15 Grilling Recipes To Make Your Summer Last Forever

Halloumi was made for the grill, and these skewers are how I’ll be making it all summer long. Layered with chicken, red onions, and bell peppers, these skewers are so easy to put together and feel light and fresh at a hot summer BBQ.

When tomato season rolls around, it’s not just the heirlooms and beefsteaks. We have our eyes set on green tomatoes too. Bright, tangy, and endlessly versatile, green tomatoes are one of our favorite ingredients for summer cooking. They have a firm texture and a slightly tart flavor, making them perfect for the grill.

Fresh fruit and a hot grill are a match made in summer heaven. To showcase our favorite of the season’s grilled fruits (sorry, pineapple), we created these sweet and spicy grilled shrimp and mango skewers. The marinated shrimp gets skewered with pieces of mango and a few scallions, then grilled and glazed with a tangy mango chutney BBQ sauce. 😍

Grilling romaine for this wedge salad gives them just a slight char that goes perfectly with Caesar dressing. Swap for your favorite green goddess dressing or ranch dressing if you want to switch things up.

During the summer months, we never get tired of chicken on the grill. There are endless ways to prepare and top grilled chicken, but this California-inspired version just might be our very favorite. Seasoned grilled chicken is topped with mozzarella, avocado, and tomato on the grill, resulting in a cheesy, flavor-packed main course.

If you think mayo is the worst and are worried this recipe won't be for you, think again. Elote will have you reconsidering your stance; or, at the very least, make one incredible exception. The mayo becomes more like a creamy sauce, absorbing the flavor of the chili powder, cotija cheese, and lime juice.

Summer cookouts call for food with bright herbs, creamy sauces, and tons of char, and this green goddess grilled chicken is bringing all that and more. Chicken thighs are tossed in a simple green goddess dressing and grilled immediately for a no-wait, no-fuss dinner that hits all those alfresco dinner vibes.

Plums are by far the most underrated stone fruit, and we think it’s time they get the attention and treatment they truly deserve. Since plums are their best at the height of summer, it’s only right to toss them on the grill and add some smokey char to their naturally sweet-tart flavor.

Grilling not only makes oysters easier to shuck and serve—the heat loosens the shell, meaning you just need to gently pop off the lid—it also heightens their briny flavor and imparts a subtly smoky char that goes almost too well with the kimchi butter they're topped with. These grilled oysters are the perfect appetizer to impress at a modern backyard BBQ.

Nothing says summertime like the smell of corn on the grill. It also happens to be the easiest side you’ll make all season. After getting some char on a hot grill, juicy ears of corn get brushed with an irresistible honey-lime butter that you can also slather on grilled sweet potatoes, cornbread, or even grilled skirt steak.

While steak or burgers might get all the spotlight, one of our favorite proteins to grill has to be shrimp. This grilled shrimp recipe with a simple spicy marinade (that doubles as a glaze!) is the perfect way to take advantage of all that the grill has to offer.

Bang Bang shrimp gets all the hype, but we are here to tell you that flavor-packed grilled corn deserves a little more time in the spotlight. The sweet-spicy sauce is perfect over almost anything and will really spice up your meal.

Lobster tail is kinda expensive, and therefore it seems pretty fancy. But it's actually incredibly easy to make. This recipe comes together in under 30 minutes and is the perfect dinner to make for a special occasion. The herb butter is PERFECT.