Best Cold Skewer Appetizers for Your BBQ Party

Cold skewers are quick and delicious appetizers you can make for your next BBQ party!

Okay, so hear me out: Skewers, but you make them cold.

I know we’re all used to the hot-off-the-grill kind, but cold skewer appetizers are perfect for BBQ parties and hot summer days!

You can make these ahead of time, pop them in the fridge, and not stress about last-minute prep or getting them on the grill.

I usually throw together a couple trays while trying to keep my oldest away from the olives.

My favorite is the caprese skewer with mozzarella, cherry tomatoes and basil.

I don’t know…something about it feels really fancy!

But my kids love the BLT bites made with lettuce, bacon, cherry tomatoes, and fresh croutons.

Which one will be your fave?

Cold Skewer Appetizers for a Party

Here are the easiest and tastiest cold skewer appetizers you can make for your bbq party:

1. Caprese Skewer

These little skewers taste like summer and look super cute on a platter.

What You’ll Need:

• Cherry tomatoes
• Mini mozzarella balls
• Fresh basil leaves
• Balsamic glaze (optional)
• Toothpicks or small skewers

How to Make It:

1. Rinse the cherry tomatoes and basil.
2. Thread one tomato, one basil leaf, and one mozzarella ball onto each skewer.
3. Arrange on a tray and drizzle with balsamic glaze if using.
4. Chill until ready to serve.

2. Greek Salad Skewer

Basically a Greek salad on a stick! It’s fresh, salty, and super snackable.

What You’ll Need:

• Cucumber slices
• Feta cubes
• Kalamata or black olives
• Cherry tomatoes
• Small skewers or party picks

How to Make It:

1. Slice cucumber into thick rounds.
2. Cut feta into small cubes.
3. Skewer a tomato, olive, feta cube, and cucumber slice.
4. Keep chilled until serving.

3. Deli Meat Roll-Up Skewers

The kids LOVE these and they’re great for filling up hungry guests.

What You’ll Need:

• Deli meat (turkey, ham, salami, etc.)
• Cream cheese
• Baby dill pickles
• Toothpicks

How to Make It:

1. Lay a slice of meat flat and spread on some cream cheese.
2. Add a pickle and roll everything up tightly.
3. Secure with a toothpick and cut in half if needed.
4. Chill until serving.

4. Antipasto Skewer

These feel kinda fancy but they’re actually super easy to throw together.

What You’ll Need:

• Salami slices
• Green or black olives
• Marinated artichoke hearts
• Cheese cubes (like provolone or mozzarella)
• Skewers

How to Make It:

1. Drain the artichoke hearts and cut into bite-sized chunks.
2. Skewer one of each: salami, olive, artichoke, and cheese.
3. Arrange on a plate and refrigerate.
4. Serve cold with toothpicks or appetizer forks.

5. Fruit Skewers

So colorful and sweet and they disappear FAST at kids’ parties!

What You’ll Need:

• Strawberries (halved if large)
• Pineapple chunks
• Green or red grapes
• Kiwi
• Small skewers

How to Make It:

1. Wash and prep all fruit into bite-sized pieces.
2. Thread fruit in any order you like (mix up the colors!).
3. Chill until party time.
4. Optional: serve with a yogurt dip on the side.

6. Watermelon, Feta, and Mint

These are so sweet, salty, and refreshing!

What You’ll Need:

• Watermelon cubes
• Feta cubes
• Fresh mint leaves
• Toothpicks

How to Make It:

1. Cut watermelon and feta into small, even cubes.
2. Stack watermelon, mint leaf, and feta on a toothpick.
3. Repeat until you run out of ingredients.
4. Serve cold and fresh.

7. Tortellini Skewers

A pasta salad…on a stick! So good, and it actually fills people up.

What You’ll Need:

• Cheese tortellini (cooked and cooled)
• Cherry tomatoes
• Fresh basil leaves
• Italian dressing (optional)
• Skewers

How to Make It:

1. Cook tortellini according to package, then rinse with cold water.
2. Toss with a little Italian dressing if you want extra flavor.
3. Skewer tortellini, tomato, and basil in any order.
4. Chill before serving.

8. Smoked Salmon, Cucumber, and Cream Cheese Skewers

These are a little fancier but take no time at all. They’re great for brunch-y BBQs!

What You’ll Need:

• Smoked salmon slices
• Cucumber rounds
• Cream cheese
• Fresh dill (optional)
• Toothpicks

How to Make It:

1. Spread cream cheese on each cucumber round.
2. Roll up a bit of smoked salmon and place it on top.
3. Add a small sprig of dill if using.
4. Secure with a toothpick and chill.

9. Ham, Cheddar, and Apple Skewers

These are a surprisingly tasty combo of savory, sharp, and sweet.

What You’ll Need:

• Ham slices
• Cheddar cheese cubes
• Apple slices (thin wedges)
• Lemon juice (to keep apples from browning)
• Toothpicks

How to Make It:

1. Slice apples and toss with lemon juice.
2. Cut ham into bite-sized strips.
3. Skewer ham, cheddar, and apple together.
4. Keep cold until ready to serve.

10. Mini Sandwich Stack

These tiny little sammies on sticks always disappear first!

What You’ll Need:

• Bread slices (cut into cubes)
• Deli meat (any kind)
• Cheese slices (cut into squares)
• Baby pickles or pickle slices
• Toothpicks

How to Make It:

1. Toast bread lightly if you want extra texture.
2. Stack bread cube, cheese, meat, and pickle.
3. Secure with a toothpick.
4. Keep cold or room temp until serving.

More Yummy Cold Skewer Ideas

Here are some more cold skewer appetizer ideas:

11. BLT Bites

Start by cooking the bacon and cutting it into bite-sized pieces.

Stack a crouton, a small piece of romaine or iceberg, a chunk of bacon, and a cherry tomato on each toothpick.

These get a little wobbly, so I press everything down gently and chill them in a flat container with a lid.

12. Prosciutto, Melon, and Mozzarella

Cube the melon and wrap each mozzarella ball in a strip of prosciutto and a dollop of Pesto.

Skewer one cube of melon followed by the prosciutto-wrapped cheese.

I always use cantaloupe because it’s sweeter, and I keep a few extras in the fridge for snacking while I work.

13. Chicken, Bell Pepper, and Ranch Dipper

Cut cooked chicken breast and bell peppers into chunks and alternate them on skewers.

Serve them cold with a small container of ranch dressing for dipping.

If I’ve got leftovers from dinner the night before, this one takes five minutes flat.

14. Roasted Red Pepper, Olive, and Goat Cheese

Slice jarred roasted red peppers and roll them around small spoonfuls of goat cheese.

Add a green or black olive to each skewer to hold the roll in place.

These can get a little slippery, so I always pop them in the fridge right away to firm up.

15. Shrimp Caprese Skewers

Just toss peeled shrimp with olive oil and seasonings (garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, basil, and pepper), then bake at 450° for about 7 minutes until pink and firm.

Once cooled, thread each skewer with a shrimp, grape tomato, basil leaf and mozzarella ball, then finish with a drizzle of balsamic glaze.

The Best Cold Skewer Finger Foods for Your Party

I hope you found some great cold appetizers for your next bbq, potluck or birthday!