62 BBQ And Grilling Recipes For Your Next Cookout

The return of warm weather and longer, sunnier days means it's time to get grilling — and you don't need to have a big backyard or high-end equipment to bring the flavors of barbecue to your table. It can happen on your outdoor grill or balcony-sized hibachi, or you can prepare food in a grill pan atop your stove. You can even infuse your food with smoky, tangy barbecue flavor using other cooking methods, like an air fryer, slow cooker, or Instant Pot.

This round-up of grilling and barbecue recipes has meal ideas everyone will love, like grilled spare ribs, barbecue chicken, pork souvlaki, and brisket sandwiches. Vegetarians don't get left out, either, with plant-based options like grilled veggie kabobs and vegan pulled pork. Some recipes take their cues (or barbe-cues!) from celebrity chefs like Bobby Flay and Gordon Ramsay, and some resemble items from fast food spots like Chick-Fil-A and Burger King. This collection of over 60 BBQ recipes will have you ready for grilling season in no time.

Kick off the grilling season with classic barbecued chicken made easy. Instead of cooking separate pieces, this recipe simplifies things by using a half chicken. Some grocery stores sell half chickens ready to go, or you can ask the store's butcher to prepare one for you. A simple spice rub goes over the entire surface before the chicken goes on the grill, where it cooks up in just under an hour. Brush the meat with your favorite barbecue sauce, and after a few more minutes of grilling, it's ready. Allrecipes recommends serving barbecued chicken with sides like potato salad, thick fries, or grilled okra. 

Recipe: BBQ Half Chicken

Spare ribs are always a hit, whether they're served for dinner or set out at a backyard barbecue. These spare ribs are slow-cooked on the grill, so the meat becomes deeply tender and infused with smoky flavor. Coat the spare ribs with a dry spice rub of your choosing: SPICEography recommends brown sugar, garlic, cumin, and pepper, but of course, you can always experiment with others. Seal the ribs in a foil pan, grill them for about two hours, and finally, brush them with barbecue sauce. Serve your ribs with potato salad and grilled corn on the cob. 

Recipe: Grilled Spare Ribs

Elote, or Mexican street corn, is irresistible with its smoky flavor, creamy cheese coating, and spicy finish. Start with ears of the best sweet corn you can find — in late summer, when it's in season, local growers and farmers markets are your best bet. Tie back the husks to make a handle, then grill the ears to make the kernels tender and browned. Spread the corn with a cotija cheese blend, then add seasoning: premixed taco seasoning, a Mexican spice blend, or even just a simple shake of chili powder. It's a great side for grilled meats, and also delicious served on its own as an appetizer or light meal — with a cold Mexican beer, of course. 

Recipe: 5-Ingredient Mexican Street Corn

This dish is a great one to make for someone you want to impress, even if that person is yourself! The grilled tomahawk steak recipe was shared exclusively with Mashed by Rasheed Phillips, runner-up of Netflix's "The American Barbecue Showdown." It's easier to make than you might guess, as long as you have your mise en place — or everything in its place, since things go quickly once the steak is on the grill. Prepare a lemon juice-butter mixture and herb bundle for grillside, and a compound butter for serving. As the steak cooks, use the herb bundle as a brush to baste it with butter sauce. Served with slices of blue cheese compound butter, this steak makes an exquisite meal. 

Recipe: Chef Rasheed Phillip's Tomahawk Steak 

Sick of hot dogs and hamburgers? These spicy and tasty shrimp will break you out of that rut, and they'll be on your plate in less than 30 minutes. Peeled and deveined shrimp are briefly marinated in a zesty mixture that includes chili garlic sauce, cayenne, Worcestershire, and lemon juice. They go from the marinade straight to the hot grill, where they cook up in only six minutes. Serve them piping hot from the grill — that's when they taste the best. According to The Kitchn, some great sides to pair with the grilled shrimp include cole slaw, caprese salad, and corn on the cob. 

