70 Garden Party Savory Bites Perfect For Summer Gatherings

You don't want to host a messy cookout; you simply want to enjoy a get-together with some family, friends, neighbors or a good mix of all three. The sun is shining and you relish a table of sharing plates and fabulous finger food while everyone enjoys whiling away a few hours in the garden. Or, it's a balmy summer's evening and you want to kick back with some al fresco bites and good company in your own backyard. 

Summer is a time to enjoy and celebrate life with loved ones and share some great food. However, if the thought of creating an impressive spread of different dishes leaves you feeling cold, then you may warm up to the idea with some great recipes. While impressive, many of these dishes are wonderfully easy to make. Feel inspired by these garden party bites perfect for summer gatherings.

If you had to come up with the formula for a perfect summer gathering bite, you can't go wrong with this snack. It's delicately crispy on the outside, with a buttery taste, and cheesy on the inside. In other words, it's totally moreish, and your only challenge might be to make sure you make enough to go round. Puff pastry cases hold in an egg, milk, and cream center with Neufchatel cheese, and sour cream added too. Spinach and marinated artichokes define the savory taste, with Parmesan adding a tangy topping. 

Recipe: Spinach Artichoke Bites

Creamy, eggy, bite-size bliss, these cheesy snacks are wonderfully light and decidedly tasty, making them a crowd-pleaser. Filed with gruyere, the sweetness of roasted red peppers and green goodness of spinach enhance the flavor. What makes the texture so fluffy and velvety is the way they're cooked in a sous vide water bath. You can not only make them in advance, popping them in the microwave just before serving, but you can also experiment with different vegetables, such as zucchini or sun-dried tomatoes. Try other cheeses, too, such as cheddar or Parmesan.

Recipe: Sous Vide Egg Bites

You know when you're not sure if you want a savory or a sweet snack? You can bite into both flavors and add some sparkle to summer get-togethers with these sugary creations. A smooth and soft slice of Brie sits atop a toasted baguette slice drizzled with honey. The cheese contrasts brilliantly with the sweetness and tartness of sugared cranberries. On top, some chopped mint and a pinch or rosemary salt is sprinkled over the fruit. This dish is divinely different and delicious, adding a decidedly gourmet element to your spread.

Recipe: Sparkling Cranberry Brie Bites

Keep foods for a summer gathering light, whether you're dining al fresco or not. A quiche without the crust cuts down on heavy pastry. While this recipe adds zucchini, you can use a variety of ingredients. In fact, you may decide to make this dish with the leftover vegetables from your other summer gathering delight. You can experiment with this versatile dish, which is perfect at any time of day.

Recipe: Crustless Zucchini Quiche

With just five minutes of prep time to make 18 deliciously cheesy puff pastry bites, cooked in less than half an hour, this recipe is a must-try for any party. It's also a delicious twist on everyday tacos and looks fabulously tempting. What's also appealing is that it doesn't require that many ingredients. The puffs are served with a sour cream and adobo sauce dip that cuts through the meaty pastry. Serve with other dishes on your buffet table or as part of a Mexican-themed spread, and top with cilantro and green onions.

Recipe: Cheesy Puffy Tacos

Forget rummaging around in a big bowl of pasta and looking for the cheese to go on top and then a fork to eat it with. That's so last summer. Food gatherings are not just about taste; they're also all about dishes that are easy to grab and chow down on while you're enjoying the party atmosphere. And let's face it, it doesn't get any more ingenious than an air-fryer pasta on a stick. It's simple to make lots of these, too, as you only need rigatoni pasta, marinara sauce, and fresh basil, plus some mozzarella cheese. 

Recipe: Easy Pasta Skewers

Tapenade's coarse texture means it's great with nacho chips. It can also be served with water crackers, on a sandwich, or with vegetable chips. Made with black olives and pimento-stuffed green olives, it exudes a taste of the Mediterranean sun. Meanwhile, the garlic, herbs, and horseradish mustard add some zing; one bite is enough to excite your taste buds. Quickly whizzed up in a food processor, this tapenade recipe will put store-bought varieties to shame. Change up the olives to create different variations.

