Holidays & Occasions 4th of July 50 Easy Appetizers For A Festive And Fabulous Fourth of July Who needs fireworks when you have fun food? By Lisa Cericola Lisa Cericola Lisa Cericola has been on staff at Southern Living since 2015. As Deputy Editor, Lisa manages the food and travel departments and edits those sections of each issue, as well as digital content. Previously, she was the features editor at Food Network Magazine and has more than 15 years of experience writing, editing, and managing photo shoots for print and digital lifestyle brands. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on June 3, 2024 Close Photo: Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray The Fourth of July is a day for friends, family, fireworks, and of course, food. Whether you're serving burgers, hot dogs, barbecue, or creating a new holiday tradition with something completely different, these Fourth of July appetizers will work with whatever is on your menu. Pick your favorites from our list below and start planning your perfect cookout! 01 of 50 Blooming Quesadilla Ring Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell Who needs fireworks when you have this festive, cheese-and-bacon-filled quesadilla ring? Get the recipe 02 of 50 Tomato Sandwich Toasts Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Buttery-sweet brioche and a swipe of mayo are the perfect partners for fresh summer tomatoes. Get the recipe 03 of 50 Grilled Corn Ribs Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Great as a side or a starter, these smoky, spicy corn ribs are the perfect addition to your summer cookout menu. Get the recipe 04 of 50 Pimiento Cheese Stuffed Peppers Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Jarred pickled peppers and store-bought pimiento cheese...summer appetizers don't get much easier than this! Get the recipe 05 of 50 Beef Sliders With Bacon Jam Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Sure, burgers are the star of the show but that doesn't mean you can't switch things up and surprise guests with mini burgers as an appetizer instead. One bite into this bacon jam, and they'll be thanking you before dinner is even served. Get the recipe 06 of 50 Charred Onion and Chile Guacamole Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster Chunks of smoky grilled veggies amp up the flavor of this classic avocado-based dip. Get the recipe 07 of 50 Salmagundi Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Ali Ramee; Prop Styling: Christine Keely This antipasto meets salad is what summer dinner party dreams are made of. With a healthy spread of meats, eggs, fresh veggies, and skewered shrimp, guests can pick and choose what they want to snack on. Get the recipe 08 of 50 Tomato, Peach, and Corn Salad Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele Nothing says summer like fresh peaches, tomatoes, and corn. Throw all three together for a salsa that is sweet, savory, and flavorful. Get the recipe 09 of 50 Pepper Sauce Watermelon Wedges Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Sweet and spicy, this fresh take on salted watermelon is just as easy and will be the star of your next cookout. Get the recipe 10 of 50 Jalapeño Popper Dip Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke Kick off your menu with a spicy dip recipe that is rich, creamy, and delicious. Pair it with nacho chips or swap in pickled jalapeños for a fresh take minus (some of) the carbs. Get the recipe 11 of 50 Cucumber Tea Sandwiches Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox The adorable cucumber finger sandwiches make a light and refreshing addition to your summer table. Get the recipe 12 of 50 Sweet & Fiery Pepper Bruschetta Antonis Achilleos, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Andrea Fanning Summer peppers team up with goat cheese and capers in this crowd-pleasing appetizer. Get the recipe 13 of 50 Pimiento Cheese Flatbread Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Combine pizza dough from the deli and pimiento cheese for a delicious, fast-fix appetizer. Get the recipe 14 of 50 Crock Pot Boiled Peanuts Alison Miksch Boiled peanuts? Yes, please! We love this simple dish on a road trip, as an appetizer, and on the menu at any summer party. Get the recipe 15 of 50 Peppered Melon Salad Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Serve this sweet-and-spicy salad with your favorite cute cocktail picks for a fresh-and-fun summer appetizer. Get the recipe 16 of 50 Charcuterie Board Snack Mix Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer This surprising mix of cripsy prosciutto, Parmesan wafers, figs, and nuts will be a hit at your next party. Get the recipe 17 of 50 Pepper Jelly-Glazed Chicken Wings Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Sweet and spicy pepper jelly makes these fast-fix wings extra delicious. Get the recipe 18 of 50 Cucumber-And-Onion Dip Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray A cross between onion dip and cucumber-onion salad, this make-ahead dip will be a refreshing addition to your summer cookout menu. Get the recipe 19 of 50 Asparagus Ribbon Crostini Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christina Daley For a simple yet seemingly fancy snack, serve these crostinis. Your guests will be as impressed at the presentation as they are the flavor. Get the recipe 20 of 50 Hot Brown Party Rolls Victor Protasio; Food Stying: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis These pull-apart party rolls are easy to put together, meaning they travel well. Transport these next time you're a party guest to be the sure favorite. Get the recipe 21 of 50 Greek Deviled Eggs Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Matthew Gleason All your favorite ingredients from a summery Greek salad make for a tasty tray of deviled eggs for your next cookout. Get the recipe 22 of 50 Fig Flatbread Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele Everyone loves a flatbread, and we especially love this one that's covered with in-season figs, balsamic, goat cheese, and arugula. Yum! Get the recipe 23 of 50 Creamy Avocado Dip Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Forget your favorite guacamole recipe for the day and make up this smooth, tangier version. It pairs well with tortilla chips, freshly cut peppers, and celery stalks. Get the recipe 24 of 50 Grilled Watermelon Caitlin Bensel What's the 4th of July without watermelon? Fire up the grill for this recipe