5 Easy Summer Appetizers to Bring to a Cookout This Weekend

Are you getting ready for a 4th of July party or summer cookout this weekend? Here are 5 of my favorite and super easy appetizers to bring to a summer party. Jalapeño Poppers and Roasted Pepper Relish have a spicy kick.  Easy Tzatziki Sauce is delicious and a wonderfully fresh and cool dip. The Pea and Preserved Lemon Spread on Toast, and the Roasted Cherry Tomato Relish are packed with flavor and are served at room temperature whether it’s a rainy 60° or a sweltering 95°.

Roasted Red Pepper Relish, Easy Tzatziki Sauce, Pea and Preserved Lemon Spread on Toast, and Roasted Cherry Tomato Relish all can be made ahead of time and served at room temperature.  Make any of these days in advance and store them in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve.

For the Pea and Preserved Lemon Spread on Toast, I prefer to serve the spread with pita chips or crackers for a summer party.

Jalapeño Poppers can be made up to a day ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator, I think they are the most delicious at room temperature, but you can also zap them in the microwave for one minute to warm them up before serving.

I hope you find something tasty to enjoy during a gathering with family and friends this summer. Please let me know in the recipe comments if you make any of these appetizers. I’d love to hear how it turned out.

1

Jalapeno Poppers

Jalapeño poppers are a delicious appetizer for any gathering, that is if I don’t eat them all before we leave the house. This recipe is a creation from my parent’s kitchen and the secret ingredient is anchovy paste. You don’t really taste the anchovy itself but it gives the dish a salty depth that compliments the cheese beautifully.

Check out this recipe

2

Roasted Pepper Relish

Roasted Pepper Relish is super easy to make and amazingly flavorful. It’s delicious served as a salsa-like dip or spread on sandwiches to give them a surprising kick.

Check out this recipe

3

Easy Tzatziki Sauce

Tzatziki is a delicious yogurt sauce that has a fresh and filling flavor. With greek yogurt, shredded cucumber, lemon juice, dill, and garlic, this rich sauce is a versatile condiment great on lamb burgers or as a delicious dip with pita chips. Once you make this incredible sauce you will find any excuse to incorporate it into a meal.

Check out this recipe

4

Pea and Preserved Lemon Spread on Toast

This Pea Spread with Preserved Lemon served on toast is one of my absolute favorite lunches. It takes no time at all to whip up and is absolutely delicious. A couple of years ago, I’m not sure I would’ve said I even liked peas. We ended up growing them in our garden last year and we all fell in love with them.  I ended up ordering a toast with smashed peas topped with radishes at a local brewery, Trillium. It was so delicious I had to try to recreate it. 

Check out this recipe

5

Roasted Cherry Tomato Relish

Warm or cold, this Roasted Cherry Tomato Relish is absolutely delicious. It’s perfect on toast but we’ve used it as a pasta sauce and the base for steamed mussels. In less than 30 minutes you will have an amazing flavor to enjoy immediately or later in the week.

Check out this recipe