Today we’re going to take a look at vegan Super Bowl recipes!! I’m going to be sharing delicious vegan game day ideas that you can run with, as well as recipes that are all gluten free, vegan, and allergy friendly.
If you’re not primarily vegan, check out these Super Bowl articles as well:
 This article is primarily GF only |
 This article is primarily GF, DF, Top 9 Free |
Vegan vs Vegetarian
In case you’re reading this because you’re hosting a vegan guest, know that vegan and vegetarian aren’t the same thing.
Vegan recipes are free from all animal products and byproducts including milk, eggs, honey, fish, shellfish, mammal meat, insect colouring (found in a lot of processed foods), gelatin, lard, and so on. Some people follow a vegan diet by choice whilst others have dietary restrictions due to a medical condition such as food allergies. If your guest has food allergies, please refer to this section in a separate article on hosting people with food allergies.
A vegetarian diet on the other hand eliminates fish, shellfish, and all mammal flesh/meat. It does permit milk, eggs, butter, cream, and any other byproduct that doesn’t require the death of an animal. Gelatin, whilst not a form of mammal flesh, comes from animal bones and isn’t considered vegetarian.
Easy Types of Foods to Make Vegan
If a recipe you normally make has meat, you’ll either need to change up the recipe, or use some kind of meat substitute. However, some types of recipes are much easier to make a vegan version. Here’s some examples:
- Recipes that call for sour cream or cream cheese. These can be made with vegan/dairy free sour cream and cream cheese.
- Recipes that use shredded meat. Shredded jackfruit can be used in its place.
- Sauces that call for yogurt. You can use vegan/dairy free yogurt instead.
- Tuna recipes. You can use canned vegan tuna or pulled jackfruit in its place.
I could go on for days, but hopefully you can see that there’s a lot of potential for vegan recipes. You can also look online for “vegan version + name of recipe” and see what other recipe developers are sharing.
If you’re not comfortable with ultra processed vegan meat substitutes (Impossible Foods, Beyond Meat, etc.), be sure to check out my Meat Substitutes Article. I cover a lot of vegan and vegetarian options that are vegetable based, not packaged based.
Vegan Ideas for Creamy Dips
- Vegan Sour Cream + Fresh Herbs + Small Diced Cucumber
- Vegan Ranch Dip
- Vegan Queso
- Vegan French Onion Dip
- Chocolate Hummus (great with select fresh veggies such as bell pepper slices)
- Salsa + Cream Cheese
Items to Purchase to Serve at Your Vegan Super Bowl Party
If you’re looking for easy items to purchase that you can simply open and place in a large snack bowl, here are some ideas for you:
- Bean Chips
- Crackers (you can purchase a range of flavours including vegan cheddar)
- Crunchy or Roasted Chickpeas
- Vegan Granola (or granola leaning cereals like this brand)
- Mushroom Chips (here’s an example)
- Pita Chips
- Potato Chips
- Popcorn or Popped Sorghum
- Pretzels and/or Filled Pretzels
- Puffed Snacks (get some cool flavours like vegan cheese or BBQ)
- Puffed Water Lilly Seeds (this is a great brand with several flavours available)
- Seasoned/Flavoured Mini Rice Cakes
- Sweet Potato Awesome Freeze Dried Sweet Potatoes (check their website for the store locator, or purchase online)
- Sweet Potato Chips
- Tortilla Chips
- Vegan Trail Mix
Including Healthier Ingredients on Super Bowl Sunday
Not everyone wants to pull out typical party foods during the big game, so let’s take a moment about how you can include better-for-you foods on your game day menu. First, it’s important to remember that no two people are the same and the term healthy isn’t a regulated term. You could ask two different people to define healthy and get two different options.
Now that we’ve got that aside, let’s talk about the healthier ingredients you can include. Simple options tend to be healthier, as they’re usually something like produce or a simple sauce.
A lot of commercial vegan options contain what most people would call weird ingredients. It’s important to keep in mind that not everyone on a plant-based diet wants to eat vegan chicken nuggets and vegan burgers regularly, even when it’s a party. Additionally, if you’ll be serving non-vegan friends, keep in mind how well those types of products will be received.