that's as delicious as a fresh, cold slice of the summertime classic. Get the recipe 25 of 50 Southwest Black Eyed Pea Dip Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christina Lane; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos This recipe takes the ingredients of Texas caviar (a forever favorite) and turns them into a gooey, cheesy dip. Need we say more?! Get the recipe 26 of 50 Black Bean Corn Salsa Antonis Achilleos With fresh corn, black beans, onions, and peppers, you can whip up this fresh salsa in just 20 minutes. Get the recipe 27 of 50 Classic Deviled Eggs Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox No summer cookout is complete without this classic side. This season, try sprinkling paprika on top for added flavor. Get the recipe 28 of 50 Mini Tomato Sandwiches With Bacon Mayonnaise Victor Protasio Make sure to use the ripest tomatoes you can find for peak flavor. Get the recipe 29 of 50 Mini Potato Skins Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop styling: Claire Spollen; Food styling: Chelsea Zimmer Use a piping bag or cut the corner on a zip-top bag to easily create a neat dollop of sour cream. Get the recipe 30 of 50 Baked BLT Dip Southern Living This creamy dip is everything you love about summer's best sandwich. Get the recipe 31 of 50 Alabama Fire Cracker Saltines Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Ali Ramee, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle This addictive appetizer doesn't even require you to turn on the oven, making it ideal for hot summer days. Get the recipe 32 of 50 Texas Caviar Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Filled with black-eyed peas and tomatoes, this hearty dip will disappear quickly at your summer cookout. Get the recipe 33 of 50 Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan Toss tomatoes, basil, and fresh mozzarella cheese together in a simple vinaigrette for an easy in-season appetizer. Get the recipe 34 of 50 Corn and Jalapeño Dip Hector Manuel Sanchez Stir together sweet summer corn and the rest of the ingredients and let your slow cooker warm up this easy dip while you finish grilling for your cookout guests. Get the recipe 35 of 50 Cheese Dreams Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn Make these cheesy bites the day before and refrigerate until serving, or you can freeze up to 3 weeks. Get the recipe 36 of 50 Bacon Bites Oxmoor House If you need an easy portable appetizer, you can't go wrong with bacon. Get the recipe 37 of 50 Baked Brie with Jezebel Peaches Hector Manuel Sanchez Summer is the best time of year to make this decadent baked cheese appetizer, when Southern peaches are in their prime. If you can't find Brie packed in a wooden box, bake the cheese in a small pie plate or baking dish. Get the recipe 38 of 50 Creamy Crab Dip Hector Manuel Sanchez Crab dip is a summertime favorite, as well as a welcome seafood to any BBQ menu. Pair it with crostini and celery for a light bite before the main meal. Get the recipe 39 of 50 Dry-Rubbed Smoked Chicken Wings Jennifer Causey Bringing your smoker to the party? Try these incredible dry-rubbed chicken wings from our barbecue cookbook, South's Best Butts. Coated with a Memphis-style dry rub and cooked low and slow for tender results, these ribs are finger lickin' good—and your guests will agree. Get the recipe 40 of 50 Party Poppers Photo: Hector Sanchez This spicy bite-sized snack is always a recipe for success at any summer party. Stuffed with chicken-cream cheese filling and wrapped in some hickory-smoked bacon, these poppers are begging to make an appearance this Fourth of July. Get the recipe 41 of 50 Muffin Pan Tomato Tarts Alison Miksch These tasty little bites made with puff pastry and colorful cherry tomatoes will be the hit of any summer party. Get the recipe 42 of 50 Deviled Potatoes Hector Manuel Sanchez We combined two Fourth of July favorites—Deviled eggs and potato salad—into one crowd-pleasing recipe. Make them a day before your get-together, and chill until you head out. When you arrive, they'll be the right serving temperature. Get the recipe 43 of 50 Mini Muffulettas Jennifer Davick Recipe: Mini Muffulettas These sandwiches might be small, but they pack a flavorful punch. Stuffed with layers of cheese, cold cut, and pickled vegetables, these are sure to please the crowd this summer. Test Kitchen Tip: You can prepare the muffulettas the day before, store in zip-top plastic freezer bags, and refrigerate overnight. Get the recipe 44 of 50 Melon, Mozzarella, and Prosciutto Skewers Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey Juicy melon, salty prosciutto, and creamy mozzarella come together for a perfect skewer-sized snack. Take this summer salad on the road with this easy and portable recipe. 45 of 50 Spinach-and-Vidalia Dip Photo: Greg Dupree Give your classic spinach dip a delicious new twist. The secret to this crowd-pleasing dip is the flavorful addition of sweet Vidalia onions. Serve with fresh vegetables for a dippable, light appetizer. Get the recipe 46 of 50 Picnic Egg Salad Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele This summer salad offers a classic, no-fuss snack that you can serve as a spread with toasted baguette slices or as tea-sized sandwiches. Especially if you're in a pinch, this egg salad is a quick, delicious fix. Get the recipe 47 of 50 Tex-Mex Deviled Eggs Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Matthew Gleason These deviled eggs are perfect for any Fourth of July party that doesn't mind a little heat. Add some Tex-Mex flair with avocado, cilantro, and spicy chorizo. Get the recipe 48 of 50 Open-Faced Tomato Sandwiches with Creamy Cucumber Spread Alison Miksch These open-faced sandwiches with a refreshing cucumber spread are a cool and creamy addition to your Fourth of July spread. Make use of your seasonal tomatoes, and serve open-faced as a filling, yet snackable party appetizer. Get the recipe 49 of 50 Honey-Soy Appetizer Ribs Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Rose Nguyen These pork spareribs are a great party starter because they can be eaten out of hand and served at room temperature. You can even prep them a day in advance, through step three. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Get the recipe 50 of 50 Herbed Tomato Tart Becky Luigart Stayner This fresh tomato pie will look so pretty at your summer party. Get the recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit