8 Easy Super Bowl Appetizers (Step-by-Step Recipes!)
Below are 8 easy game day football appetizers that strike the perfect balance between “touchdown-worthy” and “super simple.”
Whether it’s Super Bowl Sunday or College football playoffs and Championship, these are great snacks to munch on during the game.
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I picked these appetizer recipes because they each focus on inexpensive ingredients, have VERY minimal prep time and are quick easy to make. I don’t know about YOU, but I’d rather be watching the halftime show (and the commercials!) instead of stuck in the kitchen playing referee with a complicated recipe!
Each party appetizer recipe below gives a quick reason WHY it’s a winner, the ingredients, and a cheat sheet walk-thru of how to make them step by step.
AND – as a helpful bonus – there is a complete grocery shopping list at the bottom to make it easy to buy everything you need to make these 8 appetizers.
1. 3-Ingredient Grape Jelly Meatballs
Why they work: It sounds weird, but the flavor combination is addictive—and you just dump it all in a slow cooker.
Ingredients: Frozen cooked meatballs, jar of grape jelly, bottle of BBQ sauce (or chili sauce).
Quick How-to: Combine the jelly and BBQ sauce in a slow cooker. Stir in the frozen meatballs until coated. Cook on High for 2-3 hours. Serve with toothpicks.
2. Ham and Cheese Hawaiian Sliders
Why they work: They feed a crowd easily and the warm, buttery tops are impossible to resist.
Ingredients: 12-pack Hawaiian sweet rolls, deli ham, Swiss cheese slices, melted butter, dijon mustard, poppy seeds (optional).
Quick How-to: Slice the entire pack of rolls in half horizontally (keep them connected). Layer ham and cheese on the bottom half. Place the top bun layer back on. Whisk butter and mustard, then brush over the tops. Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes until cheese is melty.
3. Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers
Why they work: Spicy, cheesy, and salty bacon. It’s the ultimate football food trifecta.
Ingredients: Fresh jalapeños (halved and seeded), cream cheese (softened), cheddar cheese, bacon slices (cut in half).
Quick How-to: Mix cream cheese and cheddar. Stuff each jalapeño half with the cheese mixture. Wrap each pepper with a half-slice of bacon and secure with a toothpick. Bake at 400°F for 20-25 minutes until bacon is crispy.
4. Classic Buffalo Chicken Dip
Why this dip works: It tastes exactly like hot wings but without the messy fingers.
Ingredients: Rotisserie chicken (shredded), cream cheese, ranch dressing, Frank’s RedHot sauce, shredded cheddar cheese.
Quick How-to: Mix all ingredients in a baking dish. Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes until bubbly and hot. Serve with celery sticks and tortilla chips.
5. Pepperoni Pizza Pinwheels
Why they work: A kid-friendly favorite that looks way more impressive than it is.
Ingredients: Tube of crescent roll dough, marinara sauce, shredded mozzarella, pepperoni slices.
Quick How-to: Unroll the dough into one large rectangle (pinch seams together). Spread a thin layer of marinara, sprinkle cheese, and top with pepperoni. Roll up into a log. Slice into rounds and bake at 375°F for 12-15 minutes.
6. Loaded Mini Potato Skins
Why they work: You can cheat by using small potatoes or frozen skins to save time.
Ingredients: Small bag of baby potatoes (or frozen potato skins), olive oil, shredded cheddar, bacon bits, sour cream, green onions.
Quick How-to: Boil potatoes until tender, then halve and scoop out a little center. Brush with oil and bake at 400°F for 10 mins to crisp. Fill with cheese and bacon bits; bake 5 more mins. Top with a dollop of sour cream and green onions.
7. 7-Layer Dip Cups
Why they work: Serving them in clear plastic cups means no “double dipping” penalties!
Ingredients: Refried beans, guacamole, sour cream, salsa, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, sliced black olives.
Quick How-to: In small clear plastic cups, layer the ingredients in order: beans, guac, sour cream, salsa, cheese, tomatoes, and olives. Chill until game time and serve with a bowl of chips.
8. Pigs in a Blanket (With a Twist)
Why they work: A nostalgic classic that is literally the first thing to disappear from the table.
Ingredients: Can of crescent roll dough, package of cocktail sausages (Lil’ Smokies), Everything Bagel seasoning, egg wash (optional).
Quick How-to: Cut dough triangles into smaller strips. Roll each sausage in a strip of dough. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle heavily with Everything Bagel seasoning. Bake according to dough package instructions (usually 12-15 mins).
If you want to make ALL these appetizers for your Super Bowl party, here is a grocery shopping list of everything you’ll need:
Super Bowl Party Appetizers Shopping List:
