Football season is now upon us – which means Sundays may now be filled with time spent around the TV, family, friends and of course FOOD. What this doesn’t mean is that the day also needs to be a junk-food ridden blackhole. Why not take these opportunities to enjoy time with loved ones, gear up for the big game AND share some healthy takes on game-day favorites? Healthy food does not need to be boring and the round-up we’ve done here definitely proves that! Read on to see some of our favorite game-day recipes that even your man’s-man football-loving brother-in-law will enjoy – and since they’re healthy, there is no guilt to be had about going back for seconds (or thirds, we won’t tell!).
Note: To make weeding out recipes easier for dietary needs, we’ve marked each recipe for what diets they fit. (DF= Dairy Free, EF= Egg Free, GF= Gluten Free, GF*= Can be made GF, NF= Nut Free, Paleo and Vegan)
Crispy Baked Buffalo Wings – DF, EF, GF, NF, Paleo
Who said wings have to be fried to be crispy? Baking them can still give you that crunch while leaving out a bunch of grease and mess. A homemade sauce mixture from coconut oil, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice and spices gives these wings a bunch of flavor and health benefits. Lighten up your next wing fest with this simple recipe.
Simple Vegan Buffalo Wings – DF, EF, GF*, NF, Vegan
Here she uses tempeh for her “wings”, but feel free to use tofu, seitan or any meat alternative you’d like. The idea here is to bread the tempeh, bake it, cover them in a simple buffalo sauce, then bake again to ensure extra crispy-ness. If you’d like this to be gluten free simply use GF breadcrumbs and flour. Find the full recipe here.
Chipotle Chicken Sweet Potato Skins – EF, GF, NF, Can be DF and Paleo with no cheese or a substitute
A sweet and spicy combo that is nutrient-dense, filling, and full of flavor. The ingredients are simple, the assembly is easy, and the already pre-portioned skins make serving a breeze. This recipe pretty much checks-off all the boxes, so make sure to buy some extra sweet potatoes this week.
Twice Baked Potatoes – EF, GF, DF, Paleo, Vegan
Potatoes, Cheesy Spinach-Artichoke topping, and suitable for many diets. What’s not to love about this recipe?
Loaded Paleo Nachos – DF, EF, GF, NF, Paleo, Vegan friendly (sub chicken for beans or meat alternative)
Using homemade potato chips in-place of traditional tortilla chips is the fun twist for these nachos. While there is no cheese like typical nachos either, the ample toppings will leave you more than satisfied. These nachos can easily be made vegan for an all-around crowd pleaser, and if you’re someone who cannot have nachos without cheese check out the next recipe on our roundup to complete your plate.
Creamy Vegan Queso – DF, EF, GF, Vegan, Paleo friendly
Whether you want to put this on a plate of nachos, or let it be a stand-alone dip, this vegan queso will shock and satisfy even the true cheese-lovers at your party. Now all your guests can totally indulge in some cheesy goodness without the diary-inflicted complications afterwards.
Bacon Wrapped Sriracha Lime Chicken Bites – DF, EF, GF, NF, Paleo
Straight to the point – seasoned chicken wrapped in bacon. Super easy to make, very few ingredients, low carb, and there’s BACON so any picky football lover or little kid will still be all over this snack.
Lightened-up Jalapeno Poppers – DF, EF, GF, Vegan, Paleo friendly
Super simple, low-carb bites that are suitable for many diets (as long as you can handle some spice). They come together in less than 30 minutes if you don’t include the cashew-soaking time and only require a few ingredients. Learn how to make these simple poppers here.
Buffalo Cauliflower Dip – DF, EF, GF, Vegan
We all know buffalo cauliflower is a big craze, and this verstatile vegetable never ceases to amaze us with what it can do. Discover yet another awesome use for it here with this mouth-watering dip.
Avocado Fries – DF, GF*, Paleo friendly (sub flour for cornmeal/GF flour/GF breadcrumbs or a nut-based flour for Paleo)
Avocados, like cauliflower, are also having a moment. They’re good on their own and in just about everything. Adding a crunchy-baked exterior emphasizes their creamy texture and will give you all the good fats you need to endure those long 4 quarters of the game. Checkout this super simple recipe here and start indulging asap.
And because no get-together is complete without something sweet…
Healthy Cookie Dough Dip – DF, EF, GF, Vegan
Who doesn’t like cookie dough!? While adding beans to a sweet dip may seem odd, we promise you if you do not tell anyone they won’t know. Whereas most desserts are laden with sugar and hydrogenated oils, this combo of beans and nut butter will give you an extra boost of protein, healthy fats and fiber. That’s truly ending off the night on a sweet note. Find out how to make your new favorite dessert here.
Whether you’re hosting the next game-viewing or attending as a guest, we guarantee making any of these recipes will be a big hit. Tasty, nourishing, and guilt-free – you’ll feel so great you’d think you just scored that touchdown everyone’s cheering about!
