Nothing beats a barbeque with friends on a warm summer day, but while you’re grilling, you need to serve something to keep your guests full and happy. Chips and dip aren’t going to cut it! If you’re fresh out of inspiration, don’t worry. I have 15+ BBQ appetizer ideas that everyone will love at your outdoor gathering.
15+ Mouthwatering BBQ Appetizer Ideas for Outdoor Gatherings
1. Cream Cheese Wrapped Olive
Forget the usual olive appetizer. These little bites are wrapped in cream cheese and crushed nuts for a unique treat that’s refreshing on a hot summer day.
You can use whatever type of nut you prefer for this recipe, whether it’s walnut, almond or pecan (or even a mix). Be sure to serve these with appetizer forks to make it easier to grab and enjoy.
2. Pineapple Hasselback Kielbasa Bite
These hasselback kielbasa bites are perfect for outdoor BBQs, and they couldn’t be easier to make. The trickiest part is slicing into the kielbasa just enough to create little pockets without going all the way through, but the recipe’s author has a helpful trick that will make this part a breeze.
Once you’ve sliced your kielbasa bites, toss them with pineapple juice, brown sugar and molasses. Air fry for just under 10 minutes, garnish with parsley and enjoy. Be sure to have appetizer forks on hand for easy serving.
3. Sweet and Spicy Meatball
Here’s one of my favorite spicy BBQ appetizer ideas. These meatballs feature pepper jelly and BBQ sauce to give them a slightly sweet and slightly spicy flavor.
If you don’t like pepper jelly, you can lean more toward a sweet fruit jam like apricot or strawberry jelly.
Once you have your sauce made, the next step is to brown the meatballs, add the sauce ingredients and simmer. I like to serve these straight from the pan because the sauce keeps them moist and flavorful, but you can serve them on a platter with toothpicks if your gathering is a little more formal.
Related: 25 Easy Party Appetizers You Can Whip Up in No Time
4. Boursin Stuffed Mushrooms
Mushrooms are always a great addition to any BBQ, and it doesn’t get much easier than this recipe. Grab your favorite mushrooms (I like to use cremini), remove the stems and stuff with delicious Boursin cheese. Bake for about 20 minutes and serve.
These pair really well with burgers, hot dogs and even grilled chicken.
5. Brie and Bacon Jam Crostini
Brie and bacon jam are such a perfect combination, and served on a crostini? Your guests will be raving about this appetizer.
The recipe’s author walks you through each step of making bacon jam, which is easier than you think (and more delicious).
The rest is as easy as toasting the bread, topping it with a slice of Brie and adding the bacon jam. These are great to serve before you start grilling because they will keep everyone full and satisfied until you’re ready to eat the main dish.
6. Margarita Watermelon Bites
If you’re hosting a party with just adults, these margarita watermelon bites will be the perfect addition to your gathering. This recipe is a little more involved than others on this list, but it is so worth the effort.
You’ll learn how to make candied jalapenos, a simple lime syrup and a margarita marinade that will give your watermelon bites so much flavor. Top your bites with cotija cheese and slices of candied jalapeno, all threaded onto a cocktail toothpick.
7. Grilled BBQ Pineapple Shrimp Bites
Shrimp and pineapple seem like an unlikely pair, but trust me, this recipe will quickly become one of your favorite BBQ appetizer ideas. Skewered shrimp and pineapple chunks are brushed with tangy BBQ sauce, seasoned and grilled to perfection.
These cook up fast, making the perfect starter for your outdoor gathering.
I recommend using long bamboo skewers for this recipe and soaking them in water before you start grilling.
Also, make sure that you’re using fresh pineapple. Canned pineapple chunks are too mushy for this recipe.
8. Mini Caprese Salad Skewers
These skewers are one of the easiest appetizers to prepare for your next BBQ. I love that there’s so much flexibility with the recipe, too.
You can use whatever type of deli meat you want, whether it’s salami, prosciutto or even ham. Adding kalamata olives will give these skewers an extra kick of tangy flavor, and the mozzarella, tomato and basil bring classic caprese flavors to this recipe.
The best part? There’s no cooking involved. You can prepare these ahead of time and have them ready to serve as soon as your guests arrive.
Related: 21+ Bacon Wrapped Appetizers To Elevate Your Next Gathering
9. Chicken Garlic Parmesan Skewers
Juicy chicken breast grilled in a Parmesan garlic coating – what’s not to love? This recipe is so simple, and it’s one that cooks up quickly enough to offer them as an appetizer.
