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Game Day Recipes

Writer's picture: SaraSara

Updated: 6 days ago

Check out this collection of game day recipes for appetizers, snacks, mains, to make-ahead as well as quick 'day-of' recipes to serve for the Super Bowl or any party event. These include many vegan foods, low-FODMAP dishes, gluten-free, and flexitarian options.


Game Day Recipes for vegan, low-FODMAP lifestyles (collage)

Did you know that Super Bowl Sunday is the second biggest eating day in the U.S, second only to Thanksgiving? That's right! Every other holiday you can think of falls short of the food event that Super Bowl presents. Generally know for wings, ribs, dips, chips, beer, chili, desserts, and all kinds of finger-foods, these dishes can be equally served for any kind of party get-together.


Ever wonder why you feel like crap after indulging in party foods at a game-day or other festive event? Many people experience general bloating, gas pains, and overall fatigue after over-indulging. The gut microbiome is unique in every individual and no cure or solution can be offered in a blog post, however, being aware of FODMAPs can help.


FODMAPs are short-chain carbohydrates abundant in some common foods (such as garlic and onion, wheat) and can trigger symptoms in people with IBS and general gut senstitivies. Watching how many FODMAPs you accumulate in a meal and minimizing them helps over 70% of folks with IBS! I've done the work of creating recipes for popular dishes while minimizing or eliminating FODMAPs in them so you can have fun and eat more freely with less discomfort.


Additionally, if you've eliminated are are trying to reduce animal products, then common party foods are not very welcoming. But, those favorites can be made plant-based. Send a couple of these recipes to your host, and bring a couple dishes that you can eat. I promise, omnivores will love them, too!


Check the Game Day Recipes below for individual FODMAP content, if required.


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Vegan Beer Cheese Dip
Vegan Beer Cheese Dip


Game-day vegan beer cheese dip, without cashews?  What?!  Great for nachos, pretzel bites, and would be fantastic with pita crisps or gluten-free crackers, too, or drizzled over vegetables. See recipe here.






Vegan BBQ Seitan Ribs
Vegan BBQ Seitan Ribs

Vegan Cheesy Tots
Vegan Cheesy Tots

These Vegan BBQ Seitan Ribs have firm, almost crunchy tips, and soft and chewy centers, and being smothered with barbecue sauce makes them the perfect plant-based protein to have on game-day Sunday dipped in some Ranch Dressing. See Recipe here.








Who doesn't love loaded tots, aka Totchos? As a vegan, or someone who doesn't tolerate dairy, you usually need to pass up this treat, so bring them yourself! I'm obsessed with how great the cheese sauce for this is! See recipe here.







Roasted Salsa Low-FODMAP
Roasted Salsa, low-FODMAP


This roasted tomato salsa is quick and easy and does not contain white onions or garlic, keeping it low-FODMAP. The fire-roasted tomatoes steal the show in this versatile salsa. Feature it alone with chips, or use as a condiment on anything! See recipe here.






Smashed Potatoes with Smoky Aioli
Smashed Potatoes with Smoky Aioli

You HAVE to try smashed potatoes! Smashed potatoes bring the crispy, salty edges of a potato chip together with nature's soft potato center. It makes a great appetizer for sharing. Topped with a Smoky Aioli. See recipe here.







Vegan White Jalapeño Sauce
Vegan White Jalapeño Sauce

Different from my 'cheese' sauces, this Vegan White Jalapeño Sauce is inspired by one of my former local hangouts in the San Diego area, Miguel's Cocina. I've reenacted their recipe with quite a few changes to create a sauce that is just as creamy and indulgent, while also being completely animal-free! Dip crispy taquitos or mini baked tacos in it! See recipe here.



Poblano Cucumber Avocado Salsa
Poblano Cucumber Avocado Salsa

My FAVORITE salsa! While it's great in the traditional sense, eaten with tortilla chips, it's also surprisingly great paired with pumpkin or squash dishes, topping tacos and tamales. It will likely disappear before you get your fill. Make a double batch! See recipe here.






Vegan Hot Artichoke Dip
Vegan Hot Artichoke Dip

A MUST-HAVE at any chilly season appetizer buffet! Hot artichoke dip is a favorite of everyone and is the BEST way to get that veggie platter to disappear! Offer up this delicious hot, melty, cheesy sensation and watch the guests just stand around the dish while grazing. This is my version of Vegan Hot Artichoke Dip. Classic, veganized and dressed up a bit. See recipe here.




Vegan Pesto Pinwheels
Vegan Pesto Pinwheels

These Vegan Pesto Pinwheels make a great yummy party appetizer and due to the use of frozen puff pastry, they're quick, easy, and customizable! I threw in a bit of broccoli, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes along with vegan cheese shreds, and they remind me of little pizza wheels. Vegan, but not gluten-free. See recipe here.






