59 Grilling Recipes to Keep You Out in the Sunshine
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There’s no better time of the year than summer to get outside and stay outside. Maximize the daylight hours with these grill recipes, which prove that almost any food can be improved by the char and smoke of an open fire. Because a simple cast-iron sear just can’t replicate the allure of flame-licked pork chops or flaky halibut, complete with picture-perfect grill marks.
These recipes aren’t just for carnivores: We’ve got plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, including charred broccoli salad and the easiest veggie burger (that doesn’t fall apart as soon as it hits the grate). Whether you’re looking for whole grilled fish, perfect corn on the cob, or tropical skewers, these smoky, charred recipe ideas will set you up for success. Grilling season won’t last forever, so light the charcoal, dust off your favorite tools, and get outside. But before you start, learn how to deep-clean your grill from our friends at Epicurious.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua1/59Super-Citrusy Carne Asada
Our take on carne asada starts with a dry rub that tenderizes the meat, then caramelizes into a beautiful crust. Tuck slices of carne asada into tacos or plate it alongside potato salad: Its versatility earns it a spot as one of our favorite grill recipes.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Gerri K. Williams2/59Grilled Halibut With Basil-Shallot Butter
Photo Alex Lau, food styling by Chris Morocco, prop styling by Emily Eisen3/59Easiest-Ever Grilled Veggie Burgers
Photo by Peden + Munk4/59Grilled Pork Chops With Soy Glaze
These flame-kissed, soy-sauce-basted pork chops take almost no time to make, and we’d venture to say that they’re absolutely achievable on a weeknight.
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Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Jillian Knox, prop styling Sophie Peoples5/59Grilled Sweet Potatoes With Charred Scallion Mayo
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski6/59Grilled Chicken Thighs With Sweet-and-Spicy Marinade
The Vietnamese-inspired marinade for these chicken thighs was designed to work for just about any cut of meat. As such, we call it the Universal Marinade.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, prop styling by Emma Ringness, food styling by Mieko Takahashi7/59Easiest Grilled Salmon
For the easiest alfresco dinner, cook a whole salmon on the grill. Enjoy it on its own or add any sauces you please (chimichurri or pesto would be great here).
Photograph by Maria Be, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Marina Bevilacqua9/59Lasooni Prawns With Cilantro
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Kendra Vaculin, prop styling by Gözde Eker11/59Grilled Party Salmon With Green Romesco
Hosting a summer party? Impress with large-format grilled salmon, which is much easier to cook than smaller, individual fillets. Draped in an herby green romesco sauce, this dish will undoubtedly steal the show.
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Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Jillian Knox, prop styling Sophie Peoples12/59Fig and Mustard Baby Back Ribs
Baby back ribs take exceptionally well to sweet and savory sauces (these tamarind-glazed ones are a reader favorite). This recipe’s slight sweetness comes from fig jam and light brown sugar, which partner with fruity apple cider vinegar, brown mustard, and canned chipotle chiles to make a dynamic glaze.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Judy Kim.13/59Grilled Pork Chops With Plum Mostarda
Grill summer plums alongside pork chops, then top it all with mustard-shallot sauce for the easiest summer cookout.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Bowl from Heath Ceramics14/59Grilled Shrimp With Old Bay and Aioli
Old Bay? Check. Garlic? Check. Charred lemons? Big check. East Coast fish shack lines? Not today.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Micah Morton, Prop Styling by Tim Ferro15/59Steak Fajitas
Mesquite provides a unique smoky flavor to this skirt steak, but you can cook it on a standard charcoal grill. Serve the fajitas on a hot cast-iron pan for a sizzling presentation.
Photographs by Mamadi Doumbouya, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Shannon Maldonado16/59Sticky Barbecue Chicken
Photograph by Maria Be, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Marina Bevilacqua17/59Yogurt-Marinated Lamb Chops With Mango Chutney
Photograph by Peden + Munk, Food Styling by Diana Yen, Prop Styling by Hannah Ferrara18/59Spicy Korean-Style Grilled Corn
Sweet, spicy, funky gochujang crema adds a full spectrum of flavor to your official new go-to recipe for corn on the cob.
Photo by Emma Fishman, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich19/59Pollo Asado
A sour orange marinade provides punchy tang, while high heat gives this summery grilled chicken its signature char.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Amy Wilson20/59Grilled Scallops With Nori, Ginger, and Lime
Photograph by Peden + Munk, Food Styling by Diana Yen, Prop Styling by Hannah Ferrara21/59Caramel-Glazed Pork Chops
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio22/59Charred Broccoli Salad With Figs
This creative grilling idea uses all of the broccoli: Toss the charred florets with figs and lemon juice, then pureé the stems with tahini to make a creamy spread.
Photograph by Joe Lingeman, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by JoJo Li23/59Pork Spareribs With Jammy Barbecue Sauce
Starting these ribs in an Instant Pot ensures they remain tender and juicy once grilled. Finish them with a sweet-sticky barbecue sauce made with whatever fruit jam your heart desires.
Photographs by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Aneta Florczyk24/59Lacquered Rib Eye
An umami-rich lacquer of sherry vinegar, soy sauce, fish sauce, and sugar gives this steak dry-aged flavor—no aging required. Squeeze some lemon juice on top to offset the caramelized crust with a bit of zing.
Photograph by Joyce Lee, food styling by Brandon Gray, prop styling by Chloe Kirk25/59Grilled Pineapple With Pepper Honey and Yogurt
Char tones down pineapple’s acidity, while lime yogurt provides cool balance to this dish. It might be sweet, but it doesn’t have to be on the dessert table: Serve it as a side with chipotle tinga tostadas.
Photographs by Laura Murray, food styling by Rose Daniels and Yia Vang26/59Grilled Butterflied Chicken With Lemongrass Sauce
A ginger-scallion-lemongrass sauce adds a whole new dimension to the blank summer canvas that is grilled chicken.
Photographs by Laura Murray, food styling by Simon Andrews, prop styling by Sophie Strangio27/59Miso-y Grilled Potatoes
Charred, smashed, and tossed in miso-garlic butter, these grilled spuds are leagues above standard baked potatoes.
Photograph by Dylan + Jeni, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Aneta Florczyk28/59Grilled Pork Shoulder Steaks With Green Pepper Relish
Photo by Chelsie Craig, food styling by Kat Boytsova29/59Spicy Coconut Grilled Chicken Thighs
Spicy sambal forms the base flavor of this multidimensional marinade. Brown sugar and coconut milk balance the heat, while fresh ginger and lime juice add a bright punch.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Chris Morocco and Tom Cunanan, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime30/59Spicy Pork Skewers
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Amy Wilson31/59Grilled Crispy-Skinned Salmon With Whole Lemon-Sesame Sauce
Photographs by Laura Murray, food styling by Simon Andrews, prop styling by Sophie Strangio32/59Grilled Mushroom Antipasto Salad
Photographs by Laura Murray, food styling by Simon Andrews, prop styling by Sophie Strangio33/59Honey-Glazed Pepper Chicken
A sweet and tangy honey-vinegar glaze elevates this chicken to the class of easy recipes that are bound to impress. This grilled chicken would pair well with various sides, but we like it best with a big Greek salad and a bowl of tzatziki.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Andy Baraghani34/59Seven-Spice Grilled Lamb Chops With Parsley Salad
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Amy Wilson36/59Grilled Shrimp With Turmeric Mojo Sauce
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Judy Mancini37/59Grilled Chicken Sandwich With Caesar-ish Dressing
These mustardy charred chicken thighs pair beautifully with a crunchy fennel-basil slaw. Sandwich it all between cushy brioche buns for the ultimate weeknight dinner.
