Recipes and Cooking Seasonal 17 Heat-Ready Appetizers for Your Next Summer Party By Sheena Chihak, RD Sheena Chihak, RD Instagram Sheena Chihak is a registered dietitian, former food editor and current edit lead for BHG with over 15 years of writing and editing experience for both print and digital. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on June 9, 2015 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Summer's bounty of garden-fresh produce stars in these warm-weather appetizers. Packed with tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, and more, our summer party snacks include seasonal flavors and bright ingredients. 01 of 17 Baba Ghanoush Flatbread View Recipe Pizza loaded with cheese can be a bit heavy on a scorching-hot day, so may we suggest a lighter Mediterranean swap? This colorful flatbread is fitting to share with vegans since it's topped simply with eggplant spread, cherry tomatoes, toasted hazelnuts, and fresh mint. Fast and Fresh Flatbread Recipes That Will Make You Forget Pizza 02 of 17 Tomato Pizza Rolls View Recipe Brimming with fresh-from-the-vine cherry tomatoes, these pizza rolls embody the crisp flavors of summer. Try them with Parmesan, prosciutto, and basil for a fun take on pizza. 03 of 17 Mini Pepper Tulips View Recipe We could eat about a dozen of these herby cream cheese-stuffed mini sweet pepper blooms. Arrange on a bed of green onions for the full bouquet effect. No vase required! 04 of 17 Mini Summer Meatballs View Recipe Two types of cheese and an array of fresh herbs help keep these mini meatballs extra moist and flavorful. Pair the meatballs with a homemade garlic-tomato sauce or your favorite purchased sauce. 05 of 17 Garden Vegetable Tart View Recipe Andy Lyons In about 30 minutes, ordinary puff pastry can be transformed into a bright, vegetable-packed tart. Cover the dough with a thin layer of tomato paste, then pile on fresh sweet corn, zucchini, and cherry tomatoes. Tip: To switch things up, replace the tomato paste with Alfredo sauce and use provolone cheese. 06 of 17 Zesty Fajita Bites View Recipe Keep your kitchen cool and your oven off—this fajita chicken comes together in your slow cooker. Stack atop tortillas with summery sweet peppers, roll, and prepare to accept all the rave reviews. 07 of 17 Grilled Banana Bites View Recipe For a sweet party starter, grill bananas 4 to 6 minutes, then stack the fruit with chocolate-hazelnut spread, butter cookies, and whipped dessert topping. The summer delights won't last long at your next cookout. 08 of 17 Sweet Potato Quesadillas with Cucumber Relish View Recipe For a new spin on quesadillas, fill tortillas with mashed sweet potato and chile-lime navy beans. Pair the melty appetizer with a cool cucumber-cilantro relish and creamy Greek yogurt. 09 of 17 Grilled Fruit Pizza View Recipe Reminder: The grill isn't just for barbecued entrees. This easy app calls for adding a bit of char to naan bread and melon slices for a sweet start to this snack that gets a savory touch from sliced prosciutto. 10 of 17 Lemony Ricotta Summer Squash Galette View Recipe Lemony Ricotta Summer Squash Galette. Filled with three types of cheese and a sprinkle of lemon juice, this flat pastry makes a pretty potluck centerpiece. Use garden-fresh summer squash and refrigerated piecrust to take the work out of the light appetizer. 11 of 17 Pineapple-Black Bean Guacamole View Recipe A fruity combination of fresh pineapple and savory black beans gives new life to classic guacamole. The much-loved Mexican party dip uses salsa verde to spice things up a bit. 12 of 17 Fresh Corn Cakes with Garden Relish View Recipe A mixture of red sweet pepper, fresh corn, onion, and basil tops these easy-to-make corn cakes. Filled with fresh summer sweet corn, the tasty appetizers are just as excellent prepared on the stove as they are in a cast-iron skillet on the grill. 13 of 17 Asian Lettuce Wraps with Chicken View Recipe Hunger is a wrap when you serve this well-balanced chicken app. In addition to chicken (which can be served warm or chilled), each lettuce leaf is filled with a scoop of coleslaw, green onions, and pineapple for a refreshing and light starter. 14 of 17 Plank-Smoked Portobello Mushrooms View Recipe Enliven stuffed portobello mushrooms by grilling them on a cedar plank. Filled with a blend of baby spinach, bread crumbs, cheddar cheese, and pecans, the appetizer gains mellow, fruity smoke flavor from the plank. 15 of 17 Blueberry-Peach Focaccia View Recipe This salty-sweet bread is great served as a side or starter. To bring out the flavor of the fruit, blend vanilla with olive oil and drizzle over the focaccia before baking. 16 of 17 Fresh Vegetable Chips with Caramelized Onion Dip View Recipe A sprinkle of paprika transforms fresh slices of radish, daikon, and jicama into flavorful vegetable chips that are ready in just 30 minutes. Dunk them in our homemade caramelized onion dip—the easy party appetizer can be made a day in advance. 17 of 17 Avocado Pesto-Stuffed Tomatoes View Recipe Juicy cherry tomatoes filled with a mix of avocado, cream cheese, pesto, and lemon juice are a proven party appetizer. For a fresh touch, sprinkle with snipped basil before serving. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit