Our Favorite Pool Party Recipes

Instant Pot Pork Sliders with Watermelon Barbecue Sauce Recipe

This has all the flavor and tenderness of all-day barbecue, but comes together in a few hours. The watermelon juice replaces the stock usually found in Instant Pot or slow cooker pulled pork recipes, and the rind gives the sauce from extra body. The pork's sweetness resembles that of al pastor, so it would work just as well in tacos as it does in sliders. 

BLT Skewers with Lemon-Chive Aioli Recipe

The classic BLT sandwich gets a makeover with these flavorful grilled skewers. Drizzled with a zesty aioli sauce, these skewers get the full BLT treatment when served over a bed of grilled romaine lettuce. Perfect for your next summer cookout, these skewers are fun, fresh, and irresistibly tasty. 

Zesty Ginger-Lime Cooler Recipe

Ginger adds a spicy shot to this drink, while sweet honey rounds out the flavor.

Loaded Totchos Recipe

This sensational spud riff on nachos is an hommage to party food lovers everywhere. Loaded with toppings and drizzled with a hot cheese dip, these totchos are ready to rock and roll right onto your plate.  This dish has all of the goodness of trashy, delicious bar nachos but are made with potato tots for a warm comfort food addition. Fresh jalapeno slices and cool avocado round out this dish, leaving the end impression and flavor as simply drool-inducing. 

Heirloom Tomato and Beet Salad Recipe

Heirloom Tomato and Beet Salad delivers a vibrant and delicious vegetable salad showcasing summer's sweet and juicy tomatoes.

Sparkling Sangria Recipe

Flavor this cava-and-brandy-based sangria with blueberries, cherries, raspberries, strawberries, nectarine, and apricot nectar for a sweet summer cocktail that tastes as good as it looks.

Peaches-and-Cream Frozen Pops Recipe

Our version of the Creamsicle is silky, with distinct peachy flavor. It's a not-too-sweet pop that grown-ups will love but that's playful enough for all ages.

Bahama Mama Recipe

A blend of fruit liqueurs and rum create this delicious, tropical cocktail. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and cherry.

Frozen Margarita Recipe

No fiesta is complete without rounds of Frozen Margaritas. We freeze our Margaritas in an electric ice cream maker for extra slushiness.

Antipasto Plate Recipe

This appetizer plate offers a roasted red pepper dip and an easy, make-ahead eggplant spread. Dress up your platter with fresh vegetables, water crackers, pita chips, and fruit.

Open-face Grilled Chicken-and-Pepper Sandwiches with Grilled Romaine Wedges Recipe

Fire up the grill for these filling Open-face Grilled Chicken-and-Pepper Sandwiches with Grilled Romaine Wedges. The chicken only requires a short marinade time of 10 minutes.

Tomato and Peach Salad with Almonds Recipe

Ripe, meaty tomatoes star in this salad.

Spicy Guacamole Recipe

This Spicy Guacamole definitely has a kick to it, but it's not overpowering. It's simple, acidic, and delicious, and might just be your new favorite guacamole. Serve with chips or as a side or topping for your favorite taco, quesadilla, or enchilada recipe. Oh, and make sure to prepare enough, because this'll be gone fast!

Grilled Watermelon and Shrimp Skewers Recipe

Grilling watermelon adds a smoky note to the fruit and gives it a slightly meaty texture that matches well with shrimp. Cooking takes only a couple of minutes, so have both sets of skewers ready before you start. You'll need 12 flat metal skewers (12 in. long) or 18 skewers (8 in. long)--or use bamboo skewers of the same size, soaked in water for 30 minutes.

Salmon, Asparagus, and Fresh Lemon Kebabs Recipe

Bring unique flavor to traditional fish kebabs with zesty lemon and savory asparagus.

Mediterranean Garden Wraps
 

Here's a simple, portable, and satisfying way to get more vegetables into your day. Feel free to experiment, changing up the vegetables you use based on what's in season, as well as the bread. Tortillas make good wraps, and the fillings are excellent in pita bread.

