Summer evenings are some of my favourite of all the seasons. The temperature cools, but it’s still warm enough to enjoy the evening sunshine. On these summer nights, there’s nothing I love better than the sizzle, the smoke, and the simplicity of a backyard BBQ. If you get the same feeling when summer approaches, you’ll enjoy these BBQ Dinner Recipes that are easy, delicious, and crowd-pleasing! There’s something for everyone in this list of BBQ Dinner recipes.
1. Grilled Lemon Herb Chicken
What I love about this BBQ Grilled Lemon Herb Chicken recipe from Feasting At Home, is how simple it is to make. Marinate the chicken ahead, or go the whole hog and grill ahead to use for mid-week salads and bowls.
2. Hawaiian Grilled Pork Tenderloin
This marinated pork tenderloin recipe from Carlsbad Cravings is simple to make, quick to cook, and tantalizingly juicy. It’s ideal for an easy prep-ahead dinner or stress-free entertaining. The marinade literally does all the work, leaving you with melt-in-your-mouth pork and minimal cleanup. The marinade is an intensely flavorful mixture of pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, Asian sweet chili sauce, ketchup, ginger and garlic. Cook the pork to succulent perfection, and enjoy with a smoky, caramelized crust.
3. Grilled Steak with Chimichurri Sauce
Chimichurri is a robust, herby sauce from Argentina that pairs perfectly with grilled beef. This recipe from Eating Well serves it with grilled flank or hanger steak, two lean and flavorful cuts of beef that are great for grilling, for an easy dinner recipe that takes just 30 minutes to prep. The sauce is equally delicious over grilled fish, pork or chicken.
4. BBQ Vegetable Skewers
These Vegetable Skewers from Whitney Bind will become one of your favorite things to toss on the BBQ. They’re easy to make ahead of time and perfect for serving a crowd, or even just for a weeknight family meal. It’s so easy to adapt for how many people you are having, from 4 skewers to 20 skewers. Serve these veggie skewers as a side dish or main course for vegetarian friends at a BBQ.
5. Honey Mustard Glazed Salmon
This honey mustard salmon recipe from the Mediterranean Dish features perfectly flaky salmon fillet covered in a quick honey mustard sauce. Fresh garlic, smoked paprika, and a pinch of cayenne make the salmon truly sing. Slightly sweet, smokey and all sorts of delicious! You can bake this salmon in the oven or cook it on your BBQ (instructions for both are provided in the article).
6. Grilled Shrimp Skewers
These grilled shrimp skewers from Dinner at the Zoo use a marinade of garlic, lemon and herbs. Thread the shrimp onto sticks and cook to perfection. They are especially delicious cooked on the BBQ, but can be broiled in your oven if weather doesn’t permit. Shrimp kabobs can be on your table in just 20 minutes, which makes them perfect for a busy night!
7. BBQ Baby Back Ribs
These baby back ribs from Once upon a Chef taste just like the ribs from your favorite BBQ joint. The best thing is, you can make them in the comfort of your own backyard or kitchen. The ribs are generously seasoned with a homemade spice rub, then cooked low and slow until tender and juicy. Before serving, the ribs are slathered with a thick barbecue sauce and heated again until they form a nice outer bark.
8. Grilled Vegetable Platter
This grilled vegetable platter from Olive and Mango is the BBQ perfect side dish and also great for meal prep. These grilled veggies have loads of flavor thanks to the simple vegetable marinade that doubles as a dressing.
9. Teriyaki Beef Skewers
Teriyaki Beef Skewers from The Recipe Critic are an easy-to-make grilled appetizer or entree. Marinate tender pieces of sirloin steak in an Asian inspired sauce. Then, cook them on a hot grill until lightly charred. Drizzle each beef skewer with a sweet and savory teriyaki sauce, then and garnish with sesame seeds, green onion, and cilantro.
10. Pizza
Pizza on the BBQ is a game changer for a few reasons. One, BBQs better mimic a wood fired oven than your conventional indoor oven. Two, the smoke from the grill will help give your pizza great flavor that you simply cannot get from a regular oven. Three, it’s a lot easier than using a pizza oven. The pizza dough does not fall through the grill grates. If you’ve properly heated the grill, your dough will form a lovely lightly browned crust. This article from Simply Recipes shows you how to BBQ a pizza.
