The easiest super bowl appetizer football shaped spinach artichoke dip! This is a super easy appetizer that is super fun to eat! Creamy spinach artichoke dip, crispy golden brown puff pastry, and the most delicious dipping sauce! The perfect shareable appetizer for the big game! Enjoy!
This is the best game day snack or appetizer but also great to serve at any barbeque, party, or pot luck! This appetizer recipe is so FUN and the ultimate finger food!
DO NOT skip the homemade ranch dressing! The crispy, and savory, zucchini fries with the cool, and creamy, ranch dressing creates the perfect balance!
For another deliciously crispy recipe, see my homemade chicken egg rolls!
Super Bowl Appetizer Ingredients
The best thing about this recipe is that it comes together so quick and only 8 ingredients! Many of these ingredients you already have in your fridge or freezer! For this savory, and flavorful recipe you will need the following ingredients:
- Artichokes-For this recipe I recommend canned artichoke hearts drained, it makes this recipe so quick and easy!
- Spinach-Frozen spinach is a super great hack! Defrost and drain completely! You can use fresh spinach but if you do, ensure that you cook the spinach down, allow to cool, and drain completely.
- Cream cheese-Room temperature cream cheese is preferred for this recipe but you can also use vegan room temperature cream cheese as well!
- Mayonnaise-Don’t skip the mayo for this recipe but feel free to substitute for egg free or vegan mayo.
- Garlic powder-Garlic powder or fresh minced garlic would be perfect for this recipe!
- Salt/Pepper-Make sure to season well with kosher, or sea, salt and ground black pepper.
- Egg– One egg is needed to make an egg wash to brush on the puff pastry.
- Puff Pastry-Be sure to buy two packages of puff pastry, you will need 3 sheets total.
See recipe card for additional details and quantities.
Step-by-Step Instructions
For the full instructions and measurements for how to make this delicious recipe, please skip down to the recipe card at the bottom of the post!
Use the following step-by-step instructions for how to make these deliciously crispy super bowl appetizer:
Mix together spinach, artichokes, cream cheese, mayonnaise, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a bowl until well combined. Set aside.
Take 1 and a ½ puff pastry sheets, attach both to each other by pressing end to end, and roll it out to about 12X12 inches.
Place half of the spinach artichoke mixture in the center of the first pastry sheet on a baking sheet. Form the spinach mixture in the shape of a small football.
Place the second puff pastry sheet on top of the first sheet. Form the puff pastry over the spinach mixture to form a football shape. Push down on the edges of the puff pastry to appear like a football shape.
Then take a pizza cutter and cut 2 inch strips around the football, starting outward and going inward.
Lift up the top layer of puff pastry strips and add 1 tablespoon of spinach mixture per strip.
Then pinch the edges to form a pocket and twist (3 twists per strip). Take your egg and make an egg wash with 1 tablespoon of water and apply egg wash to your entire pastry.
Make sure you cut two slits into the center football to vent as it bakes.
Then you can take extra trimmings to form the laces in the middle of the football (the egg wash will allow it to stick).
Then place into the oven for 25 to 30 mins to bake.
Hint: Be sure to apply the egg wash to the entire puff pastry. This also allows your laces to stick on the top. I recommend using a rubber basting brush to apply the egg wash, so that you do not tear the puff pastry.
Football Appetizer Substitutions
As amazing as this super bowl appetizer is, it is easily made vegan or gluten-free!
- Vegan – instead of cream cheese and mayo, feel free to substitute for vegan products!
- Gluten-Free – use gluten free puff pastry instead of regular puff pastry dough to make this gluten free!
- Protein – the spinach artichoke dip would also be great with some shredded chicken as a high protein addition!
Football Shaped Dip Variations
The healthy ranch dressing used for dipping for this recipe is creamy, savory, and compliments these super bowl appetizer perfectly! However, they also pair with a number of other sauces:
- Sweet chili sauce
- Honey mustard
- Blue cheese dressing
- Marinara sauce
- Queso
- Sour cream
- BBQ sauce
For the recipe for the healthy ranch dressing that I used to pair with this recipe, see my ranch dressing recipe!
Equipment
The equipment that you will need for this recipe is a medium-sized mixing bowl and an extra large baking sheet or a large pizza sheet. I recommend baking this super bowl appetizer on parchment paper as well, to make it easier to move on and off of the pan!
This is the pizza sheet that I used for this recipe! Pizza pan.
Super Bowl Appetizer Storage
You can store your puff pastry appetizer in an air tight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
You can also freeze your spinach artichoke appetizer in the freezer for up to 3 months! I recommend wrapping your puff pastry in parchment paper and aluminum foil and place in a freezer safe plastic bag.
Top tips
- Frozen spinach is a super great hack! Defrost and drain completely! You can use fresh spinach but if you do, ensure that you cook the spinach down, allow to cool, and drain completely.
- Be sure to apply the egg wash to the entire puff pastry. This also allows your laces to stick on the top.
- I recommend baking this super bowl appetizer on parchment paper as well, to make it easier to move on and off of the pan!
- I highly recommend you review my step by step assembly instructions with pictures above! There is also a helpful video as well!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
A great appetizer for the super bowl is an appetizer shaped like a football, like my spinach artichoke dip stuffed puff pastry appetizer! Dip stuffed puff pastry appetizers travel well, make great finger foods, and are easily customizable for a themed super bowl party!
A good football game snack is typically finger foods, creamy dips, or fried foods. Some great game day snacks are: spinach artichoke dip, wings, chips, mozzarella sticks, pretzels, popcorn, pizza, salsa, and queso.
When you go to a friends house to watch football, you want to bring a shareable finger food that is fun, festive, and travels well. Some recommendations are: puff pastry, garlic bread, pizza, wings, popcorn, chips, or pretzels.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Sweet Recipes
These are some of my other favorite dishes to serve at a football or super bowl party:
Super Bowl Appetizer (Football Shaped Spinach Artichoke Dip)
Equipment
- 1 Large mixing bowl
- 1 Extra large Baking sheet or pizza pan
Ingredients
Spinach Artichoke Super Bowl Appetizer
- 1 Cup Artichoke hearts Canned and chopped
- 2 Cups Frozen spinach Thawed and water drained completely
- 8 Ounce Cream cheese package Room temperature
- 1/4 Cup Mayonnaise
- 1 Tbsp Garlic powder or minced garlic
- 1 Tsp Black pepper
- 1/4 Tsp Salt Kosher
- 1 Egg Mixed with 1 tbsp water to make an egg wash
- 2 Packages Puff Pastry 3 sheets total
Instructions
Spinach Artichoke Super Bowl Appetizer
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line an extra large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Mix together spinach, artichokes, cream cheese, mayonnaise, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a bowl until well combined. Set aside.
- Take 1 and a 1/2 puff pastry sheets, attach both to each other by pressing end to end, and roll it out to about 12X12 inches. Repeat with the other 1 and a 1/2 pastry sheets. Place half of the spinach artichoke mixture in the center of the first pastry sheet on a baking sheet.
- Form the spinach mixture in the shape of a small football. Place the second puff pastry sheet on top of the first sheet. Form the puff pastry over the spinach mixture to form a football shape. Push down on the edges of the puff pastry to appear like a football shape.
- Then take a pizza cutter and cut 2 inch strips around the football, starting outward and going inward. Lift up the top layer of puff pastry strips and add 1 Tbsp of spinach mixture per strip. Then pinch the edges to form a pocket and twist (3 twists per strip). Take your egg and make an egg wash with 1 Tbsp of water and apply egg wash to your entire pastry.
- Make sure you cut two slits into the center football to vent as it bakes. Then you can take extra trimmings to form the laces in the middle of the football (the egg wash will allow it to stick). Brush the laces with egg wash as well. Then place into the oven for 25 to 30 mins to bake.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool. Drizzle with ranch (optional). Enjoy!
The spinach and artichoke is so tasty!!! 🔥 And its so festive for football season