When I think summer, I think BBQ! And what is better at a party or gathering than some tasty finger foods? Whether chilled snacks, dips, or grilled delights, I have the perfect Summer Appetizers for your next soiree!
More Collections: Summer Side Dishes, Summer Soups, Summer Drinks
Summertime Snacks and Bites
With the kids home, vacations, and ALL of the parties, I always have a few snacks or appetizers up my sleeve and am ready to go!
This collection of summer appetizer ideas contains all sorts of appetizers that are perfect for summertime, whether you’re just trying to keep hungry kiddos fed during the day, or entertaining company at a backyard BBQ!
Appetizers and Hors d’oeuvres are quite similar and some foods fall under both categories.
They are both served in smaller portions as a way to whet your appetite for a larger meal or at a “no meal” party.
- Appetizers are often served right before a sit-down dinner. They are served in enough portions so everyone at the table can have a taste.
- Hors d’oeuvres tend to be served in small individual portions which are ideal for a mix-n-mingle party.
Summer Produce
From Summer Salsa to Zucchini Tots there is an array of produce that can be used in summer appetizer recipes. Some of my favorite fruits and vegetables include, but are not limited to:
- Veggies: corn, cucumbers, lettuce, bell peppers, green onion, zucchini, olives, and red onion
- Fruits: avocados, lime, lemon, cantaloupe, watermelon, mango, peaches, tomatoes, blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries
- Herbs & Spices: basil, mint, rosemary, oregano, dill, thyme, parsley, and sage
Planning Tips
Summer appetizers are great to serve before a lunchtime picnic, afternoon BBQ or evening party. Depending on who is attending as well as when and what other items are being served, will determine how many appetizers you should prepare.
The following information will help you calculate amounts:
- For 10 or fewer guests offer 2-3 different types of appetizers. Add another dish for every 5-8 more people.
- If serving dinner, plan a total of 3-5 appetizers per person.
- For an appetizer-only party, plan about 12 pieces during the first 2 hours and add 5 more for every hour after.
- Chips and Salsa: Plan 1 qt salsa and 1 pound of chips for every 10 people.
Dipping. So many delicious appetizers are meant to be dipped into. Aside from fruits and vegetables, there are so many great ingredients you can provide to dip into your sweet or savory appetizers:
- Savory: crackers, various veggies, pretzels, baguette, shrimp, and chips
- Sweet: slice different fruits, cookies, cubed cake, marshmallows, and pretzels
Serving Outdoors
Keeping food at the right temperature is definitely important.
It’s not too tricky when you are in someone’s backyard, but if you are transporting and serving food at a park or similar area it will take a bit more planning.
Transport in a warm cooler. Wrap warm food in aluminum foil. Place hot rice bags or hot water bottles in the cooler to help maintain heat. Fill extra space with towels to help insulate the food. Try not to open the lid.
Transport in a cold cooler. Use ice bags to keep food cold. The ice can then be used to cool down drinks or placed in other trays to keep food cool once they are set out. I also like to freeze water bottles to put in the cooler, then when they melt you can drink them.
Keeping food warm. Crock Pots are great if you have access to an outlet. Chafing dishes are another great way to keep food warm.
Keeping food cold. Fill a pan with ice cubes and place the platter of food on top. If the food is being served in a bowl, then place ice cubes at the bottom of a larger bowl and nestle a smaller bowl, with the food, inside.
Best Summer Appetizers
Whip up an appetizer or two for your summer parties and BBQs! These are some of our best-loved and most-requested appetizers, perfect for those warm summer months!
Mini Pizza
These mini pizzas are bite-sized pizzas topped with cheese, tomatoes, fresh basil and more. They’re perfect for lunch, dinner, or even as an appetizer at parties! Use marinara for a dipping sauce!
1 Mini Pizzas Recipe
Cheesy Garlic Bread
This is by far our favorite garlic bread recipe. It takes minutes to put together and is SO cheesy and delicious. It’s the perfect side dish for any meal, but especially for pasta and Italian dishes!
2 Garlic Bread Recipe
Avocado Taquitos
Avocado taquitos aka “Flautas” are filled with avocados and cheese and fried to perfection! They’re perfect for a main dish or appetizer.
3 Avocado Taquitos Recipe
Buffalo Chicken Sliders
Simple + savory buffalo chicken sliders pack just the right amount of heat. They are great served as a dinner or appetizer!!
4 Buffalo Chicken Sliders Recipe
Yogurt Fruit Dip
In just minutes, mix together an amazingly sweet and creamy vanilla yogurt fruit dip. Serve with your favorite fruit!