Pineapple Expresso Recipe

Coffee and pineapple? Yep, it's unexpected... but delicious. This caffeinated tiki-inspired mocktail offers an incredible balance of depth contributed by the cold brew coffee and orgeat and tropical brightness from the pineapple juice. You can find orgeat, a simple syrup made with almonds and orange flower or rose water, in specialty food stores or online. Keep your beverage especially cool (and full-flavored) by freezing your pineapple cubes before adding them to the drink.
 

Frozen Fruit Skewers With Honey-Yogurt Dip Recipe

Frozen fruit skewers are a great pool-side solution for cooling down in the summer heat. Display them in clear glass vases for fun presentation at your next summer party.

Coconut Lime Shrimp Skewers
 

A squeeze of lime adds zing and toasted coconut contributes crunch to this easy make-ahead crowd-pleaser.

Tropical Fruit Salad Recipe

Escape on a tropical getaway with this colorful salad bursting with grapes, bananas, pineapple and mango.

Mermaid Pasta Recipe

This perfect, butter pasta is super easy to make and will serve a group of kids for less than $3.00. Pack it in a school lunch (and cause some serious lunch envy), serve it as an after-school snack or add it to the spread at any summer or pool party. Hold on to a little bit of that pasta water: mixed with the butter and cheese, it keeps the pasta from being too dry. 

Lemonade Cupcakes Recipe

These easy-to-prepare Lemonade Cupcakes get their citrus taste from a can of frozen lemonade concentrate. A hit at parties, let guests garnish frosted cupcakes with sprinkles and candy.

Watermelon-Limeade Slushie Recipe

Nothing beats the summer heat like a cold slushie. We love the combination of summer watermelon with frsh lime juice.

Summer Squash Pizza Recipe

You can use all zucchini or yellow squash for this grilled pizza. Serve one slice as an appetizer or two with a salad for a simple supper.

Salty Dog Slushes Recipe

The Salty Dog has no flaws, but turning it into a slush makes it the most wonderful and festive summertime cocktail ever. The bitterness, sweetness, salt, and booze come together to make a subtly sweet pink and frosty delight. You can even keep frozen grapefruit juice cubes in the freezer and whip a few drinks up to amaze friends (or yourself).  If you'd like to experiment, this would also make a mighty fine granita. 

Tamarind Strawberry Popsicles Recipe

These vibrant popsicles are fruity and refreshing, but deliver an unexpected depth thanks to the tamarind paste (which can be found at supermarkets such as Whole Foods and online). The tart character of tamarind fruit adds dynamic flavor complexity that nicely balances the simple comfort of fresh, peak-season strawberries. P.S.—If you happen to stir a little bit of the strawberry-tamarind puree into a glass of iced tea or lemonade, you won't regret it.  

Spicy Grilled Watermelon Recipe

This bold and beautiful grilled watermelon recipe features a kick of heat, balanced with bright lime and salty cotija cheese. With a bit of cilantro for a pop of freshness and color, this summery side dish is ready for your next cookout. For a more dynamic spice experience, we love Tajin seasoning—which can be found at most grocery stores and pairs exceptionally well with melon. If you have trouble finding it at your local supermarket, try the nearest Mexican market or order it online. You can cut the watermelon away from the rind before or after grilling and chop it into a more composed salad if desired. 

Macaroni Salad Recipe

For the perfect, all-purpose macaroni salad, look no further than this easy recipe. Our version of the staple summertime side dish delivers everything you love about a classic, creamy pasta salad, but with an extra touch of vibrancy. Chopped bell peppers deliver colorful, sweet crunch while cream cheese provides a tangy depth, and fresh dill lends a flavorful kick of freshness. Whether you're heading to a picnic or potluck-style barbecue, a large bowl of this macaroni salad will always be more than welcome. 

Piña Colada Snack Mix Recipe

Everyone's favorite beach drink becomes crunchy in this snack mix filled with flavor: Sweet, rich coconut, tangy lime and pineapple, and saltiness. You'll find dried fruit in the produce sections of most stores. We used large coconut flakes. Toss in the fat before you add salt and seasoning to ensure an even dispersal.  This makes a lot, and will easily cut in half, but leftovers hold really well in a sealed bag. Serve with actual piña coladas, or your favorite beer.