54 Easy Summer Appetizer Recipes
Get your next picnic, potluck or backyard barbecue rolling with tasty small bites, dips and fresh summer starters.
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Basic Salsa Fresca
Try this versatile salsa fresca on grilled fish, sprinkled over kebabs, tucked inside sizzling tacos or as a fantastic filling inside avocado halves.
Get the Recipe: Basic Salsa Fresca
Every Herb Pesto
Seven fresh herbs give Kelsey's pesto ample flavor while ground Marcona almonds add subtle crunch. You'll want to put this every herb pesto on everything.
Get the Recipe: Every Herb Pesto
The Ultimate Crab Cakes
The secret to Tyler's crisp yet tender crab cakes is an equal ratio of meat to breadcrumbs. He pairs the iconic seafood starter with a unique celery-root aioli made with garlic and celery seed.
Get the Recipe: The Ultimate Crab Cakes
Grilled Corn Salsa
Get the Recipe: Grilled Corn Salsa
Pimento Cheese Deviled Eggs with Crispy Pancetta
Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott's Southern twist on deviled eggs mimics pimento cheese, with plenty of sharp cheddar and pimentos, plus a sprinkling of crisp pancetta on top.
Get the Recipe: Pimento Cheese Deviled Eggs with Crispy Pancetta
Mini Corn Dog Muffins
This fun finger food is a nostalgic throwback for adults and an exciting treat for kids, and it's a cinch to make. Just mix together corn muffin mix — with a little added cheese — and pop hot-dog bites inside before baking.
Get the Recipe: Mini Corn Dog Muffins
SB Truck Street Corn
Cilantro, lime and mint add freshness to balance out a mix of creamy mayonnaise and salty feta cheese on grilled corn.
Get the Recipe: SB Truck Street Corn
Fruit Skewers with Chile-Lime Salt
Amp up fruit skewers with a dusting of chile powder and tangy citrus zest.
Get the Recipe: Fruit Skewers with Chile-Lime Salt and Baby Fruit Cup
Marinated Antipasti Bruschetta
Make Kelsey's marinated antipasti — a mix of briny olives, juicy grape tomatoes and artichoke hearts — ahead of time and simply toss the bread on the grill when guests arrive.
Get the Recipe: Marinated Antipasti Bruschetta
Mango Salsa
The combination of sweet, juicy mangos and spicy serrano chiles makes this salsa outrageously good, and it only gets better the longer you allow the flavors to macerate (if you can manage to wait at all).
Get the Recipe: Mango Salsa
Chicken Sate with Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce
Get the Recipe: Chicken Sate with Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce
Buffalo Chicken Lollies
Kelsey's baked chicken lollies are made with ground chicken and have all the spicy tang of Buffalo wings without the hassle of frying or the messy bones.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Lollies
Kelsey's Signature Salsa
In addition to sweet plum tomatoes, Kelsey includes tart tomatillos in her salsa, which help to balance the rich, smoky spice of the adobe chiles.
Get the Recipe: Kelsey's Signature Salsa
Sweet Pepper Poppers
Sweet miniature peppers make colorful vessels for a rich mixture of ricotta and goat cheese. Topped with panko crumbs and baked until crispy, these poppers are easy-to-make crowd-pleasers.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Pepper Poppers
Guacamole
Alton's classic guacamole highlights velvety avocado with fresh, crisp chunks of tomato and onion.
Get the Recipe: Guacamole
Mark Bittman's Rice Paper Summer Rolls
Get the Recipe: Rice Paper Summer Rolls
Rachael's Grilled Polenta Crackers with Roasted Pepper Salsa
Get the Recipe: Grilled Polenta Crackers with Roasted Pepper Salsa
Thai Deviled Eggs
By mixing classic Thai condiments like Sriracha and fish sauce into the yolk filling, Kelsey gives this party standby an extra edge.
Get the Recipe: Thai Deviled Eggs
Creamy Gazpacho
Get the Recipe: Creamy Gazpacho
Jalapeno-Mango Salsa
Get the Recipe: Jalapeno-Mango Salsa
Scallop Crudo
Impress your party guests with this creative crudo. Not only does the pink Himalayan salt block make for a stunning presentation, but it also infuses the raw scallops and shaved zucchini with a ton of flavor.
