprises such as a Sausage and Fontina Spaghetti Pie. Start scrolling through so you can plan the ultimate Super Bowl party menu!

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Mini Goat Cheese Balls

Mini Goat Cheese Cheese Balls

Victor Protasio

This no-cook appetizer, which is basically a fun take on cheese balls, is the perfect game day treat that’s a tad more elevated than your average Sunday fare. Here, softened goat cheese is seasoned with freshly ground black pepper and salt before being rolled into bite-size nibbles that are coated in fresh parsley, sesame seeds, and dried cherries that pack a tart punch.

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Skillet Chipotle-Pork Enchiladas

Skillet Chipotle-Pork Enchiladas

Victor Protasio

This comforting Mexican dish serves four, making it an ideal option for a small Super Bowl gathering or one dish that’s part of a larger spread. The time-saving trick here is to slice the corn tortillas into wedges and mix them into the sauce and filling in one dish. It cuts time both in the kitchen and during cleanup. 

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Ham and Potato Pizza

Ham and Potato Pizza
Heami Lee

This recipe from Molly Yeh is an ode to Midwestern meat and potatoes in pizza form, and the inclusion of ranch dressing means it’s automatically game day-approved. Cut the pie up into smaller pieces to feed a crowd.

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Garlic-Parmesan Chicken Wings

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Greg DuPree

Is it really Super Bowl Sunday without chicken wings? These wings are grilled, tossed in a bunch of Parmesan cheese, and topped with a garlicky parsley-lemon sauce. If you don’t have a grill, this recipe works with a broiler, too.

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Elote Jalapeño Poppers

Elote Jalapeño Poppers

Victor Protasio

In these baked jalapeño poppers, corn is mixed with cream cheese, Cotija, mayonnaise, and gut-friendly Greek yogurt for a delicious, creamy filling. Lime zest, garlic, and scallions add a touch of brightness and upgrade this popular party snack.

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Apple-Cheddar Quesadillas

Top View of Apple Cheddar Quesadillas Cut into Triangles With Spinach-Avocado Salad on the Side
Antonis Achilleos

The apple-Cheddar combo here is what sweet and savory dreams are made of, and a dollop of tangy honey mustard spread on the flour tortilla ties the whole thing together. Slice the quesadilla in several pieces for a big group, or make more than one if you’re feeding a crowd. Each one only takes 25 minutes to make.

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Hot Honey Lamb Meatballs

Hot honey lamb meatballs
Victor Protasio

Juicy meatballs take a dip in a sweet and spicy glaze made with sriracha, honey, and ground coriander. Since this recipe makes 50 meatballs, it’s a great option for game day.

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Cuban Pork Tacos With Orange Slaw

Citrus Recipes: Cuban Pork Tacos With Orange Slaw
Caitlin Bensel

For a Super Bowl dish you can prepare in advance, give these flavorful tacos a try. Simply slow-cook the pork the day before you plan to eat it, and broil it just before serving. The meat is paired with shredded cabbage, black beans, and fresh cilantro for a pop of freshness.

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Artichoke Dip

Artichoke Dip Recipe
Caitlin Bensel

Chips and dip are a Super Bowl staple, and this one doesn’t disappoint. Here, marinated artichoke hearts are the star, and Greek yogurt takes the place of the standard mayonnaise, cream cheese, and sour cream trio.

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Everything Dinner Rolls

everything dinner rolls

Christopher Testani

Everyone loves a roll, and these Everything Dinner Rolls have, well, everything. Each roll (which you can buy frozen) is topped with homemade honey butter and everything bagel seasoning for a sweet and savory punch.

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Smoked Gouda and Pepper Cheese Puffs

Smoked gouda pepper cheese puffs
Victor Protasio

A subtle smokiness and just the right amount of pepper make these tender-on-the-inside, crispy-on-the-outside bites utterly irresistible. This recipe yields 48 cheese puffs, which means everyone can come back for seconds, or maybe even thirds.

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Cheesy Chile Pull-Apart Bread

Cheesy Chile Pull-Apart Bread
Jennifer Causey

The secret to stellar pull-apart bread is in the cross-hatch slicing method, which allows you to tuck cheese and other fillings into every bite. Here, the filling includes spicy pepper Jack cheese, green chile, and garlic butter.

