Food and Recipes Dish 62 Grilling Recipes For An All-Star Barbecue Grilling is an art form. By Josh Miller Josh Miller Josh Miller is a writer, editor, recipe developer, and food stylist who has been writing about Southern food and working in the publishing industry for the past 20 years. His work has appeared in Southern Living, Food & Wine, Cooking Light, Taste of the South, and Southern Cast Iron magazines. Southern Living's editorial guidelines and Alana Al-Hatlani Alana Al-Hatlani Alana Al-Hatlani is an Assistant Food Editor at Southern Living. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on March 10, 2024 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: James Ransom, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Our favorite spot is behind the grill when the weather starts to warm up. Cooking for a crowd can be stressful, but grilling recipes allow for a more casual and interactive menu approach to the dinner party. You can socialize while you cook and recruit help from friends or family. These quick and easy grilling recipes will impress your guests from Memorial Day to Labor Day. You can build a whole meal from the grill. Start with a simple appetizer like Spring Onion Grilled Pizzas, move into a main course of Beer Can Chicken, pair with a side like classic Corn on the Cob, and finish with Grilled Peach Cobbler for dessert. There are endless combinations and plenty of grilling ideas to choose from. Here are some of our best grilling recipes to help you master the barbecue this season. 01 of 62 Grilled Chicken Legs Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Pickle brine is the secret to the tangy white barbecue sauce we top these tender grilled leg quarters in. We're partial to Wickles Pickles, but your favorite brand will work too. Get The Recipe 02 of 62 Pork Chops With Carolina Barbecue Sauce, Smoked Butter, And Braised Onions Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall The sorghum syrup barbecue sauce on these grilled chops will have you (and everyone else at the table) asking for seconds. Get The Recipe 03 of 62 Spicy Grilled Chicken Wings Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen You need just a handful of ingredients to add plenty of zing to grilled wings. Pair the honey in the marinade with gochujang and grated fresh ginger for a flavorful dish with a tasty kick. Top with scallions and sesame seeds for the ultimate Korean barbecue-inspired dish. Get The Recipe 04 of 62 Spice-Rubbed Flank Steak With Corn-Chile Relish James Ransom, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Serve this steak as is, or turn it into tacos alongside a spread of fresh toppings like avocado, cotija cheese, and pickled red onions. Get The Recipe 05 of 62 Grilled Bananas Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox Think of this recipe like an easy grilled version of bananas foster. Serving with a scoop of vanilla ice cream is mandatory. Get The Recipe 06 of 62 Pepper-Stuffed Grilled Flank Steak James Ransom, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley This impressive rolled and grilled flank steak is deceptively easy to pull off. While we use provolone, feel free to swap out the cheese in the filling for your favorite melty variety. Get The Recipe 07 of 62 Grilled Pork Chops Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Take a break from pan searing pork chops and fire up the grill. Don't rush the marinating, it's the key to both full flavor and beautiful caramelization. Get The Recipe 08 of 62 Chile-Lime Steak Skewers With Coconut-Cilantro Sauce James Ransom, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Try this fun spin on steak kebabs this grilling season. The zippy Fresno chile-infused marinade is tempered by the cooling, herby coconut sauce served alongside. Get The Recipe 09 of 62 Spring Onion Grilled Pizza Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Ready for an unforgettable pizza night? Skip delivery and fire up the grill instead. We love this recipe's light and bright toppings but feel free to swap in any of your favorites. Get The Recipe 10 of 62 Bourbon- And Cola-Glazed Steak Kebabs Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely We use two Southern beverages to infuse loads of flavor into these simple steak kebabs. Get The Recipe 11 of 62 Grilled Baby Eggplants With Tomato-Corn Relish Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley The tomato-corn relish is our favorite part of this recipe, and it's a versatile topping for all sorts of grilled items, from steak to fish. Get The Recipe 12 of 62 Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Tangy Honey Barbecue Sauce Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis This grilled chicken sandwich, topped with homemade honey barbecue sauce, is easy to make and will become your go-to recipe. For a lighter take on classic grilling foods, use whole wheat buns and pack on fresh vegetables like tomatoes, lettuce, and pickles. Paired with Grilled Sweet Potato Fries, you'll have a complete dinner ready in no time. Get The Recipe 13 of 62 Easy Grilled Salmon Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford Buy the freshest fish you can find for a light, easy dinner that comes together in 15 minutes. This grilled salmon pairs with plenty of marinades and toppings, ranging from honey mustard to lemony vinaigrette, each providing a fresh and flavorful twist. Get