The Pioneer Woman's Best Recipes for a Summertime Cookout

No matter what kind of outdoor meal you're planning, look no further than these seasonal recipes to round out the meal.

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Grilled Chicken

Consider this the workhorse grilled-chicken recipe you've been waiting for. Ree's marinade of lemon juice and Dijon is bold enough to deliver impressive flavor but mild enough for the whole family.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken

Spicy Baby Back Ribs

To infuse the ribs with the most flavor possible, Ree marinates them in a sweet-smoky mixture of soda, barbecue sauce and chipotle peppers. She bakes them slowly at a low temperature so the meat turns tender.

Get the Recipe: Spicy Baby Back Ribs

Kid-Friendly Pasta Salad

Good news, grownups: You don't have to be a kid to enjoy this top-rated pasta salad. The mix-ins are classic and easy to put together — a combination of crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes and creamy cheddar.

Get the Recipe: Kid-Friendly Pasta Salad

Summer Chicken Salad

Ree reinvents the everyday chicken salad by grilling the chicken and corn, and pairing them with fresh dill. Fresh blueberries promise juicy sweetness in every bite, while a feta-mayonnaise dressing delivers the creamy richness you know and love.

Get the Recipe: Summer Chicken Salad

Tomato-Basil Salad

With in-season tomatoes and basil at the ready, Ree doesn't need to do much to showcase their natural sweetness. She simply tosses them with a garlic oil and tangy balsamic to create a light, fresh salad.

Get the Recipe: Tomato Basil Salad

Sliders

Once you've grilled the sliders, the toppings are up to you. Ree likes to set up a buffet with options of crispy bacon, sweet caramelized onions and crumbled Gorgonzola so everyone can help themselves.

Get the Recipe: Sliders

Corn Salad

When corn is in season, look no further than a quick-fix salad to showcase its sweet beauty. Ree's recipe combines grilled ears with a fresh tomato-bell pepper salad laced with bold jalapeno.

Get the Recipe: Corn Salad

Grilled Vegetables with Cilantro-Yogurt Dressing

Faced with a surplus of seasonal veggies? Put them on the grill until they're tender, then dress them up with a tangy yogurt dressing flavored with bright lime juice and fresh garlic.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Vegetables with Cilantro-Yogurt Dressing

Fruit Salad with Orange-Vanilla Syrup

It's all about that sweet, fragrant syrup here, which comes together quickly when you simmer orange zest and a vanilla bean in simple syrup.

Get the Recipe: Fruit Salad with Orange-Vanilla Syrup

Spicy Pasta Salad with Smoked Gouda and Basil

The key to Ree's fuss-free pasta salad is whisking adobo sauce into the mayonnaise-based dressing. This delivers a bold smoky flavor and a welcome bite of heat to her cheese-studded salad.

Get the Recipe: Spicy Pasta Salad with Smoked Gouda, Tomatoes and Basil

Oven-Roasted BBQ Chicken

No grill? No problem. Make Ree's succulent chicken thighs — blanketed in dressed-up prepared barbecued sauce — right in the oven, then take them outside to enjoy alfresco.

Get the Recipe: Oven-Roasted BBQ Chicken

Spicy Pop Pulled Pork

Five ingredients — that's all it takes to turn out fork-tender pulled pork in a bold sauce. Ree's secret ingredient? Two cans of soda, as it pairs well with smoky chipotle peppers.

Get the Recipe: Spicy Pop Pulled Pork

Greek Grilled Eggplant Steaks

There's no meat in sight when it comes to these vegetable steaks, made by cutting eggplant into thick slices and grilling them. For a next-level side dish, Ree tops them with Greek-inspired fixings like tangy feta, fresh tomatoes and cool cucumber before serving.

Get the Recipe: Greek Grilled Eggplant Steaks

Grilled Nectarine Salad

While grilled nectarines and peaches are a go-to summer dessert, Ree dresses up grilled nectarines with savory ingredients like a mustard vinaigrette and blue cheese to create a seasonal salad.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Nectarine Salad

Mango Chile Chicken

It's all about the sweet heat in Ree's bold chicken dish. She marinates the chicken breasts in a simple mixture of chile powder and lime juice, then serves them alongside a fresh kale salad featuring juicy mango and sliced jalapeno.

Get the Recipe: Mango Chile Chicken

Mediterranean Orzo Salad

Rice-shaped pasta gets the Mediterranean treatment when combined with traditional Greek salad fixings. Think fresh picks like cherry tomatoes and red onion, plus hearty chickpeas, salty Kalamata olives and crumbled feta.

Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Orzo Salad

Chuck Burgers

Ree makes the side dish part of the burger by piling golden fried onion rings atop a hearty burger blanketed with a slice of jalapeno.

Get the Recipe: Chuck Burgers

BBQ Potato Salad

Put a slight spin on traditional potato salad with a BBQ dressing. It’s the perfect side to complement any grilled main dish.

Roasted Corn with Four-Chile Butter

Turn up the heat on roasted corn with a four-chile butter made from Anaheim, poblano and jalapeno peppers and chili powder.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Corn with Four-Chile Butter

Want More of The Pioneer Woman?

Check out Food Network's The Pioneer Woman headquarters for more recipe inspiration, plus an insider's tour of Ree's ranch.

More: The Pioneer Woman

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