Photographs by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Aneta Florczyk38/59Porterhouse With Summer Au Poivre Sauce
Liven up a blushing rare cut with pickled green peppercorns for a refreshingly floral riff on a steakhouse classic.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Andy Baraghani39/59Grilled Chicken Skewers With Toum (Shish Taouk)
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Amy Wilson40/59Grilled Swordfish With Tomatoes and Oregano
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Amy Wilson41/59Grilled Chicken Drumsticks With Savory Caramel
Cook your chicken over indirect heat to ensure it achieves a perfectly crackly crust before coating the drumsticks in a savory-sweet fish-sauce-spiked caramel.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Amy Wilson42/59Charred Cabbage With Goat Cheese Raita and Cucumbers
This vegetarian recipe of grilled cabbage wedges topped with Aleppo-style pepper and a shower of crushed Corn Nuts is substantial enough to act as a side or a main.
Photographs by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Aneta Florczyk43/59Korean-Style Hasselback Short Ribs
Scored like a Hasselback potato, this bulgogi-inspired boneless short rib recipe offers maximum surface area for crispy burnt ends.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Amy Wilson44/59Grilled Rosemary Lamb With Juicy Tomatoes
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Amy Wilson45/59Pork Shoulder Steaks With Grilled Mustard Greens
Instead of braising pork shoulder, give it a smoky dimension by rubbing it with spices—in this case, toasted fennel seed, mustard seed, and cinnamon among others—and throwing it on the grill.
Photo by Peden + Munk, food styling by Sue Li, prop styling by Rebecca Bartoshesky46/59Grilled Corn Salad With Hot Honey–Lime Dressing
This bright and light summer salad from pitmaster Bryan Furman of B’s Cracklin’ BBQ in Savannah, Georgia, will pair well with anything coming off your grill, from hot dogs to grilled lamb.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Amy Wilson47/59Grilled Swordfish With Charred Leeks and Citrus
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Amy Wilson48/59Grilled Brisket With Scallion-Peanut Salsa
We’re making a case for grilling the meat you’d usually braise. Freezing brisket before prepping it allows you to slice it thinly against the grain and encourages even marination. Topped with a crunchy peanut salsa, this grilled brisket will be a welcome change in your barbecue rotation.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Amy Wilson49/59Grilled Strip Steak with Blistered Tomatoes and Green Beans
Peden + Munk50/59Baby Back Ribs With Tamarind Glaze
Tamarind paste provides the sweet, sour, and wonderfully tart base for this fruity, complex baby back rib glaze. (Psst: It’d also be great on steak, pulled pork, or grilled vegetables.)
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Andy Baraghani, prop styling by Emily Eisen51/59Grilled Carrots With Avocado and Mint
Photograph by Joe Lingeman, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by JoJo Li52/59Garlicky Grilled Ribs With Charred Onion Salad
Go big on flavor with these grilled flanken-style ribs—the kind used to make LA Kalbi—with 4 cloves of garlic and oil-packed anchovy fillets.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Amy Wilson53/59Grilled Spiced Snapper With Mango and Red Onion Salad
Ted Cavanaugh56/59Coconut-Marinated Short Rib Kebabs With Peanut-Chile Oil
Braised short ribs are great, but come summer, we’re not turning on the oven for anything low and slow. Toss your short ribs on the grill to let that gorgeous marbling crisp up, then dip them in tingly, nutty chili oil.
Alex Lau57/59Gochujang-Marinated Skirt Steak
Not only is skirt steak relatively inexpensive, it’s also endlessly versatile—bathe it in citrus to make carne asada, sear it plain and drape it in scallion thecha, or, as in this recipe, marinate it in gochujang for a spicy punch.
Photo by Alex Lau, styling by Judy Mancini59/59Grilled Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches
You’ll want your best chef’s knife to slice this tenderloin as thinly as possible—we’re talking deli slices—to make these open-face sandwiches. Keep this make-ahead grill recipe in your back pocket for all your summer adventures.
