BBQ Appetizers: Summertime Finger Foods
BBQ Appetizer Finger Foods
A great BBQ isn’t just about the main course, it’s the finger foods that get the party started. From bold, smoky bites to fresh and zesty snacks, the right appetizers set the tone for a relaxed and fun backyard gathering. With the right mix of textures, flavors, and easy-to-eat portions, your guests can enjoy good food without ever putting down their drink.
These bite-sized delights not only set the tone for the feast ahead but also keep guests munching and mingling in the best possible way.
From grilling up savory skewers to crispy bites and smoky bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers, these appetizers pack big flavors into small, easy-to-eat portions. Perfect for sharing, snacking, or even sneaking a few bites before the main event, BBQ appetizer finger foods are the perfect way to kick off any outdoor celebration.
Tips for Serving the Best BBQ Appetizer Finger Foods
- Keep It Grab-and-Go: Think skewers, sliders, chips with dips, or anything that fits on a napkin. Finger foods should be easy to enjoy while standing, chatting, or playing lawn games.
- Serve Items That Can Hold Up Outdoors: Stick to foods that don’t melt too fast or get soggy. Grilled veggies, mini meatballs, and sturdy dips all do well on a warm day.
- Prep in Batches: Prep ingredients in advance and assemble right before serving. This keeps things fresh and cuts down on stress once the grill is going and guests start arriving.
Image Credit: deliciouslyhomecooked
Crockpot little smokies with grape jelly are a simple yet flavorful dish that’s perfect for parties, potlucks, and game day gatherings.
These bite-sized weenies simmer in a sweet and tangy sauce, creating a crowd-pleasing appetizer with little to no effort. This 3 ingredient slow cooker little smokies recipe is a go-to for busy hosts who want a hands-off dish that still delivers big flavor.
Get the full recipe from: Deliciously Home Cooked
Image Credit: delicioustable
Make these Shish Kabobs with a beef marinade that has pineapple and dark rum this grilling season. The rum is totally optional of course!
Marinade the top sirloin a few hours ahead of family dinner or your party, and have the skewers ready to go when guests arrive. Your cookout will be one to remember with this easy recipe
Get the full recipe from: Delicious Table
Image Credit: dinneratthezoo
These bacon wrapped smokies are cocktail sausages wrapped in bacon, then coated in brown sugar and spices and baked to perfection. An easy appetizer option that’s great for feeding a large crowd, great hit at parties or on game day..
You can serve with a variety of hot snacks such as cheesy bean dip, fried okra and these bacon wrapped little smokies. They’re simple to make and people always go crazy for them!
Get the full recipe from: Dinner At The Zoo
Image Credit: delicioustable
Grilled corn on the cob gains an incredibly rich flavor and smoky sweetness! Grab some fresh corn at the Farmer’s market or store. It cooks in just 10 minutes and can be put together ahead of dinner or a cookout party.
Serve it with steaks, burgers, or hot dogs. With endless flavor options, this is great BBQ cookout party food.
Get the full recipe from: Delicious Table
Image Credit: thissillygirlskitchen
Meatball appetizers are a holiday staple. But it’s out with the old and in with the new – BBQ Bacon Meatballs – oh yes.
Flavorful meatballs wrapped in thick-cut bacon and brushed with bbq sauce then baked to crispy perfection. This is such an amazing sweet and savory flavor combo, your guests will absolutely LOVE it!
Get the full recipe from: This Silly Girl’s Kitchen
Image Credit: thissillygirlskitchen
BBQ meatballs are sweet, spicy, and sticky—in the best way possible. Perfect for game nights, family gatherings, or even a cozy dinner at home.
The combination of honey and BBQ sauce gives them a delightful sweetness, while the Sriracha adds just the right amount of kick. They’re super easy to make, and the best part is, they’re baked—not fried!
Get the full recipe from: This Silly Girl’s Kitchen
Image Credit: xoxo Bella
Bloody Mary devilled eggs are a favourite creative deviled egg idea. They take the concept of traditional eggs and add in rich ingredients like slaw dressing, pickle juice, tomato paste, paprika, and more, to make a unique gourmet deviled eggs with a Bloody Mary feel.
Possible changes include subbing regular salt for the celery salt, cayenne pepper for the paprika, BBQ sauce for the steak sauce, or red onion for shallots.
Get the full recipe from: Xoxo Bella
Image Credit: xoxo Bella
Antipasto skewers, or antipasto kabobs, make great party food. Easy to make in advance, they are an easy party appetizer idea that’s ideal for parties, picnics, game day, BBQs, road trips, tailgating and gatherings, among others.
This crowd-pleasing antipasto bite appetizer is served on wooden skewers and made with classic Italian flavours.
Get the full recipe from: Xoxo Bella
Image Credit: asouthernsoul
These roast beef and cheese sliders are crazy delicious and super easy to make! Savory roast beef and melty cheese wrapped up in sweet Hawaiian rolls and then baked in a buttery sauce are absolutely irresistible.
They are the perfect party food and always a welcome sight on the dinner table.
Get the full recipe from: A Southern Soul
Image Credit: asouthernsoul
Made with yummy beef hot dogs and kicked-up store-bought barbecue sauce, these Grilled Barbecued Hot Dogs are the ultimate cookout recipe!
This somewhat “gourmet hot dog recipe” is so good! And you know, for any cookout, picnic, or potluck from Memorial Day through July and Labor Day.
Get the full recipe from: A Southern Soul
Image Credit: foodfolksandfun
This Grilled Chicken Skewers Recipe is covered with pineapple teriyaki sauce that takes them to another level. It’s an easy grilling recipe. Brushing the sauce on the chicken during the last minute of cooking creates a caramelized coating on the mouth-wateringly delicious chicken.
These chicken skewers are a great meal option because you can serve them alongside almost anything, from Mac and Cheese to Baked Beans to a Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad.
Get the full recipe from: Food Folks And Fun
Image Credit: myminichefs
Bacon Wrapped Tater Tot Cups are irresistibly delicious! Make in 3 simple steps with just 3 easy ingredients: bacon, tater tots, cheddar cheese.
These are great for New Years parties, Super Bowl parties and any gathering focused on finger foods and appetizers, especially for kids!
Get the full recipe from: My Mini Chefs
Image Credit: crayonsandcravings
Tasty chicken nacho bites are a quick and easy finger food for parties or game day snacking. This chicken nacho bites recipe is not only incredibly easy to make, but it’s also a perfect finger food for a football party.
The awesome thing about this chicken appetizer is that they give you all the flavors of nachos, without all the mess.
Get the full recipe from: Crayons And Cravings
Image Credit: theforkedspoon
These Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers are the perfect party snack or holiday appetizer! Super easy to make, each delicious bite is irresistibly creamy, cheesy, and smokey with just the right amount of heat to balance it all.
Perfect for holiday gatherings and game day parties, they are the perfect casual finger food – everyone will be circling back for more.
Get the full recipe from: The Forked Spoon
Image Credit: swirlsofflavor
With just three ingredients, Slow Cooker Mango Turkey Meatballs will cook up in your slow cooker for a delightfully saucy appetizer or make it a main dish and serve over rice or noodles!
Frozen meatballs, mango salsa and barbecue sauce simmer together for an easy crockpot recipe! Sprinkle with chopped parsley for that special finishing touch!
Get the full recipe from: Swirls Of Flavor
Image Credit:easybudgetrecipes
These Grilled Pork Kabobs are flavorful and easy to customize. The pork shish kabob marinade helps make them juicy and delectable.
These simple, flavorful, family-approved Grilled Pork Kabobs are a summertime favorite. Pork also cooks quickly on the grill, so this is a fast and easy meal to make any time of the year! Making steak kabobs for the whole family can get pricey!
Get the full recipe from: Easy Budget Recipes
Image Credit: easybudgetrecipes
If you enjoy seafood and the smoky flavor only a grill can provide, these easy-grilled shrimp will become your new go-to recipe. Full of tangy and savory flavors, it’s a great main course, side dish, or appetizer for any occasion!
