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 favorite 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.
Beef and Ground Pork Sliders
No summer party is complete without everyone’s favorite poolside food: burgers hot off the grill. For party-ready bites, make these beef and ground pork sliders, perfectly dressed with lettuce, caramelized onions, cheese and a delicious sauce.
Bacon-Wrapped Prawns with Chipotle BBQ Sauce
Get your summer party started with Guy’s skewered shrimp wrapped in bacon with an easy chipotle barbecue sauce for dipping.
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.
