These light and healthy appetizers are perfect for backyard barbecues and holiday celebrations.
I love throwing parties, and outdoor parties are one of my favorite parts of summertime! There’s plenty of room in the backyard for everyone to spread out, enjoying the warm weather and playing our favorite lawn games. There’s only one problem about throwing a 4th of July bash: at least in my family, everyone seems to arrive…let’s say “fashionably late.” That means that half the crowd is getting hangry while they wait for us to fire up the grill! So I’ve gotten smarter over the years about having snacks and appetizers ready, and this list of light & healthy 4th of July appetizers has definitely come in handy.
Appetizers don’t have to be heavy or filled with fatty ingredients to be delicious. While it’s true that a cheesy garlic bread definitely satisfies, it also won’t leave you feeling light. The point of the snack isn’t to fill you up – it’s to provide you with nourishment while you wait for the main meal. No one wants to be completely full when you pull those burgers and brats off the grill! These light & healthy 4th of July appetizers are designed to deliver nutrition and flavor without ruining your appetite.
22 Light & Healthy 4th of July Appetizers
The 4th of July only comes around once a year, so be sure to make your celebration memorable. Get the party started right with guilt-free, delicious food like these light & healthy 4th of July appetizers. Just be ready to hand out some recipes – your guests will definitely ask you for a few of these!
1. Skinny Cheeseburger Boats
These bite-sized “cheeseburgers” make the perfect, portion-controlled appetizer. Bell peppers make an excellent bun replacement, delivering tasty burger flavor without that filling bun. Customize them any way you like by adding in your favorite toppings. My cheeseburger boats are going to have green chile and bacon, for sure!
2. Spicy Korean-Style Cauliflower Wings
Skip the saturated-fat-filled chicken wings without missing everyone’s favorite 4th of July appetizer. The Minimalist Baker really nails it with these cauliflower wings. They taste just as good as the real deal, but they’re packed full of nutrition instead.
3. No-Cook Rainbow Bruschetta Recipe
PureWow’s fresh and nutritious no-cook rainbow bruschetta recipe is absolutely gorgeous, isn’t it? Talk about a show stopper. It’s definitely one of those “front and center” type appetizers! Plus, it only takes 15 minutes to prepare, so it’s a must-make for your next get together.
4. Baked Chicken Meatballs
Meatballs are a classic party appetizer, but that doesn’t mean you can’t lighten them up and make them healthier! By using ground chicken, Pinch of Yum cuts out most of the saturated fats without losing any of the flavor. Serve them up on toothpicks with your favorite dipping sauce.
5. Grilled Zucchini Caprese
Fire up the grill and treat your guests with this beautiful appetizer. This dish captures all the flavors of the classic Italian favorite while lightening things up by using zucchini slices as the “bread.” Talk about a great way to sneak in an extra serving of vegetables!
6. Baked Plantain Chips & Garlicky Guacamole
No backyard barbecue is complete without a bowl of guacamole, but that doesn’t mean you have to serve it up with fat-filled chips. These baked plantain chips by the Minimalist Baker are so crunchy and flavorful that you might find yourself snacking on them well before you pull out the guac.
7. 5-Layer Mason Jar Taco Dip
Damn Delicious takes everyone’s favorite dip and makes it trendier by using mason jars! It makes prep a breeze and serving even easier. If you’re looking to make these even healthier, feel free to swap in ground turkey instead of the ground beef. Then, serve them up with some DIY, guilt-free homemade chips.
8. Firecracker Vegan Lettuce Wraps
What says 4th of July more than firecrackers? These vegan lettuce wraps are filled with crispy tofu and make the perfect afternoon snack. The firecracker sauce by Pinch of Yum is out-of-this-world good, so you may want to make a double batch!
9. Cauliflower Nachos
Nachos make a great appetizer snack, but they’re not exactly healthy…until now! Riced cauliflower makes the perfect chip alternative and keeps this appetizer gluten-free at the same time. Load ’em up with your favorite toppings and these are sure to be a hit.
10. Raw Romaine Taco Boats
This no-cook appetizer makes it easy to pull together your 4th of July party without heating up the house. This recipe by the Minimalist Baker is light and healthy, making it a perfect party appetizer. It also doesn’t hurt that they’ll look gorgeous on a platter!
11. Avocado Deviled Eggs
Take regular-old deviled eggs and bring them to the next level by stuffing them with avocado. This recipe by Damn Delicious not only looks super cool, but it tastes great, too! It’s also nice that you can prep this recipe in advance and pull them out of the fridge when you’re ready to serve.
12. Zucchini Fritters
These bite-sized appetizers are crispy, satisfyingly delicious, and surprisingly healthy. This recipe by Smitten Kitchen is basically shredded zucchini with a little flour and egg as a binder. Pan-fry them up and reheat them in the oven when you’re ready to serve – that makes them guilt-free and easy to prep!
13. Avocado Wontons
This bite-sized appetizer is a crowd-pleaser, despite the fact that they’re so easy to throw together. Just load up some wonton wrappers with creamy avocado and crunchy coleslaw, and you’ve created a hit. You may want to make a double-batch, though – these will go quickly!
14. 5-Minute Macadamia Nut Cheese and Vegan Crudite
I always appreciate it when my friends have a vegetable platter at a barbecue. It guarantees I’ll have something healthy to snack on. The Minimalist Baker really takes it to the next level with this platter, filled with all plant-based ingredients (including vegan cheese).
15. Baked Zucchini Chips
This is one of those light & healthy 4th of July appetizers you can’t get enough of! This recipe by Damn Delicious delivers the crunch you want from a chip without all the excess fat. And since they’re baked (not fried), they don’t have any extra oil, either.
16. Roasted Eggplant with Tomatoes and Mint
Skip the bread and roast up some eggplant steaks instead. You’ll not only benefit from the added nutrition, but you’ll get a nice splash of color, too. Between the purple eggplant, red tomatoes, and green mint, this appetizer by Smitten Kitchen looks quite festive!
17. Asparagus, Cherry Tomato, and Feta Tart
The flavors in this tart are absolutely perfect for 4th of July. Salty cheese, fresh-tasting asparagus, and savory tomatoes. It will look gorgeous on the appetizer table and it’s super easy to whip up, thanks to the pre-made whole-wheat puff pastry.
18. Rainbow Spring Rolls
Celebrate Independence Day with a bright splash of color! These beautiful spring rolls are not only pleasant to look at, but they’re packed full of colorful vegetables, too. The ginger peanut sauce by the Minimalist Baker is protein-filled and addictively good.
19. Caramelized Onion Dip
You can never have too many dip recipes in your back pocket. This sweet-and-savory dip from Pinch of Yum is a healthy step-up from the onion dip of my childhood! It uses real onions, and you can swap in low-fat cream cheese to keep the calories low.
20. Easy Elote Dip
Elote – also known as Mexican Street Corn – is one of my favorite dishes, but I’ll be the first to admit that it’s not very easy to eat. That’s why I love this easy elote dip by Gimme Some Oven. It captures all the flavors of my favorite side dish while turning it into an easy-to-eat appetizer.
21. Creamy Scallion & Yogurt Dip
A good dip is one of those essential light & healthy 4th of July appetizers. You’ll love how easy it is to whip this dish up, and you can serve it with any number of vegetable crudite options to keep things nice and light. This dip also makes an excellent spread on sandwiches if you happen to have leftovers.
22. Chimichurri Shrimp
Add some protein to the appetizer table with this incredible shrimp recipe from Gimme Some Oven. You can make the tangy chimichurri sauce ahead of time and pop the shrimp on the barbecue when your guests arrive. It’ll be fresh, healthy, and easy to make.
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