You can tailor this recipe to fit your needs. Serve it as an appetizer, in a salad, in tacos, over rice, in wraps, or on its own. The options are endless!
Get the full recipe from: Easy Budget Recipes
Image Credit: momswhosave
These barbeque sliders start with canned biscuits–easy-peasy! Then you fill them with your barbeque ground beef, and bake.
These little sliders are perfect for parties, potlucks, or any kind of get-together. They’re definitely hearty enough to serve as a mini meal too. Once you make them, your family will ask for them again and again.
Get the full recipe from: Moms Who Save
Image Credit: tastesoflizzyt
If you’re looking to spice up your next grilled skewers, try these dry rub BBQ Chicken Skewers with peppers and onions. An easy recipe ready in about 40 minutes.
Here’s a fantastically delicious chicken skewers recipe. You’ll love this easy dry rub that gives chicken an excellently spicy flavor. Use your favorite veggies on the skewers and have this healthy dinner recipe in no time!
Get the full recipe from: Tastes of Lizzy T
Image Credit: tastesoflizzyt
Throw together a party appetizer everyone will love! These easy BBQ Lil Smokies take less than 10 minutes prep and have a deliciously sweet barbecue flavor.
It takes less than 10 minutes to prepare. Whether it is a party, game day or just an afternoon snack, mix up these easy bbq little smokies!
Get the full recipe from: Tastes of Lizzy T
Image Credit: noshingwiththenolands
Do you need a quick summer appetizer idea rather than slaving away on the BBQ? This takes a few minutes to assemble if that, and then a few minutes on the BBQ.
It is an easy appetizer to bring on a picnic that has a grill too or to any backyard BBQ. Just jump in before the burgers are on or the steaks come out and give this fantastic Brie a quick grill
Get the full recipe from: Noshing With The Nolands
Image Credit: noshingwiththenolands
These Bacon-Wrapped Dates are addictive; one bite of the slightly spicy sweet flavor and you could never just eat one. Brown sugar, maple syrup, cayenne, and chili powder make the best seasoning. The crispy bacon goes amazing with the sweet dates.
This is an addictive game-day snack. One that will be gone in no time!! The bacon is crisp, the date is sweet, and the sauce is perfect.
Get the full recipe from: Noshing With The Nolands
Image Credit: dinneratthezoo
These smoked chicken wings are coated in a sweet and savory spice rub then smoked until tender. Add a coating of barbecue sauce and you’ve got an amazing appetizer or meal option with very little effort.
These wings are full of rich, smoky flavor! You’ll definitely serve these chicken wings at our next game day party. These wings couldn’t be any easier to make – all it takes is about 5 minutes of prep time, then the smoker does the rest of the work.
Get the full recipe from: Dinner At The Zoo
Image Credit: simplystacie
Grape Jelly Meatballs are an easy, no-fuss appetizer recipe with only 3 ingredients. Made in the crockpot, meatballs are covered in a delicious sweet and savory sauce. This classic game day snack is always a hit.
This grape jelly meatball recipe is a hit at holiday parties and game day gatherings. Made in the crock pot with a mixture of sweet grape jelly and tangy bbq sauce, they are a great family slow cooker recipe.
Get the full recipe from: Simply Stacie
Image Credit: onmykidsplate
Homemade pepperoni rolls are a favorite in our house and they will be in yours too, skip those frozen pizza rolls!
Quick to make and with only six ingredients, these easy pepperoni rolls make a delicious dinner, lunch or game day appetizer. Dip them in marinara or eat them hot or cold, yum!
Get the full recipe from: On My Kid’s Plate
Wrapping Up BBQ Appetizer Finger Foods for Summer
BBQ appetizer finger foods might be small, but they bring big flavor and fun to any cookout. These tasty bites aren’t just something to snack on before the main meal—they help kick off the party and keep everyone happy while the grill gets going.
From juicy sliders and crispy wings to grilled veggies and cheesy meatballs, there are so many easy and delicious options to choose from. These finger foods are perfect for sharing, easy to eat, and always a hit with guests.
