Football season has officially kicked off, and we’ve rounded up the best appetizers to accompany your watch party. These bites include healthier twists on classic game day appetizers, with seasonal flavors like mushrooms and spinach. Recipes like our Baked Buffalo Chicken Wings and Creamy Cauliflower-Jalapeño Dip are ready in just three steps or less, so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time rooting for your favorite team.
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Hot Honey-Harissa Chicken Bites
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Keoshia McGhee.
These flavorful chicken bites bring the perfect balance of sweet heat to your table. They make a bold appetizer for game day, a party snack or even a quick weeknight dinner when served over rice or alongside a crisp salad. With just the right mix of sweet, savory and spicy, these chicken bites are sure to disappear fast.
Salmon Roll-Ups
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower.
These salmon roll-ups are a fun, bite-size appetizer that’s both tasty and elegant. Each roll delivers a burst of savory flavor with a hint of fresh herbs and lemon. These roll-ups are perfect for entertaining, since they look impressive but come together in minutes. They’re also a great protein-packed snack you can enjoy anytime.
High-Protein Caesar Dip
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
This versatile high-protein dip is the perfect companion for your favorite veggies. Made with Greek-style yogurt and sour cream and blended with Parmesan cheese and Worcestershire sauce, it’s reminiscent of the flavors in Caesar salad dressing. Whether served as an appetizer or a quick snack, this protein-packed Caesar dip makes eating more veggies effortless.
Whipped Feta with Beets, Pistachios & Honey
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Nicole Hopper, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong
This whipped feta is a delicious appetizer that comes together in only 15 minutes. Red beets and green pistachios provide some holiday flair, while a drizzle of honey contributes a sweet note to the savory whipped feta spread. A pinch of Aleppo pepper adds a touch of heat and mild fruitiness that enhances the dish. If you don’t have Aleppo pepper, you can use a mix of sweet paprika and a touch of cayenne or crushed red pepper for a similar flavor profile. Serve with your favorite crackers or veggies.
French Onion Stuffed Mushrooms
Photographer: Brittney Cottrell, Food stylist: Isabelle Easter, Prop Stylist: Keoshia McGhee.
Inspired by classic French onion soup, these stuffed mushrooms pack the rich, savory flavors of caramelized onions, melted Gruyère and a hint of sherry vinegar into a bite-size appetizer. A quick broil gives the tops their golden, bubbly finish. Garnished with fresh thyme, they’re the perfect addition to holiday spreads, dinner parties or anytime you want a warm, crowd-pleasing starter.
High-Protein Spinach Dip
Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Annie Probst, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek
This spinach dip recipe gives the classic appetizer a high-protein twist. In addition to contributing plenty of protein, using cottage cheese and feta instead of cream cheese and Cheddar cuts back on saturated fat and calories. Serve this easy dip as a side dish, appetizer or snack with whole-grain bread and veggies for dipping.
Whipped Feta Honey Toast
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling
This whipped feta toast gets a drizzle of honey and a sprinkling of your favorite fresh herbs. This easy appetizer takes only 10 minutes, making it perfect for last-minute guests. Using a food processor gives the feta mixture a light and airy texture. You can mix it by hand for the same great flavor with a coarser texture.
Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip
This healthy Buffalo chicken dip is one quick appetizer to remember for your next Super Bowl party (or any party). A simple mixture of reduced-fat sour cream and reduced-fat cream cheese is baked with shredded chicken breast and the classic spicy-tangy hot sauce with a crumble of blue cheese on top. It’s perfect for heaping onto celery and carrot sticks or any other crispy vegetable.
Baked Buffalo Chicken Wings
Jennifer Causey
These are the best baked chicken wings around. Cooking the wings in the oven, not the fryer, reduces fat and calories. Just like the original Buffalo wings, these baked Buffalo wings are coated in a tangy, spicy sauce and served with carrots, celery and your favorite creamy dipping sauce.
Creamy Chicken Poblano Dip
Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Addelyn Evans, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco
Scoop up this creamy chicken poblano cheese dip with tortilla chips or your favorite fresh veggies, or use it as a filling for halved baby peppers for a game-day appetizer. We like it chilled, but if you want a warm dip, spread it into a shallow baking dish and heat it in a 350°F oven for 12 minutes with a sprinkling of Cheddar cheese on top.
Buffalo-Blue Cheese Cauliflower Fritters
Jason Donnelly
These Buffalo-blue cheese cauliflower fritters have bits of blue cheese throughout, and a good amount of heat that’s tamed by a little sour cream for dipping.
Pepperoni Pizza Rolls
These cheesy baked pizza rolls with marinara dipping sauce would be fun for a casual party for kids or adults—or just for dinner! Classic pizza fillings are tucked into egg roll wrappers, which are baked—no frying required—until they’re nice and crispy on the outside. Feel free to mix up the fillings; for example, you could drop the pepperoni to make these vegetarian, or nix the mushrooms if you’re not a fan.
