Three easy barbecue starters with sausage, tomato, mozzarella and grilled provolone

RecipesCuisine: South American-inspired 14 August 2026 Updated at: 14 August 20261 min read

3 Easy Barbecue Starters Everyone Will Love

Name: 3 Easy Barbecue Starters Everyone Will Love
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: South American-inspired
Ingredients: 6 pork sausages; 3 tbsp chimichurri sauce; 250g cherry tomatoes; 200g mini mozzarella balls; 1 small bunch fresh basil; 1 tbsp olive oil; Fine salt and freshly ground black pepper; Cocktail sticks or short skewers; 300g provolone, cut into thick slices; 150g cherry tomatoes, halved; 4 tbsp fresh vinaigrette or tomato and onion salsa

Three easy barbecue starters for sharing: chimichurri sausage, grilled tomato and mozzarella bites, and bubbling provolone with fresh vinaigrette.

A good barbecue starts before the main event. These three quick starters give everyone something to share while the grill heats up and the rest of the food cooks.

Choose one or serve all three: sliced sausage with chimichurri, warm tomato and mozzarella bites, and melted provolone finished with a fresh vinaigrette.

Recipe details

Preparation: 15 min
Cooking: 15 min
Serves: 8
Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

CHIMICHURRI SAUSAGE
6 pork sausages
3 tbsp chimichurri sauce
TOMATO AND MOZZARELLA BITES
250g cherry tomatoes
200g mini mozzarella balls
1 small bunch fresh basil
1 tbsp olive oil
Fine salt and freshly ground black pepper
Cocktail sticks or short skewers
GRILLED PROVOLONE
300g provolone, cut into thick slices
150g cherry tomatoes, halved
4 tbsp fresh vinaigrette or tomato and onion salsa

Method

Grill the sausages whole until browned and cooked through. Slice and serve with chimichurri spooned over the top.
Halve the tomatoes. Sandwich a mozzarella ball and basil leaf between two tomato halves, secure with a cocktail stick, brush with olive oil and season.
Grill the tomato and mozzarella bites briefly, turning carefully, until warm and lightly charred.
Place the provolone and halved tomatoes in a barbecue-safe pan. Grill until the cheese is melted and golden at the edges.
Finish the provolone with fresh vinaigrette and serve all three starters while hot.