Summer BBQ and Grilling Recipes

Summer BBQ and Grilling

Smokey Mexican Street Corn Grilled (Elote)

This grills the corn with the husks still partially on and then finishes it directly over the flame once removed, which is what builds real char and smokiness rather than corn that's simply boiled and then coated in toppings. Coating the hot corn immediately with mayonnaise, rather than butter alone, is what gives elote its distinctive creamy, tangy base for the cotija cheese and chili powder to cling to.

35m4

Summer BBQ and Grilling

Pakistani BBQ Spicy Chicken Malai Boti Skewers

This uses cream and processed cheese in the marinade, the defining ingredients that give malai boti its name, since malai literally means cream and is what sets this dish apart from a standard tandoori chicken by making it noticeably richer and milder in heat. Green chilies blended right into the marinade, rather than dried spices alone, keep the heat fresh and vibrant instead of dusty.

35m6

Summer BBQ and Grilling

Ultimate Juicy Summer BBQ Ribeye Steaks

This uses a two zone fire, one side blazing hot and one side cooler, since searing over direct heat first and then finishing over indirect heat is what gets a thick ribeye a deep crust without overcooking the center before it reaches temperature. Letting the steak sit at room temperature before grilling is what allows it to cook more evenly from edge to center.

55m4

Summer BBQ and Grilling

Tangy Summer Potato Salad with Creamy Mayo

This tosses the still-warm potatoes with a splash of vinegar right after draining, letting them soak up that tang while they're most absorbent, before the mayonnaise based dressing is ever added. Boiling the eggs separately and folding them in gently at the end keeps their texture distinct instead of mashing into the dressing and turning the whole salad grainy.

40m8

Summer BBQ and Grilling

Easy Summer Bacon Cheddar Burgers Platter

This forms a shallow dimple in the center of each raw patty before grilling, a trick that counteracts the way ground beef naturally puffs up in the middle as it cooks, resulting in a flat burger instead of a dome shaped one. Handling the beef as little as possible while shaping the patties is what keeps the burgers tender rather than dense and tightly packed.

30m4

Summer BBQ and Grilling

Greek Grilled Shrimp Skewers with Lemon Garlic

This keeps the marinating time brief, since shrimp is delicate enough that a strongly acidic lemon marinade can start to cure and toughen its texture if left too long, unlike heartier cuts of meat. Threading the shrimp onto skewers in a tight C-shape, rather than straight through, is what keeps them from spinning uncontrollably when you try to flip them on the grill.

26m4

Summer BBQ and Grilling

Indian Spicy Grilled Tandoori Fish Fillets

This keeps the marinating time short compared to a tandoori chicken recipe, since fish is far more delicate and can start to break down in texture if left in an acidic, spiced yogurt marinade for too long. Oiling the grill grates well before adding the fish is what keeps its tender flesh from sticking and tearing apart when it comes time to flip.

33m4

Summer BBQ and Grilling

Sweet Teriyaki Grilled Pineapple Chicken Breasts

This grills fresh pineapple rings alongside the chicken, since the direct heat caramelizes the fruit's natural sugars into a deeper, more complex sweetness than raw pineapple could offer as a topping. Reserving a portion of the teriyaki marinade before it touches raw chicken, then simmering it into a glaze, lets you safely brush extra flavor onto both the chicken and pineapple as they grill.

35m4

Summer BBQ and Grilling

British Style Honey Mustard Grilled Pork Chops

This brines the pork chops briefly in a simple saltwater solution before grilling, a step that helps this naturally lean cut stay juicy over direct heat instead of drying out and turning tough. Brushing the honey mustard glaze on only during the final few minutes of grilling keeps its sugars from burning before the chops finish cooking through.

52m4