Let us all rejoice – summer is officially here! Bring on the backyard BBQs, game nights with friends, and dinner parties on the patio. Whether we’re hosting or guesting, we love having some go-to summer appetizers to set up or bring with. We’ve rounded up some of our favorites to enjoy this season that will be a hit no matter what the occasion –
1. Pan Fried Feta with Honey
The first time we came across this delicious dish was on the cliffs of Oia in Santorini, Greece. We love the twist Half Baked Harvest gives this pan fried feta, adding pepper and thyme to the honey, pushing it to the more-savory-than-sweet side of things. This is a great party app, as you can set it out with a variety of accoutrements (nuts, crackers, bread, fruit) and let your guests enjoy at leisure.
2. Baked Avocados with Strawberry Salsa
via Floating Kitchen
Late Spring/early Summer brings with it a plethora of delicious in-season produce! And we love this unexpected pairing of 2 of our favorites – avocados and strawberries. This dish brings flavor and presentation – look at how cute the stuffed ‘cados are! Set out a bowl of tortilla chips and let you guests dig out all that goodness.
3. Vegan Jalapeno Poppers
Chances are you have a friend with food allergies, doing an elimination diet, or avoids certain food families, so it’s nice to create a dish that everyone can enjoy! Jalapeño poppers are an appetizer staple, but this updated version is sans meat, dairy and gluten. They are just as satisfying – you’ll hardly notice the difference!
4. Salsa Bar
via Damn Delicious
Looking for an option that doesn’t take long to create, but makes a big impression? Enter: the salsa bar. We have yet to meet someone that doesn’t love the classic chips and salsa combo, but tastes can vary greatly in terms of salsa type, level of heat and even chip type. This gives a little something for everyone and is the ultimate grazing app.
5. Peanut Chicken Lettuce Wraps
via Pinch of Yum
We love an appetizer dinner, especially for something like a game night where you can just nibble all night long. If that’s the direction you’re taking, it’s always good to have one app that leans on the heartier side. After all, you never want to leave your guests (or be a guest) leaving hungry! Lettuce wraps check all the boxes – easy to make, filling, able to eat quickly with your hands, and tasty. You can fill them with an assortment of things, but we recently had this peanut chicken combo and it was delish.
Let us know what you try and what your favorite summer appetizers are!