The Best Game Day Snacks You Can Make in the Air Fryer

I enjoy Super Bowl Sunday. I’m not much of a football fan, but my friend always hosts a lovely party with plentiful snacks, and I don’t have to do a thing. You see, hosting a dinner party is one thing—there’s a set meal, and you can plan out the timing—but a party based on hot snacks means lots of upkeep, and frequent refreshing.

You need a lineup of snacks that are delicious, easy to prep, and quick to churn out, leaving you plenty of time to yell at the TV. This sounds like a job for the air fryer. Here’s a list of my favorite Air Fryday snacks fit for the big game.

Cheese-stuffed biscuit balls

You know what’s better than cheesy breadsticks? These cheese-stuffed biscuit balls. They’re made with canned biscuit dough, which makes the preparation straightforward. Pop a can of your favorite vacuum-sealed dough and wrap a biscuit’s worth around a fat cube of mozzarella cheese. Throw the balls in the air fryer for a few minutes, and before serving, swipe with melted butter and a sprinkle of garlic salt. 

Seasoned pretzels

Seasoned pretzels have won me over. They’re crunchier than potato chips and these ranch seasoned ones are packed with flavor. While you can use the original oven method outlined in the recipe, you can do it faster in the air fryer. Just place them on the air fryer grate (it’s okay if they overlap) and set the air fryer on the “bake” setting for 325°F. Bake them for seven to 15 minutes (depending on the size of the pretzels and type of air fryer), tossing them around halfway through the cooking time.

Meatball shots

Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

I created meatball shots specifically for football watching—because while I don’t follow the sport, I do enjoy the weekly snacks. It turns out, everyone else loves them too. Using store-bought frozen meatballs ensures a stable vehicle for the cheesy center, and Boursin cheese is the perfect pre-seasoned mixture for the job. These are sure to go quick, so make a double batch.

Easy mushroom chips

Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

I was stunned at how well canned mushrooms handle air frying. They turn into crunchy, bubbly, umami slices with little more than a spritz of oil. These could not be simpler to make and they’re completely vegan. Enjoy them on their own, as a companion to nuts or seasoned pretzels, or use them as a crunchy topping for dip.

Air fryer s’mores

Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

You don’t need a campfire to enjoy s’mores; an air fryer does the trick just fine. While some folks might associate these sweet treats with the great outdoors, this speedy method makes a good argument for s’mores indoors. Just load up your air fryer with graham cracker halves and their trusted fillings. In about four minutes you’ll have s’mores to feed a small crowd.

Air fryer kielbasa

Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

A large platter of fatty sausage with crispy edges is a special type of heaven. And when your team is losing by 12 points, well, you’ll need something pleasant to distract you from your rage. Air fryer kielbasa is extremely simple and highly gratifying. The trick here is scoring the daylights out of the exterior—those shallow cuts become crispy and the air fryer ensures you can get more ready in case there’s a half-time emergency.

Devils on Horseback

Credit: Claire Lower

These bite-sized nibbles offer an enticing balance of sweet and salty, crunchy and chewy. All you need is fruit, cheese, and pork to wrap around them. Pitted dates make an excellent fruit pocket for stuffing with cheese, and a half slice of bacon or prosciutto makes for a great pork blanket. Follow the directions here.

American-cheese crisps 

Talk about zero prep time: American cheese singles are already ready for your air fryer. While classic cheese frico is a crispy, lacy snack made from a hard cheese like parmesan, American cheese crisps are something altogether new. Simply lay a few floppy singles on the floor of your air fryer and witness their transformation to crunchy, cavernous puffs. Pile them into a bowl and watch them disappear.

Air fryer pierogi

Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

At this point there should be no doubt that meats do very well in the air fryer, but what about carbs? Lucky for us, they have a place in the basket as well. Pierogi are a great example. To make a crispy, fluffy batch of pierogi, start with a box or bag from the freezer section of your grocery store. Follow the directions in my recipe here for the simple method.

Caramel pasta chips

Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

If you’re looking for a sweet, crunchy snack to round out your Game Day spread, try these irresistible caramel pasta chips. You can use any shape of pasta you have on hand (the weirder the better, in my opinion). Start by boiling the pasta, draining it and tossing the wet noodles with cinnamon and sugar. The air fryer will quickly evaporate the water in the pasta, leaving behind a light and flaky shell coated in caramel. A big bowl of these snackable pasta chips will be an instant hit.

Shishito pepper poppers 

Jalapeño poppers are mildly spicy, but for a stuffed-pepper snack that keeps you guessing, try this recipe for shishito pepper poppers instead. Shishitos are long green peppers with a thinner fleshy wall than jalapeños, which allows them to soften a bit faster in the air fryer. Pair that with the knowledge that you’ll never know which one are mild and which are a pocket of spicy hellfire and you’ve got yourself a snack your guests won’t forget.

Phyllo wrapped veggies

Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

If you’re looking for a way to incorporate more veggies onto your roster, here’s an incredible air fryer option: phyllo dough wrapped veggie sticks. You can use any vegetable you have available in the fridge, like carrot sticks, whole scallions, bell peppers, or asparagus. Lightly buttered phyllo dough creates crisp, flaky layers around each vegetable. Click here for the full recipe.

Mac and cheese bites

This is the only suggested air fryer snack on this list that requires cold leftovers, but it’s so insanely good I think it’s worth making a batch of mac and cheese the day before. Once the mac and cheese is cold, slice it into sticks or squares and toss into the air fryer as-is, no breading required. The existing cheese and oils from the sauce will fry and crisp to form a crunchy frico cheese exterior with a soft pasta interior. Click here for the full recipe.

Air fryer crunchy chickpeas

Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

It’s nice to have a variety of snacks at the table. Here’s one that’s easy, low commitment, and impossible to stop munching on. Crunchy chickpeas are tossed with seasonings and a secret ingredient: cornstarch. The layer of starch creates a shattering crust on each garbanzo unlike anything you’ve had before. And they’re ready in a snap. Check out the recipe here.

Leftovers egg rolls 

This snack is a lifesaver if you underprepared for your party. Keep a pack of egg roll wrappers around so you can roll up any leftovers you have hanging in your fridge. Yep. Any and all leftovers. Fill the egg roll wrapper with a slice of lasagna, baked beans and cheese, ham and pickles, or leftover potato salad. They crisp up in the air fryer like a dream. Read here for the details.

Bacon-wrapped banana bites

Similar to devils on horseback but even simpler are these bacon-wrapped banana bites. They’re an irresistible blend of sweet, earthy, and salty. Slice ripe bananas into one-inch segments and wrap them in strips of bacon. Pop them in the air fryer until crisp.

Air fryer key lime pie 

Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

Just because it’s a snack party doesn’t mean we have to skip dessert. This air fryer key lime pie is a nice reminder that spring is just around the corner. Use a store-bought graham cracker crust—they’re about eight inches in diameter and the aluminum tin fits in most air fryers. With only a few ingredients, this recipe comes together quickly—but don’t forget to give the finished pie time in the fridge to cool.