Recipe: Tapenade

Fun and functional, sheet pan dishes are a go-to for summer gatherings. And everyone enjoys tucking into a big tray full of Mexican chips with tasty toppings and dips. Use a few types of cheese to bring out the taste and texture, such as the sharpness of cheddar and the stretchiness of mozzarella. Dice up a jalapeño for some heat, and if you're using tinned tomatoes, spicy or fire-roasted can pack in more flavor. To go meat-free, use browned tofu instead, layering red onion and peppers, and serve with salsa, sour cream, and guacamole. 

Recipe: Sheet Pan Nachos

Mediterranean fare pairs well with a summer get-together, and no table of savory bites is complete without a big bowl of soft, silky hummus. It's what everyone expects, right? So, why not mix it up, in this case with some caramelized onions and a citrusy lemon juice punch? You need a food processor to make this one, not just a blender, so you can get that oh-so-familiar creamy chickpea and tahini dip texture. This dip is perfect when served with tortilla chips, pita bread, or crudités such as carrots, cucumber, and celery.  

Recipe: Caramelized Onion Hummus

As the sun goes down, comfort food that has a little heat can warm up your party crowd. While it's always interesting to try new dishes, traditional ones are still all-around favorites, too. Not only is this chili recipe full of flavor for vegetarians, but you won't find any meat eaters complaining, either. Add cayenne pepper to pump up the heat, and make sure you drain the beans so it's not over-salty. Top your bowls full of goodness with shredded cheese, sour cream, and cilantro.

Recipe: 3-Bean Vegetarian Chili

Tater tots cooked with cheddar cheese and loaded with bacon, sour cream, and scallions result in the sort of dish you and your partygoers are just going to want to dig into. (And then dig into again, so make sure you make enough.) Crispy and cheesy with a salty crunch and a creamy, spicy topping, these tots' ingredients just work in harmony. Switch up the bacon for chorizo or an Italian sausage cooked and crumbled on top. Cut the green onions at an angle for maximum freshness and to add some color.

Recipe: Loaded Baked Potato Totchos

Everyone knows the classic party food favorites, so try something a little different that's still easy to make a ton of. Make this recipe with whatever sausage and cheese you like, although hot and spicy meat and sharp cheddar is a solid combo. Once you've mixed the ingredients together, add in a little milk if the dough is looking a bit too dry to mold into shape. You don't need a dip because they're so darn good, but you could try sour cream with basil and Cajun spice. 

Recipe: Easy Sausage Cheese Balls

Bite-size? Check. Easy to make a big batch of? Check. Party crowd-pleasers? Check. They're also low in carbs, versatile, and go with pretty much any other dish. The key to this recipe is to rub bite-size broccoli florets with seasoned butter so that they roast without burning. This massaging also helps enhance the flavor intensity. Caramelized onion is added into the mix, and tangy Pecorino or Parmesan lifts the taste of the eggs that bind the ingredients. Let your frittatas cool slightly before taking them out of the baking tin so that they don't fall apart.

Recipe: Mini-Frittatas

If you're planning on making a few dishes for your summer party, you need some recipes that don't require obscure ingredients you'd have to search high and low for. This is one of them. Taking off the pie crusts is a genius way of giving these quiches a more delicate, buffet-style appeal. Make them with eggs, milk, and ham or a meat-free alternative, along with shredded cheddar cheese, Dijon mustard, and green onions. Serve warm or cold, with hot sauce on top, perhaps.

Recipe: Crustless Ham and Cheese Quiche Muffins

So many dishes for summer gatherings are meaty, so it's a welcome reprieve to include a vegetarian-friendly eggplant dip as part of the spread. Creamy like hummus, yet smokey, this recipe is not only suitable for vegetarians, but it's also vegan-friendly. And it's low-carb (unless you eat it with lots of bread, of course). Peel the eggplant for a less bitter taste, and give the flavors oomph with smoked paprika and cumin. Lemon juice brightens the flavor and stops the vegetables from browning, but you can also make this dish with just olive oil and without tahini.

Recipe: Easy Baba Ganoush

Gooey, cheesy, and crunchy, these savory sticks are a welcome dish on any party platter. And hosts can make as many as they like before and even freeze them, as they only take 10 minutes to cook. You can easily make these with gluten-free breadcrumbs, and if you like a little spice, add some cayenne or paprika to boost the taste. Double-coat so the cheese doesn't escape, and freeze for at least 2-3 hours before frying. Serve with a dip.

Recipe: 30-Minute Mozzarella Sticks

Early summer, when asparagus is in season, is the time to make this classy tart. The puff pastry is flaky, the Gruyere cheese is divine, and the Dijon adds a mustard hit. The fresh taste of the asparagus is beautifully balanced with the balsamic and brown sugar glaze. If you're going for a stylish, al fresco summer gathering then this is the dish that'll attract those "oohs" and "aahs." The key to getting that crispy border rising higher is to prick the inner part of the pastry with a fork.

Recipe: Easy Asparagus and Gruyere Tart

These light Vietnamese bites are easy to grab hold of and eat with your hands, making for fabulous finger food delights. The centerpiece is a homemade peanut sauce, which can be changed to an almond or cashew butter. You can also use seed-based tahini if you want to avoid nuts altogether. Only cook your shrimp until they're opaque, to make sure they're soft, not rubbery. A handy tip when making your rice paper wraps is to only fill a third full so that you're able to roll them fairly tightly without them disintegrating. 

Recipe: Easy Shrimp Rolls

Go big, and your guests will go home with happy memories of their time eating giant food. Follow the popular TikTok recipe craze and serve up a big order of French fries that'll become a talking point at your party. All you need is salt, black pepper, and onion powder. However, you can also spice this dish up with some curry, chili, or garlic powder, as well as paprika and turmeric. Serve straight from the oven with a dip of your choice, whether that's a classic ketchup or a cool mayo.

Recipe: TikTok Crispy Giant French Fries

Summer just isn't summer without a pesto pasta salad. And with the fresh taste of basil, parmesan dressing, succulent grape tomatoes, and soft, velvety mozzarella, it's got all the flavors of Italy in the sunshine. Because you're making a salad, you don't want your fusilli pasta to be too soft, so cook it for a minute less than the directions for al dente. A good tip is to keep some of the water when you drain the pasta and use it to thin out the sauce if it's too thick. 

Recipe: Summer Pesto Pasta Salad

Is there anything an air-fryer can't do? Very little, it seems. You can even pop some kernels and make bowls full of popcorn for your party pretty easily, too. While you may use oil when you cook this moreish snack, a glaze of melted butter with salt will also enhance the flavor once it's popped. Cook in batches, and experiment with seasonings such as chili-lime and cheddar powder, or go for a sweet snack with some cinnamon sugar. You can also coat the kernels in infused oils beforehand so the flavor soaks in.

Recipe: Air Fryer Popcorn

Cater to non-meat eaters by turning meaty classic snacks into veggie alternatives that are appetizing for all. These nuggets are made with riced cauliflower, and while this vegetable isn't renowned for its strong taste, it's what you add that transforms it. Along with an egg, you mix in cheese and spices along with  breadcrumbs. You can use any semi-hard cheese; the strong tang of cheddar works especially well. Meanwhile, smoked paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder or even some chili flakes pep up the taste factor with some heat. Experiment with dips, too.

Recipe: Cauliflower Nuggets

If your summer gathering's in the garden with a cookout, and you've got some grilled chicken on the menu, this crisp and tangy, sweet and sour salad adds a summery cucumber-pickle bite. Lime juice and vinegar give the dish a tart taste, while honey and soy sauce mellow it out. Red onion adds crunch, while ribbons of drained cucumber soak up the dressing best. If you want your salad to last a bit longer, cut the cucumber into thicker pieces, such as discs, instead. 

Recipe: Sweet and Sour Cucumber Salad

What's your favorite part of a summer feast? Could it be the charcuterie board? Everyone crowds around the table, trying to peel off slices of cold cuts and cut a piece of cheese while grabbing a few olives. Take the ingredients off the board and put them in a jar instead to turn a much-loved sharing platter into individual "jarcuterie" portions. (What's more, this way, everyone gets their fair share.) Grapes, gherkins, and small mozzarella balls fit perfectly, with meat and cheese on a stick and long crackers that stick out.

