55 Summer Party Appetizers That Will Make Every BBQ Better
55 Summer Party Appetizers That Will Make Every BBQ Better
These easy summer appetizers and recipes are app-solutely perfect for all your warm weather fetes. Whether you want something fancy, healthy, or super simple, we've got options for everyone. Still hungry? Check out our favorite bbq side dishes, salads and sangrias.
Esquites Fritters
We’re happy to report that esquites, the irresistible and less-messy salad version of everyone’s favorite cotija-coated snack, elote, were the perfect inspiration for these bite-sized fritters. Paired with a lime and garlic-spiked sour cream sauce, these crisp patties are guaranteed to disappear in a crowd in minutes.
Get the Esquites Fritters recipe.
Tomato Tart
Put those perfect summer tomatoes to good use in this stunning tomato and feta tart. It requires just few simple ingredients (and almost no effort). Store-bought puff pastry gives you a buttery, flaky crust without the fuss of making your own crust.
Get the Tomato Tart recipe.
Ssamjang
Arrange a smorgasbord of all the crunchy veggies and crackers you can get your hands on, because we know a spicy-funky-salty-sweet-creamy-crunchy dip that will keep you coming back for more. It’s called ssamjang—a jang (or paste) that Koreans typically dollop in ssam (a wrap) with rice or meat. We love it as a dip, and bet you will too!
Get the Ssamjang recipe.
Steak Frite Bites
Grilled steak and French fries belong together—which is why we turned the classic French dinner into a genius summer appetizer all your guests will love.
Get the Steak Frite Bites recipe.
Mango Salsa
This salsa has the perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and salty. Served with homemade tortilla chips it makes for a ridiculously addictive snack.
Get the Mango Salsa recipe.
Spinach Artichoke Zucchini Bites
These little guys are the perfect healthy summer appetizer. As the zucchini becomes tender, the spinach and artichoke topping gets nice and melty. If you want a little extra color on your bites, switch the oven to broil on medium and cook them a couple minutes more. (Just keep an eye on them.)
Crab Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms
Everyone loves a good stuffed mushroom. In fact, we'd venture to say it's one of the world's best party snacks along with the old standbys deviled eggs & pigs in a blanket. This version is even MORE irresistible with the addition of sweet, tender crab, fresh green onions, and rich cream cheese.
Eggplant Parm Dip
Everything you love about eggplant Parm, melted together in one super cheesy dip. (Extra credit for serving with grilled bread.)
Get the Eggplant Parm Dip recipe.
Tomato Gnocchi Kebabs
The gnocchi paired with blistered grilled tomatoes and tender red onion make for a perfect summer snack. They come together in minutes and if you are really pressed for time you can skip the homemade salsa verde and opt for basil. (Though we promise it’s worth making.)
Get the Tomato Gnocchi Kebabs recipe.
Bacon Zucchini Fries
Anything wrapped in bacon is instantly 1,000 times better, including summer squash! These 'fries' are simply roasted zucchini wedges wrapped in bacon—squash has never looked better. Make a simple homemade ranch for an easy dipping sauce too.
Get the Bacon Zucchini Fries recipe.
Buffalo Chicken Celery Boats
Everything you love about buffalo wings—Frank's Red Hot sauce, crumbled blue cheese, ranch dressing— in one convenient bite!
Get the Buffalo Chicken Celery Boats recipe.
Classic Deviled Eggs
This is our OG recipe, but we have tons of fun variations too: guacamole deviled eggs, dill pickle deviled eggs, shrimp cocktail deviled eggs...the list goes on and on. Check out a full list of our favorite deviled egg recipes, or go rogue and create your own! The possibilities are truly endless.
Get the Classic Deviled Eggs recipe.
Black Eyed Pea Bruschetta
Simply toss canned black-eyed peas with raw chopped collard greens, bell pepper, scallions, and garlic, and toss with an apple cider vinaigrette. Pile the mix onto toasted baguette slices and top with crispy, smoky pork to complete this summery, shareable appetizer.
Get the Black Eyed Pea Bruschetta recipe.
Shrimp Tostada Bites
If you want to make things easy on yourself, use store-bought guac to fill these adorable little cups, but we gotta warn you— homemade guacamole is ALWAYS better.
Get the Shrimp Tostada Bites recipe.
Tomato Galette
This tomato galette uses an herb speckled savory pie crust and is topped with ripe heirloom tomatoes and fresh ricotta for an extremely easy, yet impressive looking dish. It can be a light summer dinner or served as an appetizer at your next outdoor party.
Get the Tomato Galette recipe.
Caponata
Five cups of this classic Sicilian dish may seem like a lot, but when you realize it is the perfect dip, toast-topper, pasta mix-in, and poultry and seafood accompaniment (among many other things), you'll be wishing you made double for your BBQ.
Get the Caponata recipe.
Best-Ever Guacamole
Everyone has opinions about Mexico's most famous avocado-based dip: guacamole. Some, like us, keep it simple. We prefer to let the flavor of our avos shine. Others like to go crazy on the mix-ins: spices, tomatoes, garlic, etc. If that's your thing, this guacamole is the perfect jumping-off point. Add whatever you like!
