15 Grilled Appetizers That Are Worth Firing Up the Coals For

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Fire up more than just burgers this weekend—grilled appetizers can steal the show before the main course even hits the table. These small bites turn simple ingredients into memorable starters, and they’re designed to vanish fast. With just a grill, skewers, and a handful of pantry staples, you can transform veggies, cheese, or seafood into something unexpectedly bold. They’re perfect for sampling while you wait on family-style platters or as a way to test new flavor combos without overcommitting. If you want to make the most of your charcoal or gas fire, mastering a few grilled appetizers is the smartest move you’ll make.

Grilled Corn Guacamole

A bowl of salad with corn, cheese, and sprouts is surrounded by red and beige tortilla chips on a plate.
Grilled Corn Guacamole. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

This combo brings smoky flavor and creamy crunch to the table, so you don’t have to pick one over the other. It pulls double duty as a grilled appetizer and a way to get everyone crowding the snack table early.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Corn Guacamole

Grilled Shrimp Skewers

A plate of grilled shrimp skewers with vegetables, lemon wedges, parsley, and a small dish of dipping sauce. A red-checked cloth is on the side. A grill tray is partially visible.
Grilled Shrimp Skewers. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

These skewers come together fast and disappear even faster, especially when grilled to smoky perfection. They’re easy to grab, which makes them perfect for grilled appetizers when folks are still standing around pretending not to be hungry.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Shrimp Skewers

Grilled Zucchini Stack

A stack of grilled zucchini slices layered with ricotta cheese and herbs on a white plate, topped with crumbled cheese and a fork.
Grilled Zucchini Stack. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

With layers of charred zucchini and whatever cheese or veggies you like, this stack turns basic into bold. It sneaks in some greens while keeping things squarely in grilled appetizer territory.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Zucchini Stack

Grilled Wings with Buffalo Sauce

A plate of chicken wings coated in orange buffalo sauce is served on a white square dish, with a small bowl of dip and vegetables in the background.
Grilled Wings with Buffalo Sauce. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

A little fire, a lot of flavor, and plenty of napkins make this one a crowd favorite. It checks every box for grilled appetizers that get people hovering near the grill.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Wings with Buffalo Sauce

Barbecue Bourbon Little Smokies

A white square bowl filled with baked beans in a thick, reddish-brown sauce.
Barbecue Bourbon Little Smokies. Photo credit: Honest And Truly.

These punchy bites bring heat, smoke, and a bit of sweet bourbon swagger. Serve them first and you’ll barely need to announce the main course.
Get the Recipe: Barbecue Bourbon Little Smokies

Grilled Chipotle-Mango Wings

A white plate with grilled chicken wings and mango slices next to a bowl of mango sauce on a rustic white wooden table.
Grilled Chipotle-Mango Wings. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

The mango cools things off just enough to make folks reach for seconds—and maybe thirds. They turn up the flavor without overcomplicating your grilled appetizers lineup.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chipotle-Mango Wings

Grilled Bacon Wrapped Pickles

Three bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers, each on a toothpick, are served on a white rectangular plate with blurred jars and a bowl in the background.
Grilled Bacon Wrapped Pickles. Photo credit: In the Kitch.

Crispy, salty, and tangy with a little sizzle—these are the first to vanish every single time. They fit right into any grilled appetizers spread that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Bacon Wrapped Pickles

Ninja Woodfire Grill Chicken Wings With Jack Daniel’s BBQ Sauce

A white rectangular plate filled with glazed chicken wings sits on a rustic white wooden table with a floral cloth nearby.
Ninja Woodfire Grill Chicken Wings With Jack Daniel’s BBQ Sauce. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Bold sauce, smoky grill marks, and zero leftovers—that’s how these wings roll. They do all the heavy lifting for your grilled appetizers without breaking a sweat.
Get the Recipe: Ninja Woodfire Grill Chicken Wings With Jack Daniel’s BBQ Sauce

Grilled Green Beans

A plate of cooked green beans with a lemon wedge and a serving spoon on the side.
Grilled Green Beans. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Charred green beans might not sound flashy, but they always get a second look once folks start crunching. These work great as grilled appetizers for anyone trying to balance the wings with something greener.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Green Beans

Easy Grilled Polenta with Fresh Mozzarella and Balsamic Tomatoes

Three round appetizers topped with melted cheese, chopped tomatoes, and fresh basil are arranged on a slate serving board, with a spoonful of the tomato mixture and basil nearby.
Easy Grilled Polenta with Fresh Mozzarella and Balsamic Tomatoes. Photo credit: Two Healthy Kitchens.

Creamy inside, crispy outside, and dripping with tomato tang—this one checks all the grilled appetizer boxes without needing much fuss. It also looks fancy without requiring actual effort.
Get the Recipe: Easy Grilled Polenta with Fresh Mozzarella and Balsamic Tomatoes

Blue Cheese Steak Crostini

Slices of toasted baguette topped with rare steak, cheese spread, balsamic glaze, and chopped chives arranged on a gray plate.
Blue Cheese Steak Crostini. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

These bites lean into bold flavor with grilled steak and blue cheese piled high on crispy bread. They’re small enough to call appetizers but loud enough to get noticed.
Get the Recipe: Blue Cheese Steak Crostini

Honey Garlic Gluten-Free Chicken Wings

Chicken wings coated in a glazed sauce are arranged in a pan with fresh cilantro and lime wedges.
Honey Garlic Gluten-Free Chicken Wings. Photo credit: Fit as a Mama Bear.

Sticky, sweet, and just garlicky enough to keep things interesting, these wings never stay on the plate long. They slot right into your grilled appetizers plan—no gluten, no problem.
Get the Recipe: Honey Garlic Gluten-Free Chicken Wings

Easy Thai Chicken Satay Recipe

Chicken satay skewers on a black plate with a bowl of peanut sauce, garnished with herbs, and a side of mixed vegetables on a patterned tablecloth.
Easy Thai Chicken Satay Recipe. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Skewers loaded with peanut-sauced chicken give your grilled appetizers a kick without going overboard. They’re easy to hold, hard to share, and gone before you can sit down.
Get the Recipe: Easy Thai Chicken Satay Recipe

Grilled Potato Wedges

Grilled potato wedges with visible char marks arranged on a metal grill rack.
Grilled Potato Wedges. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

These wedges skip the fryer and head straight to the grill for crispy edges and fluffy insides. They’re casual enough for backyard snacks and strong contenders for grilled appetizers.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Potato Wedges

Grilled Romaine

Grilled romaine lettuce topped with shredded cheese, croutons, and dressing on a white plate.
Grilled Romaine. Photo credit: Spend With Pennies.

Charred lettuce might raise eyebrows until people try it—then they circle back for more. It’s simple, smoky, and surprisingly snackable for a grilled appetizer.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Romaine

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Sarita Harbour has been stretching her food dollars to feed her family for over 30 years. As a former banker and current freelance writer, she's written boatloads of articles about budgeting, homesteading, gardening, personal finance and more. Her food-related articles have been widely syndicated through AP and MSN. Look for her food features at NBC, The Seattle Times, Yahoo! Life, Chowhound, Tasting Table and MSN.