50 Easy Grilling Recipes to Keep in Your Back Pocket
All it takes is a few simple recipes (and a sunny day!) for laid-back barbecues and breezy alfresco family meals to come together with ease.
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Simple Grilling Ideas You'll Use All Season Long
The summer is all about taking it easy. When it comes to mealtime that means moving our cooking outdoors and firing up the grill. Once we give the grill a deep clean and follow a few simple steps to get it set up, we’re ready to cook outside all season long. Whether we’re grilling breakfast pizzas for the weekend, mouthwatering mains for a weeknight dinner or appetizers for a cookout crowd, there’s just no matching the smoky flavor and perfect char of food that has come off the grill. Grilling can be intimidating at first — but we’re here to tell you that it’s not difficult to master. Once you get the hang of setting up two different heat zones, all you need is a handful of recipes you can rely on. That’s where these easy-peasy picks come in. You’ll find everything you need to keep you cooking outside all summer long, starting with Sunny’s easy pork chops. They spend a little time in a marinade of honey, oil, vinegar, cumin and red pepper flakes before getting a quick sear on the grill. They’re done cooking in just 7 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Easy Grilled Pork Chops
Grilled Corn with Flavored Butters
Buttery grilled corn is one of our favorite summer dinner staples. It’s even better with a trio of seasoned butters—think Cajun, miso and green goddess—served in shallow bowls so everyone at the table can roll an ear in their favorite flavor. Make the butters ahead of time, then pull them out of the refrigerator right before serving.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Corn with Flavored Butters
Sticky Ribs
Molly's easy ribs are extra sweet with a hint of smokiness, thanks to her simple spice rub. Bake them low and slow, then finish them on the grill for great char marks.
Get the Recipe: Sticky Ribs
Grilled Shrimp with Chili Cocktail Sauce
Rachael uses classic shrimp cocktail ingredients like chili sauce and horseradish to prepare just the right sauce for grilled shrimp that's been sprinkled with smoked paprika.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Shrimp with Chili Cocktail Sauce
Grilled Zucchini with Yummy Lemon Salt
"The mixture of salt and lemon zest on grilled zucchini is a game changer! It’s so bright and fresh," says Ree.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Zucchini with Yummy Lemon Salt
Rib-Eye Steak with Caponata
This main takes some time to make — you'll start the caponata a day ahead of time — but is worth the wait.
Get the Recipe: Rib-Eye Steak with Caponata
Grilled Ratatouille
This classic French dish was meant for your grill. Summer vegetables are charred, chopped and dressed with olive oil, fresh herbs and garlic. Serve it as a side with grilled chicken or pork or slather it on grilled bread.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Ratatouille
Grilled Mahi Mahi with Summer Squash Salsa
In-season veggies, fresh citrusy flavors and quick-cooking fish — you’re going to be making this simple and delicious recipe all summer long.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Mahi Mahi with Summer Squash Salsa
Eggplant and Asparagus Napoleons
Grilled eggplant is transformed into a spectacular side dish when it’s layered with creamy ricotta, Italian cheeses and tender grilled asparagus.
Get the Recipe: Eggplant and Asparagus Napoleons
Sea Island Wings
Kardea’s blend of sweet, spicy and smoky flavors prompted several reviewers to name these “the best wings ever.”
Get the Recipe: Sea Island Wings
Smokin' Potato Salad
This easy potato salad is one of Guy's favorites. Give the dish a smoky finish by grilling the potatoes for 10 minutes on each side.
Get the Recipe: Smokin' Potato Salad
Grilled Peaches with Cinnamon Sugar Butter
Bobby puts his peaches cut-side-down on the grill for a few minutes for a sweet-and-smoky dessert that you’re sure to be making all summer long.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Peaches with Cinnamon Sugar Butter
Artichoke and Tomato Panzanella
"I love my Artichoke and Tomato Panzanella," says Giada. "It is a great go-to recipe because I always have the ingredients in my pantry. All the colors and flavors of the tomatoes, artichokes, basil and olives make this a tasty and vibrant dish."
Get the Recipe: Artichoke and Tomato Panzanella
Fajitas in a Grill Basket
Love fajitas, but don't want to deal with multiple skillets and a smoky kitchen? Take it outside! These grill basket fajitas keep all the ingredients separate so everyone can have their favorite combinations without creating extra mess — plus the grill add a yummy char to everything.
Get the Recipe: Fajitas in a Grill Basket
Perfect Burger
This is Bobby's standard, go-to burger how-to. Perfectly melted cheese and toasted burger buns are of the utmost importance.
