85 Summer Appetizers Perfect For Kicking Off Parties, BBQs, & More
Though it's true that summer does change up some of our party routines (meals outside, grilling everything we can…), some rules will always stand true. One of our most important guidelines for entertaining? If you’re having guests over, there MUST be appetizers. Heck, even if you’re not—you and your family deserve a little amuse-bouche sometimes too. You could just put out store-bought chips and dip, but trust us, homemade really is better. Check out our list of 86 summer appetizers—they’ll keep your guests happy from Memorial Day 'til Labor Day.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again—we wait SO long for summer produce every year that we do everything we can to relish it in every part of every meal. That means using tons of fresh fruits and veggies in obvious applications, of course, like salsa and crudités, but also getting creative and sneaking them into dips, poppable bites, and shareable snacks. Having a low-key BBQ or get-together? Put out some pulled pork or cheeseburger nachos, our air fryer loaded zucchini skins (like loaded potato skins, but extra summery), our tomato gnocchi kebabs or our melon prosciutto skewers, or our Mexican-inspired street corn flatbread or sopes.
Throwing a dinner party or want to celebrate a special occasion with a meal (we’re thinking summer birthdays, anniversaries, etc.)? Apps are the perfect distraction while you finish up preparations in the kitchen (last-minute decorating of the cake, plating an entrée on the good plates…). Start the meal off with something like our crab artichoke stuffed mushrooms, duchess potatoes, oyster mushroom “calamari,” black-eyed pea bruschetta, or tomato & brie tart. They’re all pretty easy to throw together, but will make your meal extra remarkable.
Even when it comes to basic snacks like chips and dips, you can do better than the store-bought stuff. We’ll admit to liking the convenience of a glass jar of salsa (plus, you can pick mild, medium, or hot without having to measure the spiciness yourself), but one thing you can’t get at the store is super-fresh, fruity, cheesy, or creamy dips your guests will love. Check out our baba ghanoush, our Greek feta dip, our Nashville hot chicken dip, our blueberry salsa, or our grilled corn salsa for ideas. We like to put out a variety of homemade options so there’s something for everyone.
Want more summertime inspiration? Check out our favorite summer dinners, summer cocktails, healthy summer recipes, and summer dessert recipes too.
Bruschetta
Easy to throw together and made up of simple, classic ingredients, bruschetta was made for chill warm weather snacking. While you can make it all year round, the best time to enjoy this appetizer is summer, when fresh tomatoes are at their peak.
Get the Bruschetta recipe.
Mexican Street Corn Flatbread
We’re fans of any food you eat off a stick, but Mexican street corn is one of our favorites. Here, we’re taking the creamy tangy sauce that usually goes on the corn, spreading it over pre-made pizza dough instead, and loading it up with corn, more chili, and lots of cheese. Twenty minutes later, it’s crispy, corny perfection.
Get the Mexican Street Corn Flatbread recipe.
Blooming Quesadilla Ring
Buffalo chicken is one of our fave flavor combos ever, and this creamy, spicy technique is one of our favorite ways to serve it. It's the best, most impressive way to make quesadillas for a crowd all summer long.
Get the Blooming Quesadilla Ring recipe.
Avocado Salsa
Creamy, just-ripe avocados are tossed with chopped tomatoes, jalapeño, red onion, sweet corn, and tons of chopped fresh cilantro to create this refreshing hybrid dip. Now you’ll never have to decide between salsa and guac ever again!
Get the Avocado Salsa recipe.
Tomato & Brie Tart
Summer tomatoes shine alongside melty brie in this eye-catching tart recipe. Slice it up into small pieces for the perfect summer appetizer, or into large ones and serve as an entrée with a peppery arugula salad. Got leftovers? Top them with a fried egg for a filling breakfast.
Get the Tomato & Brie Tart recipe.
Whipped Feta With Balsamic Roasted Strawberries
If you’re a fan of our cranberry whipped feta recipe, this is the summer appetizer for you. Fresh feta is combined with mascarpone, whipped until super-smooth, then topped with balsamic-roasted strawberries and fresh basil. The result is a creamy, sweet, tangy dip you’ll find completely irresistible.
Get the Whipped Feta With Balsamic Roasted Strawberries recipe.
Best-Ever Guacamole
Whether you serve it as a simple dip, load it on top of your tacos, or smear it on a bun as a burger topping, we can all agree—it’s not a summer party without Mexico’s most famous dip. Keep it simple, like we did, or go wild with your mix-ins—just be sure to make extra, this'll go fast.
Get the Best-Ever Guacamole recipe.
Sopes
One of the greatest pleasures of Mexican street food are sopes: round bundles of masa lightly fried and piled with refried beans, shredded chicken, salsa roja or salsa verde, and cotija cheese. These little antojitos, or snacks, can be eaten throughout the day, and make for perfect anytime party apps.
Get the Sopes recipe.
Baked Salmon Sushi Cups
Making sushi for a party can be intimidating, what with making sushi rice, rolling it up just right, and dealing with raw fish. With these baked salmon sushi cups, you can skip all that but still get all the flavors of your favorite roll.
Get the Baked Salmon Sushi Cups recipe.
Elote (Mexican Street Corn) Nachos
Elote (or Mexican street corn) is summertime perfection. It’s such an incredible flavor combination, we're always coming up with ways to enjoy it for every meal. Our fave app solution? Turning it into skillet nachos that can be enjoyed all summer long.
Philly Cheesesteak Sliders
These sliders are like your favorite iconic Philly cheesesteak, made miniature so you can share (or eat more than one!).
Get the Philly Cheesesteak Sliders recipe.
Whipped Mozzarella Dip With Burst Cherry Tomatoes
This whipped mozzarella dip with burst cherry tomatoes and pesto might just be the perfect appetizer. Mix things up with other veggies so you can serve it all season long: fresh summer corn kernels with pickled onions, dollops of olive tapenade, grilled peppers... get creative!
Get the Whipped Mozzarella Dip With Burst Cherry Tomatoes recipe.
Bang Bang Shrimp
The pairing of crunchy shrimp and the signature creamy, spicy-sweet sauce is a combo made in appetizer heaven. No matter how many times we make it—as a snack, party appetizer, or weeknight dinner—it never gets old.
Get the Bang Bang Shrimp recipe.
Peach & Cherry Shortcake Dessert Board
Strawberry shortcake is cool and all, but we’ve all done that dozens of times—with a dessert board FULL of different fruits and sweet treats you'll have something fresh the whole crowd will love. We paired late-summer cherries and peaches with biscuits and cookies, but have fun with it!
Antipasto Bites
Fresh tortellini make these the hearty bite-size appetizer of our dreams. Feel free to swap in and out your favorite ingredients (or have guests build their own from a topping bar!).
Get the Antipasto Bites recipe.
Ranch Wings & Buffalo Sauce
If the best (undebatable) wing flavor and sauce combination is hot Buffalo wings and ranch dip, then it stands to reason that a ranch wing with hot Buffalo dip would be equally delicious—right? Damn right.
Get the Ranch Wings & Buffalo Sauce recipe.
Pinwheel Sandwiches
Pinwheel sandwiches are easy to assemble, look great on a platter, and are ideal for any summer party. To make them, you'll layer flour tortillas with ranch-flavored mayonnaise, sliced cheese, deli meats, and lettuce. All that's left to do is roll them up tightly and slice. See, simple!
Get the Pinwheel Sandwiches recipe.
Grilled Brie With Wine
We love digging into a wheel of gooey oven-baked brie, but in the summer, no one wants to bother with the oven. Give this classic appetizer a summery twist by cooking it on the grill, seasoning it lightly with garlic, herbs, and wine, and serving with some lightly charred bread.
Get the Grilled Brie With Wine recipe.
Hummus
Middle Eastern hummus is one of our favorite dips, made even better by how simple it is to make. Made from blending chickpeas, tahini, and a few other simple ingredients in a food processor, it’s the easiest last-minute appetizer or satisfying snack to throw together anytime this summer.
Get the Hummus recipe.
Jalapeño Popper Corn Fritters
Crispy golden corn fritters are filled with everything we love about spicy jalapeño poppers—crispy bacon, jalapeños, cheddar, AND cream cheese. 😍
Get the Jalapeño Popper Corn Fritters recipe.
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