These Plant-Based Super Bowl Recipes Are All Winners

Even if you don't necessarily enjoy watching the big game on Super Bowl Sunday, the opportunity to eat a plethora of game day snacks is a total win. The holiday is also a great opportunity to chow down on plant-based versions of classic foods, whether you're vegan yourself, hosting vegan guests, or if you're simply looking to swap out some meat for eco-friendly plant-based recipes.

We've compiled a list of eight of our favorite vegan Super Bowl recipes to make this year. Even diehard meat enthusiasts are bound to love these.

These 20-minute vegan nachos from Sal Hanvey, a nutritionist at food sensitivity specialist YorkTest, have you making your own guacamole, salsa, and vegan sour cream (which combines cashews and non-dairy yogurt!). Once the condiments are finished, spoon guacamole and salsa onto the chips along with jalapeños. Add vegan cheese, pop it in the oven, and top it all off with that cool and creamy homemade vegan sour cream. If we don't see photographic evidence of a great cheese pull, it didn't happen.

Trust us: You won't regret making this Spicy Fried Cauliflower “Chicken” from the blog Sweet Potato Soul, run by Jenné Claiborne. You'll combine dry ingredients in one bowl, and ingredients in another, and dip your cauliflower florets into each mixture twice before frying in hot oil. Claiborne's most important piece of advice for enjoying this recipe? "Serve hot."

Sliders are a fan favorite for meat eaters, and plant-based steak brand Juicy Marbles has a recipe for “Pulled” Sliders that are too good to resist. After tearing vegan steak into pieces, you'll top if off with blueberry-wine chutney and BBQ sauce, making for a perfect game-day main meal.

To make Modern Kitchen's caramelized onion dip, you'll start by making luscious caramelized onions. After letting that cool, in a separate bowl, you'll mix fresh herbs with vegan cream cheese and vegan sour cream; after combining with the onions, serve with chips and crudités.

These Vegan Chicken Parmesan Wonton Cups are actually genius. Created by bloggers Jasmine Briones and Chris Petrellese of Sweet Simple Vegan, the recipe starts off by lining a cupcake tin with wonton wrappers. Then, you'll fill each one with a simple combo of cooked vegan chicken nuggets, marinara sauce, and vegan cheese before baking. Insert heart eye emoji.

Plant-based chicken company Daring's Teriyaki Plant Chicken Pieces have a sweet and savory takeout vibe, reminiscent of the Japanese speciality we know and love.

For a bite-sized game day snack, defrost and cook the chicken pieces, place them atop cool cucumber slices, secure them with toothpicks, and add a little extra teriyaki sauce to each one. Our mouths are already watering.

If you aren't down to do much cooking, we won't tell. Trader Joe's Seasoned Corn Ribs are the hors d'oeuvres of our dreams. Made with plant-based butter and salt, you can eat them just as you would regular ribs. Microwave or air-fry them, and drizzle with lime juice, chili powder, and maybe make some vegan cojita for an eloté vibe.

Vegan recipe creator @fitgreenmind created crunchy, delicious polenta fries that are perfect with a side of marinara, vegan green goddess dressing, or on their own. Despite using simple ingredients, these polenta fries are sure to impress anyone.

This article, originally published on Jan. 3, 2021, has been updated.