13 Vegan Game Day Snacks Everyone Will Enjoy

With the NFL season just days away, and college football already back in motion, we’re already planning our game day watch parties—and we’re starting with our menus, of course.

There’s no better game-day food than nachos. Chips. Beans. Cheese. Salsa. Guac. No doubt, this combination is good, but there is so much more within the realm of snacks to re-excite our taste buds. This year, our snacks aren’t missing out on the action. 

Jump to the snacks

Game day drinks

You’ll need something to wash down all the delectable eats below, and water doesn’t cut it (at least for the spectators … we hope the athletes are hydrating). Our vegan beer guide is a must-have reference while stocking up at the store, but we also like to have a variety for guests who don’t drink or simply prefer a different kind of alcohol. 

RELATED: 10 Vegan Nacho Recipes You’ll Love: Cheesy, Crunchy, and Addictive

Hard kombucha such as Liquid Remedy is a great move that appeals to a wide range of tastes. For no-ABV beverages, regular kombucha (we love Rowdy Mermaid), canned mocktails from AVEC, and non-alcoholic beers by Athletic Brewing are always welcome. 

Vegan game day snacks

Dustin Harder 

1 Vegan Cheeseburger Tater Tots

From cheeseburger spring rolls to cheeseburger tots, cheeseburgers have become more of a flavor than a distinct food item. These tots embody the burger with a cashew-based, silky cheddar cheese sauce, plant-based ground beef, pickle relish, raw white onions, and a well-aimed drizzle of ketchup and mustard. The only difference between these tots and a cheeseburger: you should eat one of them with a fork. 
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Danielle Keith

2 Spicy Vegan Air-fried Buffalo Poppers

Not every Super Bowl item has to be deep-fried. These addictively good tofu bites are crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside, and just need a few minutes in the air fryer. Serve with vegan ranch or an extra dose of buffalo sauce. 
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Alejandra Schrader

3 Golden Vegan Jackfruit Empanadas

Though there are some outliers, most game day eats should be able to be comfortably consumed without utensils. These meaty jackfruit hand pies are perfect for hosts who want to provide a bit more substance than chips and dips. Guests will surely appreciate the gesture if the game goes into overtime. 
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Dustin Harder

4 Quick Vegan Cheese Pizza Cups

Ordering pizza on football nights may result in long wait times. It is a classic game day food, after all. Skip the excruciating wait times and make these snackable, crispy pizza bites instead. The best part (besides the taste)? You can make these in 20 minutes.  
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Lauren Toyota

5 Baked Vegan Jalapeño Poppers

Warning: these will go fast. We highly recommend making a few more than you expect—at least two to three per guest. These mild peppers are fully loaded with vegan bacon-and-chives-spiked cream cheese then coated in a generous mound of bread crumbs, all drizzled with homemade sriracha aioli. 
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Charity Morgan

6 Vegan Bacon Cheddar Jalapeño Dip

Combine jalapeño-spiked cream cheese, vegan mayo, and fistfuls of vegan cheddar cheese into a wonderfully gooey and positively addictive game-day dip. A teaspoon of smoked sea salt adds smoky depth and counterbalances the decadent flavor profile. Serve with tortilla chips or stuff into mini bell peppers for individually portioned dips. 
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Danielle Dubois and Whitney Tingle

7 Vegan Pink Beet Hummus

We can’t name any NFL jerseys with a pink color scheme, but that doesn’t mean the hue should be banned from your table. This eye-popping hummus is naturally colored with beets and makes for a wholesome and satisfying dip for chips and veggie sticks.  
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Hannah Sunderani

8 Loaded Vegan Spicy Cauliflower Nachos

Cauliflower replaces traditional tortilla chips in this super-stack of vegan nachos. The result? The perfect mash-up of buffalo cauliflower and your favorite nacho toppings. You and your guests won’t miss the chips. 
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The Chef’s Garden

9Jerusalem Artichoke Buffalo Wings

What’s game day without chicken wings? And no, you don’t need chicken to make them. This recipe calls for Jerusalem artichokes for a meaty, saucy, plant-based wing that rivals chicken wings any day, but especially on game day.Get the recipe

Nadine Horn and Jörg Mayer

10Smoky Grilled Eggplant Hot Dogs

Hot dogs are another game day staple. This whole-food approach offers a healthier take while still delivering a punch of flavor and the classic, chewy texture. Plus, they’re best when made on the grill, so they’re perfect for the transitional time between the end of summer and the start of football season.Get the recipe

Charity Morgan

11Meaty Vegan Lentil Chili Con Chili

If Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer, NFL season marks the unofficial start of fall. And when the autumn weather hits, there’s nothing like a warm, comforting bowl of chili. Whip up this hearty bowl that would satisfy any meat eater. 
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Ginny Kay McMeans

12 Vegan Magic Cookie Bars

Every game day spread needs something sweet to balance out the salty apps. Bars are your best bet—they’re portable, shareable, and can be held at room temperature. They’re also just really good. With a batch of these ooey-gooey vegan magic cookie bars, you’ll win the day, no matter how your team performs. 
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Hannah Kaminsky

13Super Sized Fruity Vegan Pop Tart

Pop tarts may not be a classic game-day option, but surprising your friends with a colossal pastry will certainly earn you points. This recipe is deceptively simple and requires just a few ingredients. 
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Tanya Flink is a Digital Editor at VegNews as well as a writer and runner living in Orange County, CA.