73 Grilling Recipes to Set Your Summer Aflame
It doesn’t really feel like summer until you fire up the grill—and we have all the grilling recipes you need to officially kick off outdoor cooking season.
Whether you’re working with charcoal or gas—or a brand-new pellet grill—you’ll find lots of inspiration here: spicy shrimp kebabs, sticky grilled pieces of chicken, beer can cabbage (yes, cabbage) sandwiches, and barbecue sides galore. So let’s do it. Pour yourself a summer cocktail, dust off that grill (maybe clean it too), and send out the invitations.
No outdoor space handy? Try one of these grill pans to get delightful char marks indoors. (Bonus: You’ll be able to keep working your way through these BBQ food ideas long after summer grilling season ends.)
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova1/73Grilled Chicken With Mustard Barbecue Sauce and Tomato Salad
Photo by Caleb Adams, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell2/73Cedar-Plank Salmon
Grilling season calls for thick fillets of salmon slathered in maple syrup, rosemary, lemon zest, and grainy mustard. Just add grilled corn and dinner is served.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich3/73Garlicky Instant Ramen Noodle Salad With Grilled Chicken Thighs
Photo and Food Styling by Joseph De Leo4/73Grilled Pizza
We love grilling recipes that allow for creativity. This grilled pizza is absolutely a mix-and-match situation. Top it with fresh mozzarella, sliced cured meat, juicy burst tomatoes, or whatever else you like. Start here to perfect your pizza-grilling technique.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich5/73Double-Stack Mushroom and Chicken Cheeseburgers
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Erika Joyce6/73Juiciest Grilled Chicken Breast With Citrus Marinade
Summer meal prep can look different from the rest of the year: Grill a pile of chicken breasts to use on grain bowls, salads, or sandwiches throughout the week.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell7/73Grilled Eggplant With Harissa Vinaigrette
Nestle a whole eggplant in the dying embers of a charcoal grill (or char it up top) and it’ll soften into a deliciously smoky, custardy, spoonable delight. Sprinkle on a little parsley for freshness and serve with lots of bread.
Photo & Food Styling by Joseph De Leo8/73Habanero BBQ Shrimp
These delicious habanero BBQ shrimp skewers are bound to become a neighborhood favorite. The simple recipe asks you to gather apricot preserves, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, a habanero pepper, and limes. That’s the hardest part of the recipe, we promise. This dish can stand alone as a flavorful appetizer or be combined with some grilled veggies to make a full meal.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich9/73Grilled Chicken Salad With Any-Pickle Dressing
Got any leftover dill pickles, cocktail onions, capers, pickled green beans, cornichons, or hot cherry peppers in the fridge? Grab a mix to make this tangy buttermilk dressing, which gets split into two parts so it can serve as both marinade and final touch.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell11/73Grilled Whole Cauliflower With Miso Mayo
Basting cauliflower in a spicy butter sauce as it grills infuses it with flavor while turning it beautifully amber. This impressive-looking vegetarian entrée makes a wonderful side dish for any grilled dinner.
Photo and Food Styling by Anna Stockwell13/73Grilled Coconut Shrimp With Shishito Peppers
If you’ve never been big on shrimp, let this recipe change your mind. Soy sauce, lime, and plenty of grated garlic create a marinade that adds big flavor in as little as five minutes while helping to adhere the shredded coconut.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton15/73Open-Face Mushroom Sandwiches With Pecorino Salsa Verde
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Megan Hedgpeth, Food Styling by Simon Andrews16/73Sticky Grilled Chicken
Molasses, pomegranate juice, and apricot jam lend a deliciously sweet-tart, barbecue sauce–like glaze to this main dish from Gourmet’s “lost” summer grilling menu.
Photo by Hirsheimer & Hamilton17/73Spiced Salmon Kebabs
Here’s one small but useful tip for success with these fish kebabs: Thread the salmon onto two skewers. The extra skewer adds stability so that everything stays together when you flip it on the grill. To finish the meal, dress a simple green salad with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Summertime should just be that easy and delicious.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson18/733-Ingredient Charred Green Beans With Ricotta and Lemon
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton19/73Grilled Swordfish Steaks With Whole-Lemon Dressing
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich20/73Grilled Mahi-Mahi Tacos
These quick tacos make any afternoon in the backyard feel like a party. Just add pico de gallo (or mango salsa), guacamole, and margaritas.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone22/733-Ingredient Garlic-Herb Grilled Chicken Wings
These quick and easy chicken wings get their flavor from garlic, herbs (rosemary, thyme, or oregano all work), and just a little time on the grill.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Simon Andrews23/73Country-Style Ribs With Quick-Pickled Watermelon
Step 1: Pair sweet pickled watermelon with hearty country-style ribs marinated in brown sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, ginger, sambal oelek, and sesame oil. Step 2: Get all starry-eyed.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Susan Kim24/73Buldak-Style Barbecue Chicken Drumsticks
Sweet, savory, spicy buldak is often made with boneless chicken pieces, but these sticky drumsticks are especially fun for a party. You can make the whole Korean Barbecue Disco Party menu or just focus on the chicken.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell26/73Grilled Shrimp, Zucchini, and Tomatoes With Feta
This summery Greek-inspired dinner comes together in a snap with the help of a grill basket. Grill on high heat until shrimp is cooked through and the zucchini and tomatoes are charred (about six minutes). Top with feta, and serve with pita on the side.
