Food might be the most important detail on game day (or game night). The only problem? If you’re following the paleo diet, most party food recipes are loaded with enough conventional dairy, gluten and sugar to make you fall asleep. Enter paleo appetizers.
With cleaner ingredients, you’ll have enough energy to cheer on your team without sacrificing delicious flavor. Whether you serve savory appetizers or treats, you’ll want to make these paleo appetizer recipes for your crew any time.
Game day paleo appetizers
Crispy Paleo Tostones With Guacamole
This tostones recipe is the perfect game day food with satisfying starchy plantains cooked in quality fats like avocado oil or ghee.
Dip in rich Bulletproof guacamole or any paleo dipping sauce for crispy, creamy satisfaction.
Paleo Nachos
What’s a game day without nachos? This paleo version tops sweet potato rounds with rich lamb and avocado. Top with cilantro, tomatoes and peppers if you can tolerate nightshades.
Not a nacho fan? Replace the sweet potato rounds with fries and enjoy some Tex-Mex loaded sweet potato fries.
Bacon Enchilada Jalapeño Poppers
No cream cheese, no problem: These zesty bites from Physical Kitchness get their creamy center from soaked cashews and a spicy enchilada sauce.
Some people are more sensitive than others to nightshades like peppers, so avoid them if they make you feel foggy.
Baked Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
Cauliflower makes the perfect fiber-packed alternative to chicken wings in this meatless hot wing recipe.
Shake up your florets with almond flour and seasonings, then bake and toss in a buttery hot sauce coating for super satisfying and vegetarian game day food. (Also a great dish for a BBQ!)
Chocolate-Covered Bacon
This sweet and savory finger food is perfect for game day and requires only a few ingredients.
Dip your chewy bacon slices in rich melted dark chocolate for an unexpectedly delicious appetizer.
Spinach Empanadas
These perfect handheld pies wrap a creamy dairy-free spinach filling in a crisp almond flour dough.
This recipe produces eight to 10 pies, making it perfect for game day snacking.
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
These crisp and salty fries from Paleoish Krista use the low-temperature power of the air fryer to create a perfectly crispy coating.
Dredge your zucchini wedges in a seasoned coconut flour blend, and after 15 minutes they transform into a crispy, salty treat.
Bacon-Avocado Caesar Deviled Eggs
This make-ahead paleo appetizer upgrades your typical deviled eggs with a creamy avocado filling and chunks of crisp bacon.
This recipe is easy to scale up for a crowd of hungry fans or scale down for a fancy paleo appetizer at home.
Bacon-Wrapped Avocado Fries
The only thing better than avocado is avocado wrapped in bacon, courtesy of this paleo appetizer from Kirbie’s Cravings.
This game day food keeps it simple with a two-ingredient recipe that yields the perfect balance of creaminess and crunch.
Sweet Potato Skins With Rosemary Ground Beef and Avocado
A classic happy hour appetizer just got a major paleo upgrade with this delicious appetizer recipe.
Roasted sweet potato skins are stuffed with grass-fed beef, fragrant rosemary and creamy avocado for a simple, yet satisfying finger food.
Note: You’ll want to scale up this recipe to feed a crowd.
Paleo Crispy Baked Zucchini Chips
These zucchini chips are savory, crunchy and infinitely snackable.
For the thinnest, crispiest slices, use a mandolin or your sharpest chef’s knife.
Bread paleo appetizers
Paleo Flatbread With Artichoke Dip
This restaurant-style flatbread uses a grain-free base and gets topped with a creamy hot artichoke dip, all topped with crispy spiralized sweet potato.
Paleo Cornbread Minus the Corn
This paleo and keto-friendly cornbread from Our Paleo Life tastes similar to the real thing, thanks to sweetness from honey and a base of almond and coconut flours.
Keto Bacon and Zucchini Muffins
Delight your guests with these flavorful muffins that pack grated zucchini into each bite.
Go ahead and prep them ahead of time: They keep well in the fridge.
Garlicky Paleo Bread Sticks
Make these crispy bread sticks and pair them with your favorite dips like guacamole, melted butter or a homemade aioli—or eat all on their own for total bready satisfaction.
Paleo Coconut Flour Bread
This simple, yet satisfying grain-free bread is the perfect vessel for toast, prosciutto and charcuterie spreads like this Keto Snack Plate.
Use a smaller loaf pan if you want sandwich-sized slices, as this paleo bread won’t rise much.
Paleo appetizer dips
AIP Cauliflower Dip
Here’s further proof that cauliflower can do anything. In this recipe from Healing Autoimmune, tender roasted florets blend with lemon juice and salt for a creamy dip that goes with all your paleo appetizer favorites.
A perfect replacement for hummus if you’re missing chickpeas on paleo.
No-Bake BLT Dip
This dip from Healthful Pursuit gets some sneaky upgrades: It uses soaked cashews to create a creamy consistency and grass-fed Collagen Protein for an extra boost of protein.
Mix it all with crisp bacon crumbles and top with lettuce and tomato for a delicious dip with no oven needed.
Buffalo Chicken Dip
This recipe from Paleo Running Momma is oh-so-easy to make, especially with leftover chicken.
Tender chunks of meat swim in a creamy sauce made with mayo, coconut cream (no coconut flavor here) and hot sauce.
Spinach and Avocado Dip
This super-fresh dip from The Healthy Family and Home uses spinach and avocado, and it couldn’t be easier—simply blend and serve.
Partner with paleo crackers, celery and other crisp veggies for a fresh paleo appetizer.
Dairy-Free Sam Elliot Dip
This creamy, spicy dip from Healthful Pursuit is perfect for just about anything. Spread it on bread, dollop on meats or simply use as a veggie dip.
