48 Best Appetizers To Serve At Your 2023 Super Bowl Party

While the Super Bowl is perhaps not an occasion to enjoy the finest of white tablecloth dining, let's be honest: Is there really any other way you would want to enjoy game day besides noshing on some absolutely delicious — and often indulgent — finger foods, snacks, and appetizers? Whether you're a diehard football fan or someone who's just in it for the grub, a table full of tasty bites such as nachos, chicken wings, and an assortment of spreads, dips, and salsas is difficult for anyone to turn down.

When you gather with friends and family to watch the game, you can go above and beyond these standard offerings — offering guests (or toting along to your hosts) less run-of-the-mill snacks, such as fried seafood, stuffed mushrooms, and bright salads. Here, then, are 50 yummy appetizers that are sure to be a hit at your Super Bowl party — no matter which team you're rooting for.

1. Herby Pigs In A Blanket

A perennial hit among kids, pigs in a blanket are loved by adults too. This straightforward version takes the classic pastry-wrapped cocktail frank and adds a simple yet flavorful herb butter, which gets brushed on top of the rolled-up dogs before they go into the oven. Once perfectly golden brown, the warm, delicious pigs in a blanket are ready to be dipped in garlic aioli, ranch dressing, or ketchup.

Recipe: Herby Pigs In A Blanket

2. Homemade Pepperoni Stromboli

Basically a cross between a pizza and a calzone, this stromboli is made by rolling out prepared pizza dough, spreading jarred or homemade pizza sauce, sprinkling grated mozzarella cheese, and placing slices of pepperoni and salami. Once rolled up into a neat log, it's brushed with egg wash and sprinkled with oregano and additional cheese. After a quick bake, the fragrant stromboli is sliced and served with sauce for dipping.

Recipe: Homemade Pepperoni Stromboli

3. Crispy Baked Chicken Wings

Perhaps the most classic game day snack ever, chicken wings typically have to be deep-fried to achieve that crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside texture we all adore. For those who would rather be watching the game than dealing with the messiness of breading and frying each wing, this oven-baked version is just the ticket.

Simply seasoned with salt and pepper, the wings get a quick turn in a 400-degree Fahrenheit oven and then are brushed with a barbecue sauce-based glaze. Another round of baking crisps the wings right up, making them ready to be devoured.

Recipe: Crispy Baked Chicken Wings

4. Homemade Crab Rangoon

Crab rangoon is a beloved Chinese-American appetizer that started to show up on restaurant menus in the 1940s (via Gastro Obscura). Still a hit among diners today, the deep-fried treats are the perfect snack to make at home for game day.

To do so, you'll take pre-made wonton skins and fold them around a soft filling of imitation crab, softened cream cheese, scallions, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and sugar. Once the wontons are fried in hot oil and drained, they're ready to be dipped in sweet-and-sour sauce.

Recipe: Homemade Crab Rangoon

5. Walking Taco

If you've ever attended a tailgate party in the Southwest, you've probably come across the delicacy known as a walking taco. Consisting of seasoned ground beef that's spooned into an opened bag of corn chips and topped with common taco fixin's, a walking taco can — somewhat messily, it should be noted — be enjoyed as you stroll around catching up with friends.

Walking tacos are just as tasty when eaten while sitting down, and are a great choice to dig into when you're plopped on the couch watching the game. Our version features flavor-packed toppings, including a garlic-cilantro crema and a simple pico de gallo. The addition of shredded lettuce and cheddar as well as smashed avocado makes for a surprisingly complete and totally delicious meal-in-a-bag experience.

Recipe: Walking Taco

6. Fig Baked Brie

If there's anything more delicious than rich, creamy Brie cheese, it's warm, gooey baked Brie. A common party appetizer that's sometimes wrapped in pastry and sometimes not, this quick and easy recipe takes the latter approach: simply scoring the Brie and brushing it with a mixture of olive oil and honey.

Once it's loaded with sliced fresh figs, the cheese is baked until it's oozing inside. Topped with chopped pecans and a little bit of extra honey, the stunning Brie is ready to be gobbled up with crackers or toasted slices of baguette.

