Whether it’s a big football final or your team’s Saturday night game (for us, it’s hockey), game day food should be easy to make and even easier to share and enjoy. The air fryer is great for that – a lot of these snacks and appetizers are ready in minutes, and frozen favorites cook faster (and often crisper) than in the oven.
Here are 25 of our go-to air fryer game day recipes, from homemade wings and potato skins to frozen snacks you can have ready by the opening whistle.
When we watch sports (or host people to watch said sports), we usually gravitate towards things that have lots of toppings – like our loaded tater tots. These air fryer snacks tend to disappear first!
Air Fryer Pizza Sliders
A great way to enjoy pizza (without actually making a whole pizza) is to turn it into sliders! These pizza sliders are so easy to make in the air fryer and are great for sharing with a small crowd. The sauce, melted cheese, and deli pepperoni give them the classic pizza taste while the garlic-oil-cheese bun toppings make them hard to resist!
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Homemade Air Fryer Pigs in a Blanket
Pigs in a blanket are a classic frozen appetizer but they're actually not too hard to make from scratch – all you need is mini wieners and some puff pastry! We like them because they come together quickly and puff and brown perfectly in the air fryer. They go quickly when served with a dip like ketchup or Dijon mustard.
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Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
We made these buffalo cauliflower wings with a batter that is designed to work in the air fryer. It's thick so it doesn't run too much – and the cooked “wings” get tossed in buffalo sauce for the ultimate vegetarian game day snack. You can also make frozen cauliflower wings if you like.
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Homemade Air Fryer Onion Rings
We love our recipe for homemade onion rings in the air fryer because it's simple – but they still turn out crispy… and without much of the grease. We use a thick batter designed to work in the air fryer, then a layer of breadcrumbs, so they turn out crispy without deep frying. You can also make frozen onion rings, if you prefer.
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Air Fryer Frozen Mozzarella Sticks
Another classic pub food that you can make right in the comfort of your own home. Frozen mozza sticks are so easy to make and always turn out perfectly in our air fryer. They get dipped in marinara sauce and the worst part about eating them is that they do not last long…
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Air Fryer Loaded Tater Tots
If I had to choose, this one if probably my favorite! Regular tater tots are tasty, but if you're looking to up your tater tot game you should try loading them with all sorts of fun toppings. We like to add cheese, bacon, olives, bell pepper, jalapeño peppers, and more, but you can customize the toppings to suit your or your guests' taste! Finish them off with salsa, guacamole, and sour cream.
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Air Fryer Sweet and Spicy Nuts
These sweet and spicy nuts are one part sweet, one part spicy, and a little buttery – making them irresistible once you start snacking. We like to use a mix of nuts (pecans, almonds, walnuts) but you can vary the nut mixture a tad to suit your taste. Just keep in mind the cooking time might change – and these nuts cook and crisp fast so keep an eye on them!
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Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dogs
We like to make regular hot dogs in the air fryer, so wrapping them in bacon was a natural next step. These hot dogs are cooked through with crispy bacon wrapped around – and you can top them with classics like sauerkraut, onions, mustard, relish, and more!
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Air Fryer Nachos
Nachos are one of the easiest things to make and share on game day. These crispy tortilla chips get layered with toppings like cheese, olives, green onions, and more. Serve them with guac, salsa, and sour cream – or just as they are!
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Air Fryer Pickles
Another pub classic you can bring home, homemade air fryer pickle spears are breaded and air fried to crispy perfection. We like them because they're great for dipping and a little less greasy than the frozen breaded pickles you might buy at the store (they also work well in the air fryer, though).
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Air Fryer Frozen Popcorn Shrimp
Frozen popcorn shrimp in the air fryer crisp up very quickly because they are so small and they're just asking to be dipped. Before you know it you'll be making the rest of the package!
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Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings
We share a recipe for classic air fryer chicken wings below – but this recipe for garlic Parm wings comes first because it's one that family and friends specifically ask for again and again. It's just fresh wings cooked in the air fryer – but the coating of grated Parmesan, garlic powder, and butter is what keeps people coming back for more.
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Homemade Air Fryer Sausage Rolls
Homemade sausage rolls are another store-bought frozen game day favorite that is really easy to make from scratch. Fresh sausages, puff pastry, a little egg wash, and some sesame seeds are all you need to recreate these meaty, flaky, dippable game day classics. We like to make larger ones, but smaller frozen sausage rolls are also a good option.
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Homemade Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers
It's easy to just toss frozen jalapeño poppers in the air fryer (and they are tasty), but making some from scratch is also a fun idea. We like to make ours with fresh jalapeños, cream cheese and shredded cheddar, Panko breadcrumbs, and a strip of bacon. They're spicy, cheesy, and balanced, making them a nice game day addition if you have the time.
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Air Fryer Mac and Cheese Balls
We love these homemade Mac and Cheese Balls because they are fun to make and – let's be serious – who doesn't like mac and cheese? Crispy on the outside and soft and cheesy on the inside, these snackable little mac and cheese balls will be a welcome addition to your game day spread.
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Air Fryer Potato Skins
Homemade air fryer potato skins are a filling creation that's worth the effort. Topped with bacon and cheese, these crispy skins work really well in the air fryer because of the dry heat utilized. We top them with sour cream and green onions – but you can add chili, beans, and more. You can also make frozen potato skins if you're short on time.
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Air Fryer Baked Brie
Oh yeah. You can bake brie in the air fryer. Melty on the inside and covered in your favorite toppings (we like red pepper jelly, honey, and roasted nuts like almonds or pecans), this cheesy masterpiece not only tastes good but looks great, too! You can dip raw veggies in it for a bit of variety or even homemade pita chips!
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Air Fryer Frozen Battered Mushrooms
Battered mushrooms are another “crispy on the outside, soft on the inside” kind of air fryer snack that we really like. It's nice to have a different taste from all the meat ideas so these mushrooms – dipped in a ranch sauce – are perfect for that!
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Air Fryer Brats and Peppers
Nothing says “game day” like a good meaty bratwurst – and we know bratwurst (given that Lisa is born and raised German)! This recipe is perfect because it's for making brats and peppers together at the same time in the air fryer! Slap those two on a bun with condiments and you've got yourself a winner.
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Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Fries
We love these air fryer garlic Parmesan fries. It's just freshly cut potatoes tossed in garlic, spices, and Parmesan – but it's a simple upgrade on regular fries. They're also easy to make for a crowd if you have mouths to feed.
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Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
Sweet potato fries are another good alternative to classic potato fries with their sweeter taste and crispy yet soft texture. The secret is the addition of cornstarch to help get them crispy. We like to make them and serve them with a dip like mayo or aioli – but there are lots of other dips you might try!
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Air Fryer Frozen Soft Pretzels
You know those giant soft pretzels you can get at the stadium or arena? You can make a smaller version at home from frozen so easily in the air fryer! Ready in just minutes and covered in salt, these pretzels have that classic taste that screams “sports!”. You might also be interested in smaller pretzel bites (from frozen) which are just as good – and even easier for dipping in beer cheese!
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Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Frozen wings might be easy – but homemade chicken wings aren't any more difficult! All you need is the right spices. We make a classic dry rub version but there are also different flavors you can make like lemon pepper chicken wings. The flavor combos are endless – as are the sauces you can dip them in!
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Air Fryer Pizza Bagels
We love making air fryer pizza bagels for game day because they're very easy and they're very customizable to suit everyone's liking! We usually add pepperoni, cheese, onion, and olives – but any topping (cut thin) is fair game. You can also make frozen pizza bites if these bagels seem like too much work!
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Air Fryer Frozen Spring Rolls
A classic. Frozen spring rolls just always seem to work – and paired with plum sauce… you're in flavor heaven. The crispy shell gives way to that delicious, hot filling – and you can choose meat, veggie, or otherwise!
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