10 Healthy Must-Have Summer Party Recipes
Burgers are sizzling on the grill. The sun is still perched on the horizon. Laughter emanates throughout the neighborhood as friends gather with cold, thirst-quenching beers in hand. For as much as I love the winter holidays, there is something magical about summer. Almost as if the rules don’t apply. We can stay out later, get together longer, and skip the homework. And if summer is one of your favorite times of year, then sink your teeth into these 10 Healthy Must-Have Summer Party Recipes. Because who says you can’t eat healthy at the party while also still eating delicious, mouthwatering foods?
BACON GUACAMOLE
Bacon Guacamole for sure makes this list. Crunchy bacon meets creamy avocado in this low-carb, paleo healthy summer recipe that will knock your socks off! As a friend said, “This! More of this, please!” There you have it. More bacon. More guacamole. Summer never tasted so good!
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OLIVE TAPENADE
Olive Tapenade is the healthy, also low-carb, recipe that we swear by in our house. If a party is in store, then so is a batch of this. To say it’s versatile is an understatement. Serve your olive tapenade with chips, seafood, vegetables, or a spoon. It is seriously a family-favorite. And I don’t just mean in our immediate household. Extended family members often say, “You’re bringing the tapenade, correct, Morgan?” Oh, you know that’s right.
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STRAWBERRY LIME DAIQUIRI
Mmkay. Is it even possible to have a party and not have a Strawberry Lime Daiquiri? I mean, probably yes. But, this daiquiri is gluten-free and refined sugar-free. So why not? Fresh strawberries and limes meet frozen cherries, and there is something out-of-this-world about that trio. Not to mention, this takes just a matter of minutes to make, which is perfect if you’re hosting the summer party and the guests are walking in the door OR you are headed to the party. This delicious delight travels well. That’s winning, Spiriteds.
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HOT ‘N SPICY PICO DE GALLO
Just picture it. You’re standing around, catching up with friends, and you see a bowl of chips. Score! You want a handful but you have no idea what to to pair those chips with. Hot ’n Spicy Pico de Gallo. That’s what. As the name implies, this vegetable-based appetizer will tingle your spidey senses, awaken your soul, and make your eyes water just ever so slightly (unless you eat it with a spoon like I did/do – then it’s full-on bawl fest with the watery eyes). Low-carb, gluten-free, and vegan, this is yet another of our healthy must-have summer party recipes to keep close by.
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MARINATED GREEK OLIVES
Sometimes the party is less beer and more wine. Low-key and casual, everyone sits around a fire pit or on a patio to watch the stars. And sometimes you just need a finger food to nibble while you sip your wine and talk with close friends. Enter Marinated Greek Olives. Much like Olive Tapenade, this is an extended-family favorite and definitely gets a spot on our list of healthy must-have summer party recipes not to miss. Easy to make, easy to store, these olives are gluten-free, low-carb, vegan, and paleo, which also means they are perfect for those with and without food allergies. No need for several different dishes. Everyone can get their hands on these!
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PINEAPPLE MANGO SMOOTHIE
Who can forget Pineapple Mango Smoothie? I LOVE this smoothie recipe because I can make a few batches, one for the kids and one for the adults, and everyone walks away happy. And perhaps that’s the beauty of this recipe ~ the variations. Make a few tweaks and make it your own! Thus it gets a spot on today’s list of healthy must-have summer party recipes.
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FRUIT SALSA
Fruit Salsa has always been a favorite party snack in our house, even long before we discovered food allergies, autoimmunity, and food as medicine. Yes, Fruit Salsa, in some form, has been a mainstay. There is something tantalizing, almost hypnotic about the blend of sweet strawberries, mangos, pineapple, and mandarins with cilantro and onions. It definitely stands on its own as a refreshing summer treat with no wingman (wingwoman?) needed. Eat it by itself, with cinnamon tortillas, or these Baked Cinnamon Apple Chips.
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RASPBERRY LIME DAIQUIRI
If you’re like K-Hubs, then it’s the raspberry you like. Well, there’s a daiquiri for that. In addition to the aforementioned Strawberry Lime Daiquiri, we also have a Raspberry Lime Daiquiri. And, no, the recipes, although similar, are not identical. Mix and match to see what you like best, but this time, it’s fresh raspberries, limes, and green grapes together for a thirst-quenching drink. I’m telling you, this adult beverage of choice just oozes summer!
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CHOCOLATE ALMOND BUTTER CUPS
No summer cookout would be complete without chocolate. Since we’re addicted to almond butter and chocolate, we gravitate to Chocolate Almond Butter Cups. And for added enjoyment, I like to freeze ours first. As frozen treats go, just ask the girls, this one is tops!!!
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SPICY AVOCADO DEVILED EGGS
And last, but never least, are Spicy Avocado Deviled Eggs, which happen to be mayo-free and paleo! We made them for a party last year, and I planned to ask people what they thought of them, a spicy take on a traditional deviled egg recipe. However, within minutes, plates were full of these babies, and seconds after that, they were gone. One partygoer did come up to me later to proclaim them some of the best deviled eggs he’d ever had. So there, you have it, another on our list of healthy must-have summer party recipes that awakens the taste buds.
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Guilt-free summer livin’ right here, Spiriteds! So keep calm and party on!