Recipe: Fig Baked Brie

7. Crispy And Crunchy Fried Calamari

A tasty starter that we normally reserve for restaurant dining, fried calamari is a great choice to make at home too. In this simple recipe, the rings and tentacles of the squid are soaked in buttermilk, drained, and then tossed into seasoned flour. The calamari pieces are fried in plenty of hot oil until they're delectably crisp. Set out some lemon wedges for spritzing and some warm marinara for dipping — and you might feel like you're at your favorite Italian-American restaurant.

Recipe: Crispy And Crunchy Fried Calamari

8. Crave-Worthy Guacamole

There's just nothing like a big bowl of chips with a generous amount of guac on game day — and that's where this delicious dip comes in. Delivering big on flavor and texture, the guacamole utilizes mashed avocados, chopped tomatoes, onions, and cilantro. Fresh lime juice harmonizes all the flavors, and some minced garlic and a tiny hit of cayenne pepper add a little extra oomph.

Recipe: Crave-Worthy Guacamole

9. Classic Chicken Tenders

If there are any kids present at your game day feast — or kids at heart, for that matter — then these homemade chicken tenders are sure to be a hit. To make them, chicken breasts are sliced into tenders, marinated in a buttermilk mixture for two hours, and then coated generously in seasoned flour. After the tenders are fried, they can be served with ranch dressing, barbecue sauce, or sweet-and-sour sauce for dipping.

Recipe: Classic Chicken Tenders

10. Soft Baked Pretzel

The highlight of many a mall visit, soft baked pretzels are warm, fluffy, and yeasty twists of heaven. And with this at-home recipe from Tasting Table's Miriam Hahn, you don't have to drive anywhere to get one. The pretzels come together within a few hours and are sure to win hearts at any football watch party.

To make the pretzels, you'll knead an activated yeast mixture into flour and butter, using either your hands or the hook attachment of a stand mixer. When the dough comes together, it will rise for an hour, then get divided into eight equal pieces that you'll roll into ropes. Those ropes get twisted into a classic pretzel shape, then boiled in water laced with baking soda, which helps to achieve a chewy texture. Finally, the pretzels are baked, brushed with melted butter, and served warm with mustard, pimento cheese, or any of the other cheese dips included in this roundup.

Recipe: Soft Baked Pretzel

11. Creamy Buffalo Chicken Dip

Love Buffalo wings? Don't we all? Hate the mess of sticky, spicy sauce getting all over you as you chow down on them? We do too. That's where this tasty dip comes in: A creamy mix of shredded cooked chicken and cheddar, cream cheese, Buffalo sauce, and ranch dressing, it contains all the flavors of your favorite wings — but with none of the mess. After it's baked in an ovenproof dish, the warm cheesy dip is served with carrot and celery sticks — natch — as well as tortilla chips or any kind of snack you fancy.

Recipe: Creamy Buffalo Chicken Dip

12. Panko Fried Shrimp

Fried seafood is a winner with many types of palates — and these crispy fried shrimp are certainly no exception. The recipe starts with peeled, deveined shrimp that are floured, dipped in beaten eggs, and then coated in panko breadcrumbs. They're fried, drained, and then served with lemon wedges and condiments like tartar sauce or aioli.

Recipe: Panko Fried Shrimp

13. Simple Creamy Hummus

You can't go wrong offering a classic hummus as part of any chips-and-dips spread — and we think this creamy version is an excellent contender. Coming together in just five minutes, this recipe is a mix of canned chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt. Once it's blended in a food processor and transferred to a serving bowl, the dip is topped with a few chickpeas, a drizzle of olive oil, and a dash of paprika, if desired. It goes perfectly with pita and crunchy vegetables like carrots or celery.

Recipe: Simple Creamy Hummus

14. Fire-Roasted Salsa

Given that chips are sure to be at your game day gathering, we think it's worth going the extra mile to serve a homemade salsa as opposed to a store-bought one. This recipe is ideal for harried hosts — only a little prep is needed before the salsa is ready to sit in the fridge. It starts with two cans of fire-roasted tomatoes, which lend a smoky flavor similar to that of more labor-intensive salsas made from skillet-charred veggies.

