20 Summer Appetizers for All Your Warm-Weather Gatherings

From chilled soup and grilled shrimp to fresh dips, delight guests with our brightest and best summer appetizers.

tomatoes with lightly whipped cream
Credit:

Chelsea Cavanaugh

Get the party started with a selection of our favorite summer appetizers. They're packed with seasonal produce and are light and refreshing—just the kind of dishes to serve on your deck or in the garden, around the pool, or beside the grill.

Many of these recipes are no-cook; some only need a turn on the grill. Several need to be made ahead, which is a boon for the busy host—you'll know your appetizers are ready in the refrigerator for when guests arrive. Choose from chilled soups, fresh dips, antipasto platters, and grilled appetizers—and celebrate the season.

01 of 20

Grilled Prosciutto-Wrapped Melon

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Credit: Marcus Nilsson

You know how good the pairing of cantaloupe and prosciutto is. Give it a summer slant on the grill. It takes minutes and transforms the flavors. Even better, it works with any melon and cured meat you like.

02 of 20

Roasted Tomatoes and Cheese With Thyme

roasted tomatoes cheese thyme
Credit: William Abranowicz

A prep time of 10 minutes produces this delightful summer appetizer. Simply combine small tomatoes with thyme, olive oil, salt, and cheese, then bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Top with more cheese, bake for another five, and watch how fast it disappears.

03 of 20

Chilled Avocado-Cucumber Soup With Crostini

chilled avocado-cucumber soup with crostini ham and eggs
Credit: Con Poulos

Not only are chilled soups refreshing, they’re also excellent for entertaining, as they must be made ahead to allow time for them to chill in the refrigerator. This creamy but dairy-free version is packed with cucumbers, cilantro, scallions, and avocados.  

04 of 20

Cantaloupe and Mozzarella With Prosciutto and Basil

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A summer antipasto platter that tastes as good as it looks. In this no-cook appetizer, melon balls make a refreshing pairing with prosciutto and the bite-sized mozzarella balls known as bocconcini. The main work is arranging the platter, drizzling it with olive oil, and scattering fresh basil leaves.

05 of 20

Roasted-Garlic Toast With Tomato

roasted-garlic toast
Credit: Lennart Weibull

Take tomato bruschetta to the next level with these toasts that top the bread with a luscious roasted garlic spread and juicy sliced tomatoes. While the recipe calls for making the toast in the oven, the grill would be an excellent alternative.

06 of 20

Greek Layer Dip

greek layer dip
Credit: Pernille Loof

Whip up a creamy bean spread with canned cannellini beans, garlic, Greek yogurt, and lemon juice. It's spread onto a platter and topped with juicy cherry tomatoes, cool cucumbers, olives, feta cheese, and herbs.

07 of 20

Shrimp Cocktail With Three Sauces

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Whether you serve the shrimp on a platter or arrange them in individual serving dishes, this fresh take on the classic shrimp cocktail will be a winner at your party. Guests can choose from mango-basil, tomato-horseradish, or remoulade sauce.

08 of 20

Zucchini, Avocado, and Jalapeño Tartine

zucchini avocado jalapeno tartine
Credit: Dana Gallagher

It's easy being green with this bevy of flavorful toppings—crisp zucchini, creamy avocado, spicy jalapeño, and fresh cilantro. It's the perfect starter to show off seasonal produce.

09 of 20

Hearts of Palm Dip

hearts of palm dip
Credit: Ren Fuller

This vegan dip gets all of its creaminess from canned hearts of palm, which are pulsed in a food processor along with chopped chives, cilantro leaves, the juice and zest of a lime, and extra-virgin olive oil.

10 of 20

Citrus and Green Olives With Goat Cheese

Citrus and Green Olives with Goat Cheese recipe
Credit: Lennart Weibull

Serve this rich platter of green olives, mixed oranges and tangerines, goat cheese, and rustic Italian bread to kick off an extra-special dinner al fresco. Mix the cheese with good-quality olive oil for a creamy spread.

11 of 20

Tomatoes With Lightly Whipped Cream

tomatoes with lightly whipped cream
Credit: CHELSEA CAVANAUGH

This might be one of our best summer appetizer recipes. All you need are high-quality heirloom tomatoes, fruity olive oil, flaky salt, fresh basil, and heavy cream. The tomatoes get a dollop of unsweetened whipped cream as a garnish, resulting in one of the simplest yet most delicious warm-weather dishes around.

12 of 20

Grilled-Vegetable Agrodolce

grilled vegetable agrodolce
Credit: Ryan Liebe

Grilled zucchini, yellow squash, and eggplants, plus assorted cured meats, burrata, goat cheese, and crusty bread, create a stunning summer antipasto platter.

13 of 20

Spanish Gazpacho

spanish gazpacho
Credit: Dana Gallagher

No matter when or how you serve it, tomato and bell pepper gazpacho is one of the best no-cook summer dishes. This chilled soup recipe makes about five cups, so you can serve small cups to a crowd.

14 of 20

Greek-Taverna Salad

Greek-Taverna Salad
Credit: Petrina Tinslay

Every color and flavor of summer shines on this platter appetizer—cocktail tomatoes, mini cucumbers, bell peppers, feta cheese, and pepperoncini peppers.

15 of 20

Creamy Artichoke Ranch Dip

Creamy Artichoke Ranch
Credit: Petrina Tinslay

When artichoke dip meets ranch dip, the result is twice as tasty. This easy appetizer is a no-cook favorite. Simply whizz marinated artichoke hearts, anchovy fillets, parsley, Greek yogurt, and extra-virgin olive oil in the food processor and serve.

16 of 20

Chilled Sour-Cherry Soup

chilled sour-cherry soup flecked with dill and cilantro
Credit: Mikkel Vang

Sour and savory flavors marry in this seasonal soup that uses fresh sour cherries, cucumbers, and scallions, plus plenty of fresh cilantro and dill.

17 of 20

No-Knead Tomato Focaccia

tomato focaccia bread
Credit: Marcus Nilsson

Fresh, juicy cherry tomatoes shine on top of our easy-to-make focaccia. While it only requires 15 minutes of prep work, the dough should rise for at least 12 hours, so plan if you want to make this scrumptious summer bite.

18 of 20

Creamy Edamame Dip

edamame dip
Credit: CHELSEA CAVANAUGH

This healthy dip is deceivingly indulgent, thanks to creamy cottage cheese. It's also satisfying thanks to the edamame, while cilantro, serrano chile, and lime juice give it a lively flavor. Serve drizzled with olive oil alongside pita or crudités.

19 of 20

Seeded Feta Bites

seeded feta bites served with gold skewers
Credit: Nico Schinco

Feta cheese is light and refreshing in the summertime, especially as a bite-sized nibble on a skewer. Embed these little white cubes with the rich flavors of tangy sumac, toasted sesame seeds, and flaky sea salt that blend to make a great no-cook finger food appetizer.

20 of 20

Tomato Burrata Bites

Tomato burrata bites
Credit: Bryan Gardner

Whip up a quick and cheerful display of no-cook tomato bites stuffed with creamy burrata cheese. Each hollowed-out sweet Campari tomato is drizzled with a little olive oil and topped with fresh basil for a satisfying finger food appetizer.

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