Football season is right around the corner, and here is a list of 20 air fryer appetizers perfect for game day parties. Cooking in an air fryer is our go-to because it is a healthier way to get that fried-food taste without all the extra oil and grease. And this list is one you don't want to miss.
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Crispy Buffalo Chicken Wings
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First up are crispy buffalo chicken wings. I think that a lot of people steer away from an air fryer for chicken wings because they think that they're not going to get that crisp without frying them in oil, and that couldn't be any further from the truth. The trick with it is making sure that you don't overcrowd your basket with wings. That way the air can circulate and give you that perfect crisp every single time.
For your sauce on the side, go with something simple like Frank's Red Hot with a little bit of butter and a dash of flour to really thicken it up, and you have the perfect crispy buffalo chicken wing made in an air fryer. Serve these up with ranch or blue cheese and let that be a debate between your guests.
Ingredients
Method
- Pat the chicken wings completely dry with paper towels, then place them in a large bowl.
- Combine the baking powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper, then sprinkle over the wings and toss until evenly coated.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380°F and arrange the wings in a single layer, working in batches if necessary.
- Cook for 12 minutes, then flip the wings and cook for another 12-13 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
- While the wings cook, mix together the buffalo sauce and melted butter in a large bowl.
- Transfer the cooked wings to the bowl with the sauce and toss until completely coated.
- Serve immediately with ranch or blue cheese dressing on the side.
Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers
Next up are bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers, the ultimate game day snack. But you're going to be doing these in the air fryer, not the oven, like you're probably used to. This will actually prevent you from having a soggy bottom that baking can produce because, again, that air circulation is going to give you the perfect crisp.
You can get these done in under 15 minutes. Be sure to pull them a little bit early, as the heat will continue to simmer, and you don't have any mess of your cream cheese spewing out the sides.
Ingredients
Method
- Cut each jalapeño in half lengthwise and use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and membranes.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic powder, and onion powder until well combined.
- Fill each jalapeño half with the cream cheese mixture, mounding it slightly.
- Wrap each stuffed jalapeño with a half slice of bacon and secure with a toothpick.
- Preheat the air fryer to 370°F and arrange the poppers in a single layer, leaving space between them.
- Cook for 10-12 minutes until the bacon is crispy and browned, flipping halfway through if needed.
- Let cool for 3-4 minutes before serving to avoid any molten cheese burns.
Loaded Tater Tots
These loaded tater tots in an air fryer are going to give you a crispy outside with a fluffy inside texture, and it will beat the oven with this one. You want to put the cheese in the last few minutes so that it melts without burning.
But the really cool part about these is you have customizable toppings. My favorite is just to make this like a baked potato, throw in a little bit of bacon bits and chives, and you're good to go.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F and spray the basket with cooking spray.
- Add the frozen tater tots in a single layer and cook for 12-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until golden and crispy.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the cooked tater tots and return to the air fryer for 2-3 minutes until the cheese is melted.
- Transfer the loaded tots to a serving platter and immediately top with crumbled bacon.
- Add dollops of sour cream across the top, then sprinkle with green onions and black olives.
- Season with salt to taste and serve immediately while hot and crispy.
Zucchini Fries
These zucchini fries are going to have that perfect crisp, but they are going to be a sneaky way to get in some vegetables for your friends. These are air-fried, giving you a crunchy coating in under 15 minutes.
And the trick is to pat your zucchini fully dry before you put on a coating to avoid steaming instead of crisping. I really like to put breadcrumbs on these as they give that classic French fry look without all that extra oil and grease.
Ingredients
Method
- Pat the zucchini sticks completely dry with paper towels to remove all excess moisture.
- Set up three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with panko breadcrumbs mixed with Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Dredge each zucchini stick in flour, then dip in egg, and finally coat thoroughly with the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to adhere.
- Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray and arrange zucchini fries in a single layer, making sure they don't touch.
- Spray the tops of the zucchini fries lightly with cooking spray and air fry at 400°F for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy.
- Serve immediately with marinara sauce or ranch dressing for dipping.
Crispy Potato Skins
The air fryer is your secret weapon for potatoes. The way that they crisp up as opposed to baking is a game-changer. The good thing about these crispy potato skins is that you can prep them earlier in the day and then pop them in again just to warm them up and give that cooked-fresh filling right when your guests arrive.
With this one, think baked potato toppings: cheese, butter, sour cream, bacon bits, and chives. This is going to taste like a restaurant order done at home.
Ingredients
Method
- Pierce potatoes with a fork and microwave on high for 10-12 minutes until tender, turning halfway through, then let cool for 10 minutes.
- Cut each potato in half lengthwise and scoop out most of the flesh, leaving about 1/4-inch of potato attached to the skin.
- Brush the inside and outside of each potato skin with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Place potato skins in the air fryer basket skin-side down and cook at 380°F for 8-10 minutes until crispy.
- Flip the skins over and fill each with shredded cheddar cheese and crumbled bacon, then air fry for an additional 3-5 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Remove from air fryer and top each potato skin with a dollop of sour cream and sprinkle with sliced green onions before serving.
Mozzarella Sticks
Homemade mozzarella sticks are so much easier than they actually seem, and they look impressive, like they took a lot more effort than they do, which is great for your game day spread. You want to chop up regular mozzarella string cheese into halves and then roll them. I like to do a double breading technique here to have a thicker and crunchier coating, and then you are going to pop them in the air fryer.
Be sure to pull these under 15 minutes, because you don't want the cheese to make a huge mess and come off the breading. You want these to look like they were done in a restaurant and really impress your guests. Serve these up with a side of marinara and a side of ranch, and you are good to go.
Ingredients
Method
- Cut each mozzarella string cheese stick in half to create 24 shorter pieces, then place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for at least 1 hour.
- Set up three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with breadcrumbs mixed with Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, oregano, and salt.
- Working with frozen cheese sticks, dredge each in flour, dip in egg, coat with breadcrumb mixture, then dip in egg again and coat with breadcrumbs a second time for a double coating.
- Place double-breaded mozzarella sticks back on the baking sheet and freeze for an additional 30 minutes to ensure they stay intact during cooking.
- Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray and arrange frozen mozzarella sticks in a single layer without touching, then spray the tops lightly with cooking spray.
- Air fry at 390°F for 6-8 minutes until golden brown and crispy, working in batches if necessary, and serve immediately with warm marinara sauce.
Sweet Potato Fries
Next are sweet potato fries, and this is another recipe that allows you to sneak in some veggies but have a really visually appealing appetizer to offer your guests. Putting them in the air fryer allows you to get a consistent crispiness on all sides, which you really can't do in the oven, trying to turn them on a baking sheet.
Ingredients
Method
- Pat the sweet potato sticks completely dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
- In a large bowl, toss the sweet potato sticks with olive oil until evenly coated.
- Add garlic powder, paprika, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper, tossing until the fries are evenly seasoned.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380°F for 3 minutes.
- Arrange the fries in a single layer in the air fryer basket, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding.
- Cook for 18-20 minutes, shaking the basket every 5 minutes to ensure even cooking, until the fries are golden brown and crispy.
- Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.
Cacio e Pepe Arancini
If you’re looking to impress your guests, try making these Italian rice balls. Arancini may sound fancy, but they’re surprisingly simple to prepare, especially if you use an air fryer. You’ll get a crispy result without the mess of deep-frying.
Ingredients
Method
- Prepare the risotto by adding arborio rice to a large saucepan and gradually adding warm broth, one ladle at a time, stirring constantly until the liquid is absorbed before adding more, about 20-25 minutes total.
- Once the rice is creamy and tender, remove from heat and stir in butter, Pecorino Romano cheese, black pepper, and one beaten egg until well combined.
- Spread the risotto on a baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until completely cooled and firm.
- Form the chilled risotto into 2-inch balls using your hands, placing them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Set up a breading station with three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with the remaining 2 beaten eggs, and one with breadcrumbs.
