15 Summer Grilling Recipes: Burgers, Chicken, and More (2024)

Summer is here and it’s time to fire up the barbecue! Get inspired with these 15 simple and flavorful grilling recipes to impress your guests. A collection of chicken, fish, pork, beef and vegetable ideas for cooking al fresco.

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Grab these summer grilling recipes anytime you’re in need for a quick and flavorful dinner idea, or feeding a crowd! I’ve got to admit, whenever I get the chance to cook outdoors I take full advantage of my barbecue. It’s a convenient way to cook all of your ingredients on one source, keeps the mess to a minimum, and the flavor to a maximum! I love the infusion of smoky notes and hints of charred bites from grilled food.

I’ve rounded up my essential grilling guide so that you can have delicious BBQ friendly meals at your fun summer gatherings, any day of the week. Instead of just hot dogs, why not try a juicy steak, succulent chicken, corn on the cob, or a seafood twist to your typical burger, it’s all right here. Take a peek, get inspired and get ready for outdoor dining any meal of the day! The weather is heating up and it’s time to get your sizzle on.

Summer Grilling Recipes

#1) Flat Iron Steak with Chimichurri Sauce

Juicy, tender and lean flat iron steak is a top pick for grilled meats to feed a crowd. The spice-rubbed beef adds a boost of flavor immediately to the dish with little effort. You don’t want to skip the herbaceous, tangy and subtly spicy sauce to serve with the meat, it’s addicting!

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#2) Salmon Greek Salad with Lemon Dressing

A light and healthy grilled fish meal you can cook any day of the week! This grilled salmon provides added nutrition with heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and lean protein for a satisfying entree salad. Crunchy fresh lettuce and a tangy lemon basil dressing make each bowl disappear.

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#3) Grilled Asparagus

Grilled asparagus is a quick side dish that adds smoky flavor and lightly crisp edges to the vegetable. Squeeze some roasted lemon juice on top for a bright and healthy sauce.

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#4) Grilled Chicken

This easy grilled chicken is ready in under 30 minutes and will be your go-to recipe! A bold combination of dried spices are sprinkled onto each chicken breast like paprika, cumin, garlic, onion, coriander, salt, and pepper gives the poultry a quick flavor boost.

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#5) Grilled Vegetable Salad with Citrus Dressing

Nothing makes vegetables shine more than a quick cook on the grill. A colorful blend of zucchini, summer squash, eggplant, fresh corn, cherry tomatoes, and spinach are tossed together for a nutritious salad. Drizzled with a tangy citrus dressing to complement the smoky grilled vegetables.

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#6)Grilled BBQ Chicken Pizza

Have you ever tried grilling pizza? You won’t believe how a piping hot grate could create a crispy crust pie in just 10 minutes! I use a premade fresh dough for the base, then top with red sauce and savory chicken, bacon, and vegetabletopping for a tasty barbecued pizza. Trust me, this will change your pizza game forever!

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#7)Tequila Lime Chicken with Mango Salsa

When you’re in need of a tropically inspired meal this chicken recipe is your solution. Each piece of chicken is marinated in a tequila lime to infuse the flavors and tenderize the meat. The fresh mango salsa is a refreshing homemade condiment that goes perfectly with chips too!

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#8) Pork Chops with Honey Mustard Glaze

The classic combination of grilled pork with honey mustard sauce will leave your guests asking for more! Thick cut pork chops are seasoned and then grilled to add smokiness to the juicy meat. The glaze gives another layer of flavor for a sweet and tangy topping. You can also slice up pork tenderloin instead of chops to switch things up!

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#9) Memphis-Style Barbecue Pork Ribs

These sweet and sticky St. Loius style pork ribs will have you licking your fingers clean! Slowly cooked on indirect heat with a sweet and savory spice rub and basted with a tangy pomegranate mop. Each rib meaty rib is packed with flavor!

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#10) Santa Maria Style Tri-Tip

A family favorite from my college days on the Central Coast of California, this beef recipe is essential for summer cookouts. If your local grocery sells this unique cut of beef, make sure to try this savory and spicy tender steak recipe.

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#11) Italian Chicken Bruschetta Sandwich

Up the ante with these grilled chicken sandwiches! The ripe tomato topping is tossed in a tangy balsamic vinegar with fresh basil. Thick slices of fresh mozzarella cheese gently melt together with the chicken and bruschetta mixture.

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#12) Cedar Plank Salmon Fillet

The ultimate way to infuse cedar aromatics into fish is cooking the seafood directly on a pre-charred plank on the grill. A sweet herb spice rub is generously sprinkled on the fish before cooking. This will be the most flavorful and flaky salmon you will ever taste! Try this method to make grilled halibut on the flavorful wood plank.

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#13) Grilled Shrimp Skewers with Honey Garlic Sauce

Succulent marinated grilled shrimp skewers soaked in honey garlic sauce makes for a quick and easy outdoor meal. Smoky flavors from the barbecue and bold spices take this succulent seafood to the next level.