The Recipe 14 of 62 Grilled Okra-and-Pepper Skewers with Dijon Dipping Sauce Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Grilling okra whole reduces sliminess and imbues the pods with a gentle smokiness that is simply irresistible. Get The Recipe 15 of 62 Rigatoni With Grilled Veggies and Mozzarella Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Even pasta dishes can benefit from using the grill. Grilled eggplant and tomatoes give this vegetarian dish a layer of smoky flavor. Creamy mozzarella paired with capers and red wine vinegar adds a burst of flavor to each bite. Get The Recipe 16 of 62 Grilled Shrimp Lettuce Wraps Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner Healthy in a hurry is possible with this 20-minute lettuce wrap recipe. Lightly charred shrimp on the grill adds a smoky flavoring to the garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and rice vinegar marinade. Toss the shrimp into a lettuce wrap and enjoy a vegetable-filled dish. Get The Recipe 17 of 62 Grilled Grouper Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless Enjoy restaurant-quality fish without leaving home with this simple yet delicious recipe. The short ingredient list makes this dish easy enough for a weekday dinner. Try to purchase the fish with the skin removed to help it come together even more quickly. Get The Recipe 18 of 62 Spicy Grilled Chicken Breasts Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Transform this classic grilled chicken recipe into something new each time you make it by alternating between the three sauce toppings: Nashville-Style Hot Sauce, Spicy-Ginger Garlic Sauce, or Sweet Heat Brown Sugar Sauce. Ensure your grilled chicken is juicy and flavorful by starting with a brine, sealing in the meat's moisture. Get The Recipe 19 of 62 Easy Grilled Aspargus Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford When preparing your main dish on the grill, this recipe allows you to cook your side dish without turning on the oven. Plus, it's ready in just 20 minutes. Use medium-sized asparagus, as it holds up better on the grill. Get The Recipe 20 of 62 Grilled Pork-and-Peach Salad With Honey-Mustard Dressing Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Prepare nearly every part of this fresh salad on the grill, from the pork to the peaches to the baguette. Pork tenderloin is an excellent protein for feeding a crowd as it's healthy and relatively inexpensive. Get The Recipe 21 of 62 Southern-Style Grilled Cobb Salad Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas We're taking the salad prep for this Cobb salad to the grill. Toss the chicken, bacon, okra, and corn on the grill for plenty of flavors. A classic Dijon vinaigrette is the perfect finishing touch. Get The Recipe 22 of 62 Grilled Cajun Shrimp Kabobs with Sausage Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Kabobs are an easy way to pack many flavors onto one easy-grilling vehicle. Down here, we love to upgrade our shrimp with Cajun seasoning. After about 20 minutes of prep time, these kabobs only take a few minutes on the grill before serving. Get The Recipe 23 of 62 Lamb Burgers With Feta and Dijonnaise Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Swap beef for lamb on your next burger night for a fresh take on the classic grilled dish. In place of the traditional lettuce, onions, and cheese, substitute arugula, red onion, and crumbled feta for a unique twist that complements the lamb. Dijonnaise is the perfect sauce to top this dish. Get The Recipe 24 of 62 Spicy Grilled Corn Salad Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan Turn your grilled corn into an elegant, spoonable side by cutting it off the cob and tossing it with diced red onion, jalapeño, and cilantro. Inspired by elote, the Mexican-style street corn, this side dish pairs well with grilled steak or as a topping on taco night. Serve immediately after stirring in the cilantro and fresh lime juice. Get The Recipe 25 of 62 Grilled Green Tomatoes with Jalapeño-Honey Vinaigrette Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Frying is only one of the many things you can do with green tomatoes. This grilled tomato salad will be a go-to summer favorite. Use this recipe as a hearty side dish or the main event. Get The Recipe 26 of 62 Beer-Can Chickens Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This recipe combines two of our favorite things: chicken and beer. Inserting a half-filled beer can into the chicken's cavity before grilling helps keep the bird moist and adds a warm, subtle stout flavor. Get The Recipe 27 of 62 Grilled Baby Eggplant Parmesan Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Anna Hampton Looking for a spin on BBQ night? Try Grilled Baby Eggplant Parmesan for a meal that won't disappoint your crowd. Baby eggplant is ideal for grilling, as it's less tough than larger varieties. Top with basil leaves, and you have a restaurant-quality meal. Get The Recipe 28 of 62 Grilled Okra-and-Tomato Salad Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis There are plenty of ways (and reasons) to eat barely dressed okra and tomatoes in the summer, but if you have the grill going, toss a few pods and wedges on it. Minutes on the grill add a smoky flavor to these summertime jewels. And with an effortless garlic-anchovy dressing, you elevate these humble foods to a feature-worthy presentation. Get The Recipe 29 of 62 Smashed