5 Yogurt Fruit Dip Recipe
Fruit Salsa
Fresh fruit salsa is a perfect pairing for our sweet homemade cinnamon chips. Ready in under 20 minutes, you can make it for any occasion!
6 Fruit Salsa Recipe
Puff Pastry Sausage Rolls
Sausage mixed with delicious seasonings, all wrapped up in puffy pastry make these sausage rolls delicious and addicting!
7 Puff Pastry Sausage Roll Recipe
Caesar Salad Cups
Caesar salad cups are a quick, simple and tasty side dish or appetizer. They’re mini salads in a cup and great for parties and get togethers!
8 Caesar Salad Cups Recipe
Grape Jelly Meatballs
Sweet & tangy dump-and-go grape jelly meatballs take minutes to prep and are the perfect dinner or appetizer to feed a crowd!
9 Grape Jelly Meatball Recipe
Barbecue Chicken French Bread
Delicious barbecue chicken french bread is loaded with chicken, cilantro, cheese, avocados and ranch dressing. It is a quick & easy favorite!
10 Barbecue Chicken French Bread Recipe
Baked Zucchini Fries
These baked zucchini sticks are crusted and baked in Panko, parmesan cheese, oregano, and basil. Zucchini fries are healthy AND delicious!
11 Zucchini Fries Recipe
Watermelon Salsa
Juicy watermelon salsa is sweet with the perfect touch of spice. It’s a tasty summer salsa that whips up in minutes!
12 Watermelon Salsa Recipe
Guacamole
Spicy, chunky simple guacamole is so easy and addicting, it’s sure to be a crowd pleaser! You won’t be able to stop eating it.
13 Simple Guacamole Recipe
Spinach Puffs
Buttery spinach puffs are cheesy and savory with pops of bacon. As you can imagine, they are a hit at parties!
14 Spinach Puffs Recipe
Crockpot Meatballs
Sweet + savory crockpot meatballs are packed with flavor, and perfect for parties. They are SO easy, yet SO tasty!
15 Crockpot Meatball Recipe
Pineapple Meatballs
Sweet and savory pineapple meatballs are a perfectly easy appetizer for parties and get-togethers or a delicious side dish for dinner.
16 Pineapple Meatballs Recipe
Cheesy Zucchini Tots
Cheesy zucchini tots are a fun twist on tater tots, and are loaded with my favorite vegetable. They’re super easy and quick to make.
17 Zucchini Tots Recipe
Easy Summer Appetizers
An easy recipe is perfect for those impromptu parties or gatherings. These easy summer appetizers are simple and delicious.
A creamy burrata with crackers, or a baguette topped with goat cheese and balsamic vinegar is quick and tasty. Add to your simple spread with any of these easy apps!
Mango Salsa
This sweet and savory mango salsa is perfect with chips or any Mexican meal. It’s full of flavor and simple to make.
18 Mango Salsa Recipe
Baked Chicken Wings
Deliciously crispy baked chicken wings have endless possibilities. Bake in the oven, and dip in your favorite sauces!
19 Baked Chicken Wings Recipe
Puff Pastry Wrapped Asparagus Rolls
Asparagus wrapped in Puff Pastry, filled with cream cheese and topped with parmesan. So simple and delicious, it’s the perfect side for any meal.
20 Asparagus Roll Ups
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Skewers
This recipe is inspired by one of our favorite Disneyland foods – bacon wrapped asparagus skewers from Bengal Barbecue! These skewers only require 4 ingredients and take less than 10 minutes on the grill!
21 Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Recipe
Strawberry Salsa
The unique flavors of this sweet and spicy strawberry salsa pair perfectly with fish, tacos, or any Mexican dish!
22 Strawberry Salsa Recipe
Cream Cheese Fruit Dip
This cream cheese fruit dip is one of the best fruit dip recipes you will ever try! It takes just 5 simple ingredients – cream cheese, vanilla, sugar, marshmallow fluff, and cool whip – and ALWAYS vanishes in minutes!
23 Fruit Dip Recipe
Bacon Wrapped Dates
Sweet and savory bacon wrapped dates make a tasty appetizer. The contrasting flavors combine for the perfect bite!
24 Bacon Wrapped Dates Recipe
Caramel Apple Dip
The creamiest and most delicious caramel apple dip you’ll ever find. Just a few ingredients are required, but dark brown sugar and sweetened condensed milk make this recipe a crowd pleaser at any get together.
25 Caramel Apple Dip Recipe
Fruit Kabobs
Colorful fruit kabobs are the best appetizer or side for any occasion! Load up your favorite fruits and get snacking.
26 Fruit Kabobs Recipe
Spinach Dip Bites
Spinach dip bites are crunchy, bite-size, cheesy and buttery, making them a great appetizer. They are a hit every time!
27 Spinach Dip Bites Recipe
Buffalo Chicken Taquitos
Serve these buffalo chicken taquitos as an easy dinner idea, or as an appetizer at your next party or get together.
28 Buffalo Chicken Taquitos Recipe
Jalapeno Poppers
Spicy fried jalapeno poppers are a classic appetizer that everyone wants! Bite into these cheesy poppers for a flavor explosion!
29 Jalapeno Poppers Recipe
Corn Dip
Perfectly spiced hot corn dip is deliciously chunky and perfect for dipping. Serve it as an appetizer or side!
30 Corn Dip Recipe
Cold Summer Appetizers
Keep it cool with an assortment of our favorite cold summer appetizers. They can be chilled ahead of time for a no-fuss party spread!
Easy Bruschetta
This easy bruschetta is quick, simple and perfect for any party! It takes just 5 ingredients and is the perfect appetizer for any occasion.
31 Easy Bruschetta Recipe
Deviled Eggs
Nothing better than a smooth deviled egg appetizer! You’ll be surprised with how easy these are to make. Tons of flavor, super delicious and perfect for parties and holidays.
32 Deviled Eggs Recipe
Mexican Pinwheels
Mexican pinwheels are bite-size tortilla rolls filled with a spiced cream cheese mixture. They are a party in your mouth!
33 Mexican Pinwheels Recipe
Greek Cucumber Cups
Simple Greek cucumber cups are a light and delicious appetizer that whips up in minutes. They are a perfect low calorie snack!
34 Greek Cucumber Cups Recipe
Homemade Hummus
If you need a quick healthy snack or party appetizer, you can whip up this homemade hummus in 5 minutes or less!
35 Homemade Hummus Recipe
best Salsa recipe
This is such an EASY and delicious homemade salsa recipe! All you have to do is throw all the ingredients into your blender, and blend!
36 Homemade Salsa Recipe
Bruschetta Caprese
Toasted bread rounds are topped with a mixture of juicy tomatoes, ripe avocado, and fresh mozzarella to make this bruschetta caprese. Top it all off with a balsamic glaze!
37 Bruschetta Caprese Recipe
Tomatillo Salsa
Easy tomatillo salsa is spicy and delicious! It’s great with tortilla chips or as a sauce on top of your favorite Mexican dishes!
38 Tomatillo Salsa Recipe
Peach Salsa
Fresh peach salsa is delicious with chips, on top of fish or pork, or spooned over tacos! You’ll love the sweet and savory flavors in this simple recipe!
39 Peach Salsa Recipe
Caprese Stuffed Avocados
Simple and fresh caprese stuffed avocados are a twist on classic flavors. This is a perfect appetizer or side to any meal!
40 Caprese Stuffed Avocados Recipe
Cucumber Salsa
Crisp and light cucumber salsa is delicious with tortilla chips or on top of tacos. It is best when freshly made and chilled.
41 Cucumber Salsa Recipe
Veggie Tortilla Roll Ups
These delicious veggie tortilla roll ups are made from a rolled tortilla filled with ranch veggie dip, and chopped veggies, making them the perfect bite-sized party appetizer!
42 Veggie Tortilla Roll Ups Recipe
Knorr Spinach Dip
Savory Knorr spinach dip is perfect for serving at parties with your favorite crackers and veggies. It’s chunky and delicious!
43 Knorr Spinach Dip Recipe
perfect summertime appetizers
Appetizers are our favorite way to start a meal – and sometimes we even eat them as a meal in themselves! These appetizers are all so perfect for serving this summer and are as easy as they are delicious!
More Collections: Summer Slow Cooker Recipes, Summer Dinner Ideas, Frozen Drink Recipes
This is going to be my go-to list for summer! Lots of great recipes and tips for serving outdoors. That strawberry salsa is calling my name!
So many tasty recipes! I can’t wait to try the zucchini fries and empanadas. They look delish!
Love all the ideas here! Thanks!
I love appetizers!! Sometimes, I just want appetizers as my meal!! The wings & zucchini are my favorite!!
I love all the great ideas for summer food. Light and refreshing are on the menu.
I tried the Fiesta Pin Wheels off of this list and they are really easy to make. I wasn’t sure about the creamy taco idea, but it was delicious.