Get the Best-Ever Guacamole recipe.
Cheesy Corn Poppers
The contrast of sweet juicy corn, salty Parmesan, and bright green onions is pretty unbeatable. Hot tip: Don't fry these all at once. The poppers will absorb more oil and taste greasy. For best results, cook them in batches.
Get the Cheesy Corn Poppers recipe.
Shrimp Ceviche
If you’ve never made ceviche before, it’s not difficult. Our top tip is to make sure that you’re starting out with really good shrimp; since the dish is so simple, the quality of shrimp you use will have a really big impact on how tasty the finished dish is.
Get the Shrimp Ceviche recipe.
Queso Fundido
Queso fundido is a true party trick. It’s likely the lowest effort, highest reward party dip. Go for Mexican chorizo here instead of the Spanish, which is usually dried.
Get the Queso Fundido recipe.
Blueberry Salsa
Wanna make this gorgeous fruity salsa ahead of time? Toss everything together but leave out the lime juice, olive oil, and cilantro. Cover and refrigerate, then dress and add the herbs when you're ready to serve!
Get the Blueberry Salsa recipe.
Duchess Potatoes
Duchess Potatoes is a classic French dish made with piped mashed potatoes that are enriched with egg yolks and butter. Basically, they're like fancy tater tots, and they're perfect for any upscale summer celebration.
Get the Duchess Potatoes recipe.
Grilled Corn Salsa
With tangy lime and sweet basil, this grilled corn salsa couldn't be more perfect for summer. If you don't have a grill or grill pan, give your cobs a quick sear in a cast iron skillet to get that smoky, charred flavor. You can also use frozen corn, (they even sell it pre-charred!) just make sure it's fully defrosted and drained of excess moisture before you make your salsa.
Get the Grilled Corn Salsa recipe.
Melon Prosciutto Skewers
If you haven't experienced the flavor combo of prosciutto + melon, get on it STAT. It's the ultimate in sweet and salty.
Get the Melon Prosciutto Skewers recipe.
Baba Ghanoush
We like our eggplant-based baba ghanoush GARLICKY. If you don't, skip grating the raw clove in at the end. Without it, you'll have a more subtle (slightly sweet) garlic flavor that will still make everyone very, very happy.
Get the Baba Ghanoush recipe.
Pulled Pork Nachos
This nacho recipe is perfect for feeding hungry summer guests while you wait for the grill to heat up. We prefer using store-bought pulled pork for these (making these extra easy!), but homemade would obviously be super delicious too.
Get the Pulled Pork Nachos recipe.
Lobster-Shrimp Cakes
This recipe was adapted from the new 20th anniversary edition of Patti's cookbook,LaBelle Cuisine: Recipes to Sing About. Don't skip that lemon aioli, it's the BEST for dipping these patties into, and you can use it on burgers once you get the grill going too.
Get the Lobster-Shrimp Cakes recipe.
Grilled Pineapple Salsa
This smoky-sweet pineapple and peach salsa is the perfect start to a BBQ or outdoor celebration. It might just ruin you for all other dips—you'll certainly want to grill ALL your fruit from now on.
Get the Grilled Pineapple Salsa recipe.
Mushroom “Calamari” with Spicy Marinara
Umami-rich oyster mushrooms are lightly battered and fried for this squid-free take on fried calamari. You can use other mushroom varieties, but the delicate “petals” of the oyster mushrooms get addictively crispy, so we recommend seeking them out.
Crab Cakes
Crab cakes are always in the appetizers sections of fancy seafood restaurants, so people are often intimidated to make them at home. DON'T BE. They're so easy—literally anyone can do it.
Get the Crab Cakes recipe.
Greek Feta Dip
Loaded with cucumbers, tomatoes, and feta, this dip was inspired by our Greek salad. (Though it's missing the olives, onion, and oregano.) For a smoother, fluffy consistency, we added yogurt and cream cheese. Full disclaimer: This recipe makes a LOT of dip. We've never had a problem demolishing it, but it's easily halved if you're having a smaller get-together.
Get the Greek Feta Dip recipe.
Bacon Wrapped Pickles
Mini pickles, a creamy cheddar and cream cheese filling, bacon?! What more could you want. These are like upgraded pigs in a blanket, for pickle lovers.
Get the Bacon Wrapped Pickles recipe.
Cowboy Caviar
Our version has a bit more ingredients than some, because much like our favorite homemade salsas, we like our dips loaded with a variety of flavors and textures. Brimming with beans, avocado, and tons of veggies, the only thing missing is a big pitcher of frozen margaritas. ??
Get the Cowboy Caviar recipe.
Loaded Zucchini Skins
Topped with all the standard loaded potato skin fixings— like bacon, sour cream, and green onions—you won't even miss the potato.
Get the Loaded Zucchini Skins recipe.
Bunless Burger Bites
No buns, no problem. Skewer these little meatballs with all your favorite burger toppings, or let your guests build their own.