So then, what are some healthy ingredients you can lean into whilst still getting tasty results? Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Mushrooms (oyster mushrooms, lobster mushrooms, and trumpet mushrooms would all be fantastic for game day.)
- Hearts of Palm & Banana Blossom
- Lentils and Beans
- Rice, Beans, Sweet Potatoes, Japanese Yams
Look for vegan and plant-based recipes that use these types of ingredients as the heavy lifters. What’s nice is that these ingredients are not only delicious options, but they can add a huge range of textures and be prepared in a wide range of ways. Here are just a few examples of how you could transform those ingredients:
- Vegan Bean Chili (garnished with tortilla chip strips, a dollop of dairy free sour cream, and fresh chopped herbs)
- Meaty Mushroom Skewers + Seasoned Rice (halve, score, season and skewer trumpet mushroom stems, sear, serve over herbed rice, add a creamy cashew sauce)
- Lentil & Chickpea Cakes (three flavour profiles to try are BBQ, curry, and “seafood”)
- Fried Banana Blossom Sliders
- Hearts of Palm “Lobster” Rolls (garnished with capers and fresh chopped herbs)
- Quinoa Salad with Red Onions, Diced Tomatoes, and Fresh Corn
Hopefully you can see that simple ingredients can be loaded with flavors whilst still being healthy, and leaving the ultra processed vegan foods at the door. Well, the store, but you get the idea.
Vegan Foods to Share with Meat Lovers
I don’t know about you, but I often feel like I’m an ambassador to the world of people without dietary restrictions. I’ve made it my personal mission to make sure that every free-from item I serve up is so freaking delicious that they realize our food is fantastic. So, if you’re feeding a meat loving football fan and want them to enjoy vegan foods, here are some tips and suggestions.
Pack your food with flavor. If you serve up bland food, to vegans or non-vegans, people aren’t coming back for seconds. They’ll probably do that weird smile thing as well and nod like it’s good because they don’t want to hurt your feelings. Avoid this awkward moments by serving flavourful foods.
Avoid using polarizing ingredients that you know some people just can’t stand. Nutritional yeast and nut free dairy free cheese are two examples. I’ve talked to so many vegans and non-vegans who really, really, really don’t like them. Keep this in mind, especially if you’re going to be trying new recipes.
Use vegetables people are familiar with such as red onions, carrots, zucchini, and so on. That’s not to say that you can’t serve up something a little more exotic, but do so judiciously. When people are met with something different, but also have something that’s familiar to anchor them, they’re a lot more willing to take a leap of faith.
If possible, avoid dairy free cheese unless it’s nut based, and even then, don’t call it cheese. Jazz up vegan nut based cheese and call it a dip.
As you put together your game day menu, think about texture. Sure, you want salty, umami, acid, and so on, but you also want creamy, crunchy, and other textures that will please the palate.
Stuffed Red Peppers
Stuffing a large red bell pepper is an easy way to serve familiar with different. You can stuff other colors by the way. Here are a few stuffing ideas to get you started:
- Small diced zucchini + caramelized onion + balsamic glaze + cashew sauce + herbs
- Shredded carrot + shredded jackfruit + cream cheese + tomato sauce or salsa
- Black beans + diced red onions + corn + olives + dairy free cream cheese + taco seasoning
- Shredded sweet potato + sesame oil + Korean gochujang + dairy free cream cheese + maple sugar
Fried Cauliflower or Fried Broccoli Bites
Both cauliflower and broccoli have a great texture, especially in the stems (for frying). Season and batter cuts of broccoli and/or cauliflower and fry to crispy perfection. For a softer middle, steam your veg for a bit before frying. It shouldn’t be perfectly fried, just starting to soften.
Be sure to serve your fried cauliflower bites with an incredibly delicious sauce, or trio of dipping sauces.
Sweet Potato Wedges
Thick cut wedges/fries are always a hit with vegans and non-vegans. You can find all sorts of recipes online for different seasoning combinations. For a little extra fun, you can split your wedges into three groups and season differently. This will offer your guests a nice variety to choose from. Be sure to serve with traditional condiments, along with a fancy sauce.
Sweet & Salty Granola Poppers
Granola poppers are basically bite size homemade granola bars. Pick up a super cute mini football pan like this one and follow a recipe like this one. When it’s time to transfer the mix to a pan, stuff your mixture into the football pan. After baking, allow them to cool completely before trying to eject to ensure they’ve stuck together.
When you pop them out, you’ll have cute little granola bar footballs that your guests are sure to enjoy.
Appetizers for Your Vegan Super Bowl Party
First, let’s look at some appetizer ideas, then I’ll share some gluten free, allergy friendly appetizer recipes.
Nachos
The best part about making nachos at home is that you can mix and match ingredients to your heart’s content. You can use tortilla chips, grain free tortilla chips, potato chips, potato slices, and even sweet potato slices as the base for your nachos.
It’s easy to fall into the traditional idea of nachos, and that’s A-OK, however, know that you can explore some fusion ideas. Indian nachos, Japanese flavoured nachos, Mediterranean nachos, elegant French nachos, and so on. Have fun exploring different ingredient combinations!
Vegan Burger Skewers
These can be super fun to make and eat. You’ll start with a meat substitute of your choice, and use classic burger seasonings. Make them on the smaller size (1.5 Tablespoon max). Once they’re cooked, slide a toothpick all the way through. Now, add a dairy free cheese cube, piece of folded romaine lettuce, and cherry tomato to the rest of the exposed toothpick.
The end result is a little burger on a stick your guests will love. Be sure to have several sauces available for dipping.
Potato Fondants + Dipping Sauce
A potato fondant is a fancy way of cooking potatoes as cylinders. You’ll peel your potato, cut the ends off, then cut your potatoes into uniform heights (promotes even cooking). Pan sear in vegan butter on both ends to get them golden and crispy. Transfer your potatoes to the oven to finish cooking. They’re ready when the potatoes are fork tender.
Now, if you don’t have the time or energy to make something this involved, heat up a bag of tots which aren’t the same, but they’re both cylinders, so it counts.
Tofu Bites
Think popcorn chicken, but tofu. Cube firm tofu and season in the style of popcorn chicken you’d like to enjoy. You can batter and fry, or season and pan sear. Serve alongside a sauce that compliments your flavour profile. A few ideas:
- Teriyaki Tofu Bites
- Italian Tofu Bites
- Curry Tofu Bites
- Spicy Ginger Tofu Bites
- Maple Chipotle Tofu Bites
- Apple Ginger Tofu Bites
- Orange “Chicken” Tofu Bites
Cheesy Vegan Potato Bites
There are two ways that I like to make vegan cheesy potatoes. The first way is to cube, season, and oven roast organic potatoes. Whilst they’re in the oven I make a cheese sauce in the blender. Once the potatoes are out, I drizzle cheese sauce all over and serve.
The other way is essentially a cheesy hash brown. Combine shredded potatoes with shredded cheese, salt (be mindful of how salty the cheese is), spices and/or herbs, and pan cook in dairy free butter.
Fried & Glazed Baby Brussels Sprouts
Not everyone enjoys Brussels sprouts, so make sure you’re hosting people who do. If so, purchase baby sprouts (I’ve seen this in the freezer section). Steam them until no longer frozen, then lightly bread or batter. Fry until crispy and golden. Top with a homemade glaze, or serve with a dipping sauce. Fried sprouts can stand up to bold flavours including BBQ, curry, and gochujang.
Tasty Vegan Appetizer Recipes
These particular recipes are all gluten free and very allergy friendly. You can also search online for recipes that use major allergens instead.
- Gluten Free Focaccia
- Eggplant Dip
- Fried Eggplant
- Fried Mushroom Bites
- Sushi Rice Balls
- Chickpea Patty Bites
- Fried Savory Bites
- Vegan Pizza Rolls
- Black Bean Patty Bites
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Vegan Savory Snacks to Serve at Your Super Bowl Party
Let’s take a look at snack ideas and recipes that are great for sharing with friends and family on game day. This list will focus on savory forward ideas.
Fried Cauliflower + Buffalo Sauce
You can easily change things up by using a different sauce. If you plan to make your own fried cauliflower at home, make sure you cut the pieces into bite sized pieces. On game night, no one wants to hold a caveman pice of cauliflower and try to get thru it whilst cheering on their favorite team. Having bite size pieces allows your friends to just pop one in their mouth and enjoy the game.
Also, make sure you season your batter. Some recipes will have a pretty plan breading and rely on the sauce to bring the flavour. You can wow your guests with a seasoned batter. The spices you add should compliment the sauce you plan to use. If you’ll be serving several dipping sauces, use spices such as marjoram, sweet paprika, onion granules or onion powder, and smoked salt. These four ingredients will pair well with pretty much anything.
Spicy Chickpeas
There are so many ways to make chickpeas. One of my favorite ways is to make smashed chickpea salads (like a mock tuna salad or mock egg salad). When you make this, the process is generally the same, but you can apply different spices each time.
A smashed chickpea dip with hot sauce folded in would make for a lovely dip. If you need something with less heat for the whole family, but still want peppery flavours, season with smoked paprika and ancho chili. These are going to bring in a great taste without being so spicy everyone will need a glass of plant based milk.
Fried Mexican Potatoes
For this type of snack, think tacos in spirit, but potatoes in reality. You’ll peel and cube your potatoes into bite sized pieces. Par boil so they’ll be soft in the center. Drain off the water and set aside. Now, make a wet batter with flour, baking powder, smoked salt, taco seasoning, and milk of choice. Mix that all up. Add your potatoes to the batter and mix, then drop battered potatoes into your frying oil.
Once they’re done frying, season with a kiss of sea salt and you’ll have amazing Mexican fried potatoes. Serve with a side of Mexican street corn and vegan feta.
You can take this process and apply it to other cuisines (Indian, Korean, southeast Asian, etc.). You could actually go a step further and have several versions of this available during your vegan Super Bowl party.
If you happen to be nightshade free or have a guest that can’t have white potatoes, use Japanese yam instead. It’s related to sweet potato, is nightshade free, and fries up BEAUTIFULLY.
Vegan Mozzarella Sticks
Miyoko’s Creamy makes a fantastic cashew mozzarella cheese that can be cut into sticks, breaded, and fried. I’d suggest pan frying instead of deep frying. You can also bake this kind of concept. Rather than use a wet batter, you’ll want to use seasoned breadcrumbs as the coating. Be sure to serve with several different dipping sauces.
Seven Layer Bean Dip
You can use any combination of layers when making a multi-layered bean dip. Here are some suggested layers I’d personally start with:
- Chopped Olives (top layer)
- Guacamole
- Salsa + Sour Cream
- Shredded Cheese
- Seasoned + Shredded Jackfruit
- Caramelized Onions
- Refried Beans, Black or Pinto (bottom layer)
You can serve this on a large platter, or get cute little football plates and serve individual portions on game day.
Kid Friendly Vegan Super Bowl Snacks
If you know friends will be bringing their kids, make sure you have kid friendly snacks as part of your perfect spread. Here are some snacks kids will enjoy:
- Fruit & Veggie Platter (use mini cookie cutters and have shapes placed all over the board)
- Mini Vegan Pizza Bagels
- Lightly Seasoned Potato Wedges
- Vegan Quesadillas (cut into 6ths or 8ths to make them more snack friendly)
- Tots + Dip
- Cookie Dough Hummus + Fresh Veg
- Fruit Skewers (strawberries, grapes, large banana slices, etc.)
- Power Balls
- Vegan Trail Mix
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Creative Vegan Game Day Recipes & Ideas
Sometimes, you can put a spin on something you already have on hand and turn it into something creative. For example, BBQ sauce can be transformed into a range of new options by adding different spices, herbs, and sweeteners. You can also make your own BBQ sauce at home with non-traditional ingredients. Here are other ways to get creative with vegan ingredients:
Avocado Sliders
We’ve all seen beef sliders, and I’m sure most of us have seen some kind of vegan faux meat slider. However, when’s the last time you saw a fried avocado slider?? To make something like this, you’ll need to purchase large avocado and allow them to ripen. When they’re ready, carefully remove the skin with a sharp knife, then cut away large pieces of avocado flesh.