Recipe: Spicy Grilled Shrimp

Casseroles tend to be served during cooler weather, but this dish is full of the barbecue flavors of summertime. Shredded, cooked chicken, sweet potatoes, peppers, and onions are layered together with a creamy barbecue sauce blend and topped with melted cheese. For homes without a grill, this is an easy way to get a taste of that barbecue chicken you've been missing. This casserole is also a great choice to bring as a main dish for a potluck or summer evening get-together. 

Recipe: Barbecue Chicken Casserole

We can't talk about grilling without bringing out a great burger recipe! This is a twist on a classic burger recipe from Food Network's Bobby Flay. The huge patties are made all the more irresistible by being stuffed with bacon and American cheese. Flay's trick is to brush the burgers with a little oil while they grill, to keep them moist and promote browning. Top the burgers with pickles and an easy-to-make, homemade slider sauce. Serve these impressive patties with your favorite burger sides, and you'll be in grilling heaven.

Recipe: Bobby Flay's Burger With A Twist

Have you ever tried using jackfruit in place of meat? Taste Of Home says it's a tropical fruit with a ropy-textured pulp that has a meaty texture and neutral flavor (perfect for soaking up sauces and seasonings) when harvested before they're fully ripe. In this recipe, jackfruit is simmered until tender and then tossed in a spicy barbecue sauce. Pile it high on soft buns with pickled onions and coleslaw. It's a delicious and meat-free alternative to pulled pork!

Recipe: Vegan Pulled Pork

It's surprisingly easy to make grilled salmon at home that's just as juicy and delicious as you'd have eating out. The delicate salmon filet gets a brief saltwater brining to help it stay moist as it cooks. Grill the fish in a simple sauce of lemon and garlic, and it's ready in less than 15 minutes. Serve it with a simple mango and tomato salsa, or try one of the recommended sides from The Kitchn — like mustardy potato salad, creamy lemon rice, or slices of grilled zucchini. 

Recipe: Grilled Salmon

Having your own backyard smoker opens up a world of delectable dishes — Hey Grill Hey recommends using it to make tender brisket, pork belly, juicy ribs, and burnt ends. A smoker also infuses ordinary grill favorites with next-level flavors. These steak and veggie kabobs are a great example: Cooked low and slow in a smoker with a simple blend of oil and spices, the colorful slices of peppers, onion, and pineapple become sweet and soft, and the meat incredibly tender. Serve these smoked kabobs with cooked rice or summery sides, like macaroni salad or succotash.

Recipe: Smoked Steak Kabobs

This sandwich makes rare appearances at McDonald's, but it turns out that you don't need to wait around to enjoy a flavorful McRib. McDonald's uses ground pork to create the McRib patty and our copycat recipe does too: Follow the steps to grind pork at home or pick up a package of pre-ground pork at the store. We even show you how to make the patty look like a McDonald's McRib! Pair the cooked patties with homemade or store-bought barbecue sauce, onions, and pickles, all served on a soft hoagie roll. McRib perfection.

Recipe: Copycat McDonald's McRib

There's no reason to settle for baked beans from the can when you have this easy recipe. It takes canned beans up a notch thanks to a smoky, flavorful sauce, and it's ready in just over a half hour. Start by frying some diced bacon, then add it to a large pot with the baked beans. Simmer the beans in a mixture that includes barbecue sauce and Dijon mustard. It's a delicious side dish, and this recipe makes enough to feed everyone at your cookout.

Recipe: BBQ Baked Beans

Sometimes the best desserts are the simplest ones. This sweet treat captures the flavors of summertime with thick slices of pineapple that are quickly grilled to caramelize the natural sugars, and give the fruit a bit of smokiness. Topped with whipped cream and simple garnishes like fresh mint leaves or shredded coconut, it's as beautiful as it is delicious. 

Recipe: Grilled Pineapple With Whipped Cream

No grill? No problem! Your air fryer can turn out an amazing, stick-to-your-ribs batch of barbecued chicken. Coat bone-in pieces of chicken with some oil and a few spices, then add them to your air fryer to cook them through and crisp up the skin. Then brush them with your favorite barbecue sauce, and cook them a few minutes longer to infuse the chicken with flavor and make them nice and sticky. Your BBQ chicken will be ready to eat in about 30 minutes — Masterclass suggests pairing it with watermelon-feta salad or cornbread. 

