40 Grilling Recipes You Must Try This Summer
Whether you're grilling for a crowd or making a quick weeknight dinner, these standout recipes bring fresh ideas and bold flavors to summer cooking.
Grilling season has officially commenced, which means that weeknight meals and holiday gatherings just got a whole lot more delicious. The beauty of grilling is that you don't need to do a whole lot to your food in order for it to develop fantastic flavor. From juicy grilled chicken and succulent shrimp to grilled vegetables and fruit, we rounded up our best grilling recipes for hot summer nights. You'll find dozens of ideas for foods to grill including starters and side dishes as well as plenty of memorable main courses.
You can get a head start on the prep work for many of these recipes, starting with a simple marinade or dry rub for steak, chicken, and pork. You'll be amazed at how easily a few basic pantry ingredients can transform these protein cuts. Plus, it means less work for you come dinnertime!
One of the other reasons why grilling is such a good option during the warm weather months is because it keeps your kitchen cool. Pretty much anything you can cook in your oven, you can cook on a grill — including baked goods (and we're going to prove that with a couple of grilled dessert recipes)! While its temperature can be a bit tricky to control, a grill operates similarly to an indoor range — when it’s closed, it circulates heat like an oven. To achieve the effects of stovetop searing, keep it open. If you're new to grilling, brush up on this grilling guide for beginners, which will guide you through choosing the right tools, products and ingredients to get started.
Ready to fire things up? Read on to find 40 grilling recipes to cook on repeat all summer long!
BBQ-Glazed Hot Dogs with Spicy Slaw
Take your dogs to the next level by slathering them in your favorite barbecue sauce before they hit the grill. The result is a slightly sweet, caramelized bite that's a far cry from your average ballpark hot dog.
Marinated Flank Steak
Flank steak is an affordable and easy-to-cook cut of meat, but the key to maximizing the flavor is marinating it. Start with a citrus-garlic marinade, then serve it with a zesty chimichurri for extra punch.
Get the Marinated Flank Steak recipe.
Tangy Charred Coleslaw
This isn't your average summer coleslaw. Two varieties of cabbage are grilled and mixed with a combination of lime juice, rice wine vinegar, fresh mint and, roasted peanuts for a light, umami-rich side dish.
Get the Tangy Charred Coleslaw recipe.
Double Mustard–Marinated Chicken Drumsticks
You could just throw drumsticks on the grill and call it a day, but dunking them in a marinade made with two kinds of mustard adds a sweet-spicy flavor that's worth the effort.
Grilled Shrimp Cocktail
Classic shrimp cocktail is made with gently poached shrimp, but this warm weather spin might just be our new go-to preparation.
Get the Grilled Shrimp Cocktail recipe.
Grilled Lemon-Lime Corn Salad
Fresh corn is at its peak in the heat of the summer, so be sure to take advantage of it. Toss the charred kernels with two kinds of citrus and scallions, which seriously perk up the sweet vegetable.
Get the Grilled Lemon-Lime Corn Salad recipe.
Grilled Pork and Pineapple Sandwiches
Instead of serving slices of pork tenderloin with a couple of side dishes, stack them high with juicy pineapple and grilled onion rings to create individual sandwiches.
Get the Grilled Pork and Pineapple Sandwiches recipe.
RELATED: 47 Delicious Healthy Salad Recipes That Are Seriously Delicious and Filling
Blackberry-Glazed Ribs
Get your napkins ready! The sticky sweet coating is all thanks to a duo of store-bought barbecue sauce and blackberry jam.
Get the Blackberry-Glazed Ribs recipe.
Grilled Chicken Sandwiches
Consider this the answer to a summer Caprese sandwich. Not only does it get a boost of protein from chicken cutlets, but the whole sandwich tastes better than ever when grilled.
Get the Grilled Chicken Sandwiches recipe.
RELATED: 80 Best Party Dip Recipes That Are Easy to Serve a Crowd
Tomato and Charred Pepper Farro Salad
This isn't your ordinary grain bowl. Revamp this colorful dish for summer potlucks by charring veggies like bell peppers and scallions on the grill.
Pork and Scallion Kebabs with Herbed Couscous
Quickly tossing the pork with lemon, garlic, and olive oil just before grilling gives the meat a bright, Mediterranean-inspired flavor that's perfect for summer dinners al fresco.
Get the Pork and Scallion Kebabs with Herbed Couscous recipe.
RELATED: Our Best Healthy Lunch Ideas
Cheddar-Stuffed Cheeseburgers
Is it really a proper cookout if there aren't burgers on the grill? Say goodbye to bland, dry hamburgers with this technique, which calls for stuffing each patty with cheddar cheese.
Get the Cheddar-Stuffed Cheeseburgers recipe.
Grilled Chicken Skewers and Kale Caesar
Give this classic steakhouse side dish a summertime twist! Here, grilled chicken skewers are paired with the creamy, garlicky salad for a summer-ready meal.
Grilled Pineapple
Nothing quite hits the spot on a hot summer day like a scoop or two of ice cream. That is, until you pair it with slices of grilled pineapple for an even more tropical treat!
GET the Grilled Pineapple recipe.
Grilled Carrots
Thanks to their firm texture and sweet flavor, carrots are a great option for grilling! They're tossed with a trio of honey, harissa, and olive oil, which helps enhance the smoky, charred flavor from the grill.
Get the Grilled Carrots recipe.
Grilled Shrimp Kebabs
Toss extra large shrimp in a flavorful dry rub, thread them onto skewers, and grill them for a quick summer bite.
Get the Grilled Shrimp Kebabs recipe.
Grilled Fruit Salad with Vanilla Yogurt
Switch up your summertime dessert with a platter of grilled pineapple, mangoes, and fresh berries. Serve the fruit over a bed of sweetened yogurt with slices of pound cake on the side.
Green Curry–Cilantro Spatchcock Chicken
The most efficient and delicious way to grill a whole chicken is by spatchcocking it, which requires removing the backbone. The result is a juicy charred bird that comes together in just about an hour.
Grilled Buffalo Salmon with Celery Slaw
There's so much more you can do with buffalo sauce than just tossing it with chicken wings. Here, it brings its signature tangy heat to salmon skewers.
Aleppo Grilled Steak with Farro Salad
Aleppo pepper is a popular Middle Eastern spice that brings some bright heat to whatever it touches. It's a no-fuss way to make your grilled steak taste even better this summer.
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