Get the Recipe: Perfect Burger
Beer-Brined Barbecue Chicken
Start this juicy barbecued chicken a day ahead for maximum flavor and hosting ease.
Get the Recipe: Beer-Brined Barbecue Chicken
Healthy Grilled Shrimp Fajita Foil Pack
The only thing you'll miss in these lightened up shrimp fajitas is that iconic restaurant sizzle sound. Serve them family style and let your guests choose their own toppers. We've provided the classics-cilantro, salsa and avocado-but go ahead and make up your own. (Cabbage and pickled carrots are test kitchen favorites.)
Get the Recipe: Healthy Grilled Shrimp Fajita Foil Pack
Grilled Vegetables
The key to picture-perfect grill marks on your vegetables is not to move them too much once they're over the flame. Be patient and they'll develop a nice char.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Vegetables
Perfectly Grilled Steak
Use boneless rib-eye, New York strip steaks or filets mignons for Bobby's grilled steak that only needs olive oil, salt and pepper.
Get the Recipe: Perfectly Grilled Steak
Grilled Chicken with Basil Dressing
Giada marinates her chicken in lemon juice and fennel seeds before grilling and then serves with a zesty, garlicky basil sauce.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken with Basil Dressing
Grilled Romaine With Blue Cheese-Bacon Vinaigrette
Throw romaine on the grill for a surprising superstar summer side dish.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Romaine With Blue Cheese-Bacon Vinaigrette
Beef and Sausage Kebabs With Salsa and Chimichurri
Prepare beef tri-tip and fresh sausage link skewers, then serve with homemade salsa and homemade chimichurri.
Get the Recipe: Beef and Sausage Kebabs with Garlicky Herb Sauce
Grilled Pineapple with Nutella
Grilling pineapple caramelizes the sugars. Giada then tops the pineapple with vanilla mascarpone, chocolate-hazelnut spread and toasted hazelnuts.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pineapple with Nutella
Grilled Chicken with Salsa Verde
Blend up a quick tomatillo sauce and serve it with chipotle-lime chicken and warm tortillas for a taco night that's ready to eat in just about 40 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken with Salsa Verde
Grilled Baby Back Ribs
Who doesn’t love a finger-licking good rack of barbecued ribs? Just marinate, grill and brush with a honey glaze.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Baby Back Ribs
Sweet and Spicy Grilled Salmon
The decadent-tasting "good" fat in salmon complements the sweet-spicy Buffalo glaze. The skin gets caramelized and crisp on the grill as the sauce drips onto it. It's delicious, but can be discarded to save fat and calories. (The numbers below include the skin.) A crisp and refreshing celery slaw is dressed with the same sauce, made creamy with light mayo, and brightened with onions and chives.
Get the Recipe: Sweet and Spicy Grilled Salmon
Coconut-and-Lime Pork Kebabs
Both creamy and citrusy, one taste of these pork skewers will transport you from your backyard to someplace tropical.
Get the Recipe: Coconut-and-Lime Pork Kebabs
BBQ Beef Brisket
Trisha’s advice? To ensure even cooking, let the brisket come to room temperature before grilling.
Get the Recipe: BBQ Beef Brisket
Grilled Polenta Crackers with Roasted Pepper Salsa
Putting polenta on the grill brings out its smoky corn flavor, while a topper of olives, capers, onions and tomatoes adds freshness to the dish. Rachael grills hers indoors in a grill pan but you can cook use an outdoor grill too. Just be sure to oil the grates so the polenta doesn’t stick.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Polenta Crackers with Roasted Pepper Salsa
GZ’s Grilled Seafood Platter
Want to put on a show for your guests? Grill an impressive platter of scallops, shrimp and lobster, all of which are prepped and seasoned inside the kitchen — your guests will never see the behind-the-scenes action!
Get the Recipe: GZ’s Grilled Seafood Platter
Grilled Pork Chops with Roasted Garlic Gremolata
This 5-star recipe will have your family asking you to fire up the grill every night of the week! The pork chops are brined for 24 hours, so be sure to plan ahead.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pork Chops with Roasted Garlic Gremolata
Grilled Peach Crisp Foil Packs
We've cut out the bubbly bake time with these simple, lower-fat crisps-for-one. Grill them in makeshift bowls made of foil and eat them straight out of the pack for your own private piece of summer. (Frozen yogurt is optional but our nutritional values include it.)
Get the Recipe: Grilled Peach Crisp Foil Packs
Grilled Corn
Tyler's Mexican-inspired grilled corn is smothered in a mayo, sour cream and cilantro dressing before being sprinkled with Parmesan cheese.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Grilled Corn
Grilled Chicken with Alabama White Barbecue Sauce
Change up your grilled chicken routine with a tangy, vinegar-based white BBQ sauce. Brush it on the chicken while it's cooking and serve it on the side for dipping; you'll see why it's a Southern favorite in no time.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken with Alabama White Barbecue Sauce
Bacon-Wrapped Prawns with Chipotle BBQ Sauce
Get your summer party started with Guy's skewered shrimp wrapped in bacon with an easy chipotle barbecue sauce for dipping.
Get the Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Prawns with Chipotle BBQ Sauce
Chili-Lime Flank Steak
A spice mixture featuring chili powder and brown sugar gives the steak its spicy-sweet notes, and a zested and juiced lime provides the perfect refreshing flavor contrast.
Get the Recipe: Chili-Lime Flank Steak
Grilled Rhubarb Brown Betty
Cook your brown Betty filling directly on the grill in (an ovenproof skillet) for even more flavor.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Rhubarb Brown Betty
Healthy Chipotle Beer-and-Butter Shrimp Foil Pack
Chipotle and cumin are tempered by beer, butter and lime in this simple and healthy shrimp dish that comes together in a snap. Sealing the ingredients in aluminum foil before grilling keeps the juices in and makes a sauce that is perfect for pouring over rice.
Get the Recipe: Healthy Chipotle Beer-and-Butter Shrimp Foil Pack
Marinated Chicken Thighs
Marc says, "This is a great basic marinade for grilling meats, and the pink peppercorns add a nice spicy kick".
Get the Recipe: Marinated Chicken Thighs
Perfect Pork Burgers
Double the dose of pork in these burgers by adding some ground-up bacon. Serve them with creamy coleslaw for a crunchy twist.
Get the Recipe: Perfect Pork Burgers
Grilled Pineapple with Vanilla Ice Cream And Rum Sauce
The rum sauce gives this dessert its extra-special kick. Serve a dollop of ice cream in the hole of the grilled pineapple ring for a pretty presentation.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pineapple with Vanilla Ice Cream And Rum Sauce
Grilled Chicken Wings with Spicy Chipotle Hot Sauce and Blue Cheese-Yogurt Dipping Sauce
Bobby whips up a smoky chipotle sauce for his grilled chicken wings using Dijon mustard, chipotle puree and ancho chile powder. The cool blue cheese-yogurt dip is perfect for cutting the intense smokiness.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken Wings with Spicy Chipotle Hot Sauce and Blue Cheese-Yogurt Dipping Sauce
Grilled Vegetable Kebabs
There's no better way to eat your veggies than in a summertime kebab. The best part? No utensils needed!
Get the Recipe: Grilled Vegetable Kebabs
Grilled Chicken Greek Salad
Toss together a simple Greek salad and top it with wedges of grilled pita and a skewer of grilled chicken for a dinner that's ready in 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken Greek Salad
Grilled Pork Chops
And easy coriander-spiced rub turns into a beautiful and delicious crust after you give the pork chops a quick sear on the grill.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pork Chops
Grilled Summer Squash
Get summer squash while it's in season and grill it up with parsley and mint. A sprinkle of shaved ricotta gives a hint of salt.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Summer Squash
Grilled Chicken With Spinach and Pine Nut Pesto
Simply grilled chicken is the perfect platform for all of the bright, fresh flavors in this dish: Giada covers each piece with a zesty spread of spinach and pine nut pesto before serving. Grilling yours outdoors (instead of in a grill pan)? Be sure to oil the grates before you preheat the grill. That way the chicken won’t stick.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken with Spinach and Pine Nut Pesto
Chicken and Pineapple Skewers
Transport the tropics to your backyard with Tyler's island-inspired kebabs. He bastes the skewers while they're cooking on the grill so the barbecue sauce caramelizes right on the chicken and pineapple chunks.
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Pineapple Skewers
Grilled Salmon Sandwiches
Instead of beef burger, opt for these grilled salmon sandwiches. They make a light, refreshing and delicious meal.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Salmon Sandwiches
Italian Flatbread (Piadina) with Fontina and Prosciutto
Giada says, "A piadina is a lot like a pizza, except that the crust doesn't rise and it's typically cooked on a grill to give it a nice, smoky flavor and crunchy crust. You can top a piadina with anything you like. This no-sauce combination is very typical of northern Italy, where piadini are especially popular."
Get the Recipe: Italian Flatbread (Piadina) with Fontina and Prosciutto