Recipe: Air Fryer BBQ Chicken

There's not a trace of heavy mayo in this pasta salad, just loads of fresh vegetables that are grilled until they get beautifully tender and flavorful. Toss the veggies with cooked penne, a light balsamic vinaigrette, and a generous sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. This recipe works as a side dish or as a light lunch meal or dinner entrée, and best of all, it's tasty served cold or at room temperature. 

Recipe: Grilled Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad

A juicy steak with a peppery crust and a savory, creamy sauce? Um, yes please! New York strip steak is the recommended cut for this recipe, but other cuts of steaks can also be used. The meat gets coated in salt and freshly-cracked black peppercorns, and cooks up on the grill in only 10 minutes. The cream sauce (made on the stovetop) is a blend of garlic, herbs, and a generous pour of brandy. Serve the steak with grilled zucchini or asparagus, or with a fresh salad.

Recipe: Grilled Steak Au Poivre

Ribs are a longtime fixture of summertime cookouts. This recipe takes you step-by-step through preparing your baby back ribs with a dry rub, then roasting them in the oven low and slow for several hours. This method creates tender, perfectly cooked meat, and gives you time to get the rest of your food prepared. The final touch is to throw the rack of ribs on the grill for a few minutes to give it char marks and smoky flavor. Then, it's finished with a generous brushing of barbecue sauce!

Recipe: Baby Back Ribs

Grilled meats tend to take center stage at a cookout, but just like at Thanksgiving, everyone loves the sides! Grilled sweet potatoes are delicious served with burgers, grilled steaks, or kabobs. They're substantial enough that they could even be a meal by themselves. Planks of sweet potato are parboiled to make them tender, then tossed with oil and spices before going on the hot grill. The result is wedges with a crunchy outside, soft and creamy inside, and lots of spicy, smoky flavor. 

Recipe: Grilled Sweet Potato Wedges

It's time to make delicious grilled burgers a la Gordon Ramsay! This recipe incorporates many tricks from the "Kitchen Nightmares" chef that make the burgers at his Las Vegas restaurant taste out of this world, but still easy to create on a home grill. Some of these tricks include adding egg to the meat mixture, not moving the burgers once they're on the grill, and basting them in butter before serving. Our recipe has a twist that we're pretty sure Ramsay would approve of: Stuffing the burgers with melty Monterey Jack cheese.

Recipe: Gordon Ramsay's Burgers

While this sauce requires no grilling, it will make so many foods from your grill taste amazing. Chimichurri sauce is a condiment from Argentina that's packed with flavor from ingredients like parsley, garlic, lemon, and spices that are blended together to make a thick sauce. Serve the sauce over steak, chicken, or veggies hot from the grill, or use it as a marinade to infuse foods with flavor. It's ready in just a few minutes and lasts in the fridge for over a week.

Recipe: Chimichurri Sauce

The flavor of these grilled jalapeño poppers is so much better than the deep-fried ones found at restaurants. Plus, there's the added pride of knowing you made them yourself! Choose six large jalapeño peppers, slice them in half and remove the seeds. Then fill them with a smoky Cheddar-cream cheese blend before wrapping them with bacon strips. The peppers get an initial sear on the hot grill, then cook at a slightly lower temp for a few more minutes until they're cooked through — and that's not all. Brush the cooked poppers with a simple barbecue-grape jelly sauce, which gives the fiery jalapeños a sweet finish. 

Recipe: Grilled Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers

Make these as a main dish, as a side to go with grilled or smoked meats, or tossed in a pasta salad with cooked, cooled noodles. These kabobs are made with bell peppers, onions, corn on the cob, tomatoes, and mushrooms. You can also experiment with other veggies you love, like yellow summer squash, asparagus, or cauliflower. The veggies are threaded onto skewers (be sure to soak wooden skewers first) then brushed with an herby oil. They cook up on a hot grill in just minutes. 

