55+ of Our Best Grilling Recipes

updated Jun 3, 2022

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four grilled lobster tails on a plate — Credit: Photo: Joe Lingeman; Food Styling: Anna Stockwell
Lobster Tails with Garlic Butter

Peak grilling season is amongst us, which means we’ll probably spending way more time outside than we are in our kitchens. Luckily, it’s hard to beat summer dinners straight off the grill — they’re easy, timeless, and always crowd-pleasing. Grilling is great because you get to be outside enjoying everyone’s company instead of tucked away in the kitchen. We’re planning to do plenty of grilling this summer.

The grill is our summer secret to the easy weeknight dinners. While burgers and hot dogs are classic, one can not survive on them alone. Embrace chicken, salmon, veggies, and even pizza on the grill and you’ll never be disappointed. Also, grilling isn’t just for savory foods! Don’t forget sweet treats, like watermelon and Rice Krispies treats! Grilling takes them to a whole other level. From dinner through dessert, here are over 55 of our very best grilling recipes.

Grilled Chicken, Beef, Pork, and Lamb

It doesn’t really matter whether it’s chicken, steak, pork, or sausage — meat is almost always more delicious when it’s cooked on the grill.

1 / 15

Grilled Flank Steak

A flavorful marinade and quick grilling time will make this a no-brainer choice for weeknight dinners.

2 / 15

Grilled Chicken Kebabs

These chicken kebabs are sure to be a summer staple. They're marinated in yogurt which makes the chicken extra tender.

3 / 15

Chicken Souvlaki

This platter of grilled chicken skewers, fresh vegetables, and warm pita is simple yet satisfying.

4 / 15

Grilled Beef Tenderloin

Here's why beef tenderloin is superb for the grill: you get tender meat inside plus browned deliciousness on the outside.

5 / 15

Grilled Chicken Tacos

A quick and easy weeknight grilled chicken taco recipe.

6 / 15

The crowning jewel of any good Wisconsin tailgate party are beer brats straight off the grill.

7 / 15

The Best Beer Can Chicken

If you ever pondered cooking beer can chicken on the grill, here's everything you need to know to do it well — the best beer to use, how to prevent flare-ups or falling chicken, plus how to finish the chicken with a quick beer-based sauce.

8 / 15

Easy Jalapeño Grilled Chicken

Flavored with tart lime and the fiery heat of jalapenos, these easy grilled chicken breasts are a summer stunner.

9 / 15

3-Ingredient Yogurt Marinated Chicken

A dead-simple yogurt marinade is the secret to the most flavorful, juicy chicken from the grill.

10 / 15

BBQ Ranch Chicken Bites

All you need is chicken, ranch dressing, and barbecue sauce to reach BBQ ranch nirvana.

11 / 15

The Ultimate Marinade for Tender Grilled Steak

Marinades are like insurance for your grilled steaks. This is a classic one that will help you get the most out of every steak this summer.

12 / 15

Easy Grilled Pork Chops with Sweet & Tangy Mustard Glaze

The key to achieving the juiciest pork chops is to brine them while the grill heats.

13 / 15

Sausage, Potato & Green Bean Packets

Combine cooked sausage, chopped potatoes, and green beans; add some butter and a dash of Cajun seasoning; and wrap in foil for a no-mess dinner in minutes.

14 / 15

Grilled Meatball Kebabs

Your favorite brand of frozen pre-cooked meatballs is the answer to these quick and satisfying kebabs.

15 / 15

Grilled Lamb Chops with Herb Sauce

These flavorful grilled lamb chops come together in less than an hour, but are elegant enough for a special occasion.

Burgers Every Which Way

You can’t talk about grilling without talking about burgers. We don’t just mean classic hamburgers, either! Turkey, veggie, and even salmon burgers can and should be summer standbys, too.

1 / 10

The Juiciest Burger Patties

Just one ingredient will make your burgers infinitely juicier this summer, and it's already in your kitchen: butter!