- Roll each rice ball first in flour, then dip in egg, and finally coat thoroughly with breadcrumbs.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F and spray the basket with cooking spray.
- Place arancini in a single layer in the air fryer basket, spray the tops with cooking spray, and cook for 12-15 minutes, turning halfway through, until golden brown and crispy.
- Let cool for 3-4 minutes before serving.
Blooming Onion
A restaurant-style blooming onion made in the air fryer is a lot easier to do than it might seem, and it obviously comes out a lot less greasy than the deep-fried version.
The cutting technique on this does require patience, but I think you will find that it becomes almost therapeutic once you find your rhythm. Just make sure you use a sharp knife and take your time.
Ingredients
Method
- Cut off the top 1/2 inch of the onion and peel away the papery skin, leaving the root end intact to hold the onion together.
- Place the onion cut-side down and make vertical cuts from the top down to within 1/2 inch of the root, making 12-16 evenly spaced cuts around the onion.
- Make additional cuts between each section to create more petals, being careful not to cut through the root.
- Gently separate the petals and soak the entire onion in buttermilk for 15 minutes.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, oregano, salt, and black pepper.
- Remove the onion from buttermilk, letting excess drip off, and dredge it thoroughly in the seasoned flour mixture, making sure to get coating between all the petals.
- Dip the onion back into the buttermilk briefly, then coat again with the flour mixture for a double coating.
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F and spray the basket generously with cooking spray.
- Place the onion in the air fryer basket root-side up and spray the entire onion generously with cooking spray.
- Cook for 20-25 minutes, spraying with additional cooking spray halfway through, until the onion is golden brown and crispy.
- Carefully remove from the air fryer and let rest for 5 minutes before serving with your favorite dipping sauce.
Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
These buffalo cauliflower bites are a healthier way of giving you that buffalo wing flavor and sneaking in some vegetables at the same time. The key with this one is shaking your basket halfway through. That way you get an even crunch on all sides. And you also want to avoid overcrowding, or you can make these cauliflower bites soggy.
Once these are cooked, pop them out and again, toss them in that buffalo sauce. Frank's Red Hot, butter, and a little bit of flour are the way to go with this one. This is going to be a snack that your guests love.
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Ingredients
Method
- Preheat air fryer to 375°F.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, water, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Dip cauliflower florets into the batter, shaking off excess, and place in a single layer in the air fryer basket sprayed with cooking spray.
- Air fry for 12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until golden and crispy.
- In a separate bowl, mix buffalo sauce and melted butter, then toss the cooked cauliflower in the sauce.
- Return sauced cauliflower to air fryer for 3 more minutes to set the coating.
- Serve immediately with ranch or blue cheese dressing.
Air Fryer Meatballs
The air fryer offers a great way to serve up meatballs without that extra grease that no one wants. What really makes these nice is that you don't have to worry about flipping them or babysitting them as you do on the stovetop. You can even make them the night before and then reheat them.
What I love to do with these is put a toothpick in each one, as it makes them really easy for people to grab and go. Have a variety of sauces served on the side that people can put on their plates and easily dip these into.
Ingredients
Method
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and parsley until just mixed.
- Roll mixture into 1.5-inch meatballs and place on a plate.
- Preheat air fryer to 380°F and spray the basket with cooking spray.
- Arrange meatballs in a single layer in the air fryer basket, working in batches if needed.
- Air fry for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until meatballs are browned and reach an internal temperature of 160°F.
- Let rest for 2-3 minutes before serving with your favorite sauce.
Mini Tacos
Putting mini tacos in the air fryer is a game changer. You get the perfect crisp on your tortillas, and the key is not to overfill them. That way they don't fall apart when they're standing up. If you have a taco rack, you can actually put that in the air fryer, but leaning them against each other works too.
You might just want to move them around so you don't end up with one soggy side on any of your tacos. These will stay warm for about 15 minutes after cooking, making them the perfect dish to serve up right before kickoff.
Ingredients
Method
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef until browned, then drain excess fat.
- Add taco seasoning and water to the beef, simmer for 3-4 minutes until thickened, then set aside.
- Preheat air fryer to 375°F.
- Fill each tortilla with 2 tablespoons of taco meat and a sprinkle of cheese, then fold in half.
- Spray both sides of tacos lightly with cooking spray and place in air fryer basket standing up or in a taco rack.
- Air fry for 6-8 minutes until tortillas are golden and crispy.
- Remove carefully and top with tomatoes, lettuce, and sour cream before serving.
Crispy Bacon Bits
Cooking up bacon bits in the air fryer is a great way to avoid grease splattering all over your stovetop right before you have guests. You just want to cut the bacon right before cooking and give your pieces room to breathe in that basket. That way, they crisp up perfectly.
The really good part about having these bacon bits is that it allows your guests to put them on the toppings of anything else. So, if they want extra toppings on those potato skins or on a salad or just as a side with something else, this will be a hit.
Ingredients
Method
- Cut the bacon strips into 1/2-inch pieces using kitchen scissors or a sharp knife.
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F for 3 minutes.
- Arrange bacon pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they don't overlap.
- Cook for 8-12 minutes, shaking the basket every 4 minutes, until bacon reaches desired crispiness.
- Remove bacon bits and place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease.
- If desired, toss warm bacon bits with brown sugar and spices while still hot, then serve immediately or store in an airtight container.
Queso Totchos
These queso totchos are going to be a unique appetizer your guests didn't know they'd love this much. Totchos are simply using tater tots as a nacho base and air frying them until they are extra golden before your toppings go on to prevent them from getting soggy.
You basically want to keep that crunch factor once you load these up with cheese, so make sure your tater tots are cooked thoroughly. You want to use real queso here over any cheap substitutes, as that flavor is really going to make a difference.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
- Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil and arrange tater tots in a single layer (work in batches if needed).
- Cook tater tots for 15-18 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until golden and extra crispy.
- Transfer cooked tots to an oven-safe serving dish or leave in air fryer-safe pan.
- Top the crispy tots with cooked meat, then drizzle generously with warm queso cheese sauce.
- Add diced tomatoes and jalapeño slices on top.
- Return to air fryer for 2-3 minutes at 350°F just to warm the toppings.
- Remove and garnish with dollops of sour cream, green onions, and fresh cilantro before serving immediately.
Beer Cheese Dip
What is a football party without beer cheese dip? This is a dip that you can make in the air fryer in a small oven-safe dish, giving you a gooey consistency.
You want to use a beer in this that you would actually drink, not that questionable can you have from the back of the fridge. This is a dip that can be used with chips, pretzel bites, or even veggies.
Ingredients
Method
- In a mixing bowl, toss the shredded cheddar cheese with flour until evenly coated.
- In an air fryer-safe baking dish (6-7 inch), combine the cream cheese cubes, beer, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and salt.
- Preheat air fryer to 320°F.
- Place the dish in the air fryer and cook for 5 minutes, then carefully remove and stir well.
- Add the flour-coated cheddar cheese to the dish and stir to combine.
- Return to air fryer and cook for an additional 8-10 minutes, stirring every 3 minutes, until cheese is completely melted and smooth.
- Let the dip cool for 2-3 minutes to thicken slightly, then serve warm with soft pretzels, tortilla chips, or fresh vegetables.
Hot Honey Chicken Tenders
These hot honey chicken tenders are air-fried for that perfect crunch without that deep-fry mess. And the sweet, spicy glaze is what makes these appealing.
You want to be sure to rest these tenders for a few minutes after cooking. That way, that glaze really sets on these and just gives that really visually appealing look.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
- Set up three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with panko breadcrumbs mixed with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Dredge each chicken tender in flour, dip in egg, then coat thoroughly with the seasoned panko mixture, pressing to adhere.
- Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray and arrange tenders in a single layer, not touching.