Recipe: Grilled Veggie Kabobs

According to Hey Grill Hey, making pulled pork the traditional way in a smoker can take up to 18 hours! If you don't have that kind of time — or a smoker, for that matter — here's a way to make a batch of barbecue pulled pork in your Instant Pot. Instead of a whole pork shoulder, this recipe uses smaller pork shoulder steaks that cook through more quickly. Rub the meat with a simple spice blend, then plop it in the Instant Pot with barbecue sauce and Coke. It's ready to shred in only an hour, and because the Instant Pot does all the work, it leaves you free to make the coleslaw and potato salad sides. 

Recipe: Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Pork

It's easier than you think to get the flavor of Chipotle's grilled chicken without even leaving your house. Chicken thighs are the secret to getting grilled chicken that's moist and tender, and they have loads of flavor from our marinade. Use your blender to make the marinade, which includes canned chipotle peppers, garlic, chili powder, and other spices. How long you let the chicken thighs marinate is up to you: A mere half hour or up to 24 hours. Cook the chicken on your outdoor grill or indoor grill top until the meat is cooked through, complete with tantalizing grill marks and crisp edges. 

Recipe: Copycat Chipotle Chicken

Craving some easy ribs? Here's how to make them with hardly any effort. A slow cooker creates amazingly succulent ribs, and while they cook you're free to work, relax, or make the side dishes. Rub baby back ribs with a brown sugar-spice blend, then put them in the slow cooker with plenty of barbecue sauce. If your ribs are too large, you can slice them into smaller pieces. When finished, the ribs go under the oven broiler briefly to crisp up and caramelize — then they're ready to eat. 

Recipe: Slow Cooker Ribs

Even your salad can hit the grill this season! You couldn't ask for a simpler recipe, yet this grilled romaine salad looks fantastic on the plate and has a delicious, lightly smoky flavor under the dressing. Purchase a package of romaine hearts and slice each one in half. Lightly brush them with oil, then place them on the hot grill for just a few minutes. That's it. Top the romaine with prepared Caesar dressing, freshly shaved Parmesan cheese, and croutons. It can be part of a light lunch or served with grilled meats for dinner. 

Recipe: Grilled Romaine Caesar Salad

This favorite cool-weather comfort food makes a welcome appearance on the backyard grill. From the outside, it looks like straightforward meatloaf brushed with a tangy sauce, but this recipe has a surprise. Inside the meatloaf are several cheese-stuffed jalapeños! That means you'll get bites of jalapeño poppers in every slice. The meatloaf cooks up low and slow in a pan on your grill, giving the meat a slight smokiness and caramelizing the chipotle-brown sugar glaze over the top!

Recipe: Spicy Grilled Meatloaf 

Bobby Flay's simple recipe to turn a plain halibut steak into a perfectly cooked, beautifully flavored main dish is one of our favorites — but we also had fun putting a tasty twist on his recipe. Where Flay goes with a blend of rosemary and lemon for the fish, ours has the delicate flavor of fresh tarragon and orange. The light, anise-like flavor of tarragon pairs wonderfully with the fresh orange juice. The halibut steaks rest in the citrusy marinade, which includes a splash of white wine, for just an hour. From there, the fish needs less than 10 minutes time on the grill. 

Recipe: Bobby Flay's Grilled Halibut With A Twist

This is one of those recipes that's so tasty and easy to make that you'll wonder why you don't make it more often. Cajun (not to be confused with Creole) spice blends are easy to find at the store, and according to Allrecipes have a mixture of black and white pepper, cayenne, garlic powder, paprika, and other spices that vary between brands. It's a flavorful, spicy blend that turns plain chicken breasts into something amazing. Coat your chicken pieces in Cajun spice and oil, then grill them for about 20 minutes. Pile the chicken onto soft rolls with lettuce, tomato, and maybe a little mayo.

Recipe: Grilled Cajun Chicken Sandwich

Souvlaki is a Greek specialty similar to kebabs, and consists of skewers of marinated meat that are grilled and served in a pita with vegetables and sauces like tzatziki. Chicken, beef, or pork can be used to make souvlaki, but our recipe features pork. Marinate the meat in a simple blend of oil, honey, lemon, and oregano, then thread it onto wood or metal skewers. The souvlaki cooks up on the grill in about 10 minutes. Pair it with veggies, tzatziki sauce, and warm pitas, which you can also grill if you'd like. 

