40 Summer Appetizer Recipes Made for Easy, Breezy Entertaining

Recipe: Spinach-and-Vidalia Dip

This dip can be made ahead of time, leaving you more time to spend with your guests.

Recipe: Basic Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs belong at every summer gathering.

Recipe: Pickled Tiny Tomatoes

Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

Recipe: Baked Brie with Jezebel Peaches

Pepper jelly and peaches give baked brie an instant upgrade.

Recipe: Deviled Egg Salad and Asparagus Tartines

A laid-back finger sandwich is great for more casual occasions.

Recipe: Smoked-Tomato Salsa

Ditch the jarred stuff—this homemade salsa with a smoky kick will get your guests talking. Serve alongside tortilla chips and homemade guacamole.

Recipe: Crack Crackers

After the first bite, you'll understand why they're called Crack Crackers.

Recipe: Southwest Black-Eyed Pea Dip

Serve with plenty of your favorite tortilla or pita chips for dipping.

Recipe: Bacon Bow Tie Crackers

Just two ingredients are needed to make this easy appetizer, and we suggest doubling (or tripling) the recipe.

Recipe: Queso-Filled Mini Peppers

Mini sweet peppers are the perfect bite-sized vessel for rich cheese dip.

Recipe: Corn and Jalapeño Dip

This creamy and cheesy dip only includes eight ingredients and minimal prep time.

Recipe: Grilled Green Tomatoes with Jalapeño-Honey Vinaigrette 

There's much more you can do with green tomatoes than fry them. Not convinced? Consider this standout recipe for grilled green tomatoes your proof.

Recipe: Mini Potato Skins

These crispy potato skins are party perfect with bacon, cheddar, sour cream, and green onions.

Recipe: Muffin Pan Tomato Tarts

This bite-sized version of tomato pie is the perfect party appetizer.

Recipe: Easy Summer Appetizer Board

Welcome guests with Sothern summer classics like pimiento cheese and riesling peaches.

Recipe: Fresh Fruit Salad

Orange juice, honey, and mint add even more flavor to summer fruits.

Recipe: Mini Tomato Sandwiches With Bacon Mayonnaise

It's not summer without tomato sandwiches.

Recipe: Hot Cheesy Crab Dip

Lumps of juicy crab are ensconced in a mixture of cream cheese, mayonnaise, and sour cream. Honestly, if you're serving this dip, why serve anything else?

Recipe: Arancini with Pomodoro Dipping Sauce

These little balls of rice taste amazing but only have three steps. Make the rice mixture, with is flavored with thyme and Parmesan, before frying it to a crisp golden brown. It's an appetizer that'll instantly transport you to a warm evening in Rome.

Recipe: Jalapeño Popper Dip

Summer sports watch party? Family reunion? Serve our Jalapeño Popper Dip as an appetizer and everyone will be asking for the recipe.

Recipe: Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip

Anyone who doesn't love buffalo chicken might be lying. And anyone who says they don't like buffalo chicken dip? They're really asking for it.

Recipe: Beet-Goat Cheese Dip

A vibrant dip is just the thing you need for a fresh summer appetizer. We take the classic beet and goat cheese pairing to new heights, combining them with dates and Greek yogurt for a creamy factor. If you don't have time to roast your own beets, don't panic. A package of pre-cooked ones will do just the trick.

Recipe: Mushroom-Stuffed Phyllo Cups

These little tartlets may be meatless, but that doesn't mean they're not filling.

Recipe: Slow-Roasted Cherry Tomato Bruschetta

These cute, composed bites make lovely summer hors d'oeuvres. Pass around a platter and they're sure to disappear.

Recipe: Deviled Egg Potato Salad

We're combining two of the summertime greats—deviled eggs and potato salad—in this legendary recipe.

Recipe: Southern-Style Grilled Cobb Salad

Of course, summer comes with a big dose of heat and humidity. This appetizer doesn't require the stove, so make it one of your go-tos.

Recipe: Field Pea Salad with Tomatoes and Feta

Serving this is basically a Southern summer rite of passage. It makes for an excellent appetizer or side dish, served along with fresh corn on the cob and potato salad.

Recipe: Lemon-Tarragon Potato Salad

Let's face it. Potato salad might be one of the ultimate appetizers. Who can resist chunks of tender potatoes with a creamy dressing? Very few. Here, the lemon adds a summery spot and makes it a seasonal dish.

Recipe: Crab Cake Bites with Old Bay Mayo, Chives, and Lemon

This recipe for miniature crab cakes comes from Adam Evans, chef at award-winning Birmingham restaurant Automatic Seafood and Oysters. If there's one piece of advice we can offer, it's this: don't skip the Old Bay mayo.

Recipe: Jessica B. Harris' Southern Fried Green Tomatoes

Everybody loves a classic fried green tomato, and Jessica B. Harris's version is as good as it gets.

Recipe: Roasted Potato Salad

If you want to make a controversial summer appetizer move, kick the mayonnaise to the door. These roasted potatoes won't need it.

Recipe: Summer Orzo Salad

Plump tomatoes, crunchy pistachios, crisp cucumbers, and a basil pesto create a breezy summer appetizer you'll want to make again and again. Take it on the first picnic of the season or serve it at garden party.

Recipe: Grilled Sweet Pepper Salad with Ricotta and Summer Herbs

Sure, it looks fancy, but this salad is only two steps and can be executed while the grill heats up for all the hot dogs.

Recipe: Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta

Pasta salad is always a tried-and-true winner, but this might be the ultimate summer side. You heard it from us first.

Recipe: Butter-Baked Saltine Crackers

Don't underestimate these crackers. Put out a bowlful and your guests are in danger of filling up on them before the main dishes even appear.

Recipe: Deviled Eggs with Pickled Okra

Deviled eggs are so easy, you might as well add a little pizazz in the form of some okra.

Recipe: Pimiento Pickle Poppers

With just six ingredients (two of which you may already have in your pantry), there's no excuse not to make these very poppable summer bites.

Recipe: Crawfish Dip

Cooking this dip in a slow cooker will ensure it stays warm until you're ready to serve.

Recipe: Green Tomato Stacks with Herb Oil and Crispy Capers

An elegant, un-fried take on green tomatoes, these pretty tomato stacks make a great starter for a seated summer dinner.

Recipe: Picnic Egg Salad

You're just 15 minutes away from getting this crowd-pleasing recipe on the table.