62 Summer Appetizers to Whip Up for Every BBQ and Picnic This Season
BBQ season will be here before you know it. The steaks and burgers are definitely important, but let’s face it: Everyone gets most excited for the starters. Whether you’re playing host or just entertaining your roommates, here are 62 impressive summer appetizers that are a cinch to whip up, from homemade potato chips to mini lobster rolls. Go ahead and bookmark this for every backyard party, picnic or cookout you attend. You can thank us later.
1. Easy Homemade Potato Chips
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, kid-friendly
2. Deviled Eggs Three Ways
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly, high protein
3. Grilled Watermelon-Feta Skewers
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
4. Mexican Street Corn Dip
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
5. Mango Guacamole
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, no cook, vegan
6. Chilled Cucumber Salad
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegan, <10 ingredients, no cook
7. BLT Pasta Salad
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
8. Camarones al Mojo de Ajo
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, pescatarian, high protein
9. Mini Lobster Rolls
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, special occasion-worthy, pescatarian
10. Carrot Pigs in a Blanket
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, vegetarian, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
11. Everything Chicken Wings
- Time Commitment: 55 minutes
- Why We Love It: keto, <10 ingredients, low carb, high protein
12. Caprese Salad with Zucchini
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, <10 ingredients
13. 15-Minute Gazpacho with Cucumber, Red Pepper and Basil
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: no cook, vegan, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
14. Chopped Italian Salad Pizza
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser
15. Coconut Shrimp
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
16. Mini Skillet Pizzas with Mushrooms and Roasted Tomatoes
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
17. Julia Turshen’s Skillet Cornbread with Cheddar and Scallions
- Time Commitment: 55 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
18. Mini Peach Tarts with Goat Cheese and Honey
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, vegetarian, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
19. Italian Bruschetta Bar
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
20. Keto Guacamole Burger Bites
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: keto, low-carb, high protein, crowd-pleaser
21. Grilled Peach, Chicken and Ricotta Pizza
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein
22. Grilled Mango Salsa
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, crowd-pleaser
23. Salami, Artichoke and Ricotta Pasta Salad
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
24. Brussels Sprout Sliders
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
25. Rainbow Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: no cook, vegetarian, special occasion-worthy
26. Cauliflower ‘Potato’ Salad
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: low carb, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
27. 15-Minute Mezze Plate with Toasted Za’atar Pita Bread
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
28. 20-Minute Burrata Salad with Stone Fruit and Asparagus
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, special occasion-worthy
29. Italian Deli Pinwheel Sandwiches
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: no cook, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes
30. Skillet Blueberry Cornbread
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
31. Fruicuterie Board
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: no cook, vegetarian, <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser
32. 7-Layer Dip
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: no cook, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
33. Rainbow Collard Wraps with Peanut Butter Dipping Sauce
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: no cook, vegan, beginner-friendly
34. Jalapeño-Avocado Mac and Cheese
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein, special occasion-worthy
35. Yellow Tomato Gazpacho
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegan, dairy free, special occasion-worthy
36. Grilled Cheese Crostini
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
37. Spring Crudités with Romesco Sauce
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, vegan
38. Avocado Deviled Eggs
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
39. Serena Wolf’s Boss Bean Dip
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian
40. Sweet-and-Sour Pork Skewers with Pineapple
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: high protein, crowd-pleaser
41. Mexican Street Corn Deviled Eggs
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, vegetarian
42. 15-Minute Cucumber-Avocado Blender Soup
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
43. Grilled Corn with Spicy Aioli
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
44. Baked Mac and Cheese Bites
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser
45. Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Mango Salsa
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, pescatarian
46. 15-Minute Buffalo Chicken Sliders
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, high protein
47. Grilled Peach and Halloumi Salad with Lemon-Pesto Dressing
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, vegetarian
48. Roasted Poblano and Corn Guacamole
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
49. Cuban Sliders
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
50. Smoky Barbecued Corn
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser
51. Shrimp Boil Skewers with Corn, Sausage and Potatoes
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love it: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, high protein
52. Cheater’s Prosciutto Hawaiian Pizza
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
53. Sweet Potato Biscuit Rolls with Honey Butter Glaze
- Time Commitment: 2 hours and 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
54. Rodney Scott’s Pimento Cheese
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: no cook, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
55. Blueberry Streusel Corn Muffins
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
56. Vietnamese-Style Summer Rolls
- Time Commitment: 55 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, pescatarian
57. Whipped Feta Dip with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
58. Aloo Tikki Arancini with Saffron Aioli
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes (plus chilling time)
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
59. Salted Honey Focaccia
- Time Commitment: 15 hours and 40 minutes (includes resting time)
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
60. Bacon, Apple and Cheddar Waffles
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
61. Malibu Farm’s Vegan Chop Salad
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegan, dairy free, special occasion-worthy
62. Charcuterie-Board Flatbread
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: no cook, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, <30 minutes
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For even more great recipes, check out our first cookbook, Only the Good Stuff.