3 Classic Snacks to Buy for Super Bowl Sunday, According to Chefs

Kurt Suchman
Kurt Suchman
Kurt Suchman is a writer focused on food, music, culture, and LGBTQ+ topics. Their work has been featured in Vulture, The Seattle Times, and Food52 among other publications. Currently based in Seattle, they feel the need to remind everyone they are from New Jersey.
published Feb 11, 2023
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Party food: assortment of salty snacks in bowls and drinks like beer, cola and cocktail shot from above on party table. The composition includes potato chips, popcorn, nachos and salsa, corn bugles, pretzels, peanut, pistachio, cheese sticks and drinks like beer, cola soda and cocktail. Predominant colors are yellow and gray. High resolution 42Mp studio digital capture taken with SONY A7rII and Zeiss Batis 40mm F2.0 CF lens
Credit: fcafotodigital/Getty Images

The Super Bowl is as much about the food as it is about the game (if not more so!). Whether you’re a sports enthusiast, in it for the half-time show, or just a big fan of finger foods, the snack spread is a universal crowd-pleaser. The wings! The pigs! The party sliders! And, of course, any number of chip and dip combinations! 

While we have our personal favorites, we were curious to know what chips, puffs, and twists chefs are serving at their Super Bowl soirées this year. To get the deets, we chatted with three chefs who happily shared their go-to snacks and even how they like to serve them. (You may want to add some cream cheese and cheese cheese to you cart while you’re at the grocery store!) Let’s take a look.

Credit: Frito-Lay

1. Cheetos Flamin’ HotPuffs

“Growing up in California, I was blessed with nearly every kind of Hot Cheeto variety available. My favorite are the puffs, which are dusted with the same bright red cheesy and spicy coating [as the crunchy ones], but they are lighter and airier. I love dipping them in cream cheese (it gives off the same cooling effect as blue cheese or ranch dressing for Buffalo wings). Napkins are also key for Cheeto-dusted fingers, or you can try my biggest hack: Provide chopsticks for people to pick up Cheetos with and avoid the mess entirely!” — Abi Balingit, creator of The Dusky Kitchen and author of Mayumu: Filipino American Desserts Remixed

Buy: Cheetos Flamin’ HotPuffs, $3.98 for 8 ounces at Walmart

Credit: Dot's Homestyle Pretzels

2. Dot’s Homestyle Pretzels Original Seasoned Pretzel Twists

“You can take a girl out of the Midwest, but she will track down Dot’s pretzels wherever she lives! They’re just too good to not have around. These seasoned pretzel twists are super peppery with a wallop of salt. They’re just so perfect for a special occasion, and nothing tastes better with an ice-cold beer and some football.” — Michelle Doll Olson, culinary development manager at HelloFresh

Credit: Frito-Lay

3. Tostitos Simply Organic Blue Corn Tortilla Chips

“A fantastic snack on their own, Tostitos’ blue corn chips make great nachos. My favorite when feeding a Super Bowl crowd is to make loaded three-cheese sheet pan nachos. Throw these chips on a sheet pan and cover with shredded sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Manchego cheese. Add a kick of heat with thinly sliced jalapeños, bake until the cheese is melted, then drizzle with a lime crema made of sour cream, lime juice, and lime zest.” — Colin Mills, senior recipe developer at Green Chef

Buy: Tostitos Simply Organic Blue Corn Tortilla Chips, $3.68 for 8.25 ounces at Walmart

What snacks are you picking up for Super Bowl Sunday? Tell us in the comments.