Healthy Game Day Snacks: Our 6 Favorite Recipes

Brierley Horton, M.S., RD is a dietitian nutritionist, content creator and strategist, and avid mental health advocate. She is co-host and co-creator of the Happy Eating podcast, which breaks down the connection between food and mental wellness.

I legitimately love an excuse to put together a game day snacks spread—the challenge of pairing good-for-you items like veggies, nuts, and cheese with more indulgent recipes like Fried Mac and Cheese Balls is, well, a test and also quite fun for an avid home cook like me. How can I make the feast appeal to adults and kids alike, picky eaters and healthy eaters, and sprinkle in at least one item that leaves guests asking for the recipe? Challenge accepted! 

Spoiler: this is the dish guests always ask for—and a must-make for game day; Artichoke and White Bean Buffalo Dip. 

This creamy, cheesy dip incorporates two delicious, healthy ingredients that add flavor, texture and a nutrition boost to this recipe: artichokes and white beans. I like to rinse both of them out of the can in an effort to reduce the amount of sodium in this recipe. I also serve this dip with a variety of veggies like carrots, celery, and cucumber, as well as lesser-known choices like endive, jicama, and radishes. Each of these fresh vegetables adds some much-needed crunch and the endive and radishes add a slight bitter contrast to the creamy dip. If you're looking for more dip recipes, check out this collection of our favorites.

While I like to think of game day snacks as a balance (more on that below), I almost always start by centering the spread around a better-for-you recipe. Once I have that handled, building out the rest of the spread becomes much easier. So with that said, here are some of my other favorite Cabot recipes that help keep your game day snack spread on the healthier side:  

Ranch Hand Cottage Cheese Dip

The cottage cheese adds more protein—and, thus, staying power—to this dip recipe. I recommend pureeing the cottage cheese until its super smooth and creamy for the closest comparison to ranch dip. 

Crispy Garlic Smashed Potatoes with Cheddar Rosemary Dip

This recipe is an upgraded version of potato chips and cheese dip, but one that adults and kids alike will enjoy. I’ve yet to meet a kid that doesn’t love it when I serve up crisped smashed baby potatoes.

Sheet Pan Frittata

Cut this frittata up into bite-sized pieces and you have a tasty, satisfying appetizer for a crowd. Use the vegetable recommendations in this recipe as a suggestion. Frittatas are pretty flexible when it comes to add-ins so feel free to use what you have on hand.  

And while these recipes lean a little lighter, let’s be clear—my game day spread is never a perfect picture of health. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s balance. When I serve something indulgent, I either sneak in a nutrition upgrade (think: adding chopped broccoli to these loaded potato skins) or round out the spread with a few more wholesome options (like extra veggies alongside a dip). That way, everyone finds something they love, the spread feels varied and abundant, and the food disappears fast. Which, let’s be honest, is the real sign of a winning game day spread. Looking for tips and recipes perfect for a tailgate? Click here.