All you’ll need is an avocado oil mayo, hot sauce, a few key seasonings and a few minutes to whip it all together.
Avocado Vegetable Dip
Combine the delicious taste of avocado with satisfying ingredients like homemade mayo, coconut milk and seasonings this this paleo dip recipe from Paleo Leap.
Blend all the ingredients in a blender, season to taste and you’ll have a show-stopping dip in a flash.
Skip the hot pepper sauce if you’re sensitive to nightshades.
Protein paleo appetizers
Creamy Pumpkin Chili
No game day spread is complete without chili. This meaty recipe from The Castaway Kitchen gets a natural creamy boost from real pumpkin puree and coconut cream, plus an abundance of warm seasonings.
Easy Oven Baked Paleo Meatballs
These simple meatballs food is easy to meal prep, freeze and reheat if you’re short on time.
Simply roll up your meat with herbs, ghee and apple cider vinegar, then bake away for a fast and tasty protein.
Smashed Plantain Pulled Pork Sliders
These sweet and savory sliders from Real Simple Good use smashed plantains for buns, and tender pulled pork in the center—easy, tasty and packed with flavor.
It’s also to scale up or down, depending on how many you’re serving.
Air Fried Paleo Buffalo Wings
Stick with a classic in this easy game day recipe from Paleo Grubs: Using the air fryer, these easy chicken wings crisp up before getting tossed in a spicy sauce.
Lamb Keto Tacos With Cauliflower Tortillas
Tender, pliable cauliflower tortillas get stuffed with tender pulled lamb meat—who said game day food couldn’t be good for you?
With only 30 minutes of active cooking time, this recipe comes together quickly, too.
4-Step Teriyaki Turkey Meatballs
These spiced, coconutty meatballs from Predominantly Paleo are packed with umami flavors. Just mix ingredients and bake for a super simple game day main.
Chicken Taquitos
No grain-filled tortillas here. Instead, these little taquitos from Meatified use a shell made from plantain and mashed yucca. Then, they’re stuffed with spiced chicken. You won’t miss the grains or cheese with these tasty bites!
Sweet Potato Chicken Poppers
Take chicken nuggets to a whole new level with this easy recipe from Unbound Wellness.
With grated sweet potato, ground chicken and spices, you just need to mix and bake for savory, poppable game day food.
Low-Carb Bacon Pineapple Shrimp Skewers
Sweet, salty and oh-so-tasty, these skewers will go fast on game day. Too cold to grill? Take it inside and follow the oven steps in this recipe.
Preheat your oven to 450°F. Lightly coat a baking sheet with nonstick spray, then place the skewers on a baking sheet. Roast until cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
Keto Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Beef
This paleo appetizer recipe is the perfect way to feed a crowd.
Serve tender, shredded Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Beef as part of a build-your-own taco bar with lettuce wraps, guac, cauliflower rice and any other toppings your heart desires.
Paleo side dishes
Avocado Pineapple Paleo Coleslaw
This light, summery salad gets a kick from coriander and turmeric, all combined with juicy chunks of pineapple and creamy diced avocado.
Best of all, it takes just 20 minutes from start to finish.
Paleo Whole30 Classic Egg Salad
Using the power of the Instant Pot, this paleo appetizer from Jay’s Baking Me Crazy creates a classic creamy egg salad with just minutes of cook time.
Partner with the bread recipes earlier in this article, or serve as deconstructed deviled eggs.
Cauliflower Potato Salad
Tender cauliflower makes the perfect mock potato in this simple paleo potato salad recipe from Wholesome Yum.
With traditional ingredients like mayonnaise, spices and celery, your non-paleo guests will enjoy this recipe, too.
Gluten-Free Tabbouleh
Light, fresh and vibrant, this tabbouleh is the perfect way to brighten up a heavy game day spread.
The recipe calls for serving this dish with jicama, but it’s just as great on its own.
Low-Carb Thyme and Zucchini Fritters
Savory zucchini fritters are an easy way to sneak more vegetables into your diet.
For maximum crispiness, make sure you’ve removed as much liquid from the zucchini as possible.
Enjoy them on their own or topped with fresh avocado.
Paleo desserts
Paleo Pizookie (Homemade Skillet Cookie)
Perfect game day food for a crowd. Bake up this skillet cookie and slice into pieces for a sweet treat that even non-paleo friends will love.
And since it’s loaded with energizing ingredients like Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil, you’ll avoid the carb coma that comes with most cookies.
Paleo Homemade Twix Bars
Just like the original candy, these rich little bars from Golden Barrel have layers of cookie, caramel and chocolate—but no refined sugar or flour.
Keto Texas Sheet Cake With Chocolate Avocado Frosting
This light, fluffy and ultra-chocolatey cake makes a sinful-tasting way to feed a group—all with no gluten, grains or sugar.
Instead, this cake batter uses coffee, cacao and grain-free flours, then tops each rich slice with a creamy avocado frosting.
Sweet Potato Paleo Brownies With Chocolate Coconut Frosting
Thanks to the natural creaminess in sweet potatoes, these brownies bake up into perfectly fudgy and nutrient-dense bars.
With added chocolatey flavor from creamy cacao butter, these sweet brownies are also brimming with quality fats.
Keto Protein Chocolate Chip Cookies
These cookies get an extra punch of protein from a secret ingredient: Collagen Protein. With rich chocolate chunks in each bite, you’ll want to make these for game day food (and…everyday food).
Chocolate Cinnamon Keto Donuts
Prepare to wow your guests with paleo donuts that also happen to be sugar-free. They’re also incredibly easy to make, no sifting required.
Just combine all ingredients in a bowl, pour into a donut pan and bake until set. For the best texture, serve these donuts the same day you make them.
