The 101 Best Grilling Recipes For Summer
You'll be grilling and chilling all summer long.
Here at Delish, we very much have a "What can't we grill?" attitude when it comes to grilling, so without fail, our BBQ bucket lists gets longer and longer each summer. Since we wouldn't want you to have any grilling FOMO, we’ve rounded up a few of the classics, like burgers, hot dogs, and other grilled meats, as well as some of the most over-the-top, outrageous, and creative recipes for your outdoor grilling pleasure. Consider these 100 recipes the ultimate grill-spiration this summer!
Don’t have a grill yet? Don’t fret, it’s not too late. You’ve got options, and we’ve got opinions. The classic, of course, is the outdoor grill. We’ve done the research on both charcoal, electric, and gas grills for you, and have rounded up our top 9. Don’t have an outdoor space? Try an indoor grill—we’ve highlighted 11 of our faves, plus our best tips for successful indoor grilling. If even that seems like too much, snag a grill pan for your stovetop—you’ll still be able to make most, if not all, of these recipes (just don’t forget to turn on your kitchen fan when you do!).
Now, for the recipes! They range from full meals (thank you foil packs!) to perfectly grilled vegetables and sides; grilled chicken and grilled seafood, with every other kind of meat in between; and lots of vegetarian and vegan options too. For an appetizer or a meal, try one of our kebab options on skewers, like our tomato gnocchi kebabs, grilled chicken kebabs, or buffalo cauliflower kebabs (and while you’re at it, check out our top picks for the best skewers to grill with).
Feeling beef-y? You could do grilled ribs, grilled pork tenderloin, or even learn how to grill steak. Want grilled fish? We got that too. Try a show-stopping full red snapper or our jerk shrimp & pineapple bowls, or for something more low-key, go grilled shrimp, grilled mahi mahi tacos, or even grilled scallops. Looking for something meatless? Try our Thai-inspired cauliflower “steaks” or our eggplant steak frites with chimichurri. They’re so flavorful, even omnivores will want a bite.
For even more summertime recipes, check out our favorite summer sides, our best summer salads, and our top summer desserts too!
Honey Lime Grilled Corn
Nothing says summertime like the smell of corn on the grill. It also happens to be the easiest side you’ll make all season. After getting some char on a hot grill, juicy ears of corn get brushed with an irresistible honey-lime butter that you can also slather on grilled sweet potatoes, cornbread, or even grilled skirt steak.
Get the Honey Lime Grilled Corn recipe.
Chipotle Tofu & Pineapple Skewers
Tofu is so much more than a meat substitute—it’s a protein source that stands on its own, and is the perfect base to soak up tasty sauces, like this chipotle and guajillo chile marinade inspired by the popular Mexican street food, tacos al pastor.
Jerk Shrimp & Pineapple Bowls
Long live the pineapple bowl. Not only is it a super-cute and fun way to serve dinner, but it also guarantees that whatever you’re about to eat is going to be loaded with plenty of fresh, delicious pineapple. In this case, we’ve got jerk-marinated shrimp, sweet peppers, and a sweet and spicy glaze that will make you want to lick your plate clean.
Get the Jerk Shrimp & Pineapple Bowls recipe.
Grilled Tomatoes
Tomatoes are maybe the best part of summer (that’s right—better than the beach and late sunsets), especially when you grill them. Not only does the char from the grill add a slight bitterness that balances a tomato’s acidity and sweetness really well, but the direct heat manages to bring some out some of their deep umami flavors without them falling completely apart.
Get the Grilled Tomatoes recipe.
Grilled Beer Brats
It takes almost zero cooking skills to get perfectly charred brats topped with flavor-packed caramelized onions and peppers. First, the brats get burnished on the grill, then they finish off in a simmering beer bath alongside the veg. Use whatever beer you like to drink, but not IPAs (India Pale Ales), which are brewed to be hoppy (i.e. bitter).
Get the Grilled Beer Brats recipe.
Ribs On The Grill
Few foods are better than perfectly tender ribs, glistening with caramelized BBQ sauce. Now, you can have smokehouse-quality ribs from the comfort of your own home. All it takes is a grill, a few hours, and—okay—a lot of patience. While they're cooking is the perfect time to get the rest of your sides ready. We're talking BBQ classics like coleslaw, potato salad, and cornbread.
Get the Ribs On The Grill recipe.
Surf 'n' Turf Foil Packs
At your next summer gathering, put a few of these bad boys on the coals and take more time to enjoy your company. Once you have the ingredients prepped—all of which can be done the day before and stored in your fridge—it's a few minutes of assembly and only around 15 minutes of hands-off grilling.
Get the Surf 'n' Turf Foil Packs recipe.
Grilled Green Tomatoes
Long a Southern staple in famous dishes like fried green tomatoes, green tomatoes are equally delicious in this lighter, healthier preparation that's perfect for summer. This rendition combines the slightly tangy flavor of underripe tomatoes with the smoky char of the grill and a whipped goat cheese schmear to boot.
Get the Grilled Green Tomatoes recipe.
Tex Mex Chicken Fajita Foil Packets
It's time to embrace the simplest summer meal there is: foil packets. They have the simplicity of a one-pot meal, but all the ingredients are wrapped up in aluminum foil, which makes for extra-simple cleanup. The prep is quick too, since everything cooks inside the foil. In the case of this version, that means a heap of veggies (there are potatoes, onions, and bell peppers) and tender nuggets of boneless skinless chicken thighs, all flavored with delicious fajita spices. Though potatoes aren't traditionally served with fajitas, here they're a welcome addition. Bonus: They soak up all that tasty fajita goodness.
Grilled Brie with Wine
We love digging into a wheel of gooey oven-baked brie, but in the summer, no one wants to bother with the oven. Give this classic appetizer a summery twist by cooking it on the grill, seasoning it lightly with garlic, herbs, and wine, and serving with some lightly charred bread.
Get the Grilled Brie with Wine recipe.
Classic Burger
There are about a 100 ways to top a hamburger, and we're not here to tell you what goes into yours. But it is our duty to make sure that you're cooking your burgers as deliciously as possible. With a few super-simple techniques and shopping tips, you'll be a burger master in no time.
Get the Classic Burger recipe.
Spicy Coconut Grilled Chicken
Get these spicy coconut chicken thighs on the grill ASAP, you won’t regret it. They're insanely tender thanks to a tasty duo of coconut milk and tenderizing pineapple juice in the marinade. We bet you'll revisit this simple recipe again and again this summer (so why not start now?).
Get the Spicy Coconut Grilled Chicken recipe.
Grilled Avocados
It's no secret that avocados are the best, but have you tried grilling them? Yes, seriously, avocados get even better when quickly cooked on the grill. Grilling avocados not only gives them a charred and smoky flavor, but it makes them incredibly tender and extra creamy, perfect for pairing with... well, anything!
Get the Grilled Avocados recipe.
Bánh Mì Kebabs
A classic bánh mì is one of the world's great sandwiches. Think contrast: flavor and texture from the meat, veg, and condiments are key to this sandwich standout. An ideal way to get that classic bánh mì taste? With these kebabs! Par-cooked carrots and slightly sweet daikon grill up nicely with thick pieces of pork chop, and they're perfectly matched with a straightforward combo of fish sauce, soy sauce, and honey.
Get the Bánh Mì Kebabs recipe.
Peach Balsamic Grilled Chicken
Grilling fruit will bring out its juicy sweetness, and while you can always go the sweet route with your grilled peaches, they're just as good paired with this sweet and tangy balsamic chicken.
Grilled Carrots
As with most root veggies, carrots take awhile to cook through, meaning they've got to be tended to and turned frequently to get tender on the grill. The good news is that your hard work will be rewarded; the carrot's natural sweetness comes out during cooking, a complementary foil to the smoky char achieved on the grill. We love serving this veggie side atop creamy ricotta, with a punchy carrot top-based chimichurri sauce for some brightness.
Get the Grilled Carrots recipe.
Grilled Chicken Kebabs
Chicken tastes even better when slid on skewers alongside bok choy and scallions, then glazed with a hoisin BBQ sauce. The best part of the glaze: There's no need to cook anything! Just whisk the ingredients together and you’re ready to go.
Get the Grilled Chicken Kebabs recipe.
BBQ Tempeh Sandwiches
The grill adds subtle smoky flavor to these tempeh steaks, almost bacon-like, but there's no meat in sight. Add a whiskey-infused homemade BBQ sauce, a cooling, creamy coleslaw and a toasted buttered bun for the perfect summer sandwich.
Get the BBQ Tempeh Sandwiches recipe.
Honey Soy Grilled Pork Chops
A good marinade will make a big difference in pork chops. Make sure your marinade has an acid in it to tenderize the meat and something flavorful. We use soy sauce to help with both of those things in our marinade, but you could use anything from Dijon mustard and lemon juice; cilantro, olive oil, and lime juice; or balsamic and honey.
Get the Honey Soy Grilled Pork Chops recipe.
Grilled Peaches
Nothing beats a ripe, sticky-sweet peach, and while you can just bite right in, cooking with peaches is killer. One of our favorite ways? Grilling them, then drizzling them with honey, olive oil, and sea salt. Add freshly whipped cream or vanilla ice cream to take them OTT.
Get the Grilled Peaches recipe.
Camille Lowder is the digital food producer at Delish, otherwise known as our resident queen of recipe galleries. Previously, she attended the Natural Gourmet Institute for culinary school and worked at/managed a number of New York restaurants. She loves anything vegan, foods masquerading as other foods (hello, cauliflower), and a well-used Oxford comma.
Mackenzie Filson is a food writer and contributing digital food producer at Delish. Her favorite ice cream flavor is chocolate-pine. If wine was an astrological sign she'd be a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. She's never met a bag of Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos she didn't eat in one sitting.
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