25 Best Summer BBQ & Grilling Recipes for Cookouts
Summer BBQ recipes that are screaming summer fun in the sun. From tasty grilling recipes to easy side dishes and desserts to serve up. This list of favorite summer BBQ recipes will tickle those taste buds and leave you wanting one more bite. Enjoy one or more of these summer grill recipes!
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For us, summer is all about being outside on a warm summer evening, grilling, soaking up the sun, and enjoying late nights under the stars. So, whether you are looking for some summer party food ideas to whip up or just a list for dinner, here is a list that can be a perfect fit.
Proteins
No summer BBQ is complete without a great protein on the grill. Whether you’re firing up juicy burgers, smoky ribs, tender chicken, steak, or seafood, these recipes are guaranteed to be the stars of your cookout. From quick weeknight grilling recipes to slow-cooked barbecue favorites, you’ll find plenty of crowd-pleasing options that are packed with flavor and perfect for feeding family and friends all summer long.
Grilled Boneless Chicken Thighs
Grilled Boneless Chicken Thighs are a must for any summer barbecue. Marinated in a simple blend of seasonings, they grill up with a flavorful char on the outside while staying incredibly juicy and tender inside.
Grilled Steak
Make the Perfect Grilled Steak this summer! Keep it simple with this 6-ingredient easy recipe for the best steaks on the grill with a simple seasoning, no marinating time, and a delicious buttery flavor!
Instant Pot BBQ Ribs
If you love tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs but don’t want to spend all day tending the grill, these Instant Pot BBQ Ribs are the answer. The pressure cooker does all the hard work, creating incredibly juicy ribs in a fraction of the usual time.
Dry Rub Baby Back Oven Ribs
These oven-baked dry rub ribs are packed with bold, smoky flavor thanks to an easy blend of brown sugar and pantry spices. The seasoning creates a delicious caramelized crust while the ribs become fall-off-the-bone tender in the oven. They’re so flavorful, you won’t even miss the barbecue sauce.
Grilled BBQ Chicken Recipe
Grilled BBQ Chicken is everything you want at a summer cookout. A simple brine keeps the chicken incredibly juicy, while a homemade BBQ rub adds smoky, savory flavor before it hits the grill. It’s an easy, foolproof recipe that delivers tender, flavorful chicken every time.
Grilled Shrimp Skewers
Grilled Shrimp Skewers are bursting with bold Thai-inspired flavors from coconut milk, lemongrass, lime, cilantro, and a touch of jalapeño. Fresh pineapple adds the perfect hint of sweetness, and the shrimp cook in less than five minutes, making them an easy, flavor-packed addition to any summer barbecue.
Grilled Garlic Butter Salmon
Grilled Garlic Butter Salmon is a simple yet impressive recipe that’s perfect for summer grilling. Fresh salmon fillets are brushed with a rich dill garlic butter sauce, then grilled until flaky, tender, and beautifully golden. With just five ingredients and five minutes of prep, it’s an easy main dish that’s ready in no time.
Grilled Buffalo Chicken
Grilled Buffalo Chicken has the tangy heat of buffalo wings in a boneless grilled chicken dinner using either breast or thighs. It’s a spicy, hearty, and delicious way to cook chicken with lots of bold flavor.
Grilled Chicken Tenders
Grilled Chicken Tenders have a lemon, olive oil, garlic and smoked paprika marinade that coats the chicken in flavor. They cook in less than 20 minutes once the grill is hot, making them perfect for a quick weeknight BBQ.
Sides
Every great cookout needs sides that can keep up with the main event. From cool and refreshing salads to smoky grilled vegetables, these easy summer sides are crowd-pleasers that come together fast and taste amazing alongside anything off the grill.
Chili Lime Grilled Pineapple
Chili Lime Grilled Pineapple spears are sweet, smoky, and just the right amount of spicy. Rubbed with chili, chaat masala, and a squeeze of lime, they make a bold and unexpected side dish that disappears fast at any cookout.
Simple Veggie Skewers
These colorful Simple Vegetable Skewers are bright, beautiful, and incredibly easy to pull together. Grilled to perfection with a mix of fresh vegetables and herbs, they add a gorgeous pop of color to the BBQ spread and are a crowd-pleaser for veggie lovers and meat eaters alike.
BBQ Sweet Potatoes
BBQ Sweet Potatoes are thick, hearty rounds grilled with tangy BBQ sauce until caramelized and tender on the inside. A surprisingly satisfying vegetarian side that holds its own next to any protein on the grill.
Grilled Corn on the Cob
Grilled corn on the cob is a summer staple everyone looks forward to. Peeling back the husks and letting the grill do its thing gives you juicy, smoky ears with gorgeous char marks — ready in minutes and absolutely irresistible.
Southwest Pasta Salad
Southwest Pasta Salad is loaded with chicken, pasta, corn, and black beans, all brought together with a creamy avocado dressing. It’s a make-ahead-friendly BBQ side that stays fresh and flavorful right out of the fridge.
Grilled Peaches with Greek Yogurt and Maple Syrup
Grilled peaches are one of those magical summer moments where a few minutes on the grill transforms fresh fruit into something caramelized and special. Top with creamy Greek yogurt and a drizzle of maple syrup for a light, elegant finish to any BBQ.
Watermelon with Feta and Blueberry
Sweet juicy watermelon feta and blueberry combined with creamy salty feta and fresh blueberries is the most refreshing no-cook bite you can bring to a summer cookout. It comes together in minutes and looks stunning on a platter.
Cucumber Dill Salad
Cucumber Dill Salad is a simple 10-minute side dish made with thin cucumbers, red onion, fresh dill, and a vinegar dressing. You need only 6 ingredients, plus salt and pepper, to make it.
Broccoli Cheddar Pasta Salad
Broccoli Cheddar Pasta Salad takes the usual broccoli salad mix of bacon, cheddar, onion, and sweet-tangy dressing, then adds bow tie pasta to make it more filling. It only takes 30 minutes to make and keeps well in the fridge as a great make-ahead side.
Cucumber and Pineapple Salad
This Cucumber and Pineapple Salad is a super easy recipe with fresh, summery flavors. Ready in just 10 minutes, it’s light, bright, and packed with sweet pineapple, crisp cucumber; it’s the perfect refreshing side for grilled meats or fish.
Jalapeno Popper Potato Salad
Jalapeno Popper Potato Salad combines the rich creaminess of homemade potato salad with the smoky heat of bacon jalapeño poppers. Ready in just 35 minutes, it’s the BBQ side dish everyone will be talking about.
Desserts
No summer BBQ is complete without something sweet to finish it off! From no-bake treats to fun kid-friendly desserts, these easy summer sweets are the perfect ending to any cookout. They’re simple to make, easy to transport, and always the first thing to disappear from the table.
Peach Cobbler No Bake Cheesecake Dip
This easy No Bake Cheesecake Dip takes just 10 minutes to prep. The rich whipped cream cheese base is topped with cinnamon peach pie filling, and buttery graham cracker crumbs on top give it peach cobbler vibes in a scoopable dessert dip.
Strawberry Truffles with Cheesecake Filling
No-bake Strawberry Truffles have a soft strawberry cheesecake center hidden inside a Golden Oreo truffle, with a pink almond bark coating. Each one has that strawberry crunch cake flavor in a little candy-sized treat.
Garden Party Dirt Cups
Garden Party Dirt Cups layer chocolate pudding, crushed Oreo crumbs, whipped cream, and fresh strawberries in clear cups. They’re easy, whimsical, no-bake desserts that take just 25 minutes to make.
Under the Sea Rice Krispie Treats
Under the Sea Rice Krispie Treats start with prepared cereal treats, blue candy melts, graham cracker crumbs, and pink candy shells. They take 20 minutes to prep and each one gets a straw handle, blue candy coating, crumb “sand,” and small sea-themed candy details for maximum cuteness!
Banana Pudding Fluff Salad
This banana fluff brings all the nostalgic flavors of classic banana pudding into a light, creamy salad that’s perfect for any gathering. Ready in just 10 minutes, it combines fresh banana slices, vanilla wafers, and fluffy whipped topping for a treat that tastes like childhood memories.
How Do You Store BBQ Food Until Serving?
- Ensure all food is fully cooked before you start storing it for later. Partially cooked food is a breeding ground for bacteria.
- Store your BBQ food in airtight containers. This will help maintain the freshness and flavor of the dishes.
- Refrigerate your food as soon as possible. Leaving food out in warm weather can cause it to spoil quickly.
- Separate different types of food. Meat such as chicken breast should be stored separately from salads or desserts to avoid cross-contamination.
- If you’re dealing with large quantities of food, consider using a cooler filled with ice to keep food cool until it’s time to serve.
- Utilize food warmers for items like grilled veggies or baked beans that are best served hot.
- Always check the temperature of stored food before serving. To kill harmful bacteria, it should be heated to at least 165°F.
FAQs
Here are some common questions when it comes to these summer BBQ recipes! I will help you to master your summer cookout recipes.
Once your steak is done being cooked on the grill, let it rest for 5- 10 minutes. This will lock in the juices, so when you slice into it, you have optimal flavor. You will want to do the same with chicken and pork. If you slice into pork or chicken, especially right away, it releases all the juices inside and leaves your meat very dry.
I enjoy reaching for pasta salads, light salads, etc. You can also reach for classic grilled veggies like corn and potato packets. Have fun and create a dish that you can prep in advance and store in the fridge or toss on the grill. That way, you don’t have to turn your oven on and can keep your home cool.
Pick up and feel the weight of the watermelon. You want it to feel heavy for its size. I generally pick up a few and then gauge which weighs more.
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