2 / 10

Greek-Style Lamb Burgers with Tzatziki

Skip the usual buns and swap them out for pitas in this Greek-inspired burger recipe.

3 / 10

Salmon Burgers with Lime Mayonnaise

It's worth making a double batch of these salmon burgers: Leftovers are the perfect cold salad topper for lunch the next day.

4 / 10

Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Burger

Chicken burgers topped with baba ghanoush, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh goat cheese are the summer dinner you never knew you needed.

5 / 10

Veggie Burger Recipe

There are a lot of veggie burger recipes out there. This one, however, is the very best because the patties are sturdy enough to hold up on the grill.

6 / 10

Spinach and Blue Cheese Burger

Blue cheese, spinach, and caramelized onions transform a juicy beef burger into a French-inspired dinner.

7 / 10

Grilled Eggplant Burgers with Halloumi Cheese

Grilled halloumi cheese adds an extra dose of salty, savory flavor to these vegetarian burgers.

8 / 10

The Best Turkey Burgers

We borrowed a technique often found in meatloaf recipes to create the best turkey burgers we've ever tasted.

9 / 10

Chicken Guacamole Burgers

While these burgers are served with a slice of tomato, a spoonful of salsa or pico de gallo would really keep in theme.

10 / 10

Smoky Portobello Mushroom Cheeseburgers

These easy vegetarian portobello mushroom burgers will even please the carnivores thanks to smoked Gouda, tangy peppers, and spicy arugula.

Fish and Other Seafood

Fan favorites like shrimp and salmon are always welcomed on the grill. This year, though, try tossing a whole fish on the grill too.

1 / 11

Grilled Halibut

Don't be intimidated by this easy-to-cook fish that pairs well with rich, flavorful sauces. It's the perfect way to switch up the summer grill menu.

2 / 11

Grilled Tuna Steak

This quick and easy recipe sticks to seasoning simply with salt to let the flavor of the fish shine but it has the appearance of a restaurant worthy dish.

3 / 11

The Best Grilled Salmon

This basic recipe will never steer you wrong, summer after summer.

4 / 11

Grilled Shrimp Skewers with Chimichurri

An herby, garlicky chimichurri sauce doubles as both the marinade and a dipping sauce for these easy shrimp skewers.

5 / 11

Grilled Scallops with Lemon-Garlic Brown Butter

Consider this a step-by-step guide to grilling scallops. The easy lemon-garlic brown butter sauce cooks directly on the grill, too.

6 / 11

The Best Garlic Butter Salmon in Foil

A side of salmon cooked in a foil packet with garlic butter is the easiest way to serve salmon for your whole family.

7 / 11

Grilled Shrimp and Vegetable Grain Bowls

Think of grilled grain bowls as the grown-up version of the hobo packets you might have made at sleep-away camp.

8 / 11

Whole Grilled Branzino

If you've never grilled a whole fish before, don't be afraid. It's much easier than it looks.

9 / 11

Firecracker Shrimp Skewers

These grilled shrimp skewers shine thanks to a glossy, sticky, and spicy marinade.

10 / 11

Smoky Salmon BLTs

Why serve plain grilled salmon when you can transform fillets into hearty, bacon-filled sandwiches?

11 / 11

Grilled Lobster Tail with Garlic Butter

Grilled lobster tails are a fast yet fancy way to serve seafood when the weather outside is just too nice to stay indoors. Tender, sweet, and finished with a herby garlic butter.

Vegetarian Mains

Whether you’re vegetarian or you’re simply looking to keep your dinners more plant-based, these colorful recipes are totally satisfying.

1 / 9

Grilled Zucchini Pasta Salad

Grilling the zucchini and tomatoes for this pasta salad is an extra step that turns it into a satisfying main dish.

2 / 9

Summer Vegetable and Tofu Kebabs

These colorful kebabs are the perfect introduction to just how great grilled tofu is.

