Summer is officially here — time to fire up the grill and keep it going all season long. This curated list of summer grill recipes has everything you need.
From juicy mains and trendy crowd-pleasers to essential sides that round out every spread. Think of this as your go-to grilling guide for the season. Let’s get cooking!
🍔 Grilled Main Dishes
A great summer gathering starts with a show-stopping main. Below are favorite grilled mains for every occasion — simple, delicious, and grill-ready.
Grilled Flank Steak
Tender, flavorful, and perfectly charred. Flank steak on the grill is an easy crowd-pleaser that looks and tastes like you fussed for hours.
View Recipe
Smash Burgers
Crispy edges, juicy center, and melty cheese — the smash burger is a revelation. Once you try it, you’ll want to make it all summer.
View Recipe
Classic Grilled Burgers
The gold standard of summer grilling: juicy, perfectly seasoned patties hot off the grill that never disappoint.
View Recipe
Favorite BBQ Chicken
Sticky, smoky, and slathered in amazing barbecue sauce. This recipe draws a crowd to the grill every time.
View Recipe
Grilled Huli Huli Chicken
Sweet and savory with Hawaiian-inspired flavors, these chicken thighs belong in your summer rotation.
View Recipe
Grilled Chicken Breasts
Simple, versatile, and delicious when done right — a workhorse recipe for busy summer nights.
View Recipe
Pesto Grilled Chicken
Juicy grilled chicken brushed with bright, herby pesto — a fresh summer twist the whole family will love.
View Recipe
Best Grilled Salmon
Flaky, tender, and kissed with char — grilled salmon is weeknight-friendly and special enough for company.
View Recipe
🌮 Trendy Grilled Recipes
Grilling has evolved beyond burgers and hot dogs. These trendy grilled recipes bring bold flavors and new ideas to the table — perfect for adventurous eaters or anyone who wants to shake up the menu.
Grilled Hawaiian Chicken
Sweet and savory with caramelized grill marks — a tropical crowd-pleaser for kids and adults alike.
View Recipe
Honey Lime Grilled Chicken
Bright, tangy, and slightly sweet — the honey-lime marinade is incredibly versatile and addictive.
View Recipe
Easy Grilled Steak Burrito Bowls
All the flavors of your favorite burrito bowl made better with perfectly grilled steak — fresh, filling, and customizable.
View Recipe
Grilled Chicken Tacos
Smoky, juicy grilled chicken tucked into warm tortillas with favorite toppings — taco night upgraded.
View Recipe
Grilled Avocado Tacos
Creamy grilled avocado in a taco — unexpected, delicious, and perfect for summer gatherings.
View Recipe
🌽 Grilled Side Dishes
Great sides can steal the show. These grilled sides are smoky, caramelized, and full of flavor — perfect companions to your mains.
Mexican Street Corn – Elote
Sweet summer corn grilled and finished with classic elote toppings — it disappears from the table every time.
View Recipe
Brown Sugar Grilled Pineapple
Sweet, caramelized, and slightly smoky — grilled pineapple is the unexpected side everyone loves.
View Recipe
Cheesy Stuffed Grilled Peppers
Charred, sweet, and stuffed with melty cheese — peppers that pair with everything and take little effort.
View Recipe
Pesto Grilled Vegetables
A colorful, smoky medley of seasonal vegetables — proof that the grill makes everything taste better.
View Recipe
Grilled Asparagus
Tender inside, slightly crispy outside, and ready in minutes — the easiest way to get your greens at a cookout.
View Recipe
🥗 BBQ & Picnic Sides (Non-Grill but Essential)
Cold, fresh sides balance smoky mains. These BBQ and picnic sides are the unsung heroes of every summer gathering — don’t skip them.
Potato Salad
Cool, creamy, and satisfying alongside anything from the grill — a true backyard staple.
View Recipe
Macaroni Salad
Creamy, tangy, and loaded with crunchy mix-ins — a classic that belongs at every barbecue.
View Recipe
Greek Pasta Salad
Crisp vegetables, Kalamata olives, feta, and bright lemon-herb dressing — refreshing and crowd-pleasing.
View Recipe
Tomato Cucumber Salad
Crisp cucumbers and ripe tomatoes tossed in a light dressing — a fresh, versatile side for any spread.
View Recipe
Homemade Baked Beans
Sweet, smoky, and comforting — baked beans are a barbecue essential that keeps guests coming back for seconds.
View Recipe
Fruit Salad
Fresh, bright, and naturally sweet — a refreshing palate cleanser that every summer spread needs.
View Recipe
There you have it — the only summer grill recipe list you’ll need. Whether you’re team burgers, team salmon, or team everything at once, this collection has something for every kind of gathering.
Flank Steak
Ingredients
- 2 Pounds Flank Steak
- 1/2 Cup Soy Sauce
- 1/3 Cup Vegetable Oil
- 2 Tablespoons Dark Brown Sugar
- 1/4 Cup Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
- 4 Cloves Garlic, minced
- 2 Tablespoons Chives, minced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Ground Black Pepper
- 2 teaspoons Balsamic Vinegar
Instructions
- Mix all marinade ingredients together in a large dish or a sealed bag.
- Add the flank steak and marinate covered in the refrigerator overnight or at least all day.
- Heat the gas grill to high. Remove steak from marinade and sear 2 minutes per side. Turn down to medium and continue cooking 7–10 minutes more, flipping halfway, until internal temperature reaches 130°F for medium-rare (use a meat thermometer). Remove and let rest tented with foil.
- Meanwhile, reserve half of the remaining marinade. Bring it to a simmer in a saucepan for 10 minutes to use as sauce.
- Slice the steak against the grain and serve with the reduced sauce if desired.
Notes
Flank steak benefits from proper cooking — overcooking can make it tough. Store leftovers 3–4 days in the refrigerator.
Nutrition (approx.)
Calories: 374 kcal • Protein: 52 g • Carbohydrates: 13 g • Fat: 11 g