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#14) Elotes (Grilled Mexican Street Corn)

Elotes are popular grilled corn on the cob snack in Mexico. The sweet corn is grilled until the kernels are lightly charred and tender then slathered with a creamy lime topping and cotija cheese.

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#15)Salmon Burgers with Lemon Dill Sauce

This homemade fish burger will rival any beef patty, and it’s just as satisfying a delicious! The flavorful grilled seafood patties are served with a citrus herb sauce. Add your favorite toppings like lettuce, tomatoes, onion, and tomato for a mile-high stacked burger!

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Bonus!) Homemade Barbecue Sauce

As you dive right into grilling this summer, make sure to always have a barbecue sauce on hand as an extra condiment to serve on the side with the main dish! This sweet and tangy blend with a hint of heat will be your go-to sauce. It’s ready in 30 minutes, so you can quickly have it prepared just in time for the feast! It can also be made a few days ahead and refrigerated so it’s ready at a moments notice.

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With so many of my favorite grilling recipes to chose from, I hope these ideas keep your culinary juices flowing and get some rotation on that blazing hot barbecue. Oh yeah, one more thing! Because I’m a nerdy food scientist I created a list of barbecue food safety tips, one can never be too careful when cooking outdoors. I can’t wait to hear what you cook this summer. Leave me some feedback or any questions you have in the comments section below.

Happy Grilling!

15 Summer Grilling Recipes: Burgers, Chicken, and More (2024)

FAQs

Can you cook burgers and chicken on the same grill? ›

Meat and poultry can be placed together on the grill for cooking. It's important to use a food thermometer to be sure all of the food has reached a high enough temperature to destroy foodborne bacteria.

What to grill for 20 people? ›

Tasty BBQ Food Ideas For Large Groups
  • Cheeseburger Kebabs.
  • Baked BBQ Chicken.
  • Honey Glazed Chicken Wings.
  • Grilled Shrimp Skewers.
  • Mac 'N' Cheese.
  • Steak Fajitas.
  • Pulled Pork Brioche Buns.
  • Sweet & Sticky BBQ Salmon.
Jun 10, 2019

How long should you grill hot dogs? ›

Because outside elements, grill type, and size determine how long it takes to grill the perfect frank, there's no magic number. That's why you should use a time range of 5 to 7 minutes for standard beef franks, 7 to 10 minutes for jumbo franks, and 15 minutes for quarter-pound franks.

Should you cook burgers on a gas grill open or closed? ›

Grilling Quick Cooking Foods

On the other hand, when it comes to grilling quick-cooking foods, the lid-open approach is an open-and-shut case. This is because the direct heat from the gas flames cooks the food rapidly, ensuring that your burgers and hot dogs are ready to be served in no time.

How many pounds of BBQ will feed 15 people? ›

In general, each pound of BBQ feeds 3 to 4 people, especially if you're serving sides. You can expect most adult guests to eat ¼ to ⅓ pounds of meat each during your event.

What is a good meal to serve 20 people? ›

19 Ideas For Easy Meals For Large Groups
  • Taco Bar.
  • Meatballs.
  • Butter Chicken.
  • Lasagna.
  • Chili.
  • Homemade Pizza.
  • Baked Pasta.
  • Skewers.
Apr 4, 2023

How much chicken to grill for 20 people? ›

Whole chickens: If you're grilling up whole birds, budget about a quarter per person. Decent-sized chickens can yield a breast per person for two people, while two others can each get a thigh and drumstick. Divide the number of guests by four to see how many chickens to buy if that's the only meat you'll have.

Why boil hot dogs before grilling? ›

Why It Works. Poaching natural-casing hot dogs and then finishing them on a hot grill keeps them moist and juicy while getting just the right amount of char. Using a poaching liquid of beer and hot dog onions or sauerkraut infuses the franks with lots of extra flavor.

Why slice hot dogs before grilling? ›

Making shallow slices onto two opposite sides of the hot dogs before putting them on the grill exposes the center of the dog to more heat. This allows it to cook all the way through without turning the exterior to ash.

Is it better to grill with the lid open? ›

Open lid means searing

Foods thicker than ¾ of an inch, though, literally have more middle to cook. So, they can hold up to the heat chamber the lid creates, and in fact, the lid will help thicker cuts of meat or vegetables cook more evenly. You'll avoid an undercooked center with an overly browned, crusty exterior.

Can you cook ground beef and ground chicken together? ›

Ground poultry may be substituted for ground beef or combined with ground beef in many recipes. The important thing is that it be cooked safely. Ground poultry patties, loaves or any combinations should be cooked to 165° F (73.9° C).

Can you cook chicken and beef together in the same pan? ›

Can you cook chicken and beef in the same pan? On the same grill or cooktop, yes. In the same pan, probably not if you expect any decent results. The pan by design allows cross-sharing of flavors and the two proteins are too dissimilar for that to work well.

Can you smoke chicken and beef at the same time? ›

Yet you might not be sure whether you can safely and consistently smoke multiple types of meats at once. Let us be the first to tell you that you absolutely can.

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