Be the perfect host this summer with these amazing appetizers. A surefire way to kick off any gathering you plan on having this season, these options are sure to impress your guests. Check back on this page each day a video is posted for the accompanying recipe.
These recipes may contain affiliate links. Please read disclosure policies here.
These recipes may contain affiliate links. Please read disclosure policies here.
CRAB STUFFED SHRIMP
Day One | Total Time: 35 Mins
Ingredients: Peeled and deveined shrimp, lump crabmeat, breadcrumbs, seasonings of your choice, mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic & herb butter
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
Season your shrimp to your preference - I like using old bay and paprika for some color.
In a bowl, mix lemon juice, crab meat, breadcrumbs, mayonnaise, minced garlic, chopped parsley, and Old Bay seasoning.
Roll the mixture into balls and place in the curve of the shrimp, arrange in a cast iron pot, and bake for 12-15 minutes.
Serve and enjoy!
Season your shrimp to your preference - I like using old bay and paprika for some color.
In a bowl, mix lemon juice, crab meat, breadcrumbs, mayonnaise, minced garlic, chopped parsley, and Old Bay seasoning.
Roll the mixture into balls and place in the curve of the shrimp, arrange in a cast iron pot, and bake for 12-15 minutes.
Serve and enjoy!
DEEP-FRIED GUAC DEVILED EGGS
Day Two | Total Time: 40 Mins
Ingredients: The following should be good for 10-20 guests: 8-10 eggs, 3-4 avocados, seasonings of your choice (chili powder, garlic powder, seasoned salt, and red pepper flakes were used for this recipe), mayonnaise, greek yogurt, lemon or lime juice, chopped shallots and green onion, chopped cilantro, minced garlic, breadcrumbs, 1 whisked egg, parsley, tajin and chipotle aioli for garnish.
Boil eggs till hard. Cool them by placing ice in cool water once they have finished boiling. Carefully cut the eggs in half and separate the yolk from the whites. Prepare yolk mix with mashed avocado, lime juice, minced garlic, chopped shallots, green onions, and cilantro. Coat the egg white halves in the whisked egg wash and breadcrumbs. Deep fry the egg whites for 3 to 4 mins - keep an eye on them so they do not burn or get too crispy! Spoon or pipe the mixture back into the egg white halves and sprinkle with tajin and parsley.
I used these serving plates for presentation - https://amzn.to/44gROQt
Egg Timer - https://amzn.to/3XnAcjA
Serve and enjoy!
I used these serving plates for presentation - https://amzn.to/44gROQt
Egg Timer - https://amzn.to/3XnAcjA
Serve and enjoy!
SURF & TURF PITA BITES
Day Three | Total Time: 20 Mins
Ingredients: Scallops, pita crackers, prosciutto, mozzarella, seasonings of your choice, unsalted butter, balsamic glaze
Season scallops and pan sear in butter with chopped herbs till medium well done. Prepare pita crackers and place pieces of mozzarella on top and air fry for 4-5 minutes till the cheese is melted. Top with pieces of prosciutto and scallops. Drizzle butter from the pan on top of the crackers as well as the sweet balsamic glaze for an additional garnish.
Serve and enjoy!
Serve and enjoy!
GRILLED CHICKEN SKEWERS
Day Four | Total Time: 20 Mins
Ingredients: Chicken tenderloins, greek yogurt, lime, olive oil, seasonings of your choice, cilantro paste, chopped dill and chives, tzatziki sauce
Marinate chicken chunks in a mixture of greek yogurt, olive oil, lime juice, chopped herbs, and seasonings. Thread onto skewers and grill until cooked through (if you have a grill). Cook in a cast iron pan and char a few pieces for that fresh-off-the-grill look and then thread onto skewers if you do not have a grill! Serve with tzatziki sauce.
Skewers: https://amzn.to/46zRZZg
Serving Tray: https://amzn.to/3pm7vaa
Serve and enjoy!
Skewers: https://amzn.to/46zRZZg
Serving Tray: https://amzn.to/3pm7vaa
Serve and enjoy!
LOBSTER BRUSCHETTA
Day Five | Total Time: 30 Mins
Ingredients: 2-3 lobster tails, purple asparagus (optional), olive oil, seasonings of your choice (Italian mix, Old bay, and red pepper flakes were used for this recipe, French bread or sourdough, chopped dill, mozzarella cheese, cherry tomatoes, tartar sauce, and sweet balsamic glaze
Remove the shells from lobster tails and cut meat into evenly sized pieces. If desired, thinly slice the stalks of purple asparagus. Cook lobster(& asparagus) in pan with olive oil and season to your liking. Slice 0.5 inch pieces of bread and lightly toast. Spread tartar sauce on the base of the bread and sparingly add bits of mozzarella cheese and the lobster on top. Slice a few cherry tomatoes and chop dill for garnish. Drizzle sweet balsamic glaze and top with a few basil leaves if desired.
Serve and enjoy!
Serve and enjoy!
FRIED CHICKEN & UBE WAFFLES
Day Six | Total Time: 30 Mins
Ingredients: Waffle mix, oil, eggs, chicken thighs (skin-on and bone-in preferred), ube flavoring, arugula, syrup, breadcrumbs (if you will be doing the brunch version)
Season and pan-fry chicken as desired. For the waffles, prepare the mix according to package instructions and add a few drops of Ube flavoring to the waffle mix. When the waffles are done, cut them into bite-sized pieces alongside the chicken. Stack pieces of the waffles, chicken, and arugula to share. For the deep-fried egg yolk, place the yolk in a plate of breadcrumbs and put in the freezer for 6-8 minutes. Flash fry for 2-3 mins on each side, until the breadcrumbs get brown.
Serve and enjoy!
Serve and enjoy!
ARAYES
Day Seven | Total Time: 20 Mins
Ingredients: Ground Chicken, chopped onions, parsley, garlic, green onions, seasonings of your choice, pita bread, olive oil
In a bowl, combine ground chicken, seasonings, and chopped herbs. Mix until well incorporated. Cut the pita bread into sections of four and stuff with the meat mixture. Pan sear in olive oil on all sides and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes to cook through.
Serve and enjoy!
Serve and enjoy!
BACON-WRAPPED PURPLE ASPARAGUS
Day Eight | Total Time: 20 Mins
Ingredients: purple asparagus, bacon, sweet Thai chili glaze, sesame seeds
Cut the ends off of the asparagus and wrap strips of bacon around them. Place in a pan, closed-side down and pour 2 tablespoons of stock in and cover so that the bacon adheres to the asparagus quickly! Glaze with thai chili sauce and top with some sesame seeds and you've got the perfect app.
Serve and enjoy!
Serve and enjoy!
SWEET LAMB CHOPS
Day Nine | Total Time: 20 Mins
Ingredients: small-sized lamb chops, garlic and onion jam, seasonings of your choice, rosemary, and butter
This is such a quick and easy appetizer, you'll wonder why you never made it before! Season the chops to your preference, Italian blend, and red pepper flakes were used for this version. Use a cast iron pan to sear the chops. In a smaller saucepan, add the garlic and onion jam and reduce down to a glaze with a few tablespoons of butter and liquor (if you choose to!).
Serve and enjoy!
Serve and enjoy!
BAKED OYSTERS
Day Ten | Total Time: 20 Mins
Ingredients: batch of oysters, shucked or unshucked, 2-3 sticks of unsalted butter, garlic, lemons, breadcrumbs, old bay seasoning, dill, grated cheese
Shuck your oysters and arrange on parchment paper on a drip tray. Make your compound butter by combining the unsalted butter, chopped dill, breadcrumbs, lemon juice, garlic and a small amount of cheese together. Place a tablespoon of butter on top of each oyster, making sure to evenly spread the mixture in the shell. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Plate with rock salt and slices of lemon for an aesthetic look!
Serve and enjoy!
Serve and enjoy!