Gently bread and fry your chunks of avocado and pop them on a mini burger bun along with a sauce and other burger toppings. Be sure to season your breadcrumb mix with salt and spices to keep your slider interesting.
Ginger Lime Thai Tofu Skewers
You can make these skewers one of two ways. The first is to cube, season, skewer, and grill your tofu cubes. The second way is to cube, season, and pan sear your tofu cubes. Once they’ve cooked all the way thru, skewer them before serving.
For this flavour profile, you can go in a few different directions. Personally, I’d combine ginger, maple, chilies, Thai basil, smoked salt, lime zest, and fresh lime juice as the seasoning for my cubes.
Have a soy allergy? If you have a soy allergy and think tofu is off the menu, think again. Big Mountain Foods (fava bean based) and Pumfu (pumpkin seed based) make two of the coolest products I’ve ever seen.
Their soy free firm tofus can be cubed, seared, seasoned, etc. Anything you can do with soy based tofu, you can do with these. I’ve worked with the Big Mountain brand, gave the tofu a good sear with garlic, ginger, maple, and topped with herbs. The tasters were split on texture, but loved the taste.
Stuffed Butternut Squash or Sweet Potatoes
You can stuff squashes and potatoes one of two ways. The first is to cut the vegetable in half, oven roast until fork tender, then core out some of the center. Once you’ve mad the hole, stuff it with whatever filling you think your guests will enjoy.
The other option is to make cups. For this to work, you’d need to start with small potatoes or sweet potatoes. Peel, cut into 2″/5cm lengths, and oven roast. Allow them to cool some before handling so you don’t burn your fingers. Once they’ve cooled a bit, gently hollow out the center, and now you have a stuff-able tube. Add any filling you’ve cooked up.
Once filled, you can also garnish with a little sauce and fresh chopped herbs. The filling that you remove can be used for snacking on whilst you cook up a storm.
Mushroom Caps Stuffed with Mexican Street Corn
There are a lot of recipes online for Mexican street corn. Follow one of those, and use the corn to fill mushroom caps that you’ve de-stemmed and de-gilled. Once the caps are filled, place them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and oven roast until the mushrooms have reached your preferred texture.
Finger Foods to Serve at a Vegan Super Bowl Party
Finger foods are such a classic Super Bowl staple, and there’s no reason why you can’t have them at your vegan party. Here are some awesome ideas and tasty recipes for vegan finger foods:
- Fruit & Veggie Tray (celery, sliced peppers, baby carrots, broccoli)
- Vegan Jalapeño Poppers
- Fried Vegan Cauliflower Bites
- Vegan Fried Mushroom Poppers
- Sushi Rice Balls
- Mini Vegan Pizza Bites
For texture, have crunchy snacks and crispy snacks available.
Your guests will really appreciate having a variety of flavors and textures to choose from. Crispy snacks can include chips, air fried finger foods, and homemade crispy onions. You can also lean into crunchy vegetables like celery, or snack foods such as AshaPops.
Have dips, sauces, and salad dressing available.
If you plan on serving a range of finger foods, especially crispy snacks, make sure you have tasty dips. Give your vegan guests a range of options including spicy dips, sweet leaning dips, vinaigrettes, and creamy dressings such as vegan ranch.
Raw veggies pair very well with creamy dressings as it provides a pleasing mouthfeel. Fried snacks pair well with creamy, spicy, and slightly acidic dipping sauces. Acid can really help cut thru the richness and provide relief so people don’t get burned out after only a few bites.
Delicious Vegan Foods for the Halftime Show
Personally, I think the halftime show is a great time to share a proper meal with your friends and family. If you plan on serving a main, here are some delicious vegan options to choose from:
- Vegan Chili
- Vegan Spring Rolls (you can make these or purchase them and have them heating up when it’s almost half time)
- Vegan Pasta Salad (you can make this in the morning before friends arrive, then pull it out during half time)
- Gluten Free + Vegan Broccoli Mac n Cheese (kid and adult friendly recipe)
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Vegan Sweet Treats for Your Super Bowl Party
Here are some delicious vegan desserts that you can serve up on Super Bowl Sunday. These are recipes that you can make in advance and store in your freezer if you don’t want to make everything on game day.