Once those cans are drained and added to a blender or food processor, in go the other ingredients: onion, garlic, jalapeño, cilantro, lime zest and juice, honey, cumin, salt, and oregano. After everything is blended to the texture of your choice and chilled to allow the flavors to meld, the salsa is ready to welcome any tortilla, potato, or pita chip.

Recipe: Fire-Roasted Salsa

15. Vegetarian Egg Rolls

Chowing down on a yummy egg roll is often one of the highlights of a Chinese takeout meal — but who says the crispy appetizer can't be enjoyed as part of a Super Bowl spread too? Prepare to delight your guests with a homemade batch that tastes just like the restaurant version. In this recipe, cabbage, shiitake mushrooms, and carrots are sautéed and seasoned with garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and pepper. This filling is rolled up inside store-bought egg roll wrappers, and all the rolls are fried in hot oil and drained before serving. To fully enjoy the bites, pair them with hoisin or duck sauce.

Recipe: Vegetarian Egg Rolls

16. Crispy-Edged Smashed Potatoes

If you've never tried smashing potatoes before you roast them, you're missing out: With all the extra surface area, the spuds crisp up even more, forming all kinds of crunchy nooks and crannies perfect for soaking up your dip of choice.

To do so, you must first parboil new potatoes until tender, toss them with oil and seasonings, and lay them out on a baking sheet. You'll use a heavy glass cup or jar to smash the potatoes flat, then brush on more oil and add more seasoning. After a trip inside a 425-degree Fahrenheit oven, the crunchy, golden potato discs are ready to be plated with a topping of chopped herbs and a side of ranch, blue cheese dressing, or aioli.

Recipe: Crispy-Edged Smashed Potatoes

17. Slow Cooker Spinach And Artichoke Dip

Spinach and artichoke just might be part of one of the best dip variations out there — a creamy, cheesy concoction that's delectable warm or cold.

This straightforward version is made in a slow cooker, so it requires little hands-on attention and can even be served right from the cooking vessel if you want to keep it warm while folks are helping themselves throughout the evening. Featuring cream cheese, Greek yogurt, mozzarella, and Parmesan, this recipe is studded with chunks of artichoke hearts and wilted baby spinach. Serve the popular dip with pita triangles, crostini, or crudités — or go wild and set out all three!

Recipe: Slow Cooker Spinach And Artichoke Dip

18. The Best Irish Nachos

Irish... nachos? Bear with us here. Taking its name from the famed Irish love for the spud, this dish swaps in thin, crispy slices of baked potatoes for tortilla chips. Other than that, the recipe is fairly similar to how you probably picture nachos — with the "chips" layered in an ovenproof dish and topped with your choice of canned or homemade chili and plenty of shredded cheddar. After they're baked until the cheese melts, the nachos are topped with guacamole, sour cream, pickled jalapeños, and chopped green onions and cilantro.

Recipe: The Best Irish Nachos

19. Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers

Typically composed of stuffed, battered chiles that are then deep-fried, jalapeño poppers are craveable appetizers — but they're a bit too messy and time-consuming to make for a Super Bowl party. Not so with this easy recipe, which calls upon the trusty air fryer to churn out a tray of delicious, cream cheese-stuffed bites with none of the hassle that comes from frying.

To make them, halved peppers are stuffed with a smooth mix of cream cheese, shredded cheddar, and other flavorful mix-ins, then topped with buttered panko breadcrumbs. A trip to the air fryer leaves the filling piping hot, with a crispy crust on top. A side of ranch or blue cheese dressing is a must-have accompaniment to these poppers.

Recipe: Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers

20. Instant Pot Hummus

Hummus seems to be a ubiquitous party side, taking its place among cheese platters and heaps of crudités as people get ready for the main event with lots of crunching and munching. And as convenient as supermarket hummus can be, nothing compares to homemade versions using dried chickpeas — but those recipes tend to require more foresight since the garbanzos have to be soaked.

