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Are you ready to kick off an epic game day tailgate experience? Below is your playbook for the ultimate tailgating party with healthy football food ideas that’ll have everyone cheering. No more greasy and heavy football food, say hello to make ahead healthy tailgate football snacks and appetizers. This winning lineup of amazing healthy appetizers will score big points with your friends and family. Get ready to tackle your cravings with these mouthwatering appetizers that are sure to be the MVP of your game day spread!
But that’s not all! This game plan includes make-ahead recipes that will save you a lot of time on game day. These no-cook football snacks and healthy football appetizers are not only touchdown-worthy but also Weight Watchers friendly, so you can enjoy every play without the guilt.
With these recipes, you can focus on the action on the field while knowing your healthy appetizers are ready to take center stage at your tailgating get together. So, huddle up and get ready to enjoy the game with ease.
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Healthy Football Tailgate Food Ideas
Healthy Bacon & Spinach Cream Cheese Pinwheels –Score big at your football tailgate with these Make-Ahead Bacon & Spinach Pinwheels. These are super easy to whip up and incredibly delicious. Packed with crispy bacon, fresh spinach, creamy cream cheese, and zesty green onions, they’re the perfect make-ahead snack for game day. Prepare them in advance, so you can focus on the game, and enjoy all these delicious flavors.
Healthy Bacon & Spinach Cream Cheese Pinwheels
Print Recipe
Score big at your football tailgate with our 'Make-Ahead Bacon & Spinach Pinwheel Delights.' These are super easy to whip up and incredibly delicious. Packed with crispy bacon, fresh spinach, creamy cream cheese, and zesty green onions, they're the perfect make-ahead snack for game day. Prepare them in advance, so you can focus on the game, and enjoy the touchdown of flavors
Course Appetizer
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Servings 25
Equipment
Smithfield Fully Cooked Bacon
Ingredients
- 5 Mission Burrito Size Tortillas
- 10 Ounces Reduced Fat Cream Cheese
- 10 Slices Smithfield Fully Cooked Bacon
- 2 Cups Fresh Spinach Leaves Chopped
- 1 Cup Green Onions Sliced
Instructions
Prepare the ingredients
Crumble the cooked bacon it into small pieces. Wash and chop the fresh spinach leaves. Thinly slice the green onions.
Prepare the Cream Cheese Spread
In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, crumbled bacon, chopped spinach, and sliced green onions.
Mix well until all the ingredients are evenly incorporated.
Assemble the Pinwheels
Lay out one burrito-size tortilla on a clean work surface.
Spread a fifth (1/5) of the cream cheese mixture evenly over the entire surface of the tortilla, leaving a small border around the edges.
Carefully roll up the tortilla tightly, starting from one edge and rolling toward the other. You should have a large log-shaped roll.
Repeat for the remaining tortillas.
Using a sharp knife, slice each rolled tortilla into 5 pinwheels, about 2 inches thick. You should get 25 pinwheels from the 5 burrito size tortillas
For people following Weight Watchers, each 2" pinwheel is 2 WW Points. Enjoy!
RELATED POST: 20 Healthy Super Bowl Appetizers
Tailgate Eats on the Go: Jar-Salads Score Big –Bringing salads in clear plastic jars to your tailgate party is a game-changer in terms of convenience and freshness. These portable, individualized salad jars are a fantastic way to ensure your food stays crisp and delicious. Simply layer your choice of greens, colorful veggies, lean proteins, and a flavorful dressing in the bottom of the jars. The beauty of this setup is that the dressing stays separate from the ingredients until you’re ready to dig in so that ensures your salad remains fresh and not soggy. Plus, the transparent jars showcase the vibrant layers and make serving and enjoying these healthy appetizers a breeze.
Prosciutto Wrapped Melon – This easy and casual appetizer is perfect for your football tailgate. Simply wrap slices of sweet, juicy melon with salty, savory prosciutto. It’s a breeze to prepare, and the contrast of flavors is a touchdown of deliciousness. A crowd-pleaser that’s ready to enjoy in minute. Each slice of prosciutto ham is only 2 Weight Watchers Points.
RELATED: 20+ Healthy Super Bowl Recipes
Light and Fresh Pesto Fusilli Pasta Salad – Gear up for the ultimate tailgate experience with this Light & Fresh Pesto Fusilli Pasta Salad! This pasta salad combines fresh basil and zesty lemon with reduced-fat ingredients. It’s the perfect dish for your tailgate, offering a burst of taste without the extra calories.
Light and Fresh Pesto Fusilli Pasta Salad
Print Recipe
Gear up for the ultimate tailgate experience with our Light & Fresh Pesto Fusilli Pasta Salad! This crowd-pleasing pasta salad is a touchdown of flavor, combining the bold taste of fresh basil and zesty lemon with reduced-fat ingredients. It's the perfect dish for your tailgate, offering a burst of taste without the extra calories.
Course Appetizer
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Servings 10
Ingredients
- 2 Pounds Whole Wheat Fusilli Pasta
- 4 Cups Fresh Basil Leaves, Packed
- 1/2 Cup Reduced Fat Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 1/4 Cup Toasted Pine Nuts
- 1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 4 Cloves Garlic, Minced
- 1 Juice of 1 Lemon
- Salt/Pepper to Taste
- Fresh Basil Leaves, Optional for Garnish
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Add the fusilli pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente.
Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process. Allow it to cool completely.
Prepare the Pesto
In a food processor, combine the fresh basil, grated Parmesan cheese, toasted pine nuts, minced garlic, and lemon juice.
Pulse until the mixture becomes finely chopped.
While the food processor is running, slowly drizzle in the reduced amount of extra-virgin olive oil until the pesto reaches your desired consistency.
Season the pesto with salt and pepper to taste. Adjust the seasoning as needed.
Combine Pasta and Pesto
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled fusilli pasta with the prepared lower-fat pesto sauce. Mix well to ensure the pasta is evenly coated with the pesto.
Chill and Serve
Cover the pasta salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. Chilling allows the flavors to meld together. Garnish with fresh basil leaves if you want to.
Lemony Roasted Cauliflower Salad – We’re keeping it simple and delicious, so you can enjoy healthy eating without any fuss. Just pop those florets in the oven with the onion, and you’ll have a delightful roasted cauliflower salad in no time. It’s light, it’s flavorful, and it gets doused with a healthy lemony dressing. It’s exactly what you need for a tasty healthy salad while tailgating. Here is the link to the Lemony Roasted Cauliflower Salad.
Creamy Crab Salad on Rolls – Elevate your tailgating game with this Creamy Crab Salad recipe – a crowd-pleasing touchdown of flavors! This no-cook, healthy recipe serves 10 and features succulent lump crabmeat tossed with a zesty mayo-yogurt blend, fresh veggies, and a hint of lemon. To keep your rolls as crisp as your game strategy, here’s a pro tip for you! Serve the creamy crab salad separately and let your friends assemble their own rolls right at the tailgate. It’s the ultimate tailgate MVP.
RELATED: Air Fryer Jalapeno Popper Recipe – Made Healthy
Creamy Crab Salad on Rolls
Print Recipe
Elevate your tailgating game with our Creamy Crab Salad on Rolls – a crowd-pleasing touchdown of flavors! This no-cook, healthy recipe serves 10 and features succulent lump crabmeat tossed with a zesty mayo-yogurt blend, fresh veggies, and a hint of lemon. To keep your rolls as crisp as your game strategy, we've got a pro tip for you! Serve the creamy crab salad separately and let your fellow fans assemble their own rolls right at the tailgate, ensuring every bite is as crisp and delicious as the next. It's the ultimate tailgate MVP!
Course Appetizer
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Servings 10
Ingredients
- 1.5 Pounds Lump Crabmeat (Picked over to remove shells)
- 1/2 Cup Light Mayonnaise
- 1/2 Cup Plain Nonfat Greek Yogurt
- 1/2 Cup Celery, Diced
- 1/4 Cup Red Bell Pepper, Diced
- 2 Tbl Lemon Juice
- 3 Tsp Dijon Mustard
- Salt/Pepper To Taste
- 10 Rolls
Instructions
In a large bowl, combine the lump crabmeat, diced celery, diced red bell pepper, and chopped parsley.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the light mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until well combined.
Gently fold the mayonnaise mixture into the crabmeat mixture until everything is evenly coated. Be careful not to break up the crabmeat too much
Slice the rolls in half horizontally, creating tops and bottoms.
To prevent the rolls from getting soggy, you have a couple of options:
Option 1: Serve the crab salad in a separate bowl or container alongside the rolls. Allow your guests to assemble their own sandwiches to maintain freshness.
Option 2: Spread a thin layer of butter or a light condiment (like mustard or mayonnaise) on the inside of each roll to act as a moisture barrier before adding the crab salad.
Scoop the crab salad onto the roll bottoms, then top with the roll tops.
Serve the crab salad rolls immediately or wrap them individually in wax paper or foil for a portable and mess-free tailgating experience.
Each roll should get about 1 cup of the crab meat mixture. If you follow Weight Watchers, each cup of Creamy Crab Salad is 1 Point. (This doesn't include the WW Points per roll).
Related: Air Fryer Peachy Rum Wings Made Healthy
Pioneer Woman’s Pimento Cheese Spread – Lightened Up – Get ready to tailgate with a Southern twist! This healthy rendition of Pioneer Woman’s Pimento Cheese Spread packs all the creamy goodness and bold flavors you love into a game day-friendly treat. Creamy light mayonnaise and reduced-fat cream cheese join forces with reduced fat cheeses and zesty pimento to create a touchdown-worthy dip that’s perfect for slathering on sandwiches or scooping with chips. Enjoy the unmistakable taste of the South, now in a guilt-free, tailgate-ready version that’s sure to score big. Get the recipe here.
Healthy Mexican Layer Dip – This dip is 0 Points on Weight Watchers. Yep, 0 Points. To keep it at 0 Points, serve it with celery, carrot or any crudites. Or you can serve it with tortilla chips too! Your choice. Get the recipe right here.
Want more Healthy Tailgate Recipes?
Healthy Fat Free Hummus Without Oil or Tahini
Healthy Mexican Street Corn Salad
Ultimate Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad
Healthy Orzo Pasta Salad
Tailgating season is in full swing, and with these delicious and healthy recipes at your fingertips, you’re all set to host the ultimate game day gathering. From no-cook crab salad rolls to Pioneer Woman-inspired pimento cheese spread, your tailgate menu is packed with flavor and smart choices that will keep your guests cheering for more. So let the game day feasting begin. Here’s to good food and great company!