- Baked Chocolate Doughnuts (tint your vanilla glaze in team colours to make these extra festive)
- Vegan Ice Cream
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Hummus (serve with fresh strawberry slices and vegan graham crackers)
- Brownies (you can bake these in mini football molds like this one)
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Tips for Feeding a Small Group
When you’re feeding a small group of people, it’s a good idea to start with recipes that can easily scale down. Since you’re not feeding a hundred, we don’t need a vegan mac for 40.
Make recipes that are freezer friendly, or recipes that will keep in the fridge for a while, like power balls. This allows you to easily store leftovers, should there be any.
Since you’re feeding a small group, have fun making delicious food you might not normally make. Take the extra time (if you have it) to follow recipes that will really wow your guests.
In addition to not making large batches of food, don’t go overboard with the number of dishes you’ll serve. If there are only 5 people, but you’ve made 10 different recipes, that’s probably 6 too many. Make enough to feed everyone, but not Thanksgiving feed everyone.
Tips for Feeding a Large Group
If this is your first time feeding a large group of friends and family (12+ people), welcome to the club! Here are a few tips to help you have a smooth event.
Make sure you have enough seating (couches, folding chairs, dining chairs, etc.). If you plan on having outdoor seating, make sure it’s comfortable (shade, etc.).
A week and a half before Super Bowl Sunday, get a head count. This allows you to ensure you’ve purchased enough of what you need so you don’t run out of game-day snacks.
If possible, assign people to bring simple items that will help (drinks, napkins, plates, etc.). If you have friends or family that are confident cooking/baking foods and they want to pitch in, let them. It takes a village and all that jazz.
Ask guests about any dietary restrictions so you can plan accordingly. Under no circumstance should you offer to accommodate if you aren’t comfortable. If a guest has specific needs you don’t want to take a risk on, ask about packaged foods you can purchase to have for them. Trust me, it’s better to be honest, than to risk someone’s safety if you’re not able to fully follow through.
Plan for kids if they’ll be attending. Have activities available, and some kid friendly foods and beverages.
Answering Your Questions About Vegan Super Bowl Recipes
Can I make vegan cauliflower wings in an air fryer?
That’s going to be a hard maybe. Personally, I’ve not had a tonne of good experiences with air fryers. However, this is the current air fryer that I’m working with and I love it. Having said that, it does get things crispy, but I question the ability to have crispy perfection where buffalo cauliflower wings are concerned.
If you’re heating up something you purchased from the grocery store, I have all the confidence that your vegan cauliflower wings will turn out just fine. If however this is a DIY recipe, I’d do a test batch and see how it turns out. Also, see if the recipe developer listed an air fryer as a tested method.
I’m going to assume they want you to deep fry the cauliflower. If that’s the case, you can always use the pot frying method with an instant-read thermometer if you don’t have a proper deep fryer (this is the one that I have and love because of the oil filtration).
How can I make a vegan cheese sauce?
Personally, I think the perfect way to make a vegan cheese sauce is in your blender. The good news is, these days there are a lot of vegan cheeses and dairy free milk options to choose from to make the perfect blended sauce.
I usually blend vegan cheese + plant based milk + smoked salt + dried herbs
Sometimes, I’ll also add some cashews for extra body. Depending on the cheese that I use, I omit the salt or only use a pinch. Parmesan as an example is a super salty cheese, and it’s easy to overdo it on the salt.
Place 6 – 8 ounces of dairy free cheese in your blender and cover half way with your vegan milk. Add 60 – 100g cashew pieces. Blend on high until super smooth. Now, taste and add any desired seasonings. The spices that I choose reflect what I’m serving to help reinforce the main flavor profile.
I use the blender rather than the stove top to make vegan cheese sauce because a lot of dairy free cheeses don’t melt very well, despite the promise on the package.
