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  3. Our Favorite Pool Party Recipes

Our Favorite Pool Party Recipes

Updated July 23, 2007
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
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mr-Pork Sliders with Watermelon BBQ Sauce Image
Credit: Jen Causey; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey; Prop Styling Kay Clarke

Invite friends and family over for slushy drinks, fantastic appetizers, and delicious grilled dishes to enjoy by the pool. With the addition of some great music, you'll have all you need to really make a splash with your summer gathering. From easy skewers to crave-worthy cocktails, find something for everyone with our collection of favorite pool party recipes. 

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Instant Pot Pork Sliders with Watermelon Barbecue Sauce

mr-Pork Sliders with Watermelon BBQ Sauce Image
Credit: Jen Causey; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey; Prop Styling Kay Clarke

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. 

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BLT Skewers with Lemon-Chive Aioli

mr-BLT Skewers with Lemon-Chive Aioli Image
Credit: Alison Miksch, Food Styling: Blakeslee Giles, Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

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. 

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Zesty Ginger-Lime Cooler

Zesty Ginger-Lime Cooler
Credit: Dasha Wright; Styling: Linda Hirst

Zesty Ginger-Lime Cooler Recipe

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

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Loaded Totchos

Loaded Totchos
Credit: Styling: Rishon Hanners and Audrey Davis, Photo: Caitlin Bensel

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. 

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Heirloom Tomato and Beet Salad

Heirloom Tomato and Beet Salad
Credit: Johnny Miller; Styling: Sarah Smart

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.

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Sparkling Sangria

Sparkling Sangria
Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Jan Gautro

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.

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Peaches-and-Cream Frozen Pops

Peaches-and-Cream Frozen Pops
Credit: Dana Gallagher; Styling: Alistair Turnbull

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.

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Bahama Mama

Bahama Mama
Credit: Ryan Moriarty; Styling: Callie Blount

Bahama Mama Recipe

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

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Frozen Margarita

Frozen Margarita
Credit: Johnny Miller; Styling: Erin Swift

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.

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Antipasto Plate

Antipasto Plate

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.

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

Open-face Grilled Chicken-and-Pepper Sandwiches with Grilled Romaine Wedges
Credit: Johnny Miller; Styling: Erin Swift

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.

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Tomato and Peach Salad with Almonds

Tomato and Peach Salad with Almonds
Credit: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Tomato and Peach Salad with Almonds Recipe

Ripe, meaty tomatoes star in this salad.

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Spicy Guacamole

mr-Spicy Guacamole Image
Credit: Greg DuPree

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!

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Grilled Watermelon and Shrimp Skewers

Grilled Watermelon Shrimp Skewers
Credit: Iain Bagwell

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.

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Salmon, Asparagus, and Fresh Lemon Kebabs

Salmon, Asparagus, and Fresh Lemon Kebabs
Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Salmon, Asparagus, and Fresh Lemon Kebabs Recipe

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

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Mediterranean Garden Wraps

Mediterranean Garden Wraps
Credit: Annabelle Breakey; Styling:Randy Mon

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.

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Pineapple Expresso

Pineapple Expresso
Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

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.
 

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Frozen Fruit Skewers With Honey-Yogurt Dip

Frozen Fruit Skewers With Honey-Yogurt Dip
Credit: Yunhee Kim; Styling: Megan Hedgpeth

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.

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Coconut Lime Shrimp Skewers

Coconut Lime Shrimp Skewers
Credit: Thayer Allyson Gowdy

Coconut Lime Shrimp Skewers
 

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

 

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Tropical Fruit Salad

Tropical Fruit Salad

Tropical Fruit Salad Recipe

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

 

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Mermaid Pasta

Mermaid Pasta image
Credit: Meredith Food Studios

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. 

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Lemonade Cupcakes

Lemonade Cupcakes

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.

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Watermelon-Limeade Slushie

Watermelon-Limeade Slushie

Watermelon-Limeade Slushie Recipe

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

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Summer Squash Pizza

Summer Squash Pizza
Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

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.

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Salty Dog Slushes

Salty Dog Slushy image
Credit: Jen Causey; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Karen Rankin

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. 

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Tamarind Strawberry Popsicles

mr-Tamarind Strawberry Popsicles
Credit: Jen Causey; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

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.  

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Spicy Grilled Watermelon

mr-Spicy Grilled Watermelon
Credit: Aaron Kirk; Food Styling: Marianne Williams; Prop Styling: Christina Daley

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. 

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Macaroni Salad

mr-Macaroni Salad image
Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Robin Bashinsky

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. 

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Piña Colada Snack Mix

mr-pina colada snack mix image.jpg
Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Katelyn Hardwick; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen

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. 

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    1 of 29 Instant Pot Pork Sliders with Watermelon Barbecue Sauce
    2 of 29 BLT Skewers with Lemon-Chive Aioli
    3 of 29 Zesty Ginger-Lime Cooler
    4 of 29 Loaded Totchos
    5 of 29 Heirloom Tomato and Beet Salad
    6 of 29 Sparkling Sangria
    7 of 29 Peaches-and-Cream Frozen Pops
    8 of 29 Bahama Mama
    9 of 29 Frozen Margarita
    10 of 29 Antipasto Plate
    11 of 29 Open-face Grilled Chicken-and-Pepper Sandwiches with Grilled Romaine Wedges
    12 of 29 Tomato and Peach Salad with Almonds
    13 of 29 Spicy Guacamole
    14 of 29 Grilled Watermelon and Shrimp Skewers
    15 of 29 Salmon, Asparagus, and Fresh Lemon Kebabs
    16 of 29 Mediterranean Garden Wraps
    17 of 29 Pineapple Expresso
    18 of 29 Frozen Fruit Skewers With Honey-Yogurt Dip
    19 of 29 Coconut Lime Shrimp Skewers
    20 of 29 Tropical Fruit Salad
    21 of 29 Mermaid Pasta
    22 of 29 Lemonade Cupcakes
    23 of 29 Watermelon-Limeade Slushie
    24 of 29 Summer Squash Pizza
    25 of 29 Salty Dog Slushes
    26 of 29 Tamarind Strawberry Popsicles
    27 of 29 Spicy Grilled Watermelon
    28 of 29 Macaroni Salad
    29 of 29 Piña Colada Snack Mix

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