When the mercury rises, keep your cool with these easy grill recipes. Though they taste remarkably complex, each dish in this collection uses eight or less ingredients. Juicy steak, grilled vegetable pasta salad, loaded bratwursts, and more, are options for an easily grilled meal that will keep your kitchen cool—but your menu hot.
Peanut Butter Burger
If you ask us, a burger is a must on any barbecue menu. But this easy grill recipe is not your basic beef patty. Peanut butter plays double duty as an unexpectedly delightful condiment and as a supplement to the ground beef, which ensures succulent, juicy results. Top the PB patties with a couple of slices of crispy bacon, garnish as desired, and don't forget to have napkins handy.
Reverse-Seared Grilled Ribeye Steaks
If you haven't tried reverse-searing before, you simply must the next time you fire up your grill. This slow-and-low, then high-heat method is a favorite of blue-ribbon barbecue pros, and the juicy results will be all the evidence you need to understand why. To complete the meat and potatoes experience, add grilled potato slices and get ready for the accolades.
Shrimp Salad with Lime Dressing
Low in calories, as well as prep time, yet heavy on flavor and protein, this easy grilling idea is one we turn to again and again once the heat rises above 80°F. Create this dish in less than 25 minutes. Atop a bed of tomatoes, cilantro, onion, and avocado—and lettuce, if you like—you'll find spicy grilled shrimp and some zesty lime vinaigrette. This light, yet filling meal will save just enough room for a scoop or two of ice cream later.
Grilled Potato Leek Pizza
You might think of pizza as an easy cookout side, but this fully loaded pie is absolutely entrée-worthy. Slices of buttery Yukon gold potatoes, crunchy crumbled bacon, and grilled leeks adorn the Alfredo-sauced pizza dough. Grill for eight minutes, pair the pizza with a salad, and prepare for a fight over the last slice.
Grilled Veggie Pasta Salad
Clean out your fridge, or put that new farmers market haul to use in this easy cookout side. While we call for a mix of zucchini, bell peppers, onions, and asparagus, you could toss nearly any grill-friendly vegetable into this pasta salad recipe. (Eggplants, large mushroom caps, carrots, and green beans all work equally well.) Nutty whole-grain rotini, bright balsamic vinegar, and fresh oregano help the nicely charred vegetables pop.
Grilled Zucchini and Goat Cheese Toasts
The best and easiest grill meals kick off with a grate appetizer. For these Mediterranean diet-inspired crostini, brush zucchini planks with olive oil, then season with salt and za'atar. Grill the squash and several baguette slices, then build open-faced sandwiches with a scoop of goat cheese, a grilled zucchini slice, and fresh chives.
Grilled Pork and Pineapple
Pork chops and applesauce might be the traditional pairing, but come summer, we crave this tropical combo. Even better than the flavor is the fact that this entire recipe can be yours in less than 20 minutes. Pair it with a zippy orange marmalade-infused yogurt and this is like dinner and a grilled fruit dessert at once.
Chimichurri Chicken
When you're craving a fresh twist on spicy chicken, turn to this speedy option that has a little—or a lot of—kick, based on the amount of crushed red pepper you add. After grilling the chicken, spoon on the five-ingredient chimichurri sauce for the ultimate summer condiment. Early in the season, pair it with fresh green beans, and as fall inches closer, try corn on the cob as the starring side.
Grilled Salmon with Garden Mayonnaise
Since it's one of the proteins that's fastest to grill, seafood of all varieties is our go-to when we're in the mood for easy cookout recipes. Oil, salt, and pepper are all you need to get this salmon and fresh asparagus ready to grill. During the 10 minutes they take to cook to perfection, stir together a garden-fresh sauce featuring celery, green onions, tarragon, lemon juice, and mayonnaise.
Pesto Chicken and Radicchio Skewers
Purchased basil pesto is the secret to this 4-ingredient dinner. Marinate cubed chicken breast in pesto and lemon juice around eight hours. We like to prep this before work, so it's ready at dinnertime. Once the grill is ready, skewer the chicken with wedges of radicchio and that's it.
Minty Grilled Chicken
This grilled chicken recipe doesn't skimp on flavor. A marinade made with fresh lemon juice, mint, and garlic transforms boneless skinless chicken breasts. While you're grilling the chicken, toss on a few asparagus spears to round out the meal.
Grilled Shrimp and Pineapple Skewers
A glaze made with marmalade and soy sauce brings out the natural sweetness of pineapple and shrimp. Serve the grilled skewers with cooked long grain rice that's flavored with cilantro.
Sesame-Ginger Grilled Chicken
This grilled chicken recipe is all about the glaze. Whip up a batch of the ginger, garlic, and hoisin sauce and slather it on grilled chicken breasts. As one BHG reviewer shares, "It's wonderful. It's our new favorite. Crispy skin, sweet, sour, spicy, salty—all in and so am I!"
Padma's Grilled Corn
Grilling corn adds a smoky flavor which perfectly balances the natural sweetness. We've added smoked paprika for even more charred flavor.
Grilled Mussels with Garlic Butter
Cooking mussels over the grill imparts a subtle smoky flavor that pairs perfectly with garlicky butter. We'll you through how to make the foil packet for this grilled seafood recipe.
Grilled Lamb Chops with Mint Marinade
If you're new to grilling lamb chops start here. As one BHG home cook shares, "This is my go to lamb chop recipe. The lemon garlic and the mint are excellent together. I personally would recommend marinating for a couple of hours, and removing the chops from the refrigerator and salting them about 45 minutes prior to cooking. You can’t go wrong with this recipe."
Honey-Sriracha Grilled Chicken Thighs
This grilled chicken recipe is a favorite among our editors and readers. As one reviewer shared, "We have this about every other week, delicious, exactly as written. When low on Sriracha sauce I leave off the honey part. Still great tasting chicken thighs!" The sauce is also delicious on chicken breasts if that's what you have on hand.
Herbed Chicken Parm Sliders
Put a twist on classic chicken Parm by grilling seasoned burgers and topping them with marinara sauce, cheese, and basil. Don't forget to grill the buns too for even more texture.
Grilled Asparagus in Dill Butter
This grilled vegetable recipe proves simple is best. Simply toss fresh asparagus with dill, butter, and garlic. Charr until smoky and serve with Once charred until smoky, toss with grated Parmesan cheese.
Grilled Baby Carrots
Chef Tim Love likes to serve his sweet and smoky grilled carrots with a seasoned yogurt sauce. Plenty of crushed pistachios on top adds crunch.
Grilled Radicchio with Cheese
Radicchio is a bitter green that stands up well to the high heat of the grill. Balance the bitterness with the bold flavor of blue cheese and balsamic vinegar. We love this grilled side dish served with steak or chicken.
Grilled Salmon & Leeks with Rosemary-Mustard Butter
Just a few flavor boosters are all you'll need to make this restaurant-worthy grilled salmon recipe. Fresh rosemary, butter, and Dijon mustard form the silky sauce.