You can serve these with ranch dressing, tzatziki sauce or whatever dipping sauce you prefer.
I like to switch things up sometimes and add peppers, onions and zucchini chunks to the skewer to kick the flavor up a notch.
10. Bacon Blue Deviled Eggs with Roasted Garlic and Asparagus
You can’t have a BBQ without deviled eggs. And this recipe makes them extra fancy.
For the filling, you’ll mix mayonnaise and yogurt with Dijon mustard and spices. All that’s left to do is fill the eggs, top with crispy bacon crumbles and blue cheese crumbs. Tuck a grilled asparagus tip into the filling, and you’re ready to serve.
These special deviled eggs are sure to impress everyone, and they’ll devour every last bite.
11. Apple Brie Crostini
Crostini are always refreshing, and they’re simple to make. You’ll need a strong baguette for this recipe, along with large apples, Brie cheese and apricot jam. Arugula, prosciutto and balsamic glaze are the final ingredients you’ll need.
This recipe is truly an assembly one, and the author gives a lot of great options for ingredients that you can add to customize it and make it your own.
12. Cheesy Jalapeño Popper Bites
Spicy and cheesy! What’s not to love? I’m always on the search for cheesy BBQ appetizer ideas like this one because they always hit the spot. If you’re a fan of spicy food, then you’ll like these oozy bites that include:
- Frozen phyllo shells
- Jalapenos
- Bacon bits
- Cream cheese
- Mayonnaise
- Sharp cheddar
- Salt and garlic powder
Diced jalapenos are a great option for this recipe, but you can always use fresh ones if you don’t mind mincing them up. Preheat your oven and put the phyllo sheets on a baking sheet while the oven preheats.
Combine the cream cheese, cheddar and mayo. Allow to soften and mix the ingredients thoroughly. You’ll then combine your cheeses, spices and jalapenos before adding the mixture to the phyllo cups.
Top with bacon bits or more cheese before baking for 10 – 15 minutes.
13. BLT Bites
BLT bites are easy to make and almost refreshing during a hot summer day. If you love regular BLTs, you’ll appreciate this recipe. And the ingredients are super simple, with iceberg lettuce, bacon and cherry tomatoes being the main bits.
Garnishes include ranch dressing, feta cheese, chives and avocados.
And you’ll add these bites to a skewer, so it’s as simple as cooking the bacon and skewering the ingredients together.
Related: 21+ Budget-Friendly Party Appetizer Ideas Your Guests Will Rave About
14. Honey and Mustard Cocktail Sausages
Four ingredients are all you need for these cocktail sausages. You’ll need a large package of pork cocktail sausages, wholegrain mustard, runny honey and some sea salt. It’s a super simple yet delicious recipe.
Add your honey, salt, mustard and sausages into a large mixing bowl and mix thoroughly.
Place on a baking tray, add the honey and mustard mix on top, and bake for 25 minutes. Turn halfway through to cook evenly.
15. Burrata Platter
I bet you weren’t expecting a platter like this on my list of BBQ appetizer ideas. But this recipe is so easy to assemble and is almost like a finger food salad of sorts. Perfect for summer, this platter has a bunch of goodies:
- Salami
- Cherry tomatoes
- Herbs
- Heirloom tomatoes
- Lettuce
- Red onions
- Pickled peppers
- Olives
- Burrata cheese
But there are also an abundance of spices, such as Italian herbs, red wine vinegar and olive oil to make a nice dressing for the tomatoes.
16. Roasted Pepper Antipasto
Serve as a salad or spread on top of some bruschetta or focaccia – it’s delish either way. Start by preheating the oven and take this time to rinse off your peppers. Cut the peppers in half, remove the seeds and then place them on a baking sheet face down because you’re going to be roasting the peppers on a baking sheet.
Transfer the peppers (follow the recipe carefully, as it’s a bit tricky). When they are cool enough to touch, peel them and then thinly slice them.
Next up, chop the parsley, add vinegar, olive oil, parsley sprigs and salt. Put your peppers on a serving try, pour on your dressing, top with capers and allow to marinate for an hour or more.
17. Barbecue Pulled Pork Sweet Potato Rounds
If you like pulled pork, this is a sweet treat for you. Delicious with a smoky and sweet flavor, these small rounds use sweet potatoes as the base. You’ll add your pulled pork, cheese and parsley on top.
Sprinkle on cheddar cheese, parsley and some spices as a garnish.
These store so well if you want to save any leftovers for a few days.
