Game day is a great excuse to gather with friends and family – and, of course, put out plenty of good food. From weekend football watch parties to postseason matchups, the fall and winter seasons bring plenty of opportunities to get together and enjoy a spread of crowd-pleasing snacks and appetizers.
Whether you’re hosting or bringing something to share, it’s easy to work more fruits and vegetables into the game day lineup without sacrificing flavor or fun. Here are some simple hacks and produce-forward dishes to help make your next watch party delicious, satisfying and easy.
Game Day Dips & Appetizers
Keep classic dips on the menu.
Aim to include salsa, hummus or guacamole dips in addition to creamy and cheesy options. Serve with a bean-based chip, Air Fryer Herbed Root Vegetable Chips or cut up raw veggies. Try this recipe for Super Guacamole which sneaks in frozen peas for added fiber and protein or a creamy Avocado Ranch Dip made with Greek Yogurt for added protein.
Add veggies to savory dips.
Add in veggies like sauteed onions or spinach, kale, or artichokes to savory dips to give a boost of nutrients and fiber. Healthified Caramelized Onion Dip, Hot Spinach and Kale Dip with Homemade Tortilla Chips and Baked Everything Bagel Spinach Dip are great options that will please any crowd.
Give jalapeno poppers a veggie-forward twist.
Jalapeno poppers are often stuffed with cheeses and deep fried. This unique twist for Jalapeno Poppers with Sun Dried Tomato Ranch mixes sauteed spinach and green onions into the filling, baked in the oven and served with a sundried tomato and ranch dipping sauce.
Put a veggie twist on pizza.
Stuffed mushrooms are a convenient and pop-able appetizer. Try this recipe for Pizza Mushroom Poppers that provides similar flavors to pizza that you can feel good about.
Game Day Charcuterie Board Idea
Build a fruit & veggie-forward board.
Make a fruit and veggie forward charcuterie board with an assortment of flavors, textures to compliment cheese, meats and crackers.
Veggie-Forward Game Day Snacks
Swap in peppers for traditional nachos.
Pepperoni Pizza Pepper Bites and Mini Bell Pepper Nachos are a veggie-forward twist on pizza and tacos that uses bell peppers as the base.
Layer veggies into taco dip.
Offer a Taco Layer Dip made with beans, tomatoes, lettuce, guacamole and sour cream and salsa. Or for a more traditional option, mix ground beef, turkey or chicken and mix in beans to stretch your protein further, while also providing a boost of fiber.
Try cauliflower nachos.
Nix the tortilla chips and swap in smashed roasted cauliflower for Nachos! This recipe for Smashed Cauliflower Nachos uses lots of veggies and adds shredded chicken for a boost of protein. This one is so tasty, you won’t even miss the chips!
Hearty Game Day Favorites
Make a hearty plant-forward chili or stew.
Serve a hearty plant-forward soup or chili that uses a variety of canned beans and tomato products. Add in diced frozen onions and peppers for convenience and a boost of nutrition.Try this recipe for a Hearty 3 Bean Pepper Stew that can feed a large crowd and uses a lot of canned vegetable staples.
However you’re enjoying game day, remember to add some fruits and veggies to the spread for more flavor, variety and satisfying options everyone can enjoy.
