Is it just us or is your summer bucket list also stretching pretty long this year (swim in the ocean, bite into a perfectly ripe peach and let the juice run down our wrists, watch fireworks with friends). At the top of the list is, of course, to eat as many meals off the grill as we possibly can. To achieve this, you can’t relegate grilling to just the weekends: With all the kebabs, foil packs, and BBQ classics on the menu (not to mention all the grilled fruits for dessert), there are just TOO many delicious foods to throw on there all week long. Try one of our 78 weeknight dinners on the grill and see for yourself.
Weeknight meals can be hectic affairs. Our absolute best tip for making your weeknight grilling experience go as smoothly as possible? Take a few minutes to prep everything ahead of time, so you don’t risk having to run back and forth between your outdoor grill and your kitchen at any point (if you really want to avoid this, or don’t have an outdoor space, check out our best indoor grills). Most weeknights, we’re looking for a super-easy meal, like our grilled “baked” potatoes, grilled pizza, or grilled portobello tacos. Every so often though, you’re going to want something a little nicer to celebrate on, say, a Wednesday, and we’ve got options for that too, like our grilled lobster tails, grilled Caprese steak, or grilled pork tenderloin with herb sauce. Or go for a combo of fancy and easy, thanks largely in part to foil packs. You can wrap nearly anything in some tin foil and put it on the grill, like our surf 'n' turf foil packs or corn and tomato gnocchi foil packs, for a self-contained meal that everyone will love.
While some of these recipes could constitute a full meal, we think you’re going to want to add some fun summer sides too. You wouldn’t want to let summer end without eating as much corn on the cob as possible, right? Check out our top 100 grilling recipes, summer salads, and summer BBQ side dishes for ideas.
1
Grilled Shrimp Piccata Skewers
Chicken piccata is an Italian American staple we love so much, we had to transform it into a summertime staple. 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.
2
Grilled Stuffed Peppers
This untraditional method for cooking stuffed peppers will become a new tradition in your house once you fire up the grill and get a batch going. 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.
3
Steak Kebab Bowls
Nothing screams summer quite like rainbow veggie kebabs dotted with succulent 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.
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4
Grilled Teriyaki Cauliflower Steaks
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.
5
Grilled Romaine Caesar Wedge
Grilling romaine for this wedge salad gives them just a slight char that goes perfectly with Caesar dressing. Serve whole as is, or chop your romaine hearts and toss them for easier eating.
Get the Grilled Romaine Caesar Wedge recipe.
6
Grilled Beer Brats
Tailgating and backyard BBQs are life and these beer brats are the easiest way to chow down come game time. They take almost zero cooking skills (you do have to know how to turn the grill on) to get perfectly charred brats topped with flavor-packed caramelized onions and peppers. First, the brats get burnish 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.
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7
Grilled Portobello Tacos
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.
8
Grilled Zucchini With Ricotta & Walnuts
Grilled zucchini is already plenty delicious on its own, but adding a few dollops of herby whipped ricotta and crunchy toasted walnuts will transform how you look at the humble squash. 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 .
9
Grilled Honey-Chipotle Salmon Foil Packets With Summer Squash
Grilling fish can be intimidating, but with foil packs, there's no need to stress. Rather than worry about the fish sticking to the grates or flipping the flaky flesh, you'll fold the salmon up in tin foil instead. It's not just fish inside—there's a medley of zucchini and yellow summer squash with a smoky honey-chipotle sauce. Foil packs are a great, laid back dinner. While they grill, stir up a round of strawberry jalapeño mint juleps or rum runner co*cktails, or put the finishing touches on an easy summery dessert like raspberry tiramisu or Key lime pie mousse.
Get the Grilled Honey-Chipotle Salmon Foil Packets With Summer Squash recipe.
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10
Grilled Cabbage "Steaks"
Grilled cabbage is an excellent "blank canvas" to carry out any other flavors that you may have your heart set on, so feel free to customize as you see fit to find your true cabbage soulmate. Spoon it with honey mustard dressing, dollop it with garlicky romesco, or drizzle some prik nam pla for a spicy kick.
Get the Grilled Cabbage "Steaks" recipe.
11
Grilled Persian Chicken
When it comes to marinades, yogurt-based sauces are pretty classic. Proteins are tenderized without becoming tough, even after longer marinating times. When the meat is cooked, the remaining yogurt caramelizes and creates a prize-worthy crust. In short, we’re big fans. 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.
12
Hawaiian Chicken Skewers
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.
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13
Grilled Steak Salad
This salad is simple enough for a weeknight but worthy of planning a get-together around, thanks to its star ingredient—ribeye steak. You’ll grill it (and red onions), then combine it with cherry tomatoes, blue cheese, basil, and a drizzle of tangy balsamic dressing, turning it into the kind of impressive-but-secretly-easy dish you’ll be making all the time.
Get the Grilled Steak Salad recipe.
14
Best Ever Burger
There are about a 100 ways to top a hamburger, and we're not here to tell you what goes into yours. But it is our duty to make sure that you're cooking your burgers as deliciously as possible. With a few super-simple techniques and shopping tips, you'll be a burger master in no time.
Get the Best-Ever Burger recipe.
15
California Grilled Chicken
♫ California looove ...♫ Balsamic vinegar, garlic powder, honey, oil, and Italian seasoning come together here for a lovely marinade that goes perfectly with in-season tomatoes and creamy avocado.
Get the California Grilled Chicken recipe.
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16
Pesto Shrimp Skewers
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.
17
Cowboy Steak With Grilled Red Onion Salad
Unleash your inner Bill Pickett and feed your whole posse with this hearty, flavorful cut of beef. Ribeye is already praised for its fattiness, but leaving the bone in takes it to a new level. As the meat cooks, the rich, deeply beefy flavors of the bone’s marrow seep into the meat, creating an unbeatable steak-eating experience.
Get the Cowboy Steak With Grilled Red Onion Salad recipe.
18
Thai-Inspired Grilled Cauliflower Steaks
We found the perfect funky balance of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy in this Thai-inspired sauce to blanket your cauliflower steaks. Try the sauce, and if needed, balance it out to your taste with brown sugar for more sweetness, red pepper flakes for more heat, lime juice for more pucker, and salt.
Get the Thai-Inspired Grilled Cauliflower Steaks recipe.
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19
Grilled Cod With Romesco Sauce
Inspiration for this quick and easy recipe comes from the Catalan province of Tarragona in Spain. Nutty, smoky romesco sauce was originally created to serve alongside the region’s abundant seafood, so it goes together with this grilled cod like peanut butter goes with jelly but, you know, fancier.
Get the Grilled Cod With Romesco Sauce recipe.
20
Summer Panzanella
Panzanella salad is one of those recipes that truly tastes like summer. It's one that you want to make in peak season—when the tomatoes are extra juicy, the squash slightly sweet, and the basil extra cheap. To give this classic dish more flavor, we grill the bread, zucchini, and onion until charred, then toss those with the remaining ingredients.
Get the Summer Panzanella recipe.