Recipe: Traditional Pork Souvlaki

Stock your pantry with the three ingredients needed to make this marinade, and you'll be ready to throw those steaks on the grill anytime your heart desires. This is a basic marinade that brings a little saltiness to the grilled meat and amplifies its beefy flavor. Plus, it's great for tenderizing steaks too. Use this sauce to briefly coat high-end cuts like filet mignon, or marinate tougher cuts like flank steak for up to 12 hours. 

Recipe: 3-Ingredient Steak Marinade

This Bulgogi recipe is a type of Korean barbecue that doesn't require a grill, so it's a great choice for days when you crave lots of flavor but don't want to stand outside to prepare it. Thinly-sliced ribeye is the preferred cut of beef for this dish, which you may be able to find pre-sliced in some stores. (If not, your store's butcher can do this for you.) Marinate the meat in a sweet and spicy sauce, then brown it over high heat with sliced carrots, onion, and Asian pear. Serve bulgogi with rice or wrap it in lettuce leaves. 

Recipe: Easy Bulgogi

Despite what "BBQ Pitmasters" and similar shows would have you believe, grilling season is not only about meat. One of the most incredible transformations that happens on the grill is how delicious vegetables become when they hit the smoke and heat. In this recipe, slices of eggplant, yellow squash, and red pepper get the grill marks. After they emerge tender and sweet, they get piled onto grilled ciabatta buns with pesto and mozzarella. Grilled veggie sandwiches make a sublime meat-free lunch, brunch, or dinner dish.   

Recipe: Grilled Vegetable Sandwich

For folks who feel unsure about their barbecuing skills (or lack a grill entirely), look no further than this easy, flavorful recipe that you can make indoors. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts and four other ingredients are all that's needed! Just bake up the chicken in the oven, then baste it with your favorite barbecue sauce. Bake it a little longer to bring out the flavors in the sauce, and the BBQ chicken is ready. Serve it with sides like baked beans, coleslaw, or mac n' cheese, or shred it to make pulled chicken sandwiches. 

Recipe: BBQ Chicken

It takes only three ingredients and your air fryer to turn out a batch of succulent barbecue ribs! This recipe uses country-style pork ribs — a different cut than spare ribs or baby back ribs, they're typically sold boneless, and take far less time to cook. Rub the ribs with pork seasoning (or any seasoning blend you wish!) and layer them in the air fryer pan. They take a total of 30 minutes to cook, which includes a barbecue sauce basting. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the ribs in batches — or, just make one small batch for you and your partner, and freeze the rest of the ribs for a future dinner. 

Recipe: Air Fryer Country-Style Ribs

This twist on Bobby Flay's recipe for grilled tuna gives the dish a summery flavor, and also makes it faster to prepare. Instead of topping the tuna with caramelized onions, which take 30-45 minutes to cook properly, our recipe has fresh salsa made with diced mango, mint, red onion, and parsley. A hint of cinnamon in the salsa brings an unexpected but delicious warmth, and you can even prepare it in advance. The tuna steaks finish cooking on the grill in less than 10 minutes, making it a great dinner for busy weeknights. 

Recipe: Bobby Flay's Tuna Steak 

Burger King loves to brag about its "flame-broiled" burgers, but guess what? If you have a grill at home, you can make flame-broiled burgers, too! To get the best copycat Whopper experience, we recommend including all the components of a real Whopper: Lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, ketchup, and mayo on a sesame seed bun. Although this copycat has all the flavors of the classic Burger King sandwich, it's MUCH tastier because everything is fresh. The burger takes only about 10 minutes to cook on the grill, so it still technically qualifies as fast food.

Recipe: Copycat Burger King Whopper

Although bok choy is often used in stir fries and soups, the vegetable can be a star in its own right. It has delicious flavor that's enhanced by quick cooking over high heat — which is why this grilled bok choy recipe will become a fast favorite to serve with grilled meats, teriyaki chicken, or other barbecued veggies. Just slice the bok choy in half lengthwise and brush it with a simple, spicy sauce before putting it on the hot grill. It'll be ready in less than 10 minutes!

