Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Seasonal Meals 25 Barbecue Recipes You'll Want to Make All Summer Long How to throw a low-maintenance—and very delicious—barbecue this summer. By Phoebe Fry Updated on June 30, 2024 Close Photo: VICTOR PROTASIO A barbecue with people you love is one of the best ways to enjoy a summer day. Grilling is a low-maintenance cooking method, and results in nicely charred, caramelized meat and vegetables. Along with the grilled dishes, it’s nice to prepare some easy sides that are as good at room temperature as they are hot. Keep reading for 20 trustworthy barbecue recipes, for both grilled mains and side dishes, fit for a summer BBQ soiree. How to Grill the Perfect Steak, According to a Professional Chef 01 of 25 Banh Mi-Inspired Pork Burgers Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Carla Gonzalez Hart Your favorite Vietnamese sandwich gets a makeover as a totally luscious burger. The patty is made of pork and topped with quick-pickled carrots, cilantro, and sliced jalapeño. A quick sauce made from mayonnaise, sriracha, and garlic is the finishing touch. Get the Recipe 02 of 25 Mostly Make-Ahead BBQ Ribs Greg DuPree This recipe requires some forethought, but it’s worth it for the low-maintenance preparation on the day of the barbecue, and the tender, well-spiced result. The secret ingredient is pomegranate molasses, which has a tangy, floral flavor. get the recipe 03 of 25 Grilled Halloumi Salad GREG DUPREE If you haven’t tried grilled halloumi, now is the time. Charred, salty, and rich, grilled halloumi makes everything better, including this fresh, crunchy salad. get the recipe 04 of 25 Cherry-Bourbon Chicken Wings Victor Protasio Cherries and bourbon are a match made in heaven, and make for a deliciously sweet-and-sour sauce for these grilled chicken wings. Just don’t be surprised if people ask you to make this dish again and again. get the recipe 05 of 25 Glazed Salmon Burgers Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Carla Gonzalez Hart Shake up your burger routine with this super-delicious salmon recipe. Fresh salmon is combined with scallions, garlic, and mayonnaise, grilled, and then brushed with teriyaki sauce for extra flavor. Then each burger is topped with tangy dressed cucumbers and avocado for a truly special supper. Get the Recipe 06 of 25 Grilled Chicken With Blueberry-Peach Salsa Greg DuPree Seasoned with lime, brown sugar, and chili powder, this chicken is grilled to smoky-sweet perfection. A bright, summery fruit salsa is the ideal accompaniment to scatter on top. get the recipe 07 of 25 Grilled Flatbread with Asparagus, Burrata, and Bacon Greg Dupree, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall Throw a couple of these on the grill to feed a crowd a snack or light supper. They also make a terrific appetizer before the main event. Store-bought flatbread is the base. It gets topped with crunchy bacon, creamy burrata, and shaved asparagus for a light, yet rich treat hot off the grill. Get the Recipe 08 of 25 Grilled Skirt Steak With Squash Ratatouille Greg DuPree Skirt steak is great for the grill, as it cooks evenly and quickly (about 3 minutes per side). This recipe includes a variation on ratatouille made with squash, zucchini, and eggplant, and dressed with balsamic vinegar. get the recipe 09 of 25 Grilled Pork Chops With Peach Arugula Salad GREG DUPREE Pork chops might not be the most summery food, but they make for a delicious summer dinner when you want something on the heartier side. Serve with a big salad of peaches and arugula to balance out the richness. get the recipe 10 of 25 Grilled Portobello and Cheese Burgers Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Carla Gonzalez Hart A portobello burger can sound a little ho-hum, but trust us, this one is full of flavor. The 'shroom is marinated in Italian seasonings before being grilled alongside panela or paneer, two cheeses that won't melt on the grill. (If you can't find either, use fresh mozzarella and skip the grill.) The bun is layered with creamy labneh or Greek yogurt, and the whole thing is crowned with a delicious romesco sauce and crunchy arugula. Get the Recipe 11 of 25 Grilled Cantaloupe and Prosciutto Skewers Victor Protasio Melon and prosciutto is a classic pairing, and this recipe takes it to the