Avoiding Turning On The Oven In This Heat? Here's 33 No-Cook App Ideas To Help
If like us, you really, truly cannot even with your ovens in the summer: do what we do, and just simply don't! These warm weather dips, bite-sized apps, and even some last-minute favorites will keep you feeling cool, just requiring you to mix, assemble, and snack on. As you'll find out, when it comes to these 33 clever recipes for no-cook summer appetizers, the most appetizing thing of all is not cooking at all.
We're no stranger to the beauty of a well-made dip. They often just need a bit of mixing, chopping, and assembling those all-important dipping vehicles. Our guacamole, hummus, and cowboy caviar recipes are our tried-and-true MVPS, but if you want to shake things up, we've also got some new classics we're sure you'll love, like our mango salsa, our hoagie dip, and our Greek feta dip.
Summer brings plenty of produce that just needs a bit of simple prep to become app ready too. Our recipe for bruschetta is the ultimate way to celebrate all those tomatoes from your overgrown plant, California cucumber sushi bites are that perfect mix of light yet hearty, and ditto for our melon prosciutto bites. We even have more than a few ways to serve up some savory watermelon apps to really help you keep your cool, like our watermelon pizza and our watermelon Caprese.
Want more tips on how to stay chill all summer long? Check out our favorite frozen cocktails, ice cream cakes, no-bake desserts, and no-cook dinners next!
Cowboy Caviar
Brimming with beans, avocado, and tons of veggies, the only thing missing is a big pitcher of frozen margaritas. 😎 Yeehaw!
Get the Cowboy Caviar recipe.
Bruschetta
Nothing screams summer quite like bruschetta. We know it may sound skippable, but rubbing the toasted bread with garlic will help impart TONS of flavor into your tiny toasts, so we highly recommend it. Top them with simply marinated tomatoes for the ultimate summer snack.
Get the Bruschetta recipe.
Watermelon Feta Skewers
Watermelon + feta is one of our favorite combinations of all time—especially during summer time. Skewer them with some crunchy cucumber and drizzle balsamic glaze on top and you've got an easy, healthy summer appetizer everyone will love.
Get the Watermelon Feta Skewers recipe.
Caprese Salad
Hailing from the island of Capri and mirroring the colors of the Italian flag, the simple Caprese salad is the perfect way to start any late-summer meal. It’s one of the best ways show off those juicy, in-season farmers' market tomatoes by complementing them with fresh basil and creamy mozzarella too.
Get the Caprese Salad recipe.
Hoagie Dip
Here’s our favorite deli sandwich, dip-ified! This chunky, fully loaded appetizer has all the savory, crunchy, and creamy elements and meatiness you love in a traditional hoagie, but it’s spoonable, and totally shareable.
Get the Hoagie Dip recipe.
Antipasto Bites
Fresh tortellini make these the hearty bite-size appetizer of our dreams. Feel free to swap in and out your favorite ingredients (these are a great way to serve leftover food odds and ends too!).
Get the Antipasto Bites recipe.
Strawberry Balsamic Bruschetta
We're big fans of classic bruschetta, but when we're craving a sweet twist on the classic summer appetizer, we turn to this strawberry-balsamic version for a sweet-tangy bite that works just as well as a starter as a post-dinner treat.
Get the Strawberry Balsamic Bruschetta recipe.
Melon Prosciutto Skewers
If you haven't experienced the flavor combo of prosciutto + melon, get on it STAT. It's the ultimate in sweet and salty.
Get the Melon Prosciutto Skewers recipe.
Copycat TJ’s Peach Salsa
Trader Joe’s does a lot of things well, but sometimes we question them on their decision-making skills. Their smoky peach salsa was one of my favorite store-bought salsas, and they sadly discontinued it. Luckily, a copycat recipe is our forte, and this one's just as good as the real thing.
Get the Copycat TJ’s Peach Salsa recipe.
Watermelon Caprese
During the summer, we can’t get enough of simple, refreshing salads that put fresh fruit at the forefront. Two of our favorites? The classic Caprese, and our watermelon feta salad. We loved these two summer sides so much, we decided to combine them into one refreshing recipe.
Get the Watermelon Caprese recipe.
Avocado Salsa
Creamy, just-ripe avocados are tossed with chopped tomatoes, jalapeño, red onion, sweet corn, and tons of chopped fresh cilantro to create this refreshing hybrid dip. Now you’ll never have to decide between salsa and guac ever again!
Get the Avocado Salsa recipe.
Caprese Bites
All you really need to make these Caprese bites are mozzarella balls, cherry tomatoes, basil, though we've added a few extra ingredients to give them even more flavor. The only cooking required is turning your balsamic vinegar into balsamic glaze, but if you'd rather a completely hands-off version, feel free to use a store-bought glaze.
Get the Caprese Bites recipe.
Pinwheel Sandwiches
These pinwheels are easy to assemble, look great on a platter, and are ideal for a summer party. To make them, you'll layer flour tortillas with ranch-flavored mayonnaise, sliced cheese, deli meats, and lettuce. All that's left to do is roll them up tightly and slice. See, simple!
Get the Pinwheel Sandwiches recipe.
Pineapple Cheese Ball
This classic cheese ball is a timeless blast from the past: creamy and crunchy, sweet and tart, nutty and savory—this appetizer's got it all, and it's the ultimate no-cook app.
Get the Pineapple Cheese Ball recipe.
Watermelon Pizza
Picture this: juicy watermelon slices serving as the base for fragrant herbs, tangy red onion, crisp cucumbers, and creamy feta. The sweetness of the watermelon provides a refreshing base that perfectly complements the savory toppings, creating a harmonious balance of flavors that dance across your palate.
Get the Watermelon Pizza recipe.
Reuben Pickle Bites
Here at Delish, we’re all about a good reuben sandwich. Creamy dressing, corned beef, Swiss cheese… what’s not to love? Pair all those delicious ingredients between pickle chips for the perfect bite-size appetizer (and they come together SO fast).
Get the Reuben Pickle Bites recipe.
California Sushi Bites
This crunchy cucumber snack is inspired by a popular (but not traditionally Japanese) type of sushi popular in the states, California maki. Got furikake? It'd be delicious sprinkled on top as the final garnish.
Get the California Sushi Bites recipe.
Best-Ever Guacamole
Whether you serve it as a simple dip, load it on top of your tacos, or smear it on a bun as a burger topping, we can all agree—it’s not a summer party without Mexico’s most famous dip. Keep it simple, like we did, or go wild with your mix-ins.
Get the Best-Ever Guacamole recipe.
Greek Feta Dip
Loaded with cucumbers, tomatoes, and feta, this dip was inspired by Greek salad. Full disclaimer: This recipe makes a lot of dip. We've never had a problem demolishing it with some fluffy pita bread, but feel free to halve it if necessary.
Get the Greek Feta Dip recipe.
Ceviche
While it may seem fancy, ceviche is actually a fairly simple dish at its core. All it involves is tossing raw seafood in lime juice, then letting the acid in the citrus “cook” the fish. Often bulked up with other mix-ins like tomatoes or cucumber, the result is a light and refreshing dish that’s a perfect summertime snack or pre-dinner app
Get the Shrimp Ceviche recipe.
Salmon Ceviche
Because we know high-quality white fish commonly used in ceviches can be hard to find in the states, we went with something that wasn't: salmon. But not traditional doesn't mean it's not delicious!
Get the Salmon Ceviche recipe.
Hummus
Middle Eastern hummus is one of our favorite dips, made even better by how simple it is to make. Made from blending chickpeas, tahini, and a few other simple ingredients in a food processor, it’s the easiest last-minute appetizer or satisfying snack to throw together anytime this summer.
Get the Hummus recipe.
Best-Ever Veggie Dip
Give your crowd something to snack on while leaving room for the main spread. Some veggie dips can be a bit, well... boring... but not this guy. We added plenty of savory spices and bright lemon to this creamy dip, making it a perfect pairing for a variety of veggies and cubed bread.
Get the Best-Ever Veggie Dip recipe.
Pimento Cheese
If you love party dips like Buffalo chicken or spinach artichoke, you’ll LOVE pimento cheese. Affectionately known as the “caviar of the South,” pimento cheese is loaded with shredded cheddar cheese and spiked with diced pimento peppers and hot sauce, AND can be served hot or cold (so make it ahead of time!).
Get the Pimento Cheese recipe.
Avocado Hummus
Only got room for one dip on your summer spread? Now you don't have to choose favorites—this dip is the best of hummus and guacamole combined.
Get the Avocado Hummus recipe.
Whipped Ricotta Toast
This light, fluffy whipped ricotta is as close as you can get to eating a cloud. It's delicious spread or piped onto toast, but there's lots more it can do: Spoon it onto a serving plate and top with marinated vegetables, or add it as a creamy base to your bruschetta.
Get the Whipped Ricotta Toast recipe.
Mango Salsa
If you’re looking for a salsa that has mastered the perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and salty, then this mango salsa will your new fave snack. Pair with homemade tortilla chips, and you’ll have a fresh snack to bring to BBQ potlucks (or keep all to yourself 😏) all summer long.
Get the Mango Salsa recipe.
7-Layer Dip
The pinnacle party dip, in our book, a party really isn’t complete without 7-layer dip. If you’ve always went for the store-bought version, trust us—it’s worth making at home. Ready in under 30 minutes, this is the easiest last-minute app to prepare when you need a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Get the 7-Layer Dip recipe.
Greek Sushi
Thin sheets of cucumber pack in a whole Greek salad's worth of flavor. Get your chopsticks ready and dip away in a red wine vinaigrette dressing.
Get the Greek Sushi recipe.
Olive & Fig Tapenade
Tapenade might sound fancy, but don’t be intimidated by its sophisticated name—it's just the French way of describing a spread that's traditionally made of olives, capers, and anchovies. This one skips the fish and instead combines olives with figs and balsamic vinegar for a fabulous combination of sweet, salty, and tangy notes.
Get the Olive & Fig Tapenade recipe.
Marshmallow Fruit Dip
Fruit never gets the attention it deserves at parties. This super simple dip will change all of that. It's so easy to whip together, can be made ahead of time, and is easy to transport. Honestly, it's perfect.
Get the Marshmallow Fruit Dip recipe.
Prosciutto-Wrapped Watermelon
Frankly, we're obsessed with this watermelon's not-so-sweet side. Why should cantaloupe have the monopoly on prosciutto?
Get the Prosciutto-Wrapped Watermelon recipe.
Zucchini Sushi
These spicy little bites are reminiscent of a California roll, but without the rice. They're fresher, easier to make, and actually good for you. Win, win, win.
Get the Zucchini Sushi recipe.
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