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Garlic and Parsley Shoestring Fries

Parsley Shoestring Fries
Victor Protasio

For an app or side that requires almost no effort, give these fries a go. While you can make French fries from scratch, this recipe calls for a package of frozen shoestring fries instead. The “work” is in creating an easy yet delicious parsley and garlic mixture to toss the fries in, giving them that restaurant-quality taste. Serve ‘em with sliders or chicken wings and you’re all set!

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Slow Cooker Mexican Beef Sliders

Slow Cooker Mexican Beef Sliders Recipe
Caitlin Bensel

Dust off your slow cooker for this recipe, so that it can cook the beef just right. Once the meat is moist and tender, you’ll shred it and pile it onto slider buns with a quick slaw and pickled jalapeños for a kick of heat and acid. Easy enough, right?

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Crab Cake Sliders With Capers

Crab Cake Sliders Recipe
Caitlin Bensel

While sliders are typically made with beef, this recipe proves that those made with different types of protein are just as delicious. Here, lump crabmeat is made into a patty that’s held together with crushed saltines, while a topping of briny capers adds an acidic punch.

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Pollo Guisado Chicken Wings

German Dominican Chicken Wing
Eric Wolfinger

These flavorful chicken wings are a childhood favorite of Dominican-American chef Nelson German. Instead of the typical barbecue or Buffalo sauce, these wings are infused with Latin American flavors such as smoked paprika, ground cumin, and fresh cilantro leaves.

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Chicago-Style Deep-Dish Pizza With Smoked Mozzarella

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Greg DuPree

For a rich option that will keep your guests satiated, we recommend this deep-dish pizza. The key to making this beloved dish at home is using a butter-coated cast-iron skillet and then dusting it with cornmeal. This makes for a crisp crust with rich flavor.

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Cheesy Chile Dip

Cheesy Chile Dip
Victor Protasio

This dip is basically a cheesy mixture of five different peppers—perfect for a party, game day, or a comfort food weekend treat. And though it might not seem like it, this dish is also surprisingly versatile. If you want to ramp up the heat, swap in pepper Jack for the Monterey, or toss in a serrano pepper. To make a milder version, go with sweet peppers instead of spicy ones.

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Sausage and Fontina Spaghetti Pie

Sausage and Fontina Spaghetti Pie

Victor Protasio

Yes, this spaghetti pie is as decadent as it looks. Creamy vodka sauce joins flavorful Italian sausage, kale, and fragrant sage, while eggs and rich fontina cheese bind everything together. If you whip up this savory pie, your guests certainly won’t leave hungry.

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French Onion Soup Bites

French Onion Soup Bites

Victor Protasio

Who says your Super Bowl spread can’t have a touch of elegance? These jammy, crispy, cheesy bites taste just like the soup they are named after, and come together in about an hour. Plus, each recipe yields 30 bites, which is perfect for a big group.

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Stovetop Bacon Lasagna

Stovetop Bacon Lasagna Recipe
Greg DuPree

This skillet lasagna is the kind of dish that looks like it took hours to prepare, but really comes together in a matter of minutes. Rather than meticulously layer lasagna noodles with cheese and sauce, you'll create a layered version with all the classic ingredients of a standard lasagna. Bacon bits add a smokiness you likely didn’t know you were missing.

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Crockpot Pulled-Pork Tacos

Slow-Cooker Pulled-Pork Tacos
Kan Kanbayashi

Put your Crockpot to work and whip up these pulled-pork tacos. The pork cooks for hours with a combination of salsa, chili powder, oregano, and cocoa, yielding tender meat that's destined to be tucked into a warm tortilla. Top each one with cilantro, sour cream, and extra salsa, and you’re good to go.

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Many-Cheese Cheese Ball

Many Cheese Cheese Ball
Victor Protasio

Cheese lovers will thank you for this appetizer, which is basically a variety of cheeses ranging from soft to firm in texture that have been processed with cream cheese, wine, and pepper. The mixture is then shaped into a ball and coated with herbs to create an eye-catching starter.

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Cherry-Bourbon Chicken Wings

Chicken wings recipes - Cherry Bourbon chicken wings tout
Victor Protasio

If you prefer your chicken wings saucy, sweet, and sour, bookmark this recipe ASAP. These wings are bathed in a Bourbon sauce that includes tart cherries, and then grilled to perfection for the ultimate game day offering. Serve ‘em with coleslaw and potato salad to complete the spread.

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Lemonade Fried Chicken

Lemonade Fried Chicken
Heami Lee

For a crispier take on chicken, fried chicken is the way to go. Here, the drumsticks and thighs are brined in a mixture that includes lemon juice, hot sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, cumin, and sugar, and the result is savory, tender meat.

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Mini Twice-Baked Loaded Potatoes

Mini Twice-Baked Loaded Potatoes
Grace Elkus

Twice-baked potatoes are an underrated dinner: They're creamy, cheesy, and seriously comforting. To transform them into a party-ready snack, we piled the filling into tiny new potatoes (instead of the traditional Idaho or russet). We added sharp Cheddar cheese, chopped chives, and a sprinkling of bacon to give them the flavor of loaded potato skins. Your guests won’t be disappointed.

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Slow-Cooker Black Bean and Zucchini Chili

Slow-Cooker Black Bean and Zucchini Chili
Anna Williams

Chili is a game day classic for a reason. This version is made in a slow cooker and calls for canned fire-roasted tomatoes, ground beef, black beans, zucchini, and a handful of other ingredients. Top every bowl with sour cream, cut-up avocado, and chopped fresh cilantro, and settle in to watch the game.

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Buffalo Cauliflower With Yogurt Ranch

For this recipe for buffalo cauliflower with yogurt ranch, Cauliflower florets are roasted for a healthier take on the bar snack favorite, and then tossed with a buffalo sauce spiked with just a touch of butter.
Victor Protasio

This vegetarian dish has all the flavor of Buffalo chicken wings, but without the meat. Cauliflower stands in for chicken here, and manages to soak up all of the saucy goodness. What really brings this recipe home is the yogurt ranch that gets drizzled on top. For a vegan version, nix the butter and use this plant-based ranch recipe instead.

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Vegan Queso

Vegan-queso-recipe
Getty Images

Your plant-based pals will thank you for this dip, which gets its velvety smooth, creamy texture from cashew cream. Green chiles, chipotle pepper, and cumin seeds, layer in warming, crave-worthy complexity. To truly get that cheesy flavor, add a sprinkle of nutritional yeast to the mix. 

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Summer Nachos

Summer Nachos
Greg DuPree

These vegetarian nachos are loaded with juicy corn, melted cheese, and a tangy avocado cream. If you can’t find fresh corn, feel free to use the frozen stuff instead. You can also add your own toppings, such as chopped bell peppers, beans, and more.

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Mushroom and Corn Tacos

Mushroom Corn Tacos
Greg DuPree

Meaty mushrooms are paired with sweet, lightly charred corn to create a meat-free taco filling that doesn’t disappoint. Just add salsa, hot sauce, or pico de gallo to top them off.

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Swiss Chard Mac and Cheese

Swiss Chard Mac and Cheese
Caitlin Bensel

Mac and cheese is a game day favorite, and this one comes together on the stovetop in less than 30 minutes. With a mix of mozzarella and Parmesan and plenty of Swiss chard, there’s nothing boring about this dish. Keep things easy by letting your guests help themselves to a serving straight from the skillet.

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Apple Pie Skillet Cake

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 ANTONIS ACHILLEOS

If you need a dessert that can easily serve a crowd, consider this skillet cake. Made with mostly pantry staples and a handful of apples, this sweet treat is easier to make than apple pie and just as (if not more so) delicious. Take a pint of vanilla ice cream out of the freezer in the third quarter and let guests top their own slice.

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Cookies and Cream Cheesecake Brownies

Cookies and Cream Cheesecake Brownies

Not for the faint of heart, this rich brownie batter has a layer of creamy cheesecake mixture, which is then topped with whole Oreos. It’s a great way to end the night, and is bound to be a hit with kids and adults alike.

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Brigadeiros

Holiday Brigadeiros

These Brazilian bites make for an easy dessert for a crowd. To get them Super Bowl-ready, roll them in sprinkles that coordinate with the colors of each team. If you prefer a topping that’s a bit more flavorful, shredded coconut, or very finely crushed nuts, like pistachios, pecans, or walnuts, work as well.

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