Everyone knows the Super Bowl is really about the snacks. But if you’re vegetarian, the whole buffalo-chicken this and bacon-wrapped that ordeal can get frustrating. And, sorry, but setting out a store-bought tray of sliced veggies isn’t going to cut it. With these 30 vegetarian Super Bowl recipes, you can treat your plant-based guests to a feast of meatless snacks, like carrot pigs in a blanket, mac-and-cheese bites and loaded veggie nachos. (With any luck, they’ll forgive you for your past crudité transgressions.)
30 Vegetarian Super Bowl Recipes That Are Way Better Than a Sad Veggie Tray
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Published Jan 10, 2023
1. 7 Layer Dip
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, no cook, vegetarian
Yes, you can use store-bought guacamole to shortcut this crowd-pleaser. Just buy an extra bag of chips—wouldn’t want to run out, would you?
2. Buffalo Cauliflower Nuggets
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegetarian, kid-friendly
You can turn cauliflower into just about anything, but this has to be one of our favorite preparations. Make half buffalo and half barbecue if you want to switch it up.
- Time Commitment: 2 hours, 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, <10 ingredients
With melty Brie and an easy homemade dough, we can almost guarantee these cheesy bites will be the first to disappear from your snack spread.
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, vegetarian
Pigs in a blanket are always a good idea, especially if you swap the usual cocktail wieners for carrots. Serve them with a side of green goddess dressing and they’re—dare we say it?—sophisticated.
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
Make a batch and set them out with a plethora of vegetarian-friendly toppings, like cheese, guac, roasted corn and alllll the salsa options.
6. The Classiest Cheese Balls in the Universe
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, no cook, make ahead
Cheese balls either scream “mom’s Tupperware parties from 1989,” or they’re covered in bacon bits (or both). Zhuzh them up with modern toppings like everything bagel seasoning or dill, and you’ve got a winner.
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, <10 ingredients
Just swap the beef broth for vegetable and these sophisticated bites will be vegetarian-approved.
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients
They’re crispy on top yet nice and chewy on the inside, and you can serve them hot or at room temp. (Permission to make them ahead, granted.)
9. Pimento Cheese Stuffed Shishito Peppers
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
Just think of these pimento-cheese-stuffed shishito peppers as a trendy, classed-up version of jalapeño poppers. (And if you can’t find shishito peppers in your grocery store, just use jalapeños.)
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, gluten free
Serve these with an easy garlic aioli for dipping, and voilà, an appetizer that blows potato chips out of the water.
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
If you can believe it, these pull-apart bites are made with only five ingredients and come together in less than an hour. (You can thank store-bought pizza dough for that.)
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
We love the O.G. dip, but we’ll admit it’s a little…retro. With the magic of frozen puff pastry, you can transform it into a Super Bowl snack that’s totally modern.
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, vegetarian
We’re all about giving the people what they want, and the people want tiny, deep-fried onions with a creamy dipping sauce.
14. Dairy-Free Butternut Squash ‘Fondue’
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegan, dairy free, gluten free, <10 ingredients
We know, we know. Fondue for vegetarians? Groundbreaking. But let’s not forget about the vegans at your game watch party. This version is just as velvety and dippable, without any dairy in sight.
15. Spicy Ricotta-Stuffed Phyllo Rolls
- Time Commitment: 55 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, beginner-friendly
Chips and salsa? Yawn. Hummus and pita? Boring. These unexpectedly elegant phyllo-cheese rolls, however, are a snack we can all get excited about.
16. Pull-Apart Bread with Caramelized Onions and Goat Cheese
- Time Commitment: 3 hours, 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
Behold the next generation of monkey bread. Each piece of the soft, buttery dough is stuffed with a creamy mixture of caramelized onions, goat cheese and herbs.
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
When you want to fall face-first into a giant bowl of delicious dip, make this elote-inspired number with corn, lime and plenty of cotija cheese.
18. Roasted Cauliflower Sliders
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
Once your guests taste one of these meatless sliders, they won’t miss the burgers and pulled pork. Not one bit.
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: vegan, dairy free
Proof that you can work magic with cashews and plant-based chorizo.
- Time Commitment: 33 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, make ahead
Chili is one of those meals that gets tastier after a day or two, so go ahead and make this vegetarian version ahead of your party.
21. Roasted Poblano and Corn Guacamole
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, gluten free
It’s just the right balance of sweet, spicy and zesty—and it’s filled with delicious goodies. Since it’s winter, use thawed frozen corn in place of fresh.
22. Easy Baked Goat Cheese Marinara Dip
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, gluten free
Add this cozy, Italian-inspired dip to your list of Super Bowl party must-haves (along with plenty of bread for dipping).
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
Pinto beans are creamy yet sturdy enough to not dry out as you bake these nachos to bubbling perfection, and they’re the ideal stand-in for the usual ground beef.
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, gluten free
If you’re a fan of sweet-and-spicy (aka swicy), you’ll go wild for this take on caramel corn. It has just enough heat to keep you coming back for another handful, and another, and another…
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, make ahead
ICYMI, pickles are having a moment. This homemade snack mix has all the briny, dilly flavor you love in a snackable form.
26. Ina Garten’s Chipotle Cheddar Crackers
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser
Ina says she keeps some of this dough in freezer for last-minute slice-and-bake crackers. And if Ina does it, we’re doing it too.
27. Vegetarian Chili
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, make ahead, beginner-friendly
All you have to do is combine the ingredients and let it simmer.
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, gluten free
Eating cheese fries is like being swaddled in your softest, comfiest sweatshirt. This version is less deep-fried and more #healthy, but no less delicious than the original.
29. Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Bites
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
Shots of creamy tomato soup > shots of booze. (Just us?)
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes
“I’d love to stand at the stove and flip quesadillas all night,” said no one ever. Enter your sheet pan, which does all the hard work here.
Katherine Gillen is PureWow’s senior food editor. She’s a writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a degree in culinary arts and professional experience in New York City restaurants. She used to sling sugary desserts in a pastry kitchen, but now she’s an avid home cook and fanatic baker.