Recipe: Grilled Bok Choy

Love that delicious grilled steak that you get in fajitas and tacos at Mexican restaurants? It's incredibly easy to make steak that's equally delicious at home on your grill. This recipe has lots of tips to help you get the best results, like getting your grill good and hot before cooking and patting the meat dry before it goes on the grates. The skirt steak does require some marinating time before grilling (don't skip this step!) but it's not a problem: Just put your steak in the fridge to marinate before you go to work in the morning, and it'll be ready to grill for dinner when you get home. 

Recipe: Carne Asada

Healthy and barbecue don't often go hand in hand, but in this recipe they do! Give your body a break from fried chicken wings and try these cauliflower wings instead. Cauliflower florets are coated in a savory batter, then rolled in panko breadcrumbs. They cook up to crispy perfection in an air fryer, which makes the dish more healthy than its deep-fried equivalent. Toss the cauliflower wings in barbecue sauce before serving. Make this dish vegan by selecting a vegan barbecue sauce; make it gluten-free by using GF flour, panko, and sauce.

Recipe: Air Fryer BBQ Cauliflower Wings 

If you're unfamiliar with orange roughy, Seafood Source explains that it's a type of fish caught off the coasts of New Zealand and Australia. It has a delicate flavor and lightly orange-colored skin. Because this type is one that's in danger of being overfished, orange roughy is best chosen as an occasional indulgence — and the simple flavors of this recipe really compliment the light flavor of the fish. Squeeze a little lemon over the filet and add a few sprigs of dill. Then grill the fish lightly a few minutes on each side. 

Recipe: Grilled Orange Roughy

We figured out how to capture that incredible, Five Guys burger flavor in this copycat recipe! Start with a mix of ground beef and sirloin to create burger patties with lots of beefy flavor. Shape the burgers into balls, then follow our steps to smash them into patties. Once your burgers are grilled, layer them with slices of yellow cheese inside a sesame seed bun. Add any toppings you wish, like sliced jalapeños, ketchup, onions, and mustard. Pair your burgers with French fries, of course, like these easy air fryer fries. 

Recipe: Copycat Five Guys Burger

Because these ribs cook up in your oven, they're ideal for folks who don't own a grill or who would rather use the grill to cook other food. Start by searing country-style ribs in a Dutch oven to brown the surface. Then, bake them in the covered pot for a total of three hours, adding barbecue sauce to the meat for the final hour. While this recipe does take some time to prepare, it's mostly hands-off, leaving you free to get the rest of the food ready.

Recipe: Country-Style Ribs

The barbecue flavor in this recipe is really special, because the sauce is blended up fresh by you. Brisket gets rubbed with a spice blend, then coated with homemade barbecue sauce before it goes into a slow cooker. There it cooks low and slow until tender. Slice the brisket and build the sandwiches with sweet Hawaiian rolls and fresh cole slaw. This recipe makes 12 servings, perfect to feed everyone at the backyard gathering or to have friends over to watch the game. 

Recipe: BBQ Brisket Sandwich

Corn, butter, and salt. So simple, and yet this is one of the most loved foods of grilling season! Corn on the cob goes with everything, whether you're serving grilled chicken, burgers, or hosting a clambake. In this recipe, freshly shucked ears of corn are covered with butter and salt, then grilled until the kernels are tender with a few blackened spots. Serve them with more butter, or spread them with a zesty cotija cheese blend to make the Mexican street corn known as elote. 

Recipe: Grilled Corn On The Cob

Is it really worth it to make your own barbecue sauce? Heck yes! This homemade version tastes incredible, and making it yourself lets you control exactly what goes into it. You can use the ingredients in this recipe, like ground mustard, paprika, and cumin, in the amounts listed or tweak them to get the exact flavor you like. Want a spicy sauce? Stir in some cayenne pepper. Prefer the taste of Sriracha? Add a few squirts to this mixture. It takes only 10 minutes and will last in the fridge for a week. 