If you've gotten a last-minute invitation to a Super Bowl viewing and want to bring a homemade appetizer, then this Instant Pot version could save the day, utilizing dried chickpeas but taking just about an hour from start to finish, thanks to the handy appliance's pressure cooking function.

Recipe: Instant Pot Hummus

21. Simple Stuffed Mushrooms

Stuffed mushroom caps are a classic finger food that's perfect for any party, and since our recipe is vegetarian, it's a good offering for any football fans who don't eat meat.

To make the appetizer, the stems are removed from cremini mushrooms, leaving just the caps, which are de-gilled to make room for the tasty stuffing. Made from the diced stems, chopped artichoke hearts, spinach, onion, and garlic, the veggie mix is sautéed before mayo, grated Parmesan, smoked paprika, and other seasonings are mixed in. The filling is piled onto the mushroom caps, and then the bites are baked. Once they're out of the oven, they are ready to be served with an optional garnish of chopped fresh parsley.

Recipe: Simple Stuffed Mushrooms

22. Reuben Egg Rolls

If you love Chinese egg rolls as well as the towering corned-beef-and-Swiss sandwich known as the Reuben, then this inventive appetizer was made for you. The egg roll wrappers are stuffed — not with shredded veggies but with a mix of sauerkraut, corned beef, and Swiss cheese — and then sealed shut. After the bites are fried to crispy perfection, they're drained and served with a side of Thousand Island dressing for dipping.

Recipe: Reuben Egg Rolls

23. Halloumi Fries

A diner classic up there with milkshakes and patty melts, mozzarella sticks are a deep-fried delight that begs to be dipped in a little marinara and washed down with a cold Coke (or beer). Delicious in its own right, the cheesy starter gets a sophisticated twist in this recipe, which features the squeaky Cypriot cheese halloumi.

In the dish, the mild cheese is cut into "fries" that are floured, dipped into an egg wash, breaded in panko, and then baked until golden brown and crispy. Whether dipped in marinara, ketchup, mayo, or sweet chili sauce, they're not likely to last long on your game day table.

Recipe: ​​Halloumi Fries

24. Air Fryer Spicy Shrimp

Air fryer to the rescue, yet again! In this recipe, the handy countertop appliance transforms frozen cooked shrimp that are coated with Cajun-seasoned breadcrumbs into a delightfully crispy appetizer — no messy oil required.

And the dish comes together in no time. Once the breaded shrimp are laid out in the fryer basket, they are cooked for about six minutes per side. Then, they're ready for dipping in an easy sour cream sauce flavored with lime, garlic powder, and cilantro.

Recipe: Air Fryer Spicy Shrimp

25. Cowboy Caviar

If you've never heard of cowboy caviar, it's basically a mild, chunky salsa or bean salad that goes wonderfully with tortilla chips. We think the dish makes a great addition to any kind of homemade nachos too!

The dip typically consists of black beans, black-eyed peas, corn kernels, and other vegetables — all tossed in a tangy dressing. In our recipe, we use a simple lemon vinaigrette sweetened with honey and add avocados for extra freshness and richness.

Recipe: Cowboy Caviar

26. Pineapple Salsa

It's a wide world of salsas: The fresh, spicy condiment is available in loads of varieties, going beyond the popular tomato-based salsa roja, salsa verde, or chunky pico de gallo to less common types like fruit salsas.

Infinitely adaptable, this pineapple salsa is a great choice for those craving something sweet and juicy at their football gathering. It combines chopped pineapple with onion, jalapeño, garlic, and cilantro — plus, lime zest and juice to add plenty of zing. Great atop chips, the salsa also pairs nicely with any burgers or seafood bites that might be a part of the spread.

Recipe: Pineapple Salsa

27. Catfish Nuggets

Fried fish always seems to hit the spot, and luckily, these crispy little catfish nuggets aren't too complicated to make in your kitchen. Start by cutting catfish filets into little pieces, passing them through an egg wash, and coating them in seasoned cornmeal. The bites are deep-fried until they're golden brown and crunchy, which takes about three minutes per side. Serve the nuggets with lemon wedges and any dip you'd like to pair with them.