Bacon Cheeseburgers Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Before you get fancy on the grill, perfecting the classics is essential. Use this Bacon Cheeseburger recipe as a base to start exploring fun flavor combinations on your burgers. A flat spatula without holes helps to smash the burgers properly. Get The Recipe 30 of 62 BBQ-Glazed Cedar-Plank Salmon Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Grilling salmon atop a cedar plank helps develop the fish's flavor without creating an overwhelming smoky taste. With 10 minutes of active cooking time and just a handful of ingredients, this recipe couldn't be easier. Get The Recipe 31 of 62 Shrimp-Okra-and-Sausage Kebabs Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Tina Stamos From the crispy shrimp to the beautifully charred okra, these kebabs combine all our favorite Southern summer flavors in one. A squeeze of fresh lemon adds brightness to this well-balanced dish. Choose smaller okra for this recipe as they'll be more tender and will fit better on the kebab skewers. Get The Recipe 32 of 62 Grilled Clambake Foil Packets with Herb Butter Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Anna Hampton With shrimp, sausage, corn, potatoes, and clams, this abundant clambake offers a little bit of everything. The dish is only complete with a generous dollop of herb butter. The best part is that it comes together in under an hour. Get The Recipe 33 of 62 Cast-Iron Cowboy Steak Hector Sanchez This thick, bone-in steak will be the centerpiece of your barbecue. Cooking it in a cast iron skillet on the grill helps the steak gain even exposure to heat and a perfect crust. After grilling, let the steak sit on a platter for 5 to 10 minutes. Get The Recipe 34 of 62 Chicken Under a Brick Hector Sanchez Cooking the chicken "under a brick," a technique that involves pushing the chicken flat against the hot grill, will cut your cooking time in half. This chicken pairs well with potatoes and charred lemon. Get The Recipe 35 of 62 Grilled Chicken and Corn with Charred Scallion-Lime Butter Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry The key to getting the perfect grill marks on the corn in this recipe is to soak the corn in water for 30 minutes before grilling. Right before placing it on the grill, make sure to shake off any excess water. Pair with Charred Scallion-Lime Butter and lime wedges. Get The Recipe 36 of 62 Grilled Curried Chicken Thighs with Charred-Vegetable Rice Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall The key to these curry chicken thighs is to ensure the grill doesn't get too hot while cooking so that the skin doesn't burn before the inside is ready. Once cooked, we serve these spiced thighs with a colorful rice side dish filled with a blend of zucchini, squash, bell peppers, and corn. Get The Recipe 37 of 62 Greek Grilled Chicken Pita Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Before throwing them on the grill, let the chicken breasts for these wraps chill overnight in a marinade of olive oil, garlic, lemon, salt, and pepper. After grilling, top the chicken with lemon juice and toss it in a pita with tzatziki, lettuce, tomatoes, and red onion. Get The Recipe 38 of 62 Cajun Shrimp Foil Packets with Red Potatoes and Zucchini Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Use a foil packet to trap aromatic flavors while grilling these shrimp and veggies. Serve alongside a quick-cooking grain, like couscous, for an extra effortless meal. Get The Recipe 39 of 62 Grilled Peach Cobbler Greg DuPree Why stress over a delicate dessert when the grill's fired up? This unconventional cooking method brings a smoky flavor to the classic peach dessert. Top with vanilla ice cream for the perfect summer treat. Get The Recipe 40 of 62 Classic Grilled Corn on the Cob Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer No barbecue is complete without grilled corn on the cob. Upgrade yours with our homemade toppings, including Basil Butter with Parmesan, Bacon with Ranch Drizzle, Honey-Chipotle Glaze, or Smoky Barbecue Rub. Get The Recipe 41 of 62 Creole Burger Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Give your usual backyard burgers a company-worthy upgrade with bold Creole flavors. Our Test Kitchen recommends using ground chuck for this recipe as the high-fat content makes for one juicy and tasty patty. Get The Recipe 42 of 62 Grilled Chicken Thighs with Alabama White Sauce Southern Living Everyone in the Yellowhammer State knows that the best thing to slather on your chicken is Alabama White Sauce. The rich flavor and tang bring your barbecue to the next level. Get The Recipe 43 of 62 Grilled Chicken Salad with Blueberries, Goat Cheese, and Pickled Onion Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Summer isn't just grilling season, it's also the best time to get some of the freshest produce in the South. To take advantage of your farmers' market finds, make this salad that highlights fresh blueberries and leafy greens. Get The Recipe 44 of 62 Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp Skewers With Chipotle Comeback Sauce Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Set your grill on fire with flavor thanks to our Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp Skewers. Tossed with garlic and then wrapped in bacon, the shrimp is just bursting with flavor from the start. But dipping the shrimp in our