Memorial Day has come and gone, and now it’s officially summer, aka grilling season for us food obsessives. We’ve got countless amazing reasons to fire up your grill and win summer, but to narrow the field, here are personal recipe picks from FoodNetwork.com staffers. Behold the decadent burgers, in-season sides, fresh seafood and even grilled desserts that we’re most excited to make (and devour) this summer.

“My top priority this summer: Marc Murphy's burger recipe. Take a look and you'll understand why. The special sauce calls for roasted garlic, mayo, ketchup and vodka. If you're skeptical about the alcohol part (as I was at first), let me remind you of how amazing vodka sauce is. I'm confident the same magic happens here. And because I love to bake (and am admittedly drawn to more complicated recipes), I can't wait to make a batch of the cheddar-black pepper buns. I usually can't stop myself from topping each patty with a slice (or three) of cheese, but I think these cheesy buns will be quite enough.”

“Corn is one of those distinctly summery foods that you could eat year-round (frozen or imported), but it tastes so much better off a freshly husked ear. Apartment dwelling forces us to boil corn more often than we’re able to grill it, but I can’t wait to get my hands on a grill in someone’s backyard (charcoal, preferably). Those slightly charred, sweet kernels are the perfect canvas for flavored butters, zesty sauces and ample spice. But my favorite preparation is elote (Mexican-style street corn), slathered in mayo, citrus juices, chili powder and plenty of cheese.”

“I’m a huge fan of grilled staples like steaks and burgers, but this summer I want to try out more shrimp recipes. The first one on my list is this scampi from Bobby Flay, finished with an amped-up version of classic herb butter. It’ll be great for entertaining, because the whole recipe is done on the grill — even the sauce!”

“The hustle-and-bustle atmosphere, the countless museums, the vibrant restaurant scene — there are millions of reasons to love living in New York City. But a lack of private outdoor space may not be one of them. I live in an apartment building, which means that my 'front porch' is a chunk of sidewalk shared with hundreds of other people, and there’s no backyard to speak of, so there’s surely no place for a grill. Or a picnic table. Or even a single lounge chair. But that doesn’t stop me from indulging in the smoky flavor of barbecue I crave this time of year. I just opt for this recipe from Tyler Florence for moist, saucy ribs. They are made entirely in the oven, and they turn out fall-off-the-bone tender. Every. Single. Time. And when it comes to flavor, Tyler’s homemade barbecue sauce is full of sweet and savory, sticky ingredients that do not disappointment. Barbecue with a city view. I’ll take it.”

“I love a grilled pizza — not just because they’re delicious, but because of the double take people do when you tell them what’s for dinner. “Pizza ... on the grill?! Heck yeah!” It’s a conversation piece; it’s a showstopper. And it’s such an easy dinner. I keep some prepared dough from my local market on hand throughout the season and get a busy weeknight dinner done with a fridge-raider pie made of mozzarella, olives and tomatoes. Come Sunday Funday, though, nothing beats an evening on the patio with friends, beers and a few rounds of dough loaded up with tons of meat and veggies.”

Several of our editors are drooling over this impressive burger:

“When it comes to cooking, my husband is a typical dude: Grilling is his specialty. He makes a mean classic backyard burger, but this summer I’m requesting that he up the ante with this cheese-stuffed version from Trisha Yearwood. Since he’s a Southerner who introduced me to his beloved pimento cheese years ago, I know which of Trisha’s cheese suggestions he’ll pick for his patty (blue cheese for me, please!). Once the burgers are stuffed, we’ll serve the extra pimento cheese spread with crackers and veggies to get the cookout started.”

“No matter the season, I’m all for a good cheeseburger. If I’m getting really serious about it, as I most likely am as the weather heats up, I prefer to follow Trisha’s method for her Cheese-Stuffed Burgers. Rather than laying a slice of cheese over the top, it’s all about forming the meat around a core of cheese. Once you fire it all up on a hot grill, you get the most ooey-gooey burgers of all, which jives perfectly with a well-charred exterior and juicy center. Since I live in an itty-bitty apartment without a grill here in New York City, I get my cheese-stuffed burger fix with the Juicy Lucy at Whitman’s in the East Village. It tides me over just fine.”

“My favorite summer dinners are grilled from start to finish, including an unexpectedly smoky dessert for the finale. I love grilling peaches and toasting s'mores, but the dessert I've waited all year to eat is slices of honey-glazed pineapple crowned with massive, melty scoops of vanilla ice cream and coconut sorbet.”

Find 500+ ways to win summer at FoodNetwork.com's Grilling Central.