Here are some simple summer appetizers that are quick to put together. Summer is a great time for entertaining at parties, holidays, graduations, with family, or just spending time with your friends. Make your get-togethers easy and fun with these fast and delicious summer appetizers.
Take a variety of whole grain crackers and top them with some canned refried beans, a sprinkle of cumin, a little prepared guacamole or a chunky salsa, a square of cheese of choice, and a couple of slices of pitted black olives. For more quick and easy recipes for beans, click here.
Goat Cheese Mushrooms
A simple summer appetizer. Take some large mushrooms (remove stem) and fill each cap with a combination of crumbled goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes in oil (drained and chopped), chopped walnuts, and fresh mint (minced). Top each filled mushroom with a little grated lemon zest. More cheese recipes are available here.
Grilled Chicken Kabobs
Using store-bought grilled chicken (boneless breasts work well for this recipe), cut chicken into cubes and skewer on small wooden skewers along with jarred pearl onions, marinated mushrooms, chunks of red bell pepper, and pineapple chunks. Serve skewers along with small bowls of barbecue sauce for dipping.
Veggie Quesadilla Appetizers
Take one 7-inch soft tortilla shell and sprinkle half of the shell with grated cheddar cheese. Then top with diced jarred roasted red peppers, diced celery, chopped pimiento stuffed olives, some chopped onion, and little more grated cheese. Fold tortilla in half. Lightly spray a skillet with oil and over medium heat brown tortilla lightly on both sides. Cut tortilla in half and serve this summer appetizer as is or with a little bowl of sour cream for dipping. For more quick vegetable recipes, click here.
Smoked Salmon Appetizers
Take a seedless cucumber, remove skin and make very thin lengthwise slices. With one slice of cucumber, place a slice of packaged and sliced smoked salmon along the length of the cucumber. Then spread some plain whipped cream cheese on top of the salmon and then some chopped fresh dill and a few jarred capers (drained). Now roll the cucumber slice as tightly as possible and place seam side down on a serving plate lined with lettuce leaves. Chill until ready to serve.
Watermelon Sandwiches
Using seedless watermelon, cut slices about one-half inch thick. Cut the rind off each slice and trim into squares that are the same size like a loaf of bread. Place a layer of thin slices of prosciutto over one slice of watermelon. In a small bowl combine some plain Greek yogurt with crumbled feta cheese or blue cheese. Top the prosciutto with this mixture. Place another slice of watermelon on top of the yogurt spread and then cut the watermelon sandwich into bite-size pieces and chill until ready to serve. Looking for more fresh fruit ideas? Give these quick and flavorful recipes a try. Click here.
Chilled Tomato Soup
Place the following in a food processor or blender and process to desired consistency: 4 medium tomatoes (cut into chunks), several fresh cilantro leaves (chopped), 1 cup of vegetable broth (or as needed to allow processor or blender to move freely), a clove of garlic, a teaspoon of capers, a drizzle of olive oil, a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Serve soup chilled in bowls and top with chopped cilantro, diced cucumber, and grated parmesan cheese. This recipe makes approximately two to four servings. Double the ingredients to make more servings. Chill until ready to serve.
Using bibb lettuce leaves, place some tuna (canned in water and drained) along the center of a lettuce leaf. Then place some chopped jalapeno pepper on top of the tuna, some chopped mango, a couple of strips of green bell pepper, and a spoonful of sour cream. If desired, sprinkle a few red pepper flakes on top of the sour cream for a little more heat. Fold in the sides of each lettuce leaf and secure the lettuce wraps with a toothpick. Chill until ready to serve. More quick and easy wrap sandwiches are available here.
Tomato Roasted Corn Pita Dipper
Combine in a bowl, 2 medium tomatoes (diced), 2 celery stalks (diced), one-half cup sunflower kernels, one-half cup roasted corn kernels (these are available in the frozen food section - just thaw and drain prior to using), 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped), 1 cup low-fat sour cream, and salt and pepper to taste. Serve in small bowls with warm pita bread cut into bite-size pieces for dipping.
Creamy Spicy Deviled Eggs
Hard boil four eggs and allow to cool. Cut each egg in half, remove the yolks and place in a bowl along with one-quarter teaspoon jalapeno peppers (diced), one-quarter cup celery (diced), 2 tablespoons red onion (finely chopped), one-quarter cup low-fat mayonnaise, one-quarter cup prepared hummus, and salt and pepper to taste. Combine well and scoop mixture into the egg whites. Serve this easy summer appetizer chilled on lettuce leaves. Looking for more creamy recipes? Click here.
Cranberry Toasts
In a mixing bowl combine plain whipped cream cheese with dried sweetened cranberries (roughly chopped), chopped walnuts, and some grated lime zest. Thinly slice some French bread and toast until lightly browned. Spread the cranberry mixture on each bread slice and serve.
Roast Beef Asparagus Appetizers
Take deli roast beef slices and spread with a combination of prepared horseradish and sour cream. Then place a couple of white asparagus spears (canned and drained) on top of the horseradish mixture near the edge of the roast beef slice along with a few baby spinach leaves. Roll roast beef slice up tightly and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Fruity Salsa Dip
Take one-half cup diced of each of the following and combine in a bowl: fresh or frozen (thawed and drained) peaches, jicama (peeled), celery, red onion, and tomatoes. Add fresh squeezed lemon juice to taste and toss again to combine. Allow salsa to marinate in the refrigerator for an hour and serve with your favorite chips for dipping.
In a bowl combine cooked, shelled shrimp (cut into chunks), some thinly sliced scallions, a couple of slices of crispy cooked bacon (crumbled), some sour cream (enough to moisten), some fresh squeezed lemon juice and mix well. Serve this flavorful summer appetizer chilled in prepared baked puff pastry shells with a slice of lemon on the side.
Olive Spread Stackers
Take some crispbread crackers and spread a layer of olive tapenade on each cracker then top with sliced fresh mozzarella cheese, a couple of roasted red pepper strips, and a sprinkling of fresh chopped basil.
Ham and Cheese Roll-Up Appetizers
Take a slice of deli ham and place a slice of Swiss Cheese on top of the ham. Spread the cheese with a spicy mustard and a sprinkling of dried or fresh dill. Then place a piece of jicama (peeled and cut into long matchsticks about one-half inch thick) on top of the cheese near the edge and roll up tightly.
Creamy Potato Toppers
Take small red potatoes and cut into one-quarter inch thick slices. Steam until tender but not mushy, carefully remove from steamer, and place in ice water for a few minutes to stop the cooking process. Remove from water, pat dry, and allow to cool completely, being careful to keep each slice intact (refrigerate until ready to serve) . In a bowl, combine some ricotta cheese with some sour cream, a little spicy mustard, chopped fresh chives, fresh grated lemon zest, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix until well combined and chill until ready to serve. Assemble this summer appetizer at serving time, by spooning a mound of cheese mixture on top of each potato slice, sprinkle a little more chopped chives on top, and place on a serving plate.
Use these simple summer appetizers any time you need quick and easy party food.