11. Grilled Sausage with Peppers and Onions
For an easy weeknight meal or casual entertaining, this Grilled Sausage With Peppers and Onions from A Southern Soul ticks the box. This is a quick and simple dish that has something for everyone. Mild or spicy Italian sausage and tender veggies are a classic BBQ combination. They’re fantastic served with your favorite side dish or on crusty rolls.
12. BBQ Asparagus Caprese Salad
Taste have given the classic caprese salad a fresh new look with this crunchy barbecued asparagus and homemade rocket pesto dressing. This is the perfect vegetarian dish for BBQ entertaining in Summer months.
13. Grilled Corn on the Cob
Grilled corn on the cob is a quintessential BBQ side dish! But the question everyone always asks is… should you grill corn in the husk or without the husk? That question is answered in this blog post from Downshiftology, with a few tasty serving ideas thrown in!
14. Grilled Mango Avocado Salsa
This recipe for grilled Mango Avocado Salsa from Flour on My Face is incredible. It transforms a traditional salsa into a more deeply flavoured, smoky concoction. You will want to go that extra step to BBQ the fruit because grilled fruit tastes awesome. The high heat of a grill does something special to the natural sugars in fruits. For this recipe, it is best to start with fruit that is a little under ripe. Both avocados and mangos are very soft when they are ripe.
15. Grilled Veggie Quesadillas
This recipe for Grilled Veggie Quesadillas from Spiced Blog goes the whole hog in terms of smoky flavour. First, grill all of the veggies. Then stuff those smoky, slick veggies into quesadillas (along with some cheese), and put them back onto the grill for a couple of minutes. Flavour, inside and out! Trust me when I say that these deserve a spot on your summer grilling menu.
16. Grilled Stuffed Bell Peppers
This recipe for Grilled Stuffed Bell Peppers from Well Plated By Erin is another BBQ flavour explosion. Bright bell peppers are grilled, stuffed with a hearty blend of sausage, rice, tomatoes, and CHEESE. Then, they’re tossed back onto the grill until said cheese melts into gooey perfection, they have the makings of a dreamy backyard BBQ evening.
17. Hawaiian Chicken Skewers
These easy BBQ chicken pineapple skewers from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe are fantastic! Moist, flavorful chicken pieces next to the sweet, juicy pineapple make it the perfect summer meal. These tasty little BBQ chicken pineapple skewers perfect for a summer holiday cookout. They are also excellent (and easy enough) for a refreshing weeknight dinner.
18. Grilled Caesar Salad
This Grilled Caesar Salad, adapted by Alexandra’s Kitchen, is a it’s a cinch to prepare. Halving the heads of lettuce takes about a minute. The dressing takes a little bit longer. It calls for minced anchovies, garlic, and a shallot, a ten-minute job that can be done ahead of time. It’s then topped with soft boiled eggs and parmesan. You will find it hard to stop eating this delicious BBQ Summer dish!
19. Greek Lamb Burgers
These Greek-style lamb burgers from Once Upon a Chef are topped with tzatziki, feta, and all the good stuff. They are a fun way to change up the standard BBQ fare. Jenn’s secret to making the burgers extra flavorful and juicy is mixing a panade. This is a bread and milk paste which is added into the ground meat along with lots of seasoning. You can’t taste the panade. It guarantees tender and juicy burgers every time, especially if you like your burgers a little more well done or you accidentally overcook them.
20. Grilled Portobello Mushrooms
These delicious grilled portobello mushrooms from Healthy Recipes are simple yet satisfying. Brushed with a tasty marinade of balsamic vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic, they’re super flavourful. Ready in just 20 minutes, they’ll become a favourite BBQ side dish to make. Bathe the mushrooms with a tasty marinade, grill, and serve. Simple and delicious!
21. Chilantro Lime Chicken
Marinated and grilled, this Cilantro Lime Chicken recipe from Spend with Pennies is so easy to make. This easy recipe needs little prep and few ingredients, but it’s loaded with big flavor. It’s marinated to add flavor but also help to tenderize the meat. The marinade is a simple combination of lime juice, lime zest, cilantro leaves, and of seasonings.
