Grill Up Pre-Meal Perfection With These Appetizer Suggestions

ABSTRACT: When the summer sun rises high, the swimming pools are ready to go, and the grills are fired up, it’s time to backyard party with full-course grilling meals, starting with appetizers.

My family always looks forward to summer, because we get to spend more time in the backyard, enjoying the Texas Gulf Coast weather — hot and humid, but perfect for the pool. So we can stay outside and swim longer, we often grill for dinner. It’s fun to have a backyard dinner party any night of the week during the summer.

If you’re ready for backyard entertaining this season, serve fancy summer fare — from appetizers to desserts — with every course from your grill. Sure, there are always steaks, burgers and hot dogs, but for a special twist, start with one of these grilled appetizers before the main course:

Grilled Shrimp Appetizers

One of the great things about shrimp on the grill is you can use it as a main course, sure, but why not keep your main course and let BBQ shrimp be your appetizer? Many a fine restaurant starts off with a peel-and-eat shrimp or shrimp cocktail appetizer, so why not carry that over to your grilled appetizers?

Brush peeled shrimp with butter, olive oil, spices, or whatever your favorite seasonings are (BBQ sauce works great on grilled shrimp too — try it!), skewer the shrimp or use a shrimp grilling basket, and toss those shrimp or prawns right onto the grill. Of course, you can make recipes with them for special appetizers, but there’s nothing wrong with a basket of grilled shrimp in the center of the picnic table while everyone waits on the main course.

Grilled Fruit Appetizers (Or Dessert)

Some fruits do better on the grill than others, but some of my family’s favorites are pineapple and peaches. Apples, pineapple, peaches, watermelon, and papaya are all good on the grill. If you aren’t much into sweet appetizers, then you can consider grilled fruits for your meal’s dessert menu instead. Grilled fruit as an appetizer pairs well with a firm or a crumbly cheese and some white wine, especially if you plan to grill fish for your main course. Experiment with different fruits and see which ones your family and friends like best from the grill, and don’t be afraid to glaze with honey-BBQ sauce — yes, on the fruit!

Grilled Bacon-Wrapped Pepper Popper Appetizers

One of my favorite indoor appetizers can be adapted for the grill quite easily: bacon-wrapped jalapeno pepper poppers. Down here in Texas, we love fresh, green, hot jalapenos, and if you slice those babies open, scoop out the seeds, throw some cream cheese in the middle, then put the pepper back together, wrap it in bacon and cook it, you have a delectable, spicy treat guests are sure to love. Simply cook until the bacon is crisp and done, and the fat from the bacon cooks the pepper and the heat makes the cheese gooey and good.

These are easy to stick toothpicks in and serve as an appetizer or a snack while swimming or playing backyard games. Just have plenty of cold beer or fresh homemade lemonade or sun tea around for those who can’t handle the heat of grilled peppers. They sure are yummy.

Grilled Oyster Appetizers

Oysters are a common appetizer delicacy served in nicer restaurants, but they can be quite rustic when grilled or wood-smoked for your BBQ. Search online for recipes to try or talk to your local fish monger about how to grill and smoke oysters. If you like oysters, wood-smoked oysters are a must-try. There’s also a great way to cook them by putting them in the embers or coals, whole, and letting them cook slowly.

Grilled BBQ Meatball Appetizers

Save the main course for steaks, but turn that ground beef into meatball appetizers and cook them right on your grill. Add some BBQ sauce or some mustard-honey glaze, or both, and you’ve got a fast, inexpensive, but yummy appetizer that tastes amazing. Different spices can give a variety of flavors to the appetizers, such as red peppers for kick, oregano/basil for Italian flavor, salt and pepper with some garlic for plain meatballs, and more. Be creative; go crazy!

The kids might even enjoy the meatballs as their main course, saving the fancier (and more expensive) fare for the grownups.

So there you have five suggestions for ways to serve appetizers to your summer BBQ guests at any backyard party or grilling event. Often, we get stuck in a rut and don’t think about the more creative ways to cook for our family, so a little clever or creative barbecuing can liven up the summer outdoor fun with new flavor experiences. Happy grilling!