Saucy Hoisin Pork Roll-Ups
Get the Recipe: Saucy Hoisin Pork Roll-Ups
Kelsey's Curried Deviled Eggs
Get the Recipe: Curried Deviled Eggs
Fried Zucchini
Get the Recipe: Fried Zucchini
Tapenade
Get the Recipe: Tapenade
Kelsey's Skillet Corn Cakes
Get the Recipe: Skillet Corn Cakes
Tyler's Guacamole
Get the Recipe: Guacamole
Blue Cheese and Walnut Tea Sandwiches
Get the Recipe: Blue Cheese and Walnut Tea Sandwiches
Grilled Clams and Oysters
Get the Recipe: Grilled Clams and Oysters
Kelsey's Deviled Eggs with Candied Bacon
Get the Recipe: Deviled Eggs with Candied Bacon
Soft Asian Summer Rolls with Sweet and Savory Dipping Sauce
Get the Recipe: Soft Asian Summer Rolls with Sweet and Savory Dipping Sauce
Fried Squash Blossoms
Get the Recipe: Fried Squash Blossoms
Green Goddess Crab Tapas
Kelsey transforms a classic dish — crab-stuffed avocado — into finger-friendly tapas by layering the crabmeat and a creamy avocado spread on slices of toasted baguette.
Get the Recipe: Green Goddess Crab Tapas
Pico de Gallo Fresh Tomato Salsa
Get the Recipe: Pico de Gallo Fresh Tomato Salsa
Chopped Caesar Salad Pizza
Get the Recipe: Chopped Caesar Salad Pizza
Smoked Salmon on Grilled Seven Grain Bread with Tomato, Shaved Onions and Dill
Get the Recipe: Smoked Salmon on Grilled Seven Grain Bread with Tomato and Dill
Bobby's Spicy Guacamole
Get the Recipe: Spicy Guacamole
Open-Faced Egg Salad Tea Sandwiches with Crab and Poppy Seeds on Pumpernickel
Get the Recipe: Open-Faced Egg Salad Tea Sandwiches with Crab and Poppy Seeds on Pumpernickel
Antipasto Summer Lettuce Wraps
Whet your appetite with this fresh take on an antipasto platter. Wrap mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, artichokes and roasted red peppers in tender Bibb lettuce leaves.
Get the Recipe: Antipasto Summer Lettuce Wraps
Shredded Pork Summer Rolls
Get the Recipe: Shredded Pork Summer Rolls
Green Papaya Salad in Lettuce Wraps
Get the Recipe: Green Papaya Salad in Lettuce Wraps
Tarragon Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches
Get the Recipe: Tarragon Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches
Asian Lettuce Wraps
Get the Recipe: Asian Lettuce Wraps
Scoopable Chinese Chicken Salad
Get the Recipe: Scoopable Chicken Salad
Molotes with Fresh Tomato Salsa
Get the Recipe: Molotes with Fresh Tomato Salsa
Grilled Beef Tenderloin on Focaccia Toasts
Get the Recipe: Grilled Beef Tenderloin on Focaccia Toasts
Watermelon Vodka Gazpacho
Celebrate the warm summer weather by mixing juicy plum tomatoes and refreshing, sweet watermelon into a light, summery soup.
Get the Recipe: Watermelon Vodka Gazpacho
Soft Rice Paper Rolls with Prawns and Pork: Goi Cuon
Get the Recipe: Soft Rice Paper Rolls with Prawns and Pork: Goi Cuon
Fresh Herb Salad with Burrata
Get the Recipe: Fresh Herb Salad with Burrata
Bacon and Corn Jalapeno Poppers, Two Ways
Get the Recipe: Bacon and Corn Jalapeno Poppers, Two Ways
Figs Wrapped in Prosciutto with Gorgonzola and Brie
Get the Recipe: Figs Wrapped in Prosciutto with Gorgonzola and Brie
Hummus Dip
Get the Recipe: Hummus Dip
Cucumber-Dill Yogurt Dip
Get the Recipe: Cucumber-Dill Yogurt Dip
Green Goddess Dressing
Get the Recipe: Green Goddess Dressing