3 / 9

Grilled Cabbage Wedges with Spicy Lime Dressing

Cabbage might seem boring but it becomes smoky and surprising when you toss it on the grill.

4 / 9

Bruschetta Pizza

This recipes takes all the flavors of bruschetta and transforms them into a simple, flavorful grilled pizza.

5 / 9

Grilled Chipotle Lime Cauliflower Steaks

Be sure to use your best chef's knife when slicing these steaks to prevent them from falling apart.

6 / 9

Balsamic Glazed Veggie Kebabs

These quick and easy mixed vegetable kebabs are brushed with a balsamic and garlic glaze that's all to easy to love.

7 / 9

White Pizza with Avocado, Spinach & Mozzarella

Avocado is hardly your usual pizza topping but it pairs perfectly with milky mozzarella and fresh spinach.

8 / 9

Grilled Slow-Cooked Sweet Potatoes

While these sweet potatoes can definitely play side dish, they're even better as the main event when topped with plain yogurt and pesto.

9 / 9

Grilled Eggplant Burgers with Halloumi Cheese

Grilled halloumi cheese adds an extra dose of salty, savory flavor to these vegetarian burgers.

Vegetable Sides

From cheesy grilled broccoli to Mexican street corn, these sides are so crowd-pleasing that you shouldn’t be surprised if they take attention away from the main dish.

1 / 10

Grilled Portobello Mushrooms

Grilled mushrooms are a hit every time, and a quick marinade gives these hearty mushroom caps tons of flavor.

2 / 10

Grilled Eggplant Caprese Recipe

To tuck in more seasonality in between the red, white, and green layers of a caprese salad, look towards grilled eggplant.

3 / 10

The Ultimate Grilled Zucchini Salad

Grill zucchini until smoky, then toss it with a lemon vinaigrette, feta, and mint, and you've got one of the best summer salads around.

4 / 10

Cheesy Grilled Potato Packets

Grilling these potatoes in foil packets helps them cook faster while allowing the cheese to melt.

5 / 10

The Best Grilled Corn on the Cob

This simple method for grilling corn on the cob leaves you with juicy, smoky cobs you can happily serve on a weeknight or for a big summer bash.

6 / 10

Garlicky Grilled Kale Salad with Grilled Bread

This smart salad calls for grilling both the greens and the bread for a warm and wilted side.

7 / 10

Classic Grilled Asparagus

What's the super-simple solution for grilling asparagus that makes them easier to flip and keeps them from falling into the grill? Skewers.

8 / 10

Cheesy Grilled Parmesan Broccoli

Broccoli becomes tender, smoky perfection when it's marinated and showered with Parmesan cheese.

9 / 10

Garlicky Marinated Grilled Mushrooms

Glaze cremini mushrooms in a garlicky, buttery marinade then toss them on the grill to become the perfect golden and caramelized side.

10 / 10

Easy Grilled Elote (Mexican Street Corn)

Roll your grilled corn in cheese, spices, and lime juice and you'll never be disappointed.

Grilled Desserts

Don’t turn your grill off immediately after you’ve set dinner on the table. Instead, keep the heat going to cook up some super-seasonal desserts.

1 / 5

The Easiest Grilled Peaches

Two ingredients and four steps turns plain peaches into an Instagram-worthy dessert.

2 / 5

Grilled Figs with Honeyed Mascarpone

If you can't find mascarpone or don't feel like buying it, plain whole-milk Greek yogurt or ricotta cheese is also great here.

3 / 5

The Best Grilled Watermelon

Grilling watermelon caramelizes the melon's sweetness and gives it a subtle, smoky flavor.

4 / 5

Campfire Banana Boat Chocolate Caramel S'mores

Don't just wait to be around a campfire to make this gooey dessert — it's great on the grill, too.

5 / 5

Grilled Rice Krispies Treats

This ingenious recipe is gooey, caramelized, and the most magical thing you can make while the grill is still hot.

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