Spiced Nuts with Rosemary
Spiced Nuts with Rosemary

Very well-loved, these Spiced Nuts with Rosemary encapsulate the slightly sticky yet crunchy caramelized texture you want from a candied nut. Perfectly balanced sweet and salty, they have a bit of an after-kick from the smoky chipotle, a touch of orange and lots of fresh rosemary. Watch the hands keep coming back for more! See recipe here.




Muhammara
Muhammara

If you've never heard of muhammara, it's a fabulous dip originating in the Middle East. Just like hummus, this dip is great with pita bread, crackers, cut vegetables, on a crudités platter. In fact, I think it's even better than hummus, and contains roasted red peppers and walnuts instead of beans, making it more tummy friendly. Great for parties! See recipe here.






Vegan Meatballs in Cranberry Chili Sauce
Vegan Meatballs in Cranberry Chili Sauce

Perfect for serving game-day appetizer buffet, with their sweet and spicy flavor and firm texture, they hold together well enough to serve on mini skewers. The use of Beyond meats vegan ground 'beef' as a starting point makes the ingredient list simple and the effort kept minimal, with make-ahead option! See recipe here.





Buffalo wings have long been a game day favorite and this dip version is not only spicy, cheesy, creamy, but also vegan. Young jackfruit takes the place of shredded chicken. Vegan cream cheese and mozzarella give it a creamy melty texture, and buffalo hot sauce gives it the spice!  Vegan Buffalo Chicken Dip for the win! See recipe here.

Vegan Spinach Dip in Sourdough Bowl
Vegan Spinach Dip in Sourdough Bowl



Irresistibly rich and creamy, uses aromatic leek greens (instead of onion) for that incredible richness. It's full of spinach so we're not completely forgetting our greens, and gets it plant-based creaminess from vegan cream cheese and tofu -- adding an amazing boost of protein to this party pleaser!




Bean-Free Hummus, Low-FODMAP
Bean-Free Hummus, Low-FODMAP

Hummus is all about garbanzo beans and garlic. Two things that leave just about everyone with some uncomfortable side effects. Making a hummus dip that is bean-free and garlic-free, and tummy-friendly may see impossible. But, here it is! Bean-Free Hummus is vegan, gluten-free, low-FODMAP and a healthy dip for all to enjoy! See recipe here.




Vegan Cheese Sauce, Cashew-Free
Vegan Cheese Sauce, Cashew-Free

This is the BEST vegan cheese sauce you can make. It's vegan, gluten-free, guilt-free, dare I say 'healthy'? Nut-free, and major allergen-free, and comes together in under 30 minutes easily! This cheese sauce has got the BEST smooth, glossy texture! My dairy-eating friends love it, and request it on repeat! A great cheese for building nachos or potato skins. See recipe here.




Easy Vegan Sour Cream Sauce
Easy Vegan Sour Cream Sauce

This super-easy vegan sour cream sauce, or 'crema' for nachos, tacos is my absolute favorite whole-food solution to replacing dairy or even the vegan store items full of weird stuff. The two main ingredients, raw tahini and lime juice, offset each other to bring that sour tangy taste, with the creaminess that tahini blends down to. See recipe here.





Vegan Nacho Cheese Dip
Vegan Nacho Cheese Dip

Great for nachos, tacos, enchiladas, burritos, and would also be fantastic drizzled over baked potatoes or hash browns.  This Vegan Nacho Cheese Dip can be used as a delicious mild chili mac-and-cheese sauce for pasta, too. Bring this to your next pot-luck party and no one will even suspect this is a 'healthy' cheese dip. See recipe here.






Pico de Gallo, Low-FODMAP
Pico de Gallo, Low-FODMAP

Buy a few fresh ingredients instead and have it within 15 minutes of slicing your first tomato! This easy salsa recipe for Pico de Gallo requires only a few ingredients and is made low-FODMAP by replacing white onion with green onions and adding a smidge of garlic-olive oil. See recipe here.






Chipotle Sauce, Bitchin' Revamp, Low-FODMAP
Chipotle Sauce, Bitchin' Revamp, Low-FODMAP

Popular in grocery stores nationwide now, there's not a person I know who hasn't tried Bitchin' Sauce and said, "wow, that's really good!" I've created my own sauce recipe, based on Bitchin' Chipotle flavor, but made low-FODMAP. Serve with chips, crackers, veggie sticks. See my recipe here.






The Best Margarita Ever
The Best Margarita Ever

Most people probably drink beer on game-day, but you'll want to av-oid all carbonated drinks if you tend to bloat easily. My favorite is this Margarita. It truly is the best ever, easy to make, and you can pre-make a big batch, then pour over ice for individual servings. See recipe here.






Mezcalita Recipe (Mezcal Margarita)
Mezcalita Recipe (Mezcal Margarita)

A Mezcalita is made like a margarita, but features smoky mezcal instead of tequila. I use orange juice and lime, with a chili rimmed glass, which are great accents to the smokiness of the mezcal.  Try out different varities of mezcal. Some are way 'smokier' than others; you may get into mezcal-tasting and find yourself becoming a connoisseur. See recipe here.




Pomegranate Martini
Pomegranate Martini

If you're missing the holidays already, try a Pomegranate Martini for a clean vodka based cocktail. Just a twist on a Cosmopolitan, these are great any time of year and any occasion! Nothing carbonated in this refreshing drink!








No-Bean Vegan Chili
No-Bean Vegan Chili

Most chili’s contain large amounts of onion and garlic, along with beans.  Although delicious and taste-centric to a proper chili, I wanted to replicate the spices in a stew while eliminating the FODMAP-loaded ingredients.  And, by adding fresh vegetables, the result is a hearty dish that is full of tummy-friendly foods to fill and satisfy any chili craving. You'll love the touch of chocolate!



Bean Free Quinoa Chili, V, GF, in a Sweet Potato
Bean Free Quinoa Chili, V, GF

This Bean Free Quinoa Chili is a variation on my No-Bean Vegan Chili recipe, a low processed food option using quinoa for the texture and protein.  It is vegan, naturally gluten-free, made from whole foods, and very low-fat, so if you're watching caloric intake, here is a fabulous meal idea! Best slathered over sweet potatoes, regular baked potatoes, or try in a nacho stack. See recipe here.




JUST Egg Muffins, V, GF
JUST Egg Muffins, V, GF

If your get together starts early, you may want easy to transport breakfast snacks. Here's a "not" egg recipe with plant-based protein coming from JUST Eggs, a product which comes packaged in an easy-to-pour carton, usually near the chicken eggs in the refrigerator section of the grocery store. With added sun-dried tomatoes, spinach and bell pepper, these taste reminiscent of pizza, but kinda healthy. See recipe here.




The Best Vegan Macaroni Salad
The Best Vegan Macaroni Salad

No party is complete without some form of macaroni. Whether a cold salad to go with the barbecue, or a hot cheesy or baked version, choose your macaroni vice, make ahead and let guests enjoy! Creamy, flavorful dressing, not gloppy, nor weirdly sweet, the flavors in this dressing I promise are perfectly balanced for a fresh, smooth and creamy and ever so slightly tangy taste experience. See recipe here.



Vegan Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Vegan Baked Macaroni and Cheese

This casserole style Mac and Cheese is not only vegan (read, no dairy), but the basis for the sauce is a vegetable!  Butternut squash. This is the culmination many trials, to create a rich and creamy, vegetable-infused, slightly smoky, slightly herby, a hint of an exotic pepper, all while NOT using cashews, garlic, or onions! See recipe here.





Vegan Crab Cakes
Vegan Crab Cakes

These Vegan Crab Cakes are so good, you'll fool your carnivore friends into thinking they are animal based, meanwhile sparing them from saturated fat and cholesterol (not to mention sparing the sea life, and your wallet.) These cakes have a crispy gluten-free bread crumb coating, with a soft, melty, crabby seafood tasting center. Make-ahead! See recipe here.




Sweet Potato Brownies (V/GF)
Sweet Potato Brownies (V/GF)

I love hiding vegetables in baked treats, and here’s a great example.  Not only do these brownies contain antioxidant-rich and fiber-filled sweet potato, but there is no added oil, no refined sugar, no gluten, and no animal products.  These should be called “yay-brownies!” They are very soft just after baking, so make them a day ahead. See recipe here.





Vegan Chocolate Chip Gem Cookies
Vegan Chocolate Chip Gem Cookies

These are THE BEST chocolate chip cookies, vegan or otherwise, and what fun it would be to highlight them with gem candies in colors of the two opposing teams! These have the desired soft and chewy centers, with slightly browned and crispy edges. See recipe here.





Brownie Bites with macadamia Nuts (V, GF)
Brownie Bites with Macadamia Nuts (V, GF)

These are the perfect mini sized bites for a party!  They're fast and oh, so, satisfying to eat!  Vegan and gluten-free to accommodate many, with a bit of summer due to the macadamia nuts, they'll remind you of the chocolate covered macadamia’s that everyone brings back from vacations to Hawaii. See recipe here.





Dark Chocolate Almond Football Bark
Dark Chocolate Almond Football Bark

Oatmeal Sandwich Cookies, V/GF
Oatmeal Sandwich Cookies, V/GF

SO CUTE and SO EASY to make! Start with seeking out little candies in your team colors, or use a mix to represent all teams. But, it's the mini chocolate covered almond "footballs" that make it adorable. For Super Bowl, this is a must-have! Adults and kids alike will love the festive spirit and gobble it up! See recipe here.




Oatmeal cookies are a classic in their own rite, but these Oatmeal Sandwich Cookies take it up a notch with the added Oreo-style thick creamy filling. Seriously addictive! Appealing to kids and adults alike, these would be great to make ahead for game-day!




Kitchen Sink Cookies
Kitchen Sink Cookies

When you can’t decide what type of cookies to make, make everything but the kitchen sink. The mix-ins are flexible. You can sub other nuts, seeds, dried fruits, or chips for any listed inn the recipe.  Use ingredients based on what you have on hand. Vegan, gluten-free. See recipe here.

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