50 Easy Summer Entertaining Ideas

The key to enjoying family and friends all summer long is with simple party solutions. Keep the behind-the-scenes workload easy with some of these 50 Easy Summer Entertaining Ideas—from drinks to decor, side dishes and more.

This quick and easy recipe will have everyone coming back for more. Start with a simple syrup, add some mint, then blend together juicy watermelon and tangy lime juice for an awesome summer beverage.

Turn up the heat with these cream cheese, green onion and cheddar cheese stuffed jalapenos wrapped in bacon. (What's not to love about that?) A perfect way to spice up your summer party.

Summer salads should be vibrant to match the season. Try this chopped mango and avocado salad for a cool, fresh side dish your guests will never forget.

Top these lean, scrumptious burgers with some sharp cranberry mayo—yes, you heard that correctly—and your guests won't be leaving any time soon.

You can't say summer without the picture perfect image of a smoking grill and a plate piled high with chopped fruits. So why not combine the two? The idea of grilled pineapple might sound ludicrous, but when coated with coconut sugar and served with ice cream, this dessert will win over your guests' previous judgement.

Kids and adults alike will commend you on a great choice with this recipe. Take this fan favourite drink and cool it down by turning it into a popsicle. Add pitted cherries to the popsicle moulds for an added burst of flavour.

Hosting backyard bashes is one of the best parts of the summer season, but we know it isn't always easy to plan. Scroll through these tips and make your time hosting less stressful and a lot more memorable.

Hit the spot with this easy chopped-strawberry and mint mojito recipe. With infused flavours of lemon and white rum, and a frosting of sugar along the rim, your guests will be refreshed and relaxed after just one glass.

Ditch that basic brie wheel and imagine bite-sized brie bites with raspberry jam and Sauvignon Blanc. We'll bet you—and your guests—can't eat just one.

Fruit-based salads are a great way to start off an afternoon or evening gathering. This dish combines grilled peaches and sweet, roasted pecans doused in melted sugar with goat cheese and arugula—yum.

Steak is unquestionably a BBQ summer sensation, but it's important to change things up a bit. So why not try a healthy alternative to regular steak sauces? Guests will enjoy this lovely carb-less sauce with its mix of parsley, garlic, red pepper flakes, olive oil and salt.

Leave the steak behind and mix things up with a medley of meats that can't be beat.

Appearances are allowed to be deceiving in the midst of a summer party, as long as we're talking about food preparation. This simple, swift and scrumptious recipe calls for puff pastry and sweet strawberries. It tastes best with whipped cream or ice cream heaped on top.

We're calling all foodies because dessert has never looked so perfect. Take the standard ice cream sandwich and make it your own by baking yummy chocolate chip (or chocolate candy) cookies and surrounding them with a generous scoop of ice cream. Use Smarties or other candies to decorate. The kids will love 'em.

Save the plate for the main meal and present this tangy lime dessert, that will satisfy any sweet tooth and the need for a cool down, in fun margarita glasses.

Out with the old and in with the...old? We recommend recycling a perfect—yet spacious—hostess table, that's especially ideal for summer parties as a one-stop shop for drink and snack plates, cutlery, napkins and beverages.

From strawberry gin fizz to minty moroccan, sparkling tea to a classic root beer float, party guests young and old will be satisfied with this selection of five fabulous party drinks.

Add this pleasant pick to your roster of summer recipes to keep things unique on your guests' plates. These savoury and sweet corn cakes with basil and onion can be loaded with a veggie-filled tomato and avocado salsa that is just yummy.

This recipe can be customized to meet every hostess' preferences. Swap basil for oregano or even choose your own spices. But no matter what, we recommend pouring a generous amount of butter on each cob.

If you're craving that outdoorsy feeling, try cooking more meals on the BBQ this summer. This quick and easy side dish of roasted potatoes and onions doused in olive oil, oregano and salt and pepper is a great place to start.

This easy-to-grill curry-like dish offers plenty of tastes, such as garlic, lemon, lime, cinnamon and coriander.

Try out this soon-to-be summer favourite that combines a fruity onion marmalade spread with delicious chimichurri spice, thyme and rosemary on striploin steaks. Serve it with a side of grilled bread.

Avoid sticky hands and messes at your next summer party by simply cutting a thin hole out of watermelon slices and pushing in a stick—such a nifty trick!

With macerated strawberries, soft whipped cream, crushed graham crackers, and mint, brown sugar and vanilla flavouring, you're bound to hook your guests and yourself on these perfect parfaits.

Get inspired by this delightful party planning set-up for a summertime celebration. With pink and green lanterns, sewn floral-printed pillows and cute butterflies made out of storybook pages, this DIY project is fun, friendly and perfect for any summer gathering.

No summer is complete without at least one jug of sangria. Try this recipe with red wine, Brandy and a sweetener of Ginger Ale. Don't forget to cut up strawberries, blueberries and oranges for an infused fruity taste your guests will drink up.

Go gourmet with these prosciutto and basil-wrapped shrimp delights. This simple recipe calls for minimal ingredients and prep-time, but your guests will be clouded by the delicious melding of flavours to even notice.

Try out this healthy alternative to the classic potato salad by substituting mayo or cream with fennel, parsley leaves, garlic and green beans and you'll leave guests feeling healthy, happy and fulfilled.

Sweeten up your barbecue sauce this summer season by taking the rhubarb route. A mix of brown sugar, apple cider, Worcestershire sauce, grainy mustard and other delicious varieties, make this a second-helping sauce.

Burgers are usually topped with mustard, ketchup and pickles, but we're all about mixing things up. Why not try topping a burger with chimichurri, dijonnaise or bacon and onion jam? Offering guests a selection of flavour combos to choose from will make your burgers unforgettable.

Keep this recipe on the top of your pile this summer for a quick go-to option. This delectable combination brings brown sugar dough, chopped white chocolate and summer blackberries together for mouth-watering satisfaction.

Nothing compares to fresh-picked summer strawberries and we're pretty sure there isn't a jam out there that compares to this one. Use it as a sweet seasonal dessert topping.

This three-step DIY lemonade stand is an amazing added touch to any backyard party. Your guests can choose their own fruit purees or San Pellegrino to add to the tart lemon drink.

Keep it Canadian and serve up our favourite summer beverage—the mouth-watering Caesar. Tabasco sauce, Clamato juice, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper and vodka come together to create this classic drink recipe.

'Fancy' doesn't always translate to 'time-consuming' and that's what we like about this recipe. It combines tortellini noodles with some of our favourite finger foods—stuffed olives, artichoke hearts and gypsy salami—all on one skewer.

This mild, comforting side is browned in butter and oil and cooked in a broth of your choice with salt, peppercorns and fennel seeds for added flavours.

Guests will love a non-traditional salad with a traditional foundation, like this potato salad with roasted red peppers, delectable dill pickles and tasty chopped bacon. Serve it alongside a grilled BBQ main course.

Fish tacos are a great way to host a self-serve backyard bash. Kids will love picking the toppings and adults will be pleased to see them eating fish.

These warm mini lamb burgers contrast well with cool 'tzatziki-ish' sauce and are pleasing to both the eye and the stomach.

Kick back and relax because this unbelievable combination of summer desserts will occupy all the kids at the party.

With homemade vanilla bean pastry cream that fills a yummy crust, topped with a fruit of your choice and icing sugar—dessert doesn't get much better. Guests will love the elegance and charm of these tasty treats.

Take advantage of beautiful seasonal flowers and dress up your dinner table with them.

Hot tea and cool vodka combined with San Pellegrino create a new sweet summer fave.

The quick and nimble hostess wins the race—and with this five-minute salad recipe, we guarantee it will win over the hearts and stomachs of your guests. This salad features mini-bocconcini cheese balls, grape tomatoes and basil, all splashed with balsamic dressing.

Throwing summer parties takes a determined, energetic and courageous hostess. Every minute counts in the grand scheme, so try baking your asparagus instead of boiling it and save time—and mush—with this direct, delectable recipe.

Summer entertaining is a lot more inclusive with buffet-style anything, and a salad bar is a great place to start. With peanut sauce and ginger vinaigrette, it will be hard to top this salad.

Pesto is the perfect topper for any protein meal and it's pretty healthy, too. With kale, Parmesan cheese, almonds and garlic, this delicious flavouring is boundless.

We love the convenience of skewers at patio parties, but sometimes it's too hot to fire up the grill. These chopped fruit skewers drizzled in melted chocolate are a cool dessert with little preparation time. We bet the kids won't be able to keep their hands off of them.

Strawberries and rhubarb belong together, and with this recipe, they stay together under a blanket of oat-spread for a crispy dish that is easy to transport and bring to any potluck.

How much do you love pie? So much so that it merits its own table at your next party.

Looking for more ways to entertain this summer? We rounded up the latest and greatest ideas on Pinterest.