31 Delicious Grill Ideas for the Best Summer BBQ

Reader's Digest EditorsUpdated: Nov. 27, 2022

These mouthwatering grilling recipes will have your neighbors begging for you to invite them over for dinner.

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Grill Ideas for Veggies: Coconut-Grilled Corn

Grilled corn is a staple side dish, but Steve Raichlen makes it the center of attention. The recipe is excerpted from Raichlen’s cookbook Planet Barbecue!

Grilled vegetables salad with red bell pepper, eggplant, onions, feta cheese, peppers, cilantro and tomato.

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Eggplant and Peppers with Feta

Emeril Lagasse’s cookbook proves you don’t need meat for great grilling. Looking for more meatless grill ideas? We rounded up 14 vegetarian dinner ideas that you just have to try.

Two portobello mushrooms marinated and grilling with purple onion

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Portobello Mushroom Burgers

Quick and tasty, hearty portobello burgers are a great meatless menu option. Don’t miss these 20 delicious burger recipes you need to make ASAP.

Orange and red grilled peppers on black stone .

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Pesto-Corn Grilled Peppers

In this recipe, grilled red peppers are used as edible bowls. Try piping pesto mashed potatoes into them as an alternative. Adding these secret ingredients to your food will give it that enhanced, restaurant flavor.

Overhead view Malaysian chicken sate with delicious peanut sauce, ketupat, onion and cucumber on wooden dining table, one of famous local dishes.

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Grill Ideas for meat: The Best Beef Satés in Singapore

These tiny, flame-seared beef kebabs are tender and spicy. This delicious recipe comes from Planet Barbecue! by Steve Raichlen.

Barbecue spare ribs St Louis cut with hot honey chili marinade sliced as top view on an old rustic board

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Ginger, Garlic, and Honey Grilled Baby Back Ribs

Grill master Steve Raichlen uses a mix of Asian seasonings gives these ribs intense flavor. The recipe is excerpted from his cookbook Planet Barbecue!

Grilled shrimps on skewer with lime slices and salad

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Salt and Pepper Grilled Shrimp

This simple but flavorful shrimp dish comes from The Barbecue! Bible by Steven Raichlen, a comprehensive guide that was updated last year.

Homemade Grassfed Mushroom and Swiss Cheese Hamburger with Fries

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Wild Mushroom-Cheddar Burger

Bobby Flay gives a classic burger a flavorful twist by adding wild mushrooms.

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Raw Corn, Arugula, and Pecorino Salad with Grilled Chicken Breast

Sweet corn, bitter arugula, and salty Pecorino—Michael Chiarello’s simple combination is wonderfully satisfying.

grilled chicken breast with couscous, top view

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Lemon-Lime Chicken

Lemon and lime add tremendous flavor to this grilled chicken recipe.

Board with delicious fried shrimp skewers, lime and garlic on wooden background, top view

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Sweet-and-Sour Skewered Shrimp

These delicious shrimp and pepper kabobs are sure to spice up your next barbecue.

Pork cutlet on a bone with gremolat sauce.

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Orange Picante Pork Chops

A quick marinade spices up these chops. For more intense flavor, prepare them the night before and refrigerate until you’re ready to grill.

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Basil Turkey Burgers

The turkey mayonnaise combo makes this a superb substitute for traditional beef burgers.

Small Meat Cutlets or Sausage Patties. Selective focus.

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Tortilla Burgers

This fresh take on the burger will add a southwestern flair to your next barbecue.

Closeup of pork ribs grilled with BBQ sauce and caramelized in honey on a bed of arugula. Tasty snack to beer on a wooden Board for filing on dark concrete background. Top view with copy space.

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Sesame Steaks

These grilled steaks are bursting with flavor! While you’re chowing down, chew on these 11 surprising health benefits of sesame.

Healthy snack, lunch. Traditional Greek wrapped sandwich gyros - tortillas, bread pita with a filling of vegetables, beef meat and sauce tzatziki. On black stone table Copy space

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Grilled Beef Gyros

A spicy marinade adds zip to these grilled beef slices tucked inside pita bread.

delicious Baked Chicken breast coated with melted emmental cheese and Whole-grain mustard on white plate with thyme and lemon slices, on old wooden table, view from above

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Zesty Mustard Chicken

Whether you’re grilling a broiler chicken or chicken breasts, consider this lip-smacking glaze. There are only four ingredients in the honey mustard sauce, so you can whip it up in minutes. Yum!

Homemade Grilled Steak and Veggie Shish Kebabs on a Skewer

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Oriental Steak Skewers

Served with a creamy mustard sauce, these colorful steak bundles are special enough for company when you’re running out of grill ideas.

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Salmon with Citrus Salsa

Fire up the grill for this mouthwatering salmon topped with an orange and grapefruit salsa. Salmon (and fish in general) is a nutrition powerhouse! Be sure to check out this foolproof guide to grilling for your next BBQ.

middle eastern style turmeric-ginger marinated chicken with cucumber, mint, onion, lime , pistachio and yogurt

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Cool Cucumber Chicken

Nothing could be easier than this chicken topped with a tangy dill sauce.

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Basil-Stuffed Steak

Fresh herbs make this juicy steak one of the most irresistible grill ideas.

Kebabs with turkey fillet on a brown background

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Turkey Kabobs With Fennel and Red-Pepper Relish

Simple, yet sophisticated, these kabobs are healthy too!

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Chicken Satay

Keep your crowd cheering with these delectable chicken skewers.

Steak tacos with sliced meet, salad and tomato salsa on a cutting board

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Zesty Steak Fajitas

A zesty tomato and jalapeño relish and tender strips of steak make these traditional fajitas extra special. This dish is easily multiplied to serve a group. Set out different toppings for everyone to assemble their own.

Fried chicken drumsticks with apples and rosemary

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Apple-Thyme Chicken

Apples and chicken may seem like an unusual combination, but they make a wonderful meal when grilled to perfection. The thyme marinade gives a boost of flavor and tenderizes the chicken nicely.

Grilled pork steak in grill pan with rosemary, pepper chilli and ginger on wooden board. Top view. Copy space.

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Orange-Ginger Pork Chops

Basting chops with this tangy orange-ginger sauce makes them extremely tender and savory.

Chicken salad, pears, dried gooseberries and currants, cheese on basil leaves. Wooden background. Top view. Close-up

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Grilled Chicken and Pear Salad

Juicy chicken, creamy Camembert, and velvety pears combine for one outstanding salad.

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Grill Ideas for Side Dishes: Campfire Potatoes

Onion, cheddar cheese, and Worcestershire sauce combine to make a super side dish for any grilled meat.

Rustic potato skins with cheese, bacon and sour cream close-up on the table. Horizontal view from above

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Grilled Potato Skins

These hors d’oeuvres start in the microwave and are finished on the grill, making them quick and crispy. Don’t miss these 14 BBQ foods that are actually good for you.

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Grill Ideas for Desserts: Grilled Apple Crisp

Topped with a scoop of ice cream, this warm dessert will earn you rave reviews.

Ripe peaches on a a grill pan on a table close-up. Horizontal view from above

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Grilled Peaches with Berry Sauce

Topped with brown sugar and cinnamon, the peaches come off the grill sweet and spicy. The raspberry sauce adds a refreshing touch. Next, find out the 15 foods you didn’t know you could grill.

Originally Published: June 21, 2018

Originally Published in Reader's Digest