Recipe: Catfish Nuggets

28. Classic Pimento Cheese

Hailing from the South, pimento cheese is a crave-worthy dip or spread loaded with cream cheese, cheddar, and chopped pimentos — sweet red peppers you can typically find jarred at most grocery stores. This version from recipe developer Kate Shungu sticks pretty closely to the classic but also includes an ingredient to which few people can say no: bacon.

The bacon is cooked, crumbled, and mixed throughout the dip, adding a nice crunch and a smokey flavor that's further enhanced by a touch of smoked paprika. This cheese spread is a great game day snack that can be served alongside a plate of crudités and crackers.

Recipe: Classic Pimento Cheese

29. Corn Salad

A fresh salad is one of the best ways to enjoy corn, and this one features other ingredients like cherry tomatoes, red bell peppers, and basil — all coming together to create a side that goes well with any of the Super Bowl snacks you plan on serving.

Dressed in a garlicky apple cider vinaigrette and topped with tangy crumbled feta, this dish is one you'll want to make even after football season is long over.

Recipe: Corn Salad

30. Vegan Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs are the perfect appetizer for any game day gathering — unless you or your guests are vegan. Thankfully, we have a vegan interpretation that hits all of the same creamy, tangy notes.

For this eggless treat, small potatoes are boiled and then halved. A little scoop of potato gets taken out from each half, and added to a bowl where all the scoops are mashed and then mixed with mustard, vegan mayonnaise, vinegar, and turmeric. This filling is piped into the holes in the potato halves, creating an adorable egg-free snack. We top ours with smoked paprika and fresh dill, but feel free to use whatever (vegan) toppings your heart desires.

Recipe: Vegan Deviled Eggs

31. Sausage Balls With Cream Cheese

Proving once again that meatballs are always delicious, this rich and moist sausage version is sure to be a hit at your Super Bowl gathering. The recipe brings together ground sausage (mild or hot), softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar, and other ingredients to form a mixture that's rolled into 1-inch balls. After the balls are baked to a golden-brown color, they should be served warm with a sprinkle of chopped chives.

Recipe: Sausage Balls With Cream Cheese

32. Dill Pickle Hummus

Hummus is one of those classic recipes that — due to its simplicity — comes in infinite variations, from chipotle to basil pesto to roasted garlic. This fun dill pickle twist is one of our favorite takes, and it certainly doesn't hurt that it's ready to eat in just five minutes.

To make it, canned chickpeas, minced garlic, dill pickles, fresh dill, tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, cumin, and salt are blitzed in a food processor until you get a smooth, thick, and briny hummus that's perfect for spreading on crackers or crudités. Any leftovers will keep for a week in the fridge, so you can continue enjoying the dip long after your guests leave.

Recipe: Dill Pickle Hummus

33. Bacon-Wrapped Scallops

Scallops are pretty delicious on their own, but — as with most foods — they can be vastly improved by the addition of bacon. This elegant appetizer will wow your game day guests. The recipe starts with cooking some halved bacon slices in a pan just until some of the fat is rendered. The pliable strips are then wound around raw scallops and secured with toothpicks. The wrapped seafood bites are coated with a sweet and salty glaze of soy sauce and maple syrup and baked until the bacon is crisp. As a finishing touch, the pan used to cook the bacon is deglazed, creating a simple dipping sauce that's served alongside the scallops.

Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Scallops

34. Corn Fritters

If you have some cans of creamed corn on hand — or even better, leftovers from a homemade version — then these corn fritters are the perfect use for them. All you have to do is combine the corn with separated eggs (the beaten whites help keep the fritters light and airy), flour, baking powder, and some seasonings, and then fry up spoonfuls of this batter in hot oil. Once the fritters are thoroughly cooked and crispy, they're ready to be enjoyed during the Super Bowl.

Recipe: Corn Fritters

35. Whipped Feta Dip

Who doesn't love dip? It's a standard feature of game day spreads, and this particular one is suited to fans of Mediterranean flavors.

Featuring a hefty block of tangy feta cheese whipped with an equal amount of smooth cream cheese, the creamy dip is flavored with bright lemon juice and herbaceous fresh parsley. This recipe is wonderful to eat with pita wedges, baguette slices, crunchy fresh veggies, or crackers. Plus, it comes together in just five minutes, making it an ideal side dish for those last-minute invitations or spur-of-the-moment hosting plans.

Recipe: Whipped Feta Dip

36. Fritto Misto

You can't go wrong with offering fried food as part of your Super Bowl spread, but if you're looking to serve something a bit more sophisticated than corn dogs, then this elegant selection of fried seafood and veggies could be just the thing. Consisting of squid, shrimp, broccolini, fennel, delicata squash, and Meyer lemon sliced into pieces and coated in a thin (and gluten-free) rice flour batter, the tempura-like bites are fried until they're tantalizingly crispy. The pièce de résistance, in our opinion? The accompanying from-scratch Calabrian chile aioli.

Recipe: Fritto Misto

37. Charred Tomato Salsa

In Mexico, it's common to char the vegetables before blending them into a salsa — an ancient technique known as tatemar, according to food blogger Todd Gastelum. This easy extra step brings layers of smokiness and deep flavor to the recipe, which, in this case, utilizes plum tomatoes, jalapeños, garlic, and onion. The addition of cilantro, lime juice, and just a touch of agave syrup rounds out this salsa, making it a yummy side to enjoy with tortilla chips or a special condiment for burgers and hot dogs.

Recipe: Charred Tomato Salsa

38. Creamy Spinach Dip

Very few people have it within them to say no to spinach dip. This irresistibly creamy version calls for classic ingredients: spinach, cream cheese, sour cream, and plenty of flavorful mix-ins, including grated Parmesan, shredded mozzarella, and minced garlic. All the components are stirred together, packed into an ovenproof dish, topped with extra cheese, and baked until hot and gooey — resulting in a dip that's delicious atop sliced bread, crackers, or crudités.

Recipe: Creamy Spinach Dip

39. Easiest Oven Baked Crab Legs

You might think you need to visit a restaurant to feast on massive crab legs, but these tasty delicacies are actually extremely easy to make at home. King crab legs are readily available in the frozen section of supermarkets, and though they can be pricey, they make for a luxurious game day offering. In this quick recipe, crab legs are simply cut into sections, brushed with Old Bay butter, wrapped in foil, and then gently baked. Before serving, the bites are finished off with a squeeze of lemon juice and a sprinkle of chopped parsley.

Recipe: Easiest Oven Baked Crab Legs

40. Sous-Vide Barbecue Ribs

If you happen to have a sous vide machine at home, you can break it out to make tender, fall-off-the-bone baby back ribs that will delight guests at your Super Bowl party. The spice-rubbed meat goes inside vacuum-sealed bags that are submerged in water at a temperature of 155 degrees Fahrenheit for 24 hours. Afterwards, the ribs come out delectably juicy. As a final touch, each one is lacquered with barbecue sauce and lightly charred on a grill (or under a broiler).

Recipe: Sous-Vide Barbecue Ribs

41. Beer-Battered Onion Rings

Onion rings are a common steakhouse side dish — but you don't have to dine out in order to enjoy these bites. Trust us, our recipe is nowhere near as difficult or messy as you might think.

This version requires just a couple of ingredients, as well as a deep pan filled with hot oil (or a deep fryer, if you happen to own one). Thick rings of onion are dipped into a smooth beer batter seasoned with garlic powder, then fried until they're golden brown and crispy. Once they're drained on paper towels, they're ready for dunking into ketchup, mayo, or any condiment you'd like.

Recipe: Beer-Battered Onion Rings

42. Pork And Shrimp Shumai

Dim sum dishes tend to involve elaborate recipes you wouldn't want to slog through at home, but luckily, these tender, fragrant pork and shrimp shumai are an exception to the rule. To make the tasty, open-faced dumplings, ground pork, minced shrimp, and chopped shiitake mushrooms are stirred together with flavor-packed ingredients such as soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sesame oil.

The filling is then placed inside round dumpling wrappers, which then get pleated around the center. The shumai are loaded into a steamer set over simmering water, emerging juicy and succulent 10 minutes later — ready to be dipped into Chinese hot mustard and soy sauce.

Recipe: Pork And Shrimp Shumai

43. French Onion Chicken Meatballs

If you enjoy eating meatballs as well as French onion soup, then you'll adore this mashup from Tasting Table's Hayley MacLean. Featuring chicken meatballs in a rich sauce that evokes everything you love about the classic soup, this recipe is a great appetizer to set out family-style with some toothpicks and slices of baguette.

To make the dish, you'll form small meatballs from a flavorful ground chicken mixture, then bake them in the oven until they're cooked through. As that's working, you'll slowly caramelize onions and garlic on the stovetop and stir in flour and beef broth to create a sauce. Once the baked meatballs are added to the pan, you'll top them with grated Gruyère and serve them as soon as the cheese melts.

Recipe: French Onion Chicken Meatballs

44. Crispy Fluffy Hush Puppies

If you've never tried hush puppies, then the Super Bowl might be just the perfect occasion to prepare these delectable cornmeal fritters for yourself and your buddies. A Southern classic that typically accompanies fried seafood and barbecue, hush puppies are pretty easy to make at home.

In this version, cornmeal is mixed with baking powder, egg, melted butter, and a quick homemade soured milk, and flavored with garlic powder, chopped red onion, and diced jalapeño peppers. The thick batter is rolled into balls that are fried and then served with an optional garnish of dill as well as any type of dressing you prefer, like ranch or blue cheese.

Recipe: Crispy Fluffy Hush Puppies

45. Loaded Potato Skins

If you're a fan of bar snacks like wings, mozzarella sticks, and nachos, chances are, you've also crossed paths with loaded potato skins. Made from scooped-out halves of the spud piled high with rich fillings, our recipe is a nice option for Super Bowl snacking.

Loaded with the classics — crumbled bacon, cheddar cheese, and sour cream — plus, chopped red pepper (or jalapeño, if you're feeling bold), these savory potato boats are served with a sprinkle of chives and, inevitably, devoured. Depending on your audience, they might just outshine the game!

Recipe: Loaded Potato Skins

46. Classic Maryland Crab Cakes

Crab cakes on game day? Why not! These simple, flavor-packed bites are a combination of lump crab meat, mustard, Worcestershire, cream, egg, and saltine cracker crumbs. After the mixture is molded into little patties and placed on a baking sheet, each crab cake is topped with a pat of butter, then broiled until golden brown. Serve the tasty morsels with lemon wedges and maybe a little remoulade sauce, and you'll be sure to please any football fan.

Recipe: Classic Maryland Crab Cakes

47. Air Fryer Samosas

If you enjoy chowing down on fluffy naan, juicy tandoori chicken, and sweet mango chutney at your favorite Indian spot, then you might also be keen on samosas — those little pockets of crispy pastry that are usually stuffed with spiced vegetables. Though you might think of them as a takeout or dine-in treat, samosas are actually a perfect finger food that you can make at home for game day too.

Our version features a classic mix of potatoes, peas, and onions folded into prepared puff pastry, but it doesn't demand any messy hot oil — just a quick air-fry for about eight minutes total.

Recipe: Air Fryer Samosas

48. Baked Feta Dip

If you're a fan of one-pot or one-pan dishes, then this baked feta dip is for you. It involves a simple arrangement: a block of feta cheese placed in a small baking dish along with tomatoes, red bell pepper, red onions, olives, garlic, and a sprinkle of herbs. The flavorful Mediterranean ingredients are baked in a hot oven before being removed and stirred together into a creamy dip.

Ready to be served from the very dish it was baked in, this side makes a wonderful addition to any game day spread. Enjoy it with wedges of pita bread, crudités, or crackers.

Recipe: Baked Feta Dip