Recipe: Homemade Barbecue Sauce

Whether you call them little smokies or cocktail weenies, this classic appetizer is a fun way to get a taste of barbecue. Look for packages of smoked cocktail sausages in the same refrigerated case as hot dogs and kielbasa. Toss them with bottled barbecue sauce plus ingredients like brown sugar and Worcestershire to create an irresistible sauce. The smokies heat up in a slow cooker in as little as an hour, giving you time to get ready for your guests. Set them out with homemade biscuits or slices of cornbread, and everyone will be happy. 

Recipe: Slow Cooked Little Smokies 

Way better than your standard plate of nachos, Carne Asada Fries are loaded with flavorful ingredients and will definitely get you a round of "oohs!" and "aahs!" when you present them to your guests. Start by marinating flank steak in a blend of lime juice, garlic, and spices — you can do this up to eight hours in advance. Grill the steak, let it rest, then slice it to go over a batch of crispy French fries. Finish the dish with melted cheese, jalapeños, guacamole, and any other of your favorite toppings. Serve it up with fruity margaritas or cold Mexican beer. 

Recipe: Carne Asada Fries

If you want recipes that'll get you grilling more often, an easy-to-make and fast dish like this one is ideal. When buying your shrimp, look for those that are already peeled and deveined. You can do this yourself, of course, but why not save some time and hassle! Thread the shrimp onto skewers and brush them with a simple basting sauce of butter, garlic, and spices. The shrimp grill up in only six minutes. Serve them with a fresh salad or grilled veggies. Or, dice the meat to use in recipes for cold salads or taco fillings. 

Recipe: Quick Grilled Shrimp

This is one of those recipes that people will assume you spent hours preparing. You can tell them the truth, which is that ribs cook up ridiculously fast in an Instant Pot, or just keep that to yourself while you bask up their praises! Rub a rack of baby back ribs with spices, then tuck them into your Instant Pot with a little vinegar and water. They'll be ready in about a half hour. Finish them with a generous basting of barbecue sauce and a quick flash under the broiler to crisp up the edges and thicken the sauce. 

Recipe: Instant Pot Ribs

Does a slow cooker barbecue recipe belong at a backyard cookout? Absolutely! Preparing pulled chicken in a slow cooker means you have time to get other stuff done, like mowing the grass or hanging the string lights. It also frees up your grill to make sides like corn on the cob, or to make other mains like hot dogs and hamburgers. Whisk up an easy homemade barbecue sauce (or use your preferred store-bought kind) and combine it with chicken breasts in a slow cooker. The chicken will be fall-apart tender in four hours. 

Recipe: Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

This is a show-stopping dish that will really impress your cookout guests. Pick up the freshest whole tilapia you can find. Then, sweet-talk the fishmonger into removing the innards and scales for you! Because once this step is done, preparing and grilling the fish is a breeze. Just season and stuff the fish with scallions, dill, and lemon slices. Brushed with oil, the tilapia need less than 30 minutes on the grill. Serve the fish with a fresh green salad or a light potato salad. 

Recipe: Grilled Whole Tilapia

Pork chops are so delicious, but they're also notoriously easy to over-cook — and no one wants a dried out, tough chop. We solved that problem by giving thick pork chops a simple brine that tenderizes the meat and keeps them juicy during cooking. While they brine, prepare sides like a green salad, potato salad, or soft rolls. The grilling time is less than 15 minutes, and the result? Tender, juicy pork chops with attractive grill marks and a smoky flavor.

Recipe: Grilled Pork Chops

If Chick-Fil-A's grilled chicken sandwich is one of your go-to fast food meals, you'll be thrilled to learn that we've cracked the secret of what makes it so dang delicious. Ordinary chicken breast gets a big boost in flavor and juiciness thanks to a unique marinade of ingredients like apple cider vinegar, molasses, and grape juice. Once on the grill, the thin-sliced chicken is ready in less than 10 minutes. Build your sandwich, then pair it with our Copycat Chick-Fil-A Sauce!