Chipotle Comeback Sauce makes them even better. Get The Recipe 45 of 62 Grilled Peaches with Spiced Whipped Cream Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Barbecue and peach season always line up perfectly, but rarely do we think to put the sweet, fresh fruit on the grill. Brush your peaches with olive oil and give them a sprinkle of salt before you place them on the grill flesh side down. Get The Recipe 46 of 62 Garlic-Oregano Chicken with Grilled Leeks and Lemon Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Just because you are having a barbecue doesn't mean you can't have something that's a bit sophisticated. A quick, 30-minute marinade on the chicken makes this dish just a little more fancy with minimal effort. Get The Recipe 47 of 62 Grilled Watermelon Caitlin Bensel Watch your grill do wonders with your watermelon thanks to this easy recipe. Sprinkle with sugar and salt and watch as summer's favorite snack transforms into to something rave-worthy. Get The Recipe 48 of 62 Grilled BBQ Chicken Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox Low and slow: That's the secret to making a great grilled chicken. The chicken starts in a dry rub, chilling for 8-12 hours. Next, let the chicken rest just before you put it on the grill. Get The Recipe 49 of 62 Grilled Potatoes Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Every Southerner knows that potatoes are the ultimate side dish, but Grilled Potatoes are the perfect compliment to classic cookout fare. In this recipe, you'll cover the potatoes in a rich butter sauce that you'll want to lather on everything. Get The Recipe 50 of 62 Grilled Chicken Breast Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox We've uncovered the secrets to a juicy, perfectly grilled chicken breast every time, and it's a lot more simple than you may believe. A crucial part of getting that char is to start grilling the chicken at a high temperature and then taking the grill down to a medium heat to allow for the meat to cook evenly. Get The Recipe 51 of 62 Easy Grilled Shrimp Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Fresh, not frozen, shrimp is a necessity for this easy, garlicky grilled shrimp recipe. Serve the shrimp in tortillas or mix in with a few veggies. Get The Recipe 52 of 62 Grilled Corn Salad Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Salads as simple and refreshing as our Grilled Corn Salad are hard to come by. To ensure the most flavorful, charbroiled flavor, do not boil the corn! Get The Recipe 53 of 62 Sweet-And-Smoky Grilled Pork Tenderloins Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely A brown sugar rub transforms the everyday pork tenderloin into a caramelized, rich main. No searing before hitting the grill or wrapping in aluminum foil is needed here. Get The Recipe 54 of 62 Grilled Kebabs With Pickled-Peach Marinade Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray We think pickled peaches make the ultimate summer marinade. Their sweet, tangy and herby flavor add an unforgettable zing to whatever you want to put on the grill. Get The Recipe 55 of 62 Grilled Asparagus Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Only four ingredients are required for this simple side. Make sure to grill your asparagus right before you're ready to eat since it has such a quick grill time. Get The Recipe 56 of 62 Charred-Vegetable Guacamole Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster Get your guacamole game to restaurant-quality level with this veggie-filled version. When jalapeños are grilled, they lend a smoother, less intense heat that brings more depth to the dish. Get The Recipe 57 of 62 Grilled Lamb Chops with Green Garlic Chimichurri Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Green garlic is a spring treat that you can find at your local farmers' markets starting in March, and it happens to go super well with rich, fatty lamb chops. Get The Recipe 58 of 62 Key West Chicken Will Dickey Infuse chicken breasts with the sunny flavors of South Florida with this easy grilling recipe. Orange and lime juice in the marinade add tang, while honey adds a touch of sweetness. Get The Recipe 59 of 62 Grilled Shrimp-and-Squash Pasta with Summer Herbs Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Anna Hampton We love how the grill quickly infuses smoky flavor into the summer squash for this light and bright pasta dish. Get The Recipe 60 of 62 Grilled Peach-And-Arugula Salad With Feta Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Kellie Kelley; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Caramelized peaches are the perfect compliment to the peppery arugula, salty feta, and honey-mustard vinaigrette in this summer salad. Get The Recipe 61 of 62 Sticky-Sweet Korean Barbecue Ribs Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen A 5-ingredient barbecue sauce transforms baby back ribs into a delectable main dish filled with bold flavors in this recipe. Get The Recipe 62 of 62 Grilled Wedge Salad with Buttermilk-Blue Cheese Dressing Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Anna Hampton Grilling lettuce is not typically the first thing that comes to mind when you start preheating the grill. But watch how a classic wedge salad is transformed by the kiss of open flames. Get The Recipe 38 Best Barbecue Side Dishes—Because It's Not Just About the Meat Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit