There’s just something extra delicious and satisfying about food that’s cooked outside over an open flame. While these days most people have fancy grills, cooking food outside is just as rewarding as it was back in the day when people used a wood fire to cook their food, and it’s easier.
That time of the year is perfect for grill recipes that are savory and provide a great smoky flavor to your meal.
With these grilling ideas, you’ll be able to find everything from sides to entire meals that feed an entire family.
As warm weather approaches, grilling enthusiasts are eager to fire up their barbecues and savor the delicious flavors of summer. Grilling recipes offer a versatile and exciting way to prepare a variety of dishes, from succulent steaks to smoky vegetables. With endless possibilities to explore, it’s time to dust off the cookbooks, gather some ingredients, and indulge in the art of grilling.
The beauty of grilling lies in mastering the techniques of cooking over an open flame. Understanding temperature control, direct and indirect heat, and proper seasoning can elevate any dish and impress family and friends. Whether you’re a seasoned grill master or a curious beginner, it’s crucial to focus on these elements to ensure culinary success.
When it comes to grilling recipes, it’s essential to be adventurous and step out of your comfort zone. Venture beyond the traditional burger and hot dog by exploring new ingredients and international flavors. There are countless mouth-watering recipes from around the world waiting to be introduced to your grill. The joy of grilling is an ongoing journey, so take the tongs and embark on a flavorful adventure.
Grilled dinner ideas, BBQ recipes, easy grill recipes, healthy grill recipes, summer grilling ideas, and other unique grilling ideas are all going to blow you away when you give them a try.
So you can get creative and learn some new BBQ ideas that will help keep your cookouts new and exciting.
Here are the best grill recipes you’re going to find to keep your summer cookouts feeling festive and keep your guests coming back for more.
Grilling your avocados is going to change your life because you can add them to so many different dishes.
They add a whole new level of flavor to salads and other dishes and you don’t have to do anything but slice them in half, remove the pit, brush on some oil and throw them onto the grill.
Just make sure you use firm avocados so they don’t fall through the grates!
One of the classic BBQ dinner ideas of all time, this grilled BBQ chicken recipe is a winner for your family.
There’s no need to deal with the mess of having to make the sauce on the stove while you’re cooking the rest of your dinner, just get it all done at once!
Grill food doesn’t have to be unhealthy for you, it’s actually the opposite.
This grilled eggplant recipe is so good you’ll probably want it to be the first thing you put on your grill at least once or twice a week throughout the summer months.
It’s got all kinds of healthy flavors to keep things interesting and it’s just as easy as any other meal that goes on your grill.
You can use it to put on other dishes or just cook enough to have it as a side to your main meal.
Souvlaki is a traditional Greek dish made with meat skewered on a stick and you can make it at home using your grill.
When you’re making this grilled chicken souvlaki, you need to marinate the chicken in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper for about 2 hours before placing it onto skewers.
If you’re wondering what to grill then try out this delicious grilled eggplant recipe.
It’s got some gluten free kabobs that are filled with flavor and stuffed full of delicious veggies like zucchini, cherry tomatoes, red onion, garlic, and more.
Freekah is made with barley and other middle eastern ingredients that make it a perfect side to any grilled recipe.
BBQ food ideas don’t have to include meat at all, you can actually throw this delicious grilled Indian masala street corn on and have it done in ten minutes.
You’ll love all the delicious flavors in each bite like chili powder, cilantro, lime, and more make this grilled corn recipe perfect for any summer day cookout.
Just remember to get some grill tongs in order to not touch the hot grill with your hands when you’re turning it during cooking.
This is one of those grill meals you probably haven’t tried before but throwing on a whole fish is a great way to get that super fresh flavor in your mouth.
The grill gives the fish a really nice texture, not to mention an amazing smoky flavor.
It’s one of those healthy grilled recipes you do when you want something different but needs it done quickly too. Just make sure to char up the skin a bit with your grill to serve it up right.
Flank steak is great because it has a ton of flavor already, but this grilled recipe amps up all those beefy flavors by adding in some special spices..
Grilled flank steak is one of those dishes that you can eat as a whole or break apart and put on top of salad or rice.
The Japanese version of this dish is a lot more fresh and gives you the same flavors in a summer BBQ that’s perfect for your next cookout.
You can use chicken or even beef if you want a good change of pace, just remember to treat it with a marinade before cooking so it has time to soak up the flavors.
The only drawback is that it’s a little bit more complicated than other dinner ideas, but then again it tastes ten times better too.
The pork loin is traditionally a very tender piece of cut and this grilled recipe will have you thinking about it day and night.
This recipe is a fun one because while pork loin is usually cooked in the oven or on a stovetop, this version uses your grill to create a brand new texture.
You might not think of grilled fava beans as one of the best summer BBQ ideas but you probably haven’t had this amazing grilled fava beans recipe yet either.
It’s got some great flavors and gets you to try something new on the grill, which is always a good thing!
This is a great dish to make a lot of so that you can always keep adding it to other meals you have throughout the week.
If you’re not really a meat person then try this salmon recipe to start branching out.
Salmon is an awesome dish because it’s super easy to grill, but the best part about this recipe is you can experiment with all kinds of spices to get that flavor you love.
Easy BBQ recipes don’t get better tasting than this mouth-watering grilled tandoori chicken dish.
It’s got the same great flavor that you get from Indian food and is sure to become a favorite if you try it out.
You’ll need to prep the chicken but it doesn’t take much effort at all, plus you will feel like a grill master when it’s done even though it’s really simple.
Make sure to double the recipe because everyone will want seconds on this one!
Once you have this recipe in your back pocket then you’ll never have to order out again, plus it doesn’t take too long so even when things get busy you can still make something fun for dinner.
There are no grilled salmon recipes that pack in as much flavor as this one does.
Treat your guests to some grilled salmon souvlaki that’s sure to be a showstopper!
You will need to marinate it for about an hour before you place it on the grill, but it’s well worth the wait because this dish has an amazing taste.
If you like Tzatziki sauce then you should also try putting it on top of the salmon souvlaki because it’s a great way to cool your mouth down after a bite.
Making a pizza in the oven is going to taste delicious because, well, pizza.
But when you want to elevate your pizza game this recipe is the best one to try.
You can make this recipe as basic or as extravagant as you want by changing up the toppings, but what makes it even better is that it uses your grill instead of your oven so you’re getting all those great smoky flavors without sacrificing texture.
The unique flavor of lemongrass makes this one of the best BBQ meat ideas that you could try any day.
Grilling brings out the flavors more which is why it’s a good choice for this chicken dish, plus it also gives you a great smoky flavor that makes this one of those healthy dinner ideas you don’t want to miss out on.
It’s a relatively easy grilling recipe but doesn’t skimp on taste, plus you will get enough servings to make the next day too.
Give your salad a sophisticated feel and taste with this grilled Nicoise salad recipe.
Nicoise salads are one of our favorite summer dishes because they remind us of vacations, but what we love about this particular recipe is it uses the grill to give that little smokiness that makes it stand out from other recipes.
When you start getting tired of making the same beef burgers time and time again, it’s time to switch things up and try grilling bison instead.
It might sound like a weird grill idea but the taste is out of this world and it will definitely change your mind about eating healthy chicken dinners.
You should know that bison meat is actually very low in fat, which makes it a healthier protein choice anyway!
Keep your grilling clean and healthy by cooking your veggies on the grill instead of sautéing them.
Grilled zucchini is one of our favorite summer dishes because it’s light, healthy, and has a great flavor that comes from the spices rather than frying or boiling.
You can try serving this dish with any kind of sauce if you’re looking to mix things up but it’s just as good when you eat it by yourself.
There is nothing quite as good as a perfectly grilled lamb chop and this recipe really brings out all of the flavors.
The spices used in the marinade seep into the meat to give it a ton of flavor while also cooking up fast, so get ready to dish out plates of these delicious chops because they will be gone before you know it!
You can serve them with a side of veggies or a salad if you want to stay on the healthier side, but it’s definitely a dish that everyone will love.
As long as you’re making a killer marinade then beef skewers are a great idea for dinner because it means you can put everything on the grill.
The best part about this recipe is that it has a ton of different ways to use up all the ingredients which makes it easy enough to make every week if you want something fast and fun.
You can serve these skewers with any kind of sauce or even eat them alone, and if you’re a fan of steak then these skewers are going to be the highlight of your summer.
We also recommend that you try adding different kinds of vegetables to your skewers for an even more interesting dish.
When you let this grilled chipotle chicken breast marinade for a day before throwing it on the grill and you’ll notice the difference in flavor immediately.
The longer you let it marinade the better it will taste so don’t rush through with the prep work, plus this healthy chicken dinner idea is super easy to make.
Chipotle peppers are smoked jalapenos that have a distinctive smoky flavor which goes perfectly with the grilled chicken breast, and the longer you let it marinade the more flavors will absorb into the meat!
When you’re looking to keep your salad light and refreshing but you also want some great flavors then try out this grilled Greek salad recipe, and you’ll never want another version again.
If you’re looking for healthy dinner ideas that will give you a ton of energy then this is the perfect dish to make, and we’ve found it’s even better if you let it sit overnight so that all the ingredients mesh together.
It’s so easy to whip up that you can make a big bowl in minutes and have it ready for the entire family to devour.
You can actually throw salad onto a grill if you know what you are doing and this grilled romaine recipe is one of the best things to try.
Everyone needs a good salad recipe in their life because it’s an easy way to make healthy dinner ideas that will fill you up, plus this one is super insightful because it shows you how to cook it on the grill.
It’s a perfect companion to your savory meats that you’ve been letting cook all day.
Getting more flavor in your salads is not always easy to do but this grilled chipotle chicken salad recipe shows you how to do it.
You can make the grilled chipotle chicken ahead of time which is one of the perks of this healthy dinner idea, plus eating your veggies in a new way will help you get over any stubborn picky eating habits.
You can experiment with the dressing so that you get all the flavor combinations your taste buds desire.
Lamb is precious meat that has a ton of savory flavors and this grilled lamb kebab recipe brings out all of them in a delicious way.
You can eat these lamb kebabs alone or if you are looking for some healthier dinner ideas, try pairing them with grilled vegetables or even grilled potatoes.
The spices used in this recipe give the meat a ton of flavor which is why it’s one of our favorite grill recipes for lamb, and it’s perfect when served with white rice or couscous.
Because this recipe uses skewers to cook the kebabs you don’t even need a grill grate which is an easy tip that everyone will find helpful.
Mexicans use corn in a variety of wonderful ways and this grilled Mexican street corn is the perfect example.
Using a grill is not one that most people associate with cooking Mexican food, but it’s an awesome way to cook this dish and you’ll see why once you give it a try!
You can find different variations of this recipe online, so get creative when making these grilled corn cobs because there’s a ton of room to experiment!
Cassie brings decades of experience to the Kitchen Community. She is a noted chef and avid gardener. Her new book "Healthy Eating Through the Garden" will be released shortly. When not writing or speaking about food and gardens Cassie can be found puttering around farmer's markets and greenhouses looking for the next great idea.