Recipe: Copycat Chick-Fil-A Grilled Chicken Sandwich

According to Taste Atlas, churrasco is a Brazilian dish consisting of large cuts of meat grilled on skewers. In restaurants, meat is sliced from these skewers tableside, and diners enjoy it with flavorful chimichurri sauce. You can easily replicate these flavors on your grill at home: Pick up some skirt steaks and ingredients like parsley, lemon, and garlic for the chimichurri sauce. Unlike the slow-cooked churrasco at restaurants, skirt steak finishes quickly on the grill, and the sauce is ready in just minutes. Serve your churrasco with rice, couscous, or salad. 

Recipe: Grilled Churrasco

If you regularly find yourself waiting for a subpar, store-bought frozen pizza to heat through in your oven, then you have no excuse not to try this homemade barbecue chicken pizza. It's ready to eat just as quickly, and easy to put together. Just pick up a soft, ready-made pizza crust, then top it with cooked chicken, mozzarella cheese, barbecue sauce, and veggies. This pizza is absolutely delicious, and you can customize it to include your own favorite toppings and spices. (We think some pineapple would be a fantastic addition!) 

Recipe: 15-Minute BBQ Chicken Pizza 

What exactly makes a double cheeseburger become a Steakhouse King? Smoky barbecue sauce and being over-the-top in both size and flavor. Our copycat recipe for the impressive Burger King Steakhouse King sandwich delivers that smoky flavor in two ways: liquid smoke in the sauce and cooking the burgers over an open flame. When the meat is done, build the towering sandwich with sliced cheese, bacon, and fried onions. This beast is a great way to celebrate someone special — and what's better gift than creating the ultimate backyard barbecue feast? 

Recipe: Copycat Burger King Steakhouse King 

With this basic recipe, you can easily and quickly make a batch of grilled chicken to be enjoyed in any number of ways. Serve it as the main course of your meal, shred it to make pulled chicken dishes, chop it to make a cold chicken salad, or keep it around to use in fillings for burritos, tacos, and rice bowls — the possibilities are nearly endless. This recipe begins with a simple, herby marinade that infuses the chicken breast with flavor and keeps the meat juicy after grilling. Keep this versatile recipe bookmarked!

Recipe: Grilled Chicken

What's the secret to serving juicy and flavorful chicken, even when you have to make enough to feed a crowd? (Like at a wedding?) Marinate the chicken first! With many cuts of meat, especially boneless chicken breast, it's easy to end up with a tough, dry texture. That's why the time it takes to let meats marinate before cooking is more than worth it. In this recipe, zesty ingredients like garlic, fish sauce, serrano peppers, and soy sauce not only keep the chicken moist, but give it plenty of flavor, too. 

Recipe: Grilled Wedding Chicken

A basic meatball mixture gets a big boost in flavor from a thick coating of barbecue sauce that's easy to make in your slow cooker. Just shape the meatballs, sear them briefly in a frying pan, and let them simmer in the slow cooker with your favorite flavor of homemade or store-bought barbecue sauce. The barbecue meatballs make a great appetizer, and can also be used for casual meals: Serve them on rolls, over rice, with a plate of hot pasta, or with melted cheese over crispy French fries. 

Recipe: Crock Pot BBQ Meatballs

One of our favorite tricks for getting juicy, grilled chicken thighs is to let the meat marinate first. The marinade in this recipe combines sweet apple cider vinegar with an earthy blend of poultry seasoning to create a really irresistible flavor. Once grilled the chicken thighs are piled into soft rolls with melted provolone cheese and spicy banana peppers. Serve these sandwiches with crispy fries, potato salad, or buttery corn on the cob. 

Recipe: Marinated Grilled Chicken Sandwich 

If you're planning a gathering of your best buds, a big batch of nachos is the perfect finger food that will please everyone no matter where you are. In our recipe for steak-topped nachos, a flank steak is rubbed with a spicy blend of seasonings then grilled for a total of about 10 minutes. Slice up the steak and you're ready to build your nachos: Tortilla chips, sliced olives, refried beans, jalapeños — any toppings you like! Give them a quick broil to melt the cheese, and they're ready. Set out bowls of guacamole, sour cream, and salsa to make a casual nacho bar. 

Recipe: Steak Nachos