Three inclusive Super Bowl food ideas for any watch party

Super Bowl Sunday has long come with a familiar menu: wings tossed in buffalo sauce, stacks of pizza boxes, nachos buried under cheese and dips crowded on a coffee table. For decades, those staples have defined game-day traditions just as much as the commercials or halftime show.

But not everyone looks forward to that spread. Whether it’s dietary restrictions, allergies or religious observances, traditional Super Bowl favorites leave some guests picking at the veggie tray in the corner or sitting out altogether. As watch parties bring together guests with different tastes and dietary needs, food options that are flexible, inclusive and delicious have become an important part of game day.

Mairead Kiernan, culinary operations manager for food studies and nutrition at Syracuse University, said she has seen a steady increase in the need for food accommodations during her four years teaching culinary courses, reflecting a broader shift toward more inclusive communal eating.

On Super Bowl Sunday, when food is often the centerpiece of gathering with friends, that flexibility can shape who feels included. With that in mind, here are three alternative Super Bowl food ideas that keep the spirit of game day while welcoming more people to the table.

Customizable spreads

Instead of serving a finished dish that only some guests can eat, Kiernan recommends formats that allow people to build their own plates. Options like build-your-own nachos or flatbread pizzas keep the interactive nature of game-day food while accommodating everyone’s diet.

“You could do a build-your-own nachos and make sure you’ve got corn chips rather than just flour because then you don’t lose the community piece,” Kiernan said. 

Flatbreads work the same way, especially for students working with limited kitchens or budgets. Pre-made crusts, gluten-free alternatives and a mix of toppings allow guests to customize without overbearing prep.

“That allows everybody to participate regardless of their football or food choices,” Kiernan said.

For Maggie Robinson, host of “Cooking with Cuse” and former NFL broadcast associate, traditional Super Bowl food poses a challenge.

“I am lactose intolerant, right, so that makes the Super Bowl super hard for me because everything has cheese,” Robinson said.

Vietnamese spring rolls offer an alternative that still fits the snackable, dip-friendly nature of game-day food without the heaviness.

“It’s the perfect size,” Robinson said. “It’s a dippable snackable food and you don’t feel terrible after you eat it. Plus, you can eat a bunch of them.”

Spring rolls also work especially well for students. Robinson said they require minimal equipment and can be made almost anywhere.

“There’s no oven needed. There’s no stove,” she said. “It’s just a knife, vegetables and a plate to roll these on. It’s super easy.”

She also noted that the hands-on process adds to the communal experience.

“You can wrap your spring rolls while you’re sitting there watching,” Robinson said. “Why don’t you do something with your hands and make food, and share it with people?”

Not every Super Bowl host wants to spend the day cooking. For students without full kitchens, or for anyone more interested in watching the game than preparing food, inclusive options can also come from thoughtful takeout choices.

Local vegan restaurant Strong Hearts offers familiar game-day foods in a format that works for a wide range of diets. The menu includes vegan wings in flavors such as buffalo, barbecue, general tso’s and garlic parmesan, as well as fully vegan nachos, two Super Bowl staples reimagined without meat or dairy.

Kiernan said the quality of vegan alternatives has improved significantly in recent years. She pointed to Strong Hearts as an example of how those improvements allow people with dietary restrictions to feel fully included in communal meals.

“They have great milkshakes, which is wild,” Kiernan said. “How are they so good? It’s not even milk.”

Photo by Nicholas D’Alessandro

Strong Hearts provides a diverse menu that caters to everyone’s needs.

For hosts looking to make their spread more inclusive without adding extra work, takeout options like Strong Hearts offer an easy way to keep the spirit of traditional Super Bowl food while making sure everyone at the table can participate.

Ultimately, both Kiernan and Robinson see food as the connective tissue of Super Bowl Sunday, just as important as the game itself.

“The reason I love both cooking and sports is because they both bring people together,” Robinson said. “You can bring people together over a meal from very different backgrounds in the same way that you can walk into a football stadium and high-five a stranger next to you.”

By rethinking what belongs on the game-day menu, hosts can make sure die-hard fans and casual watchers feel welcome at the table.