Spring is finally almost here, bringing warmer weather and plenty of reasons to get together with friends and family. Whether you’re into the action or not, everyone can agree on gathering around hot vegan snacks. We’re talking snacks to impress your omnivore friends—think plant-based sausage, gooey vegan queso, and spicy jalapeño cheese dip. As if we needed another reason to look forward to game day, here are 11 meaty, cheesy vegan snacks that can make your parties infinitely more appetizing—win or lose.
whole foods
1 Whole Foods Sandwich Platter
This year, Whole Foods is offering a sandwich platter with vegans in mind. It has a line-up of “customer-favorite” sandwiches, including Tabitha Brown’s famous TTLA (tempeh, tomato, lettuce and avocado), plant-based chicken salad and a falafel wrap. This spread will definitely last through your gathering.
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Morning Star Farms
2 MorningStar Farms Veggietizers
This longtime vegetarian staple has a fantastic vegan snack lineup. Choose from options like Veggie Chorizo Nacho Bites and Veggie Chik’n and Cheese Taquito Bites. Although some MorningStar products contain eggs or dairy, both apps are vegan.
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Basic kitchen
3 Basic Kitchen Queso
Primal Kitchen’s “No Dairy” queso has a velvety, creamy texture perfect for dipping nachos. It’s made with tomatoes, pumpkin seed butter, carrots, roasted red peppers and jalapeños for a light touch of heat.
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field roast
4 Ground roast appetizers
When you need some snacks in a pinch, reach into your freezer and scan your spice drawer. Field Roast’s frozen mini corn dogs and buffalo wings (formerly known as fruffalo wings) are easy and satisfying solutions to half-time hangovers. Serve with mustard and vegetarian ranch
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Emma Chu
5 Garden Crab Cakes
Crabcakes may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think “football,” but they fit the category perfectly. They are meaty, creamy, crispy and fried. With or without tartar sauce, these mini crabless cakes will be gobbled up before the second trimester.
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Kite Hill
6 Kite Hill French Onion Dip
A thick French onion dip is perfected in the form of a ruffled potato chip. Even chips and guac don’t emit the same joy of this divine pairing. Kite Hill’s Almond Milk-Based French Onion Dip replicates the tang and bold onion flavor we crave in this flavor-forward dip.
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nowadays
7 Nuggets these days
A heavy snacking tray that leans more towards food, a mound of vegan chicken nuggets is just the thing. There are dozens of plant-based nuggets on the market these days, but lately, we’ve been enjoying today’s version. Not only are we impressed with its solid nutritional profile (ingredients we can pronounce, just 3.5 grams of total fat, and 13 grams of protein), but its texture is just right and they’re the perfect two-bite size for heavy meals. purpose
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auspicious planet
8Good Planet Foods Snackable Wedges
Reminiscent of Laughing Cow single-serve cheese wedges, this trio of vegetarian-friendly, triangle-shaped cheeses is the perfect way to avoid a communal dip situation in a mixed crowd. Flavors include Original, Smoked Gouda and Pepper Jack. Arrange a medley of these foil-wrapped cheeses on a tray with raw veggies, chips and toasty pita triangles, and your snacking duties are done.
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from the ground
9 From Ground Up Cheddar Cauliflower Crackers
These vegan-friendly cheddar squares remind us of our favorite childhood crackers. Fill a bowl with these cauliflower-based cheesy bites and watch your guests’ expressions go from surprise to pure delight at this unexpected delight.
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Vegan Rob’s
10 Vegan Rob’s Dairy-Free Cheddar Puffs
Made with sorghum flour, Vegan Rob’s Dairy-Free Cheddar Puffs channel white cheddar cheese puffs and we’re all for it. These puffs are guaranteed to disappear in no time, so be sure to keep a backup bag ready for refills
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Totally veggie!
11 Totally veggie! Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
These soy-free, gluten-free buffalo cauliflower wings feature florets coated in a crunchy panko coating and a spicy bite. All you have to do is bake. Be sure to serve it with fresh celery, carrots and dairy-free ranch dip. Try the cashew-based dip recipe here.
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As far as snacks go, feel free to grab chips, cookies, pretzels, and all vegan salty snacks and dips.
For more vegetarian game day eats, read:
Tanya Flink is a digital editor for VegNews as well as a writer and runner living in Orange County, CA.