Easy and Light Meat Appetizers for Party
Erik Bernstein
We're no strangers to a good house party, special occasion meal, or dinner party, and though summer changes up some things (meals outside, grilling everything we can…), some rules 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 55 summer appetizers—they'll keep your guests happy from Memorial Day till 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, from appetizers to dessert. That means using tons of fresh fruits and veggies in obvious applications, of course, like salsa and crudité, but also getting creative and sneaking them into unexpected dips, poppable bites, and shareable snacks. Having a low key BBQ or get-together? Put out some pulled pork or cheeseburger nachos, loaded zucchini skins (like loaded potato skins, but extra summery), tomato gnocchi kebabs or melon prosciutto skewers, or pigs in a pretzel. 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 entree 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 our tomato 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, Greek feta dip, bacon cheeseburger dip, blueberry salsa, ssamjang (a sweet and spicy Korean dip), 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.
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Esquites Fritters
We're happy to report that esquites, the irresistible and less-messy salad version of everyone's favorite cotija-coated snack, elote, were the perfect inspiration for these bite-sized fritters. Paired with a lime and garlic-spiked sour cream sauce, these crisp patties are guaranteed to disappear in a crowd in minutes.
Get the Esquites Fritters recipe.
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Tomato Tart
Put those perfect summer tomatoes to good use in this stunning tomato and feta tart. It requires just few simple ingredients (and almost no effort). Store-bought puff pastry gives you a buttery, flaky crust without the fuss of making your own crust.
Get the Tomato Tart recipe.
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Ssamjang
Arrange a smorgasbord of all the crunchy veggies and crackers you can get your hands on, because we know a spicy-funky-salty-sweet-creamy-crunchy dip that will keep you coming back for more. It's called ssamjang—a jang (or paste) that Koreans typically dollop in ssam (a wrap) with rice or meat. We love it as a dip, and bet you will too!
Get the Ssamjang recipe.
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Spinach Artichoke Zucchini Bites
These little guys are the perfect healthy summer appetizer. As the zucchini becomes tender, the spinach and artichoke topping gets nice and melty. If you want a little extra color on your bites, switch the oven to broil on medium and cook them a couple minutes more. (Just keep an eye on them.)
Get the Spinach Artichoke Zucchini Bites recipe.
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Crab Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms
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Tomato Gnocchi Kebabs
The gnocchi paired with blistered grilled tomatoes and tender red onion make for a perfect summer snack. They come together in minutes and if you are really pressed for time you can skip the homemade salsa verde and opt for basil. (Though we promise it's worth making.)
Get the Tomato Gnocchi Kebabs recipe.
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Bacon Zucchini Fries
Anything wrapped in bacon is instantly 1,000 times better, including summer squash! These 'fries' are simply roasted zucchini wedges wrapped in bacon—squash has never looked better. Make a simple homemade ranch for an easy dipping sauce too.
Get the Bacon Zucchini Fries recipe.
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Buffalo Chicken Celery Boats
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Black-Eyed Pea Bruschetta
Simply toss canned black-eyed peas with raw chopped collard greens, bell pepper, scallions, and garlic, and toss with an apple cider vinaigrette. Pile the mix onto toasted baguette slices and top with crispy, smoky pork to complete this summery, shareable appetizer.
Get the Black Eyed Pea Bruschetta recipe.
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Shrimp Tostada Bites
If you want to make things easy on yourself, use store-bought guac to fill these adorable little cups, but we gotta warn you— homemade guacamole is ALWAYS better.
Get the Shrimp Tostada Bites recipe.
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Tomato Galette
This tomato galette uses an herb speckled savory pie crust and is topped with ripe heirloom tomatoes and fresh ricotta for an extremely easy, yet impressive looking dish. It can be a light summer dinner or served as an appetizer at your next outdoor party.
Get the Tomato Galette recipe.
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Caponata
Five cups of this classic Sicilian dish may seem like a lot, but when you realize it is the perfect dip, toast-topper, pasta mix-in, and poultry and seafood accompaniment (among many other things), you'll be wishing you made double for your BBQ.
Get the Caponata recipe.
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Best-Ever Guacamole
Everyone has opinions about Mexico's most famous avocado-based dip: guacamole. Some, like us, keep it simple. We prefer to let the flavor of our avos shine. Others like to go crazy on the mix-ins: spices, tomatoes, garlic, etc. If that's your thing, this guacamole is the perfect jumping-off point. Add whatever you like!
Get the Best-Ever Guacamole recipe.
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Cheesy Corn Poppers
The contrast of sweet juicy corn, salty Parmesan, and bright green onions is pretty unbeatable. Hot tip: Don't fry these all at once. The poppers will absorb more oil and taste greasy. For best results, cook them in batches.
Get the Cheesy Corn Poppers recipe.
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Shrimp Ceviche
If you've never made ceviche before, it's not difficult. Our top tip is to make sure that you're starting out with really good shrimp; since the dish is so simple, the quality of shrimp you use will have a really big impact on how tasty the finished dish is.
Get the Shrimp Ceviche recipe.
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Queso Fundido
Queso fundido is a true party trick. It's likely the lowest effort, highest reward party dip. Go for Mexican chorizo here instead of the Spanish, which is usually dried.
Get the Queso Fundido recipe.
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Blueberry Salsa
Wanna make this gorgeous fruity salsa ahead of time? Toss everything together but leave out the lime juice, olive oil, and cilantro. Cover and refrigerate, then dress and add the herbs when you're ready to serve!
Get the Blueberry Salsa recipe.
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Grilled Corn Salsa
With tangy lime and sweet basil, this grilled corn salsa couldn't be more perfect for summer. If you don't have a grill or grill pan, give your cobs a quick sear in a cast iron skillet to get that smoky, charred flavor. You can also use frozen corn, (they even sell it pre-charred!) just make sure it's fully defrosted and drained of excess moisture before you make your salsa.
Get the Grilled Corn Salsa recipe.
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Baba Ghanoush
We like our eggplant-based baba ghanoush GARLICKY. If you don't, skip grating the raw clove in at the end. Without it, you'll have a more subtle (slightly sweet) garlic flavor that will still make everyone very, very happy.
Get the Baba Ghanoush recipe.
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Pulled Pork Nachos
This nacho recipe is perfect for feeding hungry summer guests while you wait for the grill to heat up. We prefer using store-bought pulled pork for these (making these extra easy!), but homemade would obviously be super delicious too.
Get the Pulled Pork Nachos recipe.
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Grilled Pineapple Salsa
This smoky-sweet pineapple and peach salsa is the perfect start to a BBQ or outdoor celebration. It might just ruin you for all other dips—you'll certainly want to grill ALL your fruit from now on.
Get the Grilled Pineapple Salsa recipe.
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Mushroom "Calamari" with Spicy Marinara
Umami-rich oyster mushrooms are lightly battered and fried for this squid-free take on fried calamari. You can use other mushroom varieties, but the delicate "petals" of the oyster mushrooms get addictively crispy, so we recommend seeking them out.
Get the Mushroom "Calamari" with Spicy Marinara recipe.
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Oven Fried Pickles
We love fried pickles, but as much as we'd love to eat them all day, everyday, we can't be bothered with the frying! These are the perfect crunchy foil to all your grilled meats.
Get the Oven-Fried Pickles recipe.
Source: https://www.delish.com/cooking/nutrition/g1459/healthy-summer-appetizers/