next level in the form of grilled skewers. Serve them as a side or as a main; the additions of halloumi and ciabatta make the skewers extra filling and main course-worthy. get the recipe 12 of 25 Grilled Corn on the Cob Claudia Totir/Getty Images Grilled corn is a game changer, and this how-to takes you through the process from beginning to end. Smother the corn with butter and salt to finish, or play around with different sauces and spice blends to dress it up. get the recipe 13 of 25 Sweet and Tangy Baked Beans Greg DuPree Baked beans are a classic barbecue side, in part because they can be made ahead and served at room temperature. This recipe includes—hear us out—fresh pineapple, which balances out the rich bacon and beans. get the recipe 14 of 25 Garlic-Parmesan Chicken Wings Greg DuPree It’s no secret that garlic and Parmesan make everything better, and this recipe is further proof. Fold plenty of parsley and lemon zest into the sauce to brighten up the chicken wings as a final touch. get the recipe 15 of 25 Jerk Pork Burgers with Pineapple Fred Hardy In just 30 minutes these spicy, juicy pork burgers can be on your plate. What makes this dish extra special is the grilled onion and pineapple slice that sits on top; they add a tangy, juicy flavor that goes perfectly with the rich pork. That said, they'd also elevate a turkey burger or veggie burger. Get the Recipe 16 of 25 Spicy Grilled Chicken With Shaved Zucchini Salad Jen Causey If you haven’t made a raw zucchini salad, this is your sign to give it a try. Alongside the hearty, spicy chicken, a refreshing, lemony shaved zucchini salad is just what you need to balance the meal. get the recipe 17 of 25 Quick Barbecue Sauce Anna Williams Yes, you can buy store-bought barbecue sauce, but it’s easy to pull together your own with pantry staples like molasses and mustard. Use this recipe as a starting point, and play around with the ingredients and ratios to make your own perfect BBQ topper. get the recipe 18 of 25 Grilled Vegetables Claudia Totir/Getty Images Once you know how to grill one vegetable, you pretty much know how to grill them all, so this is our one-stop guide to all things grilled vegetables. Grilling brings out the best in many, many vegetables, and we recommend filling up your grill with at least one round of veggies at your next barbecue. get the recipe How Long to Cook (Pretty Much) Anything on the Grill 19 of 25 Make-It-Yourself Cornbread Mix Greg DuPree Cornbread is so easy to make at home, and it’s a fan-favorite at barbecues. We like baking cornbread in a cast-iron skillet and serving it in wedges with butter and honey. get the recipe 20 of 25 Grilled Turkey-Zucchini Burgers Caitlin Bensel In the mood for a burger, but don’t want a heavy beef patty? Try this recipe for turkey-zucchini burgers, which tastes brighter and lighter while still satisfying your burger craving. get the recipe 21 of 25 Dry-Rubbed Baby-Back Ribs Lisa Hubbard With this easy dry rub recipe in your repertoire, you can make delicious, flavor-packed ribs whenever the craving arises. The brown sugar in the dry rub encourages caramelization for a satisfyingly crispy, sticky texture. get the recipe 22 of 25 Grilled Eggplant and Smoked Mozzarella Melts Charles Masters At their core, these melts are fancy grilled cheese sandwiches. Everything comes together on the grill, and the result is a summery vegetarian dish that highlights eggplant and tomato. get the recipe 23 of 25 Summer Squash With Scallions, Chile, and Parsley Greg DuPree Use any combination of summer squash for this light, herby side dish. A bit of chile provides heat, while a handful of roasted, salted almonds bring the crunch. get the recipe Easy Grilled Chicken Recipes to Expand Your Grill Repertoire 24 of 25 Grilled Chili Shrimp Tacos Marcus Nilsson Shrimp cooks in no time on the grill, and is begging to be loaded into warm tortillas with a fresh, spicy salsa. Serve these tacos with lime wedges, and call it a day. get the recipe 25 of 25 Grilled Hanger Steak With Green Bean and Sweet Pepper Slaw Jen Causey Hanger steak is one of the tenderest cuts of beef, so it’s best to treat it simply in order to let the meat shine. Serve with a punchy green bean and sweet pepper slaw that comes together in minutes. get the recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit