The 101 Best Grilling Recipes For Summer

Why grill your stuffed peppers? Because it’s summer and we want to be outside! Don’t stay indoors and turn on the hot oven. Instead, step outside to the grill and take advantage of the great weather and the nice smoky charred flavor grilling brings to this classic comfort dish.

Get the Grilled Stuffed Peppers recipe.

Whether we’re looking for a creative BBQ main, an easy weeknight dinner or party side, grilled skewers are one of our go-to’s all season long. While we have plenty of favorite protein + veggie combinations, these Hawaiian chicken skewers just might be one of our favorites. With sweet pineapple, chicken, red bell peppers, and onion all basted in a sweet teriyaki-style sauce, these skewers are the ultimate summer dinner.

Get the Hawaiian Chicken Skewers recipe.

It takes almost zero cooking skills to get perfectly charred brats topped with flavor-packed caramelized onions and peppers. First, the brats get burnished on the grill, then they finish off in a simmering beer bath alongside the veg. Use whatever beer you like to drink, but not IPAs (India Pale Ales), which are brewed to be hoppy (i.e. bitter).

Get the Grilled Beer Brats recipe.

Nothing says summertime like the smell of corn on the grill. It also happens to be the easiest side you’ll make all season. After getting some char on a hot grill, juicy ears of corn get brushed with an irresistible honey-lime butter that you can also slather on grilled sweet potatoes, cornbread, or even grilled skirt steak.

Get the Honey Lime Grilled Corn recipe.

Instead of leaving the zucchini in their traditional slices, we threaded them onto skewers to lessen the amount of direct contact the zucchini had with the grill and create contrasting textures. The ribboning also creates plenty of nooks and crannies for the creamy ricotta and walnuts to settle.

Get the Grilled Zucchini With Ricotta & Walnuts recipe.

Skip the chicken skewers or basic hot dogs in a bun—if you're looking for the most creative grilled recipe or a way to get even the kids excited, then turn to these hot dog skewers. In this recipe, we layer cut up hot dogs, bell peppers, pineapple, and onions on skewers before basting with a homemade sweet-tangy BBQ sauce and grill until charred and caramelized. The result is a slightly sweet, summer-worthy skewer made to be served at any BBQ, camping trip, or casual summer dinner.

Get the Campfire Hot Dog Skewers recipe.

Looking for a vegetarian centerpiece for your summer grill-out? Make these teriyaki cauliflower steaks. Slathered in a brown sugar and soy glaze and showered with scallions and toasted sesame seeds, these saucy cauliflower steaks might just upstage the ribs.

Get the Grilled Teriyaki Cauliflower Steaks recipe.

The undying love for tomato and feta continues, and we can’t get enough. These little pizzettes are excellent for a lazy summer backyard hangout. The combination of crunchy grilled pizza dough, garlic, and olive oil with charred sweet tomatoes and briny salty feta is a simple pleasure, while the scallions get a nice char right before they're covered with gooey cheese. In short, it’s time to start up the grill.

Get the Grilled Tomato Feta Pizzettes recipe.

Nothing screams summer quite like rainbow veggie kebabs dotted with cubes of marinated steak, charred to perfection over the grill. We complete this dish by resting the kebabs over a bed of crunchy spinach and cucumber salad tossed in a garlicky tahini dressing, plus a pile of herby orzo, which is toasted until golden before being gently simmered in savory chicken stock. More tahini dressing is drizzled over the whole bowl, tying everything together in a vibrant array of colors, flavors, textures, and temperatures.

Get the Steak Kebab Bowls recipe.

If you think mayo is the worst, and are worried this recipe won't be for you, think again. Elote will have you reconsidering your stance; or, at the very least, make one incredible exception. The mayo becomes more like a creamy sauce, absorbing the flavor of the chili powder, cotija cheese, and lime juice. It's tangy without overpowering the corn—exactly the kind of refreshing treat you could use at your next cookout or backyard BBQ.

Get the Elote: Mexican Street Corn recipe.

These grilled shrimp piccata skewers are the perfect combination of juicy, charred shrimp, bright lemon zest, briny capers, and white wine butter sauce that will make your friends beg you for the recipe. Since it only takes 45 minutes from start to finish, it’s ideal for everything from a backyard bash to a quick weeknight dinner.

Get the Grilled Shrimp Piccata Skewers recipe.

It's time to embrace the simplest summer meal there is: foil packets. They have the simplicity of a one-pot meal, but all the ingredients are wrapped up in aluminum foil, which makes for extra-simple cleanup. The prep is quick too, since everything cooks inside the foil. In the case of this version, that means a heap of veggies (there are potatoes, onions, and bell peppers) and tender nuggets of boneless skinless chicken thighs, all flavored with delicious fajita spices. Though potatoes aren't traditionally served with fajitas, here they're a welcome addition. Bonus: They soak up all that tasty fajita goodness.

Get the Tex Mex Chicken Fajita Foil Packets recipe.

Tofu is so much more than a meat substitute—it’s a protein source that stands on its own, and is the perfect base to soak up tasty sauces, like this chipotle and guajillo chile marinade inspired by the popular Mexican street food, tacos al pastor.

Get the Chipotle Tofu & Pineapple Skewers recipe.

Mushroom lovers alert: Summer taco nights just got upgraded. Featuring portobello mushrooms marinated in taco spices and grilled to perfection, these vegetarian tacos will delight meat-lovers and vegans alike.

Get the Grilled Portobello Tacos recipe.

Long live the pineapple bowl. Not only is it a super-cute and fun way to serve dinner, but it also guarantees that whatever you’re about to eat is going to be loaded with plenty of fresh, delicious pineapple. In this case, we’ve got jerk-marinated shrimp, sweet peppers, and a sweet and spicy glaze that will make you want to lick your plate clean.

Get the Jerk Shrimp & Pineapple Bowls recipe.

When it comes to marinades, yogurt-based sauces are pretty classic. When the meat is cooked, the remaining yogurt caramelizes and creates a prize-worthy crust with tender meat underneath. We’ve marinated tons of proteins with it, but we're always thinking, "What's next?" In this case, it's Persian-spiced grilled chicken with tomatoes and lemons, served with tons of fresh herbs over fluffy jasmine rice. Trust us, this dish has flavors and textures for days.

Get the Grilled Persian Chicken recipe.

If we're looking for an delicious, low-effort summer dinner, skewers win out, every time. They couldn't be simpler: simply layer on your chosen ingredients, choose a signature sauce, grill, and serve!

Get the Pesto Shrimp Skewers recipe.

Get these spicy coconut chicken thighs on the grill ASAP, you won’t regret it. They're insanely tender thanks to a tasty duo of coconut milk and tenderizing pineapple juice in the marinade. We bet you'll revisit this simple recipe again and again this summer (so why not start now?).

Get the Spicy Coconut Grilled Chicken recipe.

With so much juiciness and just a hint of acidity, peaches—like their summery friend the tomato—are amazing in all sorts of salads. Next up on our peach salad agenda? This summery spin on the iconic wedge salad.

Get the Grilled Peach Salad recipe.

Long a Southern staple in famous dishes like fried green tomatoes, green tomatoes are equally delicious in this lighter, healthier preparation that's perfect for summer. This rendition combines the slightly tangy flavor of underripe tomatoes with the smoky char of the grill and a whipped goat cheese schmear to boot.

Get the Grilled Green Tomatoes recipe.