Get the Bunless Burger Bites recipe.
Caprese Tomatoes
Is there anything more perfect than a caprese salad during the summer? This twist on the classic is genius in its presentation. The hasselback cut (inspired by our hasselback potatoes) seems fancy, but it's actually super easy. Your guests will freak.
Get the Caprese Tomatoes recipe.
Oven Fried Pickles
We love fried pickles, but as much as we'd love to eat them all day, everyday, we can't be bothered with the frying! These are the perfect crunchy foil to all your grilled meats.
Get the Oven-Fried Pickles recipe.
Antipasto Bites
Fresh tortellini makes this the hearty party appetizer of our summer dreams. If you're not a fan of olives, pepperoncini peppers would be a delicious substitute!
Get the Antipasto Bites recipe.
Caprese Garlic Bread
Melty mozzarella and fresh tomatoes give basic garlic bread a MAJOR upgrade. In the oven, sad-looking tomatoes take on a deeper, sweeter, more tomato-y flavor, so this is a great place to use less than perfect ones too.
Get the Caprese Garlic Bread recipe.
BLT Cups
These lighter take on a classic BLT skip the bread and put major emphasis on the bacon—which is what your guests all really want. We replaced the mayo with Greek yogurt to help make these lighter as well, but you can use the traditional mayonnaise or even sour cream if you prefer.
Get the BLT Cups recipe.
Boozy Melon Bites
Have your booze and eat it too, with these vodka-infused bites. Don't have a melon baller? No worries, these will look just as cute cubed up on a skewer.
Get the Boozy Melon Bites recipe.
Greek Salad Skewers
Skip the plates and assemble these adorable skewers in lieu of traditional Greek salad. The marinated feta is the BEST part of these—lucky for you, it only takes 15 minutes (forget overnight marinating).
Get the Greek Salad Skewers recipe.
Waffle Fry Sliders
Once you use waffle fries as your slider buns, you'll never go back. These are the perfect burger and French fry bite all in one!
Get the Waffle Fry Sliders recipe.
Strawberry Balsamic Bruschetta
Bruschetta is one of our favorite summer appetizers because it's quick to throw together and works for every occasion from a fancy sit-down dinner to a casual BBQ with friends. This one takes it over the top, thanks to fresh summer strawberries.
Campfire Queso
Let's be real, everyone loves Velveeta. The only way to make it better is by adding sausage and beer, and cooking it over a fire.
Get the Campfire Queso recipe.
Watermelon Feta Skewers
Watermelon + feta is one of our favorite combinations of all time, especially during summer time. Skewer them with some crunchy cucumber and drizzle balsamic glaze on top and you've got an easy, impressive appetizer everyone will love.
Get the Watermelon Feta Skewers recipe.
Oven-Fried Cherry Tomatoes
We bet you and your guests won't be able to resist popping a few of these cheesy, crispy babies in your mouths, so we recommend making extra. Serve with something cooling like ranch dressing for dipping.
Get the Oven-Fried Cherry Tomatoes recipe.
Caprese Bites
Skip the plates and assemble these adorable skewers in lieu of traditional caprese salad. Don't forget the napkins, though—that balsamic drizzle takes these over the top, so don't skip it!
Get the Caprese Bites recipe.
Pigs In A Pretzel
Wrap your hot dogs in refrigerated biscuit dough and treat 'em like pretzels (i.e., boil them in baking soda and water) for this extra yummy take on pigs in a blanket.
Get the Pigs In A Pretzel recipe.
Watermelon Pizza
This is essentially a deconstructed watermelon and feta salad. Slice the biggest round of watermelon you can, top with crumbled feta, red onion slices, torn basil, and balsamic. Slice into pizza-like triangles, and then Instagram a picture.
Get the Watermelon Pizza recipe.
Margarita Watermelon
We soak watermelon slices with all the ingredients of a margarita (tequila, lime juice, triple sec) for the perfect perfect BBQ drink and snack. Save the leftover liquid from soaking for frozen watermelon margaritas.
Get the Margarita Watermelon recipe.
Cheeseburger Nachos
Get your guests excited about what's to come with these burger-inspired nachos topped with all your faves like cheddar, ketchup and mustard (for real!), and even pickle chips.
Get the Cheeseburger Nachos recipe.
Campfire Popcorn
Popping popcorn over a campfire or grill is just as easy as making it on the stove, and way more fun. Check out our list of popcorn recipes for flavor ideas too.
Get the Campfire Popcorn recipe.
Dill Pickle Cheeseball
Cream cheese, cheddar, and mozzarella combine with chopped pickles, fresh dill, and pickle juice to create this PERFECT monster of a cheese ball. Honestly, I don't know why we didn't think of this sooner.
Get the Dill Pickle Cheeseball recipe.
Bacon Cheeseburger Dip
Oh, we went there! This dip is loaded with ground beef, onion, Worcestershire, and cheese. If you bacon burgers, this one's for you!
Get the Bacon Cheeseburger Dip recipe.
These easy (and healthy!) summer appetizers are perfect for all your warm-weather get-togethers.