The Best Game Day Snacks You Can Make in the Air Fryer
I love Super Bowl Sunday. I’m not a big football fan, but my friend always throws a great party with lots of food and I don’t have to do anything. You see, throwing a dinner party is one thing—there’s a set menu and you can plan the timing—but a party centered around hot appetizers requires a lot of upkeep and frequent refreshment.
You want a line of delicious snacks that are easy to prepare and quick to whip up so you have plenty of time to scream at the TV. This looks like a deep fryer job. Here’s a list of my favorite Air Friday snacks fit for the big game.
Biscuit balls with cheese filling
You know what’s better than cheese breadsticks? These biscuit balls are filled with cheese . They are made from canned biscuit dough, making them easy to prepare. Open a can of your favorite vacuum-sealed dough and wrap a fat cube of mozzarella cheese in the cookie’s worth. Throw the balls into the air fryer for a few minutes, and before serving, brush with melted butter and sprinkle with garlic salt.
Devils on horses
These bite-sized snacks offer a tempting balance of sweet and salty, crunchy and chewy. All you need is fruit, cheese and pork to wrap them. Pitted dates make a great fruit pocket for a cheese filling, and half a slice of bacon or prosciutto makes a great pork blanket. Follow the instructions here .
American cheese chips
Talk about zero prep time: American cheese chunks are ready for your air fryer. If the classic frico cheese is a crunchy, lacy snack made from a hard cheese like Parmesan, then American cheese chips are something completely new. Simply place a few floppy strips in the bottom of the fryer and watch them transform into crispy, plump puffs. Place them in a bowl and watch them disappear.
Poppers with Shishito pepper
Jalapeño poppers are mildly spicy, but if you want a stuffed pepper appetizer that keeps you guessing, try this shishito pepper poppers recipe instead. Shishitos are long green peppers with a thinner fleshy wall than jalapeños, which allows them to soften a little faster in the fryer. Couple that with the knowledge that you’ll never know which ones are easy and which ones are a hotbed of hot hellfire, and you’ve got an appetizer your guests won’t forget.
Vegetables in Phyllo packaging
If you’re looking for a way to incorporate more vegetables into your diet, here’s an incredible air fryer option: vegetable sticks wrapped in phyllo dough. You can use any vegetables you have in the refrigerator, such as carrot sticks, whole green onions, bell peppers or asparagus. Lightly buttered phyllo dough creates crispy, flaky layers around each vegetable. Click here to see the full recipe .
Mac and cheese appetizers
This is the only recommended air fryer appetizer on this list that requires cold leftovers, but it’s so insanely delicious that I think it’s worth making a batch of mac and cheese the day before. Once the mac and cheese has cooled, cut it into bars or squares and throw it in the fryer as is, no breading required. The existing cheese and butter from the sauce will fry and crisp up, creating a crispy cheese crust on the outside and a soft paste on the inside. Click here to see the full recipe .
Crispy chickpeas in the deep fryer
It’s nice to have a variety of snacks on the table. Here’s one that’s easy, no-commitment, and impossible to stop munching on. Crispy chickpeas in the air fryer with seasoning and a secret ingredient: cornstarch. The layer of starch creates a brittle crust on each garbanzo unlike anything you’ve tried before. And they’re ready in no time. Crispy chickpeas in the air fryer.
Leftover egg rolls
This appetizer will be a lifesaver if you haven’t prepared enough for the party. Keep a pack of egg roll wrappers on hand so you can wrap up any leftovers hanging out in the refrigerator. Yeah. Any leftovers. Fill an egg roll wrapper with a slice of lasagna, cheesy baked beans, ham and pickles, or leftover potato salad. They crisp up in the fryer like a dream. Read more here .
Banana pieces in bacon
Similar to devils on horses, but even simpler. Make a batch of bacon wrapped banana chunks . It’s an irresistible blend of sweet, earthy and salty. Slice ripe bananas into one-inch thick segments and wrap them in bacon strips. Place them in the air fryer until crisp.
Key lime pie in the air fryer
Just because it’s a snack party doesn’t mean we have to skip dessert. This Air Fryer Key Lime Pie is a good reminder that spring is just around the corner. Use a store-bought graham cracker crust—they’re about eight inches in diameter, and an aluminum can will fit most air fryers. This recipe uses just a few ingredients and comes together quickly… but be sure to let the finished pie cool in the refrigerator.