Warm weather calls for fresh flavors, seasonal fruits and veggies and lots (and lots) of grilling.
Our Best Summer Finger Foods
There’s nothing we love more than loading up on lots of flavorful small bites—picnics, backyard barbecues and pool parties, included. No matter what kind of get-together you’re hosting, you’re going to need a few appetizers to hold everyone over until your mouthwatering mains come off the grill. You can’t go wrong with picks like summery dips, assorted bruschetta, sliders and a myriad of skewers—so we’ve rounded up our best takes on these classics, here. You’ll find everything you need to get the party started, including our take on Baba Ganoush, a classic Levantine eggplant and tahini dip that is beloved throughout the Middle East. Our version calls for grilling the eggplant and skips any yogurt to allow the charred smoky flavor to really shine through.
Peach Bruschetta
Make the most of sweet summer peaches by serving them on a crispy baguette with a tangy goat cheese spread.
Sea Island Wings
Kardea’s blend of sweet, spicy and smoky flavors prompted several reviewers to name these “the best wings ever.”
Creamy Corn and Chile Dip
Trisha’s slightly-spicy appetizer is ideal for pairing with an icy margarita.
Grilled Edible Cheeseboard
We love a good bread bowl so why not a bread platter? Whether you make your own pizza dough or buy it at the store, cooking it on the grill will give you a dough that is golden, crisp and tinged with a subtle smoky flavor. Loaded with warm melting cheese, briny olives and salty charcuterie, the board can be the centerpiece of a snacks and drinks gathering with friends or served alongside a big green salad for the perfect summer dinner.
Crostini with Sweet Ricotta, Honey and Toasted Hazelnuts
Colorful Summer Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce
Use a mandoline to turn the vegetables into paper-thin slices, and then find zen while you perfect filling and rolling each lovely bundle. It takes time and practice, so be sure to have a few extra rice wrappers on hand in case some tear.
Classic Deviled Eggs
Grilled Guacamole and Grilled Queso Dip
In Mexico, charring vegetables such as corn, tomatoes, peppers and onions is a popular way to add a smokey flavor to salsas, soups, sauces and the like. We used that technique here for both the guacamole and queso. You can also make the rest of the queso on the side burner, if your grill has one. If not, be sure to set the saucepan over high enough heat on the grill so that the mixture simmers. Since queso doesn’t reheat well, make it right before you want to serve it.
Watermelon Salsa
Coconut-and-Lime Pork Kebabs
Both creamy and citrusy, one taste of these pork skewers will transport you from your backyard to someplace tropical.
Beef and Ground Pork Sliders
Grilled Oysters Three Ways
Making oysters for a crowd is a whole lot easier with this quick shucking hack. Simply grill the oysters for a few minutes to open the shells, just enough for a knife to easily fit inside. Once the oysters are shucked, you can serve them raw on the half shell with mignonette and lemon wedges, or grill them up with Bourbon BBQ sauce, bacon and chives, or with a flavor-packed garlic, herb and white wine scampi butter. Using a foil roasting pan filled with some coarse sea salt helps keep the oysters from spilling and makes it easy to get them on and off the grill.
Smoky Caprese Bread Bowl
Summertime is the pinnacle of caprese season, so we married our love of the grill with our love of this simple classic. The key to this recipe's success is to get the absolute best ingredients you can. Fresh local mozzarella, perfectly ripe tomatoes, good-quality olive oil and a fresh loaf of crusty bread really make a difference here.
Bacon-Wrapped Prawns with Chipotle BBQ Sauce
Guacamole
Mini Crab Cakes with Mustard Creme Fraiche
Fresh and light, Valerie’s mini crab cakes are the perfect recipe for summer entertaining.
If I Could Turn Back Lemon Thyme Bruschetta
For an appetizer that will never fail to impress, serve the bruschetta topping in a separate bowl and let guests build their own. That way, the toast will stay crisp and you can prep the dish ahead of time.
Smoky Grilled Deviled Eggs
These delicious deviled eggs are packed with smoky flavor. Adobo sauce and smoked paprika spice up the yolks, while a quick trip to a hot grill gives the whites a hint of fire and grill marks.
Lettuce Wraps
The stir-fried filling in Rachael's lettuce wraps boasts crunch, bright colors and flavor from oranges and hoisin.
Asian Chicken Skewers
Perfect Salsa
Why go with store-bought salsa when it's so easy to make fresh, spicy salsa all on your own? Alton's secret ingredient: mild, full-of-flavor dried ancho chiles.
Fried Zucchini
Fry up some fresh zucchini for a crunchy, Italian-style starter.
Romesco-Topped Potato Bites
Chicken and Pineapple Skewers
Transport the tropics to your backyard with Tyler's island-inspired kebabs. He bastes the skewers while they're cooking on the grill so the barbecue sauce caramelizes right on the chicken and pineapple chunks.