Photo by Aubrie Pick27/73Hanoi Grilled Chicken Banh Mi
Grill boneless chicken thighs with lots of black pepper, then pile into banh mi baguettes with mayo, Maggi seasoning, sliced jalapeño, cilantro, and đồ chua.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell28/73Grilled Beet Salad With Burrata and Cherries
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Frances Boswell29/73Foolproof Grilled Chicken
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich30/73Grilled Chicken Caesar Sandwiches
Salad is great, but have you tried Caesar chicken sandwiches? Deeply charred, mustardy chicken thighs are paired with a crunchy and refreshing fennel-basil slaw for the ultimate chicken sandwich.
Photo & Food Styling by Hetty McKinnon31/73Grilled Cauliflower Wedges With Herb Tarator
Grilled cauliflower is the best cauliflower. Hetty McKinnon will walk you through the process step-by-step. Follow her directions and caramelized, charred cauliflower edges, plus perfectly cooked interiors, can be yours. Finish the grilled wedges with a vibrant tahini sauce to balance the smoky flavor.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Megan Hedgpeth, Food Styling by Simon Andrews33/73Grilled Sweet Corn With Basil Butter
You need grilling recipes for more than just meat. Corn, for example, cooks beautifully on the barbecue. Here, a simple basil butter offers a subtly peppery, aromatic flavor to traditional corn on the cob.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Lillian Chou34/73Spicy Honey-Glazed Grilled Pork Chops With Peach Pico de Gallo
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Dawn Perry35/73Beer-Can Cabbage Sandwiches
Way more interesting than yet another burger recipe, this sandwich inspiration from classic beer can chicken. Cabbage becomes the star of the show.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Kate Schmidt36/73Grilled Clambake With Miso-Lime Butter
Clams, potatoes, shrimp, and corn on the cob get an extra layer of flavor when grilled and brushed with gingery miso butter.
Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Amy Wilson, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich37/73Grilled Salmon Steaks With Cilantro-Garlic Yogurt Sauce
Photo by Mike McColl40/73Hickory-Smoked Baby Back Ribs
Before you start cooking these succulent ribs, you may want to read about how to set up grill zones for direct and indirect heat.
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Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Judy Mancini42/73Fish Tacos al Pastor
A fun twist on the Mexican dish typically made with pork, these fish tacos al pastor are sure to wow everyone at your next cookout. Combine lime juice, orange juice, achiote paste, guajillo and morita chiles to make a marinade for the fish. A simple pineapple salsa and cilantro leaves provide the perfect finishing touch.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton43/73Grilled Pork Tenderloin and Asparagus With Mustard-Herb Sauce
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Christopher Barsch45/73Grilled Jerk Tofu and Plantains With Mango Salsa
The secret to flavor-packed tofu? Freeze it before marinating. Then throw it on the grill for a vegan dinner that everyone will love.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert46/73Grilled Half Chicken With Ginger and Garlic
Pair this juicy chicken with grilled shiitake mushrooms and bacon-wrapped asparagus for a Japanese-inspired cookout.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Liza Jernow47/73Grilled Lettuces With Crème Fraîche and Avocado
Malú Alvarez. Food styling: Michelle Gatton. Prop styling: Brian Heiser50/73Grilled Lemon Shandy
Grilling lemons brings out their aroma and natural sweetness. It also adds a toasty complexity to a super refreshing, easy cocktail that goes equally well with casual turkey hot dogs or fancy grilled lobster.
Photo by Peden & Munk51/73Grilled Halibut Niçoise With Market Vegetables
Turn your overzealous farmers market haul into a gorgeous catchall salad topped with flaky grilled halibut.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson52/733-Ingredient Grilled Watermelon, Feta, and Tomato Salad
53/73Chinese-Barbecue-Style Pork Chops
Inspired by sticky-savory char siu, these pork chops are treated to a sweet, savory, bright marinade that transforms into a finger-licking sauce when grilled over high heat.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova57/73Easy Grilled Salmon in Foil With Lemon-Garlic-Herb Butter
Do you always make a mess when you try to grill fish? This recipe can help. It’s simple enough to pull off as a weeknight dinner, but tasty enough to serve at a party.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Christopher Barsch59/73Grilled Pork Spareribs With Soda Bottle Barbecue Sauce
We’ve given you two lip-smacking BBQ sauce options here, each boasting the sweetness and subtle spiciness of a carbonated classic—Coca-Cola or ginger ale.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton60/733-Ingredient Grilled Mexican Street Corn
Photo by Luke Albert, Food Styling by Tamara Vos, Prop Styling by Louie Waller62/73Spiced Yogurt-Marinated Grilled Cauliflower With Mango
Got a mango that’s not quite sweet and ripe? Thread it on a skewer with cauliflower florets that have marinated in curry paste, turmeric, cumin, and yogurt.
Photo by Laura Murray, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Simon Andrews69/73Grilled Potatoes With Red Miso Butter
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Photo by Alex Lau71/73Grilled Scallops with Creamed Corn
Both easy and impressive, grilled scallops are the perfect summer recipe. The dry rub makes this dish shine, so go ahead and triple the batch. It keeps for a month and tastes great on any kind of meat.
Photo by Laura Murray, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Simon Andrews72/73Cooler-Steamed Corn
Charcoal grill fans, try this recipe as soon as corn arrives at your nearest farmstand. This method has you keep the corn on the cob and in the husk while you grill it over the high heat of just-lit coals. Then let the corn finish cooking by steaming in a cooler while you grill proteins and more delicate veggies for a full BBQ feast.
Photograph by Joyce Lee, food styling by Brandon Gray, prop styling by Chloe Kirk73/73Grilled Pineapple With Pepper Honey and Yogurt