Recipe: Easy Jarcuterie

With neatly packaged, triangular parcels of spiced fillings, these Indian snacks are made for a buffet table. The crisp of the phyllo pastry is light enough for a dish in the warmer months, while the potato and pea filling adds some warmth. To make sure you're able to roll the pastry into the iconic samosa shape, if you've bought it frozen, let it thaw first. You can do this overnight in the fridge or leave it out for an hour or two. Play around with different spices such as garam masala and cumin. 

Recipe: Easy Baked Samosa

Add some flair to your party platter this summer with a delectable Argentinian snack that's easy to eat with your hands. Filled with meat and veggies, this empanada recipe also uses Spanish green olives for their saltiness. You can "cheat" by buying frozen puff pastry, rather than making it yourself. Make sure you crimp and seal the edges with a fork so that the filling doesn't leak out when they're baked.

Recipe: Authentic Empanada

While you can impress with some pretty fancy-schmancy recipes for a summer get-together, don't forget the tried and tested combos. Bread and cheese are a foodie match, and you can even make gluten-free and dairy-free varieties. And while some dishes require a myriad of ingredients these cheesy biscuits only require self-rising flour, cheese, and whole milk. If you've only got all-purpose flour, add some baking powder and salt. See if you can make these doughy snacks once and not repeat. Impossible!

Recipe: 3-Ingredient Cheese Biscuits

Bring the take-out taste to the table when you're entertaining at home by making your own Italian-style breadsticks. They go down so well with other shared dishes, such as pastas, soups, and salads, but they're also divine eaten alone. The melted butter and sprinkling of Parmesan on soft-in-the-middle, crunch-on-the-outside dough sticks will have everyone hankering after them. Don't over-worry about creating uniform sticks either, as they're just as delicious if they look homemade. You'll need two and a half hours for the dough to rise, though they only take 10 minutes to cook.

Recipe: Copycat Papa John's Breadsticks

If you're cooking up a summer storm in the kitchen for a hungry gathering, you'll probably appreciate a dish that requires no cooking whatsoever. Grab yourself a dish that's big enough for a sharing snack and start layering this Mexican-style dip. Get your ingredients all measured out before you start to make this recipe even easier. Mix together cream cheese, sour cream, refried beans, with chili powder and cumin for the bottom layer. Add guacamole and tomatoes, then sour cream and salsa. Top with shredded Mexican cheese, shredded lettuce, and slices of black olives. 

Recipe: 7-Layer Dip

TikTok is the home of fun recipe ideas and hacks that turn well-known foods into something different. You'll have everyone marveling over this rigatoni snack, which is somewhere between pasta and chips. Bake the cooked pasta in the oven if you don't have an air-fryer to create these crunchy chips. They pair splendidly with tomato sauce and Parmesan. Beyond that, you can have fun with the seasonings, making sure each piece of pasta is well-coated.

Recipe: TikTok Pasta Chips

Forget sophisticated culinary creations. Bring it back to basics with salsa and chips. You'll want your salsa to be smooth but not watery, with just the right amount of kick. If you're a heat freak, add a habanero pepper with jalapeños, or use bell peppers if you want to turn down the temperature. Use the juices from the cans of tomatoes, too, to get the right consistency.

Recipe: Copycat Chili's Salsa

The umami of these Asian-inspired lettuce-wrapped snacks will have everyone reaching for more than one. They're a great way to serve up a wrap without any doughy bread or flour tortilla in sight. Special ingredients include mirin, a sweet rice wine, and kecap manis which is sweet soy sauce. For visual appeal, cut the vegetables that top the mix into small matchsticks. And what's really attractive about this recipe is that you only need one pan to make it — fuss-free. it's ideal if you're cooking other foods at the same time.

Recipe: Lettuce Wraps

Serve these Middle Eastern chickpea balls in a wrap or alone so that they can be mixed and matched with other dishes, such as pasta or rice. Either way, a big tip in making these falafel the best they can be is to not cut corners. Soak dried chickpeas, and don't be tempted to use canned ones, as you won't get as good a result. You'll need 24 hours for this. Also, only cook the herby, bite-size morsels when you're ready to serve, but you can prep them in advance and refrigerate, ready to fry.

