25 Delicious Summer Appetizers That’ll Make You the Belle of the BBQ
Gazpacho and ceviche and elote, oh my!
Dear reader, it's time to order some new tubes of sunscreen and get your sundresses out of the back of your closet. Because I'm absolutely frickin' THRILLED to say that summer is almost here—and that means beautiful, beautiful things are on the horizon. One of the most wonderful things that we have to look forward to when the summer months arrive? Dining al fresco, of course.
Nothing beats gathering a gaggle of loved ones and having them over for a dinner deck party or a lunchtime backyard BBQ. Everything just tastes better when you eat in the open air (at least in my humble opinion), especially when the warm weather has blessed the grocery store/farmer's market/your own lil garden with some delicious, in-season ingredients. Think: local strawberries, tomatoes, corn, and peaches. I'm drooling just thinking about it.
All this is to say that you should definitely start planning for some yummy, multi-course meals in the sunshine, and you should definitely also make sure that those meals feel summery. You can do that by a) using seasonal staples, b) making good use of your BBQ, and c) reading the rest of this article. I firmly believe that no meal is complete without some tasty as hell starters—actually, most times they're the best part of the meal—which is why I put together this list of 25 of the best summer appetizers you could ever make. Scroll down and you'll find a life-changing crap dip, some corn fritters you'll want 10 of, the caprese salad to end all caprese salads, and so much more. Some are healthy, some are...less healthy, but they'll all leave you feeling like a big ol' ray of sunshine entered your stomach.
Summer is so close I can almost taste it...or maybe I've just been looking at these recipes too long. Either way, life is about to taste really, really good. Bon appetit!
Esquites Fritters
Warning: it will be very hard not to ruin your appetite once you start eating these fried-up corn cakes, inspired by Mexican street corn. They're crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with an incredible garlic-and-lime sour cream sauce for dunking.
Charred Peppers with Marinated Feta and Tzatziki
I'll make anything Tieghan Gerard tells me to, and these grilled baby bell peppers are no exception. Also, the more creaminess the better, if you ask me, so the feta and tzatziki combo is chef's kiss.
Honey Lime Shrimp
Shrimp are the perfect finger food, and the tangy honey-lime sauce on these bad boys just screams summer. Plus, they only take 20 minutes total to prep and cook.
Vegan Loaded Sweet Potato Fries
There's so much good stuff going on here I don't even know where to begin. If you look closely, these sweet potato waffle fries are smothered in (vegan!) cheese and BBQ sauce, and topped with cilantro, onions, and slow-cooked tempeh. Basically, a plant-based dream come true.
Mango Chutney
If you've never made a chutney (a staple dish/dip in Indian cuisine) before, it's about time you tried. The sweet mango in this recipe pairs so damn well with the spicy jalapeno and acidic vinegar, making for a spread you can smear on chicken or scoop up with tortilla chips.
Cowboy Caviar
Yes, this blew up on TikTok last summer, and yes, it's as delicious as it looks. If you don't have a good chopping knife, the time to invest in one is now.
Whipped Feta with Charred Scallions
If you love feta, you need to try this recipe for dinner tonight. I don't even care what season it is. I'm of the belief that feta is betta when whipped, and the smoky green onions on top bring the flavor to a whole new level.
Clam Dip
I know clam dip doesn't sound like it would be an easy party dish, but lemme tell you: it is. You can whip this baby up in just 15 minutes and you can pour it down your throat immediately...although I recommend chowing down with crackers or salted chips, instead.
Jalapeno Cheddar Beef Sliders
Sliders are the quintessential appetizer, and these ones, loaded with spicy jalapenos and gooey cheddar cheese, deserve a seat at every summer BBQ.
Shrimp Ceviche
Repeat after me: I can make ceviche. Really. Truly. It's not as hard as it seems. Read through the recipe and I promise you'll be poaching shrimp in no time. Which is great, because you might cry happy tears when you try it on this spicy mayo and avo-topped tostada.
Creamy Cucumber and Tomato Salad
Sometimes you just really need a good salad in your life, and sometimes that salad doesn't include lettuce but does include mayo.
Southern Fried Green Tomatoes
A true summer dish, as the fruit (yes, a tomato is a fruit!) is in season when temperatures start rising. The best way to eat them, IMHO? On a BLT with a smear of pimento cheese.
Easy Gazpacho
Cold tomato soup doesn't sound appetizing, I know, but I could literally drink gazpacho all day long in the summer. This recipe is super easy to make, has the perfect amount of garlic, and features a heavy drizzle of olive oil on top...so everything I could ask for in a dish, really.
Pickled Turmeric Eggs
Deviled eggs, move tf over. The pickled egg is the egg of the summer, and these ones are extra delicious thanks to turmeric and some chopped shallots. The best part? They'll stay good in the fridge for at least a week.
Elote (Mexican Street Corn)
There's nothing like a classic elote, and they're really not that hard to make (as long as you don't mind getting your hands a lil dirty). One bite and you somehow get every single flavor profile at once, thanks to sweet corn, sour lime juice, spicy chili powder, salty Cotija cheese, and more.
Grilled Nectarines with Gorgonzola and Hazelnuts
There's a chance your guests will think you hired a private chef if you bring out a platter of these, and that's okay. Let them think you splurged on them when you just whipped these up in 15 minutes.
Rosemary Focaccia Bread
Focaccia is delicious during any season (she's my go-to vessel for any dip, tbh) but this fresh rosemary-covered loaf is summer in bread form.
Pineapple Jerk Chicken and Shrimp Skewers
Prefer a protein-heavy appetizer, or have a boo that demands meat at every meal? Perhaps you should give these skewers a shot. Not only do they have both jerk chicken and shrimp, but they're also loaded with yummy veggies and cubes of pineapple.
Blueberry Salsa
Pineapple and mango are two fruits commonly found in salsa, but blueberries? Not so much. This recipe is looking to change the status quo, with a salsa that includes fresh bluebs alongside the standard jalapenos, cilantro, and bell peppers you often find in a salsa. Lemme tell ya: it sounds weird, but it works. Especially with corn tortilla chips.
Strawberry Baked Brie
The only way to make baked brie better? Add honey-and-balsamic-infused strawberries on top. Bonus points if you went to a farm and picked 'em yourself.
Hannah Chubb is the associate lifestyle editor at Cosmopolitan, covering all things home, travel, food, health, career, and more. She spends pretty much every hour of every day curating the internet for the best new products, trends, and travel destinations. You can typically find her looking for houses she can’t afford on Zillow or Airbnb, planning her next meal before she gets to the restaurant, or taking all of the Justin Bieber classes over and over and over again on Peloton. Follow her on Instagram.
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