- Spray the tops of the tenders lightly with cooking spray and air fry for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- While tenders cook, whisk together honey and hot sauce in a small bowl.
- Drizzle the hot honey over the cooked tenders or serve on the side for dipping.
Spinach Artichoke Dip
Here is another classic recipe, and you are going to finish this one in the air fryer to give it that bubbly golden top without heating up the whole kitchen. This is a recipe that your friends will request every single time you host.
And the good part is you can prep this ahead and heat it fresh in the air fryer when your guests arrive. This is one that I love serving with pita chips, but another good option is serving it up with some vegetables.
Ingredients
Method
- In a large mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise until smooth and well blended.
- Stir in 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, chopped artichoke hearts, spinach, garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper until evenly combined.
- Transfer mixture to an air fryer-safe baking dish that fits in your air fryer basket, spreading it into an even layer.
- Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over the top.
- Place the dish in the air fryer basket and cook at 350°F for 12-15 minutes, until the dip is hot throughout and the cheese on top is melted and golden brown.
- Let cool for 5 minutes before serving with your favorite dippers.
BBQ Chicken Wings
Again, do not be afraid to put wings in the air fryer. As long as you do not overcrowd your basket, they are going to have a perfect crisp every single time. The only thing different here is you are going to add your barbecue sauce in right at the end while they are still in the air fryer.
That way it caramelizes without burning. You'll need to plan to cook these in batches to prevent overcrowding. And this offers you another wing flavor to offer as part of your spread.
Ingredients
Method
- Pat the chicken wings completely dry with paper towels, then place them in a large bowl and toss with olive oil.
- In a small bowl, combine garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper, then sprinkle over wings and toss to coat evenly.
- Preheat air fryer to 380°F and arrange wings in a single layer in the basket, working in batches if necessary.
- Air fry for 22-25 minutes, flipping the wings halfway through, until skin is crispy and golden and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- While wings cook, whisk together BBQ sauce, honey, and apple cider vinegar in a large bowl.
- Transfer cooked wings to the bowl with BBQ sauce and toss until completely coated.
- Return sauced wings to the air fryer for 2-3 minutes at 400°F to caramelize the sauce slightly, then serve immediately.
Chili Cheese Dip
This one is always a hit, and it's not just a dip; it's something your friends can put over a hot dog to make a chili cheese dog if they want. This is a dip that you are going to put in a small baking dish inside of your air fryer basket, giving you crispy edges and a molten center with the added bonus of one less pot to wash.
This is the fastest-disappearing appetizer in the lineup every single time because it's a familiar flavor, and the air fryer really makes this one stand out.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat air fryer to 350°F.
- In a bowl, mix together softened cream cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, and cumin until smooth.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture into the bottom of an air fryer-safe baking dish, then layer the chili on top.
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese and green chiles evenly over the chili layer.
- Place the dish in the air fryer basket and cook for 10-12 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly with golden edges.
- Let cool for 2-3 minutes before serving with tortilla chips.
Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip
Next up is a bacon cheddar ranch dip, and this is the appetizer you didn't know you needed. Air frying this browns up the top perfectly, giving you a slight crunch while the inside stays creamy.
A time-saving trick on this one is to be sure to cook the bacon in the air fryer first and then reuse that same dish for the dip itself. This not only saves you time, but it also adds in some additional flavor from when that bacon was cooking. This is going to be a dish that is rich, and a little will go a long way.
Ingredients
Method
- Cook bacon in the air fryer at 400°F for 8-10 minutes until crispy, then chop into small pieces.
- In a mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese, sour cream, and ranch seasoning until well blended and smooth.
- Fold in 1.5 cups of the shredded cheddar cheese, chopped bacon (reserve some for topping), and green onions.
- Transfer mixture to an air fryer-safe baking dish and smooth the top.
- Sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, and reserved bacon pieces over the top.
- Air fry at 350°F for 10-12 minutes until the cheese is melted and the top is golden brown.
- Let stand for 5 minutes before serving with chips, crackers, or vegetables.