Recipe: Simple Falafel

For a classic summer gathering in the garden, there's one dish that's a standard, and that's coleslaw. If you didn't serve it, everyone would be wondering where the coleslaw was. You can still make this dish, but there's no reason why you can't be creative and spice it up. Switch out traditional mayo with a dressing that's got a kick. Make it with tahini, apple cider vinegar, and fresh lemon juice, plus Dijon mustard, maple syrup, and pepperoncini peppers. This version is lip-smackingly good.

Recipe: Easy Spicy Coleslaw

Serve a tasty take-out style dish that's perfect finger food, and you'll be able to impress everyone by saying it's homemade. Wrapping a meat and veggie filling in a flaky case is a crowd-pleaser, and you can make veggie versions of this recipe easily, too. To make these egg rolls a success, don't overfill them, and lay the egg noodle pastry flat in a diamond shape, folding up the bottom point first. Fold in the left and right points before rolling over once, adding beaten egg to the edges and rolling once again. 

Recipe: Delicious Egg Rolls

While spring rolls can be heavy, especially when served as part of a platter, these Filipino versions are much lighter. The pastry doesn't have egg in it, and it's thinner, too. Along with bean sprouts, this recipe includes carrots, cabbage, and licorice-tasting jicama. Don't overcook the veggies, as after they've been fried you're going to be cooking them again with some oyster sauce. You'll also add in sesame oil, but if you don't have any, peanut oil or avocado oil will work fine. Hoisin sauce or sriracha are great for dipping. 

Recipe: Fresh Vegetable Lumpia

Cabbage pizza may sound strange, but this Japanese omelet-style version is a great sharing dish. As well as green cabbage, you'll need eggs, panko, and green onions, plus salt, sesame seeds, and olive oil. Traditionally, this dish is made with flour, but using breadcrumbs instead adds some crunch. Add in dashi powder or bonito flakes to enhance the umami flavors, too. If you don't have a food processor to shred your cabbage, cut it into quarters and core. With the outer part facing you, thinly slice so you have uniform strips that'll cook evenly. 

Recipe: Easy Okonomiyaki

Name one sharing dish that everybody loves. It's a no-brainer: pizza, of course. Imagine now that you can make a pizza in a pan without any of the time-consuming hassle of kneading dough and still have a light and crispy base to add your toppings to. In fact, it's so easy that the pizza dough is a pourable batter made from eggs, flour, and milk with seasonings. Once you've added this to a pan, add any toppings, apart from cheese, and bake before adding the cheese and baking again until it melts. 

Recipe: Pourable Pizza Dough

You know when you're not sure whether to serve pizza or garlic bread? Combine the two in one sublimely sharable tray of molten cheesy slices. Instead of dousing your base in a rich sauce, the garlic's given center stage along with the other toppings; the flavors are enhanced with a good glug of olive oil. While simple ingredients such as basil and tomato are enough, you can experiment by adding roasted peppers, eggplant, and grilled peaches for a fruity lift. You can mold the dough into any shape, too. 

Recipe: Simple Garlic Focaccia Pizza

This snack looks good, tastes great, and is meat-free, which gives it wider appeal at a gathering with vegetarians and anyone wanting to cut back on meaty dishes. Plus, it requires just three ingredients, which is a big bonus when you're catering for a crowd. Of course, you can add more to customize it, but all you need is some puff pastry, olive oil, and sun-dried tomatoes. Garnish with parsley for some extra color.

Recipe: 3-Ingredient Tomato Tart

Hot buns with melted Swiss cheese and a meaty roast beef filling are the ultimate party table fare. These sliders work well as a substantial snack, and brushing them with melted butter and sprinkling with Italian seasoning before popping them in the oven elevates the taste, too. Keep the deli meat under the cheese so it's sandwiched in and won't dry out. While they'll be wolfed down as soon as they're on the plate, you could offer a hot mustard sauce dip or serve them with thousand-island dressing on the side.

Recipe: Easy Roast Beef Sliders

Hot and tasty on the outside and creamy on the inside, these Buffalo cauliflower bites are the bomb. And as if they're not incredible enough, a dipping sauce such as ranch or blue cheese makes these vegetarian bad boys rock. Once you've coated your florets in a paprika and garlic powder spiked batter and cooked them for a while, baste them in a homemade Buffalo sauce with melted butter and honey. Remember, if you're making these in batches beforehand, that's fine — just reheat them in the oven, as they'll go soggy in the microwave. 

Recipe: Buffalo Cauliflower

It's a sunny day or a warm evening, and everyone's in a great mood, with conversation and good times flowing. On the table, you have cold cuts and an antipasto platter. Enhance your charcuterie board with some cheese. Not just any cheese ,but little marinated balls of soft and creamy mozzarella served along side some crackers. If you're using mozzarella pearls, separate them a bit before adding in some good glugs of olive oil with dried basil and oregano, plus some minced garlic. For some bite, add black pepper or chili flakes.

Recipe: Marinated Mozzarella Balls

Embrace the retro picnic vibe with a recipe that's wonderfully nostalgic. Reminiscent of the long, summer days of childhood, when times (and food) were far simpler, these British snacks are given a Middle Eastern twist with a falafel coating on the egg instead of sausage meat and breadcrumbs. Make sure you plunge the hard-boiled eggs into iced water so that they don't get a green ring around the yolk. You can use a bought-in falafel mix for this recipe. Baking, not frying as is traditionally the case, reworks this snack in a healthy way.

Recipe: 3-Ingredient Scotch Eggs

These Thai-style tacos are also vegetarian, made with extra firm tofu. Focus on flavor with a soy sauce, sesame oil marinade with ginger, chili powder, and red pepper flakes. Make a peanut sauce with more soy sauce, as well as lime juice, maple syrup, and garlic powder, plus some peanut butter. 

Recipe: 15-Minute Thai Spicy Tofu Tacos

A sour, juicy pickle deep-fried to perfection and crunchy to bite into is just what you want during a special day of food and fun. After dipping in a paprika batter, coat the sliced pickles in breadcrumbs. Here's where you can add your own flavor profile. If you want some Indian influence, add curry powder into the breadcrumbs. If you love Mexican food, add some chili and garlic powder. It's best to cook these in batches so they don't stick together. An onion dip will pair well with these pickles, too.

Recipe: Deep-Fried Dill Pickles

Packed with protein, almonds make for a warming snack on a cool summer's evening. Whenever you serve these, you'll have guests grabbing handfuls. They're also low in carbs, and packed with vitamins. Use raw, not roasted, almonds for this recipe. The kick comes from cayenne pepper, so mix it in before you roast to whatever heat level you prefer. They'll be delicious however hot or tame they are.

Recipe: Spiced Roasted Almonds

If your summer event is a sophisticated cocktail party or glamorous soiree, you'll want an appetizing array of snacks that look the part. To make these rolls, it's important to use a flexible mat. You have to make them with sushi rice, or else they won't stick together. Adding sugar and salt creates a balance in the seasoning. Your seaweed nori also needs to be a big sheet, not snack bags that've been salted. Make sure your knife's sharp to cut the roll and create bite-size discs. 

Recipe: Easy Cucumber Rolls

Garlic, rosemary, and tomato with creamy goat cheese and toasted bread is a dreamy combination. These buffet-friendly delights are classy, too. In addition to adding them to the buffet table, you can serve them as canapés during cocktail hour. If you're planning a daytime gathering, these are great to serve as everyone's arriving before you get going with the food. They're perfect for a cookout as everything can be done on the grill, including the tomatoes in a skillet. Waft the bread over a flame to char it.

Recipe: Best Goat Cheese Crostini

The ultimate finger food is easy to eat without any cutlery and can be munched on holding it in one hand, so that you have a hand free for a summery drink. Taquitos are all wrapped up with a yummy filling inside. These are classic Mexican snacks and they're so incredibly moreish and comforting that everyone is going to need more than one. You'll need a can of black beans, as well as some green chilis and corn tortillas.

Recipe: 3-Ingredient Baked Taquitos

If you've ever been disappointed by a crab cake that's less about the crabmeat and more about the breadcrumbs, this is a recipe for you. Broil these at a high heat so that you don't need to fry them, and therefore, they're not greasy. Make them with a little egg and saltine crackers smashed up either in a food processor or by bashing them in a Ziploc bag with a rolling pin. The result is a seafood-packed snack that's delicate and holds together well.

Recipe: Broiled Crab Cakes

While this recipe's touted as a Halloween snack, there's no reason you can't serve them to a coven of guests earlier in the year. Whether day or night, everyone'll be bewitched by these canapés. The salty taste pairs well with drinks, so you might want to have these ready to soak up some of your reception cocktails or just as a taster before you dish out the sharing platters. Made with pretzels and cheese sticks, they're fun and easy for kids to make, and they'll enjoy eating them, too.

Recipe: Cheese and Pretzel Broomsticks

While these sweet potato snacks are nourishing in fall, there's nothing wrong with adding their sweet pastry wonderfulness to a summer party table. The main plus point is that guests can stand up and eat these as they chat and enjoy a drink, too. The sweetness is elevated with marshmallows, with some crunch coming from pecans. Both of these ingredients are optional, and you can always add sesame seeds for texture instead. 

Recipe: Best Sweet Potato Crescent Rolls

This flatbread is great when served with dips and is a nice alternative to crackers with a summer cheeseboard. The key to getting a crisp finish is a high oven setting. Unlike when you're baking a cake, liquid is added to the dough, with the wet ingredients added to the dry. As you slowly add water, make sure it's warm enough to give the dough the right stretchiness and that it's not too hot or cold. If you don't want to use rosemary, knead in your own ingredients, such as refreshing lemon zest and lavender. 

Recipe: Crisp Rosemary Flatbread

Nothing says home cooking than a huge, bubbling dish of lasagne. However, in a group setting, with everyone spooning out this Italian classic, the ingredients can get a bit mushed up. This recipe cleverly creates individual lasagnes so that your filling is encased in a noodle cup. You can easily use a vegetarian filling, too, and eggplant and spinach complement the flavors. Make the cups with strips and circles of pasta, cooked in a muffin tin. All you need now is a salad and garlic bread to add to the table.

Recipe: Best Individual Lasagne Cups

If you want to enjoy yourself at your party, you probably don't want to be wearing yourself out making small Polish dumpling dough. But if you really want to serve delectably soft-centered potato and cheese pierogis, try this "cheat" recipe and make your life easier. How? Use wonton wrappers instead. They'll crisp up wonderfully and taste lovely and light. What's more, you can make a whole load of them for your summer guests to enjoy. Serve them with sour cream and chopped-up green onions.

Recipe: Lazy Pierogi

Life doesn't have to be too short to stuff a mushroom. Not if you do it the easy way, at least. And you can make them in advance and heat them up when your guests arrive for your summer event. To give your mushrooms a party makeover, stuff them with spinach and artichoke, with cream cheese and Parmesan creating a creamy softness. Preheat the oven before you pop in your tray of mushrooms, and squeeze on some lemon to bring out the terrific taste.

Recipe: Easy Stuffed Mushrooms

Chances are you've never perused a table of finger-food goodies at someone's summer gathering and not seen a big bowl of potato chips. Yes, they're delicious, but there are other chip options out there, such as this snackable bowl of sweet potato chips. Use a mandoline to get the chips thin enough to crisp up, but keep it thick enough to be substantial. Oregano lifts the flavor, as does onion dip.

Recipe: Air Fryer Sweet Potato Chips

So, you want to invite some people over for a garden party because it's summer, but you don't necessarily want to do a smoke-filled cookout. What to do? Create these quirky, corn ribs in an air-fryer, and you won't miss char-grilled corn at all. To get these succulent corn rows, make sure you use a sharp knife. Pierce shucked corn and rock the blade back and forth so that each piece is as uniform as possible. The taste also comes from marinading with spicy oil.

Recipe: Air Fryer Corn Ribs

Stop. Before you fry up chicken nuggets and throw them onto a party platter, why not lighten up your summer sharing menu? Tofu is great because it soaks up flavors so well, and if you're not in love with your air-fryer yet, you soon will be. If you've got little guests coming along, this dish is a winner with youngsters, too. Drain the tofu by putting something heavy on top. When your nuggets are ready, serve them with barbecue sauce or ranch. 

Recipe: Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets

To give stuffed mushrooms a bit more substance and create a favorite buffet bite for your guests, add some meat into the mix. This recipe focuses on bringing out the flavor with some Italian sausage. Meanwhile, cheddar adds some sharpness and cream cheese balances this a buttery, tangy taste. Raw garlic punches in with some taste too. An easy way to remove the sausage casing is to pierce it and then peel it off. When the mushrooms are ready, parsley improves the presentation.

Recipe: Sausage and Cream Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms

What's so fabulous about these deep-fried dough balls is that anything goes. They literally go with any flavor and ingredient combination. You can make savory snacks at one end of your summer gathering buffet table with cheese and end on a sweet note with some deliciously doughy chocolate versions. Be creative and come up with your own culinary creations. While they're not overly complicated to make, a good tip is to not overwork the dough. You want them to puff up into crunchy, soft-centered treats that make you want to celebrate.

Recipe: Homemade Hush Puppies

While you're busy making lots of big plates of delicious bites for a party in the sunshine, or even if you're getting ready for a grilling extravaganza with a cookout, you're going to need dips. Parties and dips go hand in hand, and finger food, in particular, is made for dipping. While you want to match your dip to your dish, you can't go wrong with this all-American classic. Leave in some solid pieces of blue cheese so the flavor will permeate the creaminess. Serve with chips, crudités, and grilled goodies.

Recipe: Homemade Blue Cheese Dip

The real beauty of sharing food is being able to sample so many different dishes at one time. While you may want some finger food classics on your summer menu if you're inviting over a mixed group, don't be afraid to include snacks that are moreish regardless of whether they're usually served on a sharing table. If you've tried hot edamame then you'll know just how difficult it is to stop snacking on them when they're in front of you. This recipe also adds some sautéed garlic, soy sauce, and chili paste. 

Recipe: Spicy Garlic Edamame

There's something so delicate, light, and perfectly suited to a summer's day about salmon. While you can use any type of canned salmon in this recipe, your fish cakes will be the best that they can be if you use wild sockeye salmon. Season how you like and serve up with mayo or sour cream with dill and a lemon wedge. For a party, you can also turn them into fish patties and chow down on them in a burger bun.

Recipe: 15-Minute Air Fryer Salmon Cakes

In the world of celebrated cheeses, two that echo Italian summers have to be mozzarella and Parmesan. Make these cheese-tastic rice balls of yumminess and serve with a marinara dip. Make sure you use Arborio rice to make your risotto and if you want to cut this part out, you can always buy this ready-made. Your mozzarella goes in the middle of each ball traditionally, but you can change this up and also customize how you season the risotto if you want to add a twist. 

Recipe: Traditional Arancini

There's something of a formula when it comes to making sharing appetizers and party bites. They're often soft in the middle, crispy on the outside, and come with a dip. This recipe is no different. What gives it that "wow" factor is the softness of the succulent shrimp, combined with crunchy breadcrumbs and shredded coconut. And they're not deep-fried, but air-fried making them way healthier. With an Asian flavor profile, a Thai sweet chili sauce is just the dip you need.

Recipe: Quick Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp

With so many recipes to choose from, it's easy to feel under pressure to come up with quirky dishes using a long list of ingredients. However, you can't go wrong with simple classics, and nothing is as simple as fried onion rings. Make these with large sweet onions and add a pinch of paprika in the panko. While some rings are battered, and others breadcrumbed, you're going to batter and breadcrumb for this version thus adding to the crispiness. Flip in the oil before they brown, as they'll continue to cook.

Recipe: Crispy Fried Onion Rings

When you pop a summer party bite into your mouth, what everyone wants is a pop of flavor. These bad boys bring it home with some pretty intense and amazing contrasting flavors. You've got the softness of cream cheese in the center. You've got the spice of the jalapeño with a sweet and smoky glaze to boot. And it's all wrapped up in some crispy, salty bacon. These poppers pop. Great news is your gathering is a garden party cookout, as you can cook your stuffed peppers on the grill.

Recipe: Grilled Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers

Customizing dishes is fun and flavorful. However, you can set the tone for good food to come with the complementing flavors of this Italian classic. While you could add these toasted temptations to a table of shared delights, they work beautifully as an appetizer on a sunny day and a wonderful welcome to guests. Roma tomatoes are perfect, but you can use any ripe variety. The fresh basil, mozzarella, and red onion pair with olive oil, garlic, and seasoning on toasted slices of baguette. What more do you want on a summer's day?

Recipe: Classic Tomato Bruschetta