29 Delicious Grilled Dinner Ideas to Add to Your Summer Rotation

Reverse-Seared Grilled Ribeye Steaks

Haven't heard of the "reverse sear" yet? It's what many barbecue experts say might be the secret to the tastiest steak you'll ever make. Start by cooking over indirect heat, then sear the meat over direct heat until you reach your desired doneness. Just 15 minutes is all it takes to score one of the best grilling recipes of all time!

Smoky Paprika-Garlic Chicken

A sprinkle of fresh mint is the ultimate cool counterpart to this warm, smoky paprika chicken marinade. While the grilled recipe idea is delicious as-is, we love slicing it and piling it into a pillowy pita with some tzatziki sauce. Or try it tucked inside a hamburger bun with hummus, if you like, for a more traditional cookout treatment.

Grilled Salmon and Leeks with Rosemary-Mustard Butter

This elegant seafood recipe would make the best grill menu centerpiece for your next intimate dinner party, or halve it to enjoy on date night. You can have both the grilled leek side dish and the flaky, rich grilled salmon on the table in 30 minutes.

Test Kitchen Tip: If you plan to serve a beverage with this dinner party grill idea, try rosé or Viognier for a delightful wine pairing.

Whiskey Barrel Burgers

These mouthwatering hamburgers taste even better with the addition of a juicy whiskey-cheddar filling. Assemble the grill recipe the night before, then all that's left to do is toast the buns and grill the meat. A 20-minute grilled dinner solution? Talk about tempting!

Ribeye Steaks and Peaches

You might not immediately think of pairing peaches and thyme (or peaches and beef, for that matter), but one bite of this grilling idea for dinner will convince you that this is a remarkable partnership. This charcoal grill recipe is the ultimate multitasker. Halved peaches need just 5 minutes to reach their charred glory, which is exactly the amount of time the ribeyes need to rest after being removed from the grates.

Thai Rice Noodle and Grilled Steak Salad

Craving Asian cuisine? Try infusing your meat with this lime, garlic, and fish sauce steak marinade. Then, toss the tender sliced grilled steak with rice noodles, greens, carrots, fresh herbs, and peanuts for a tastier-than-takeout grill recipe idea.

Espresso-Rubbed Steak with Green Chile Pesto

This is no ordinary steak. Combining chili powder and espresso powder adds a rich, punchy flavor. Topped off with zesty green chile pesto, this grilled steak tastes like a chimichurri-loaded Brazilian steakhouse dinner—but with a twist.

Grilled Veggie Pasta Salad

A rainbow of tender grilled veggies fills this easy pasta salad. This summer grill recipe, tossed in a balsamic dressing, can be easily adapted to fit what's in season at the market.

Test Kitchen Tip: Rinse the noodles with cold water after cooking to keep them from absorbing too much dressing and removes excess starch.

Summer Dogs

Quick-cooking and family-friendly, hot dogs are one of the best grill menu main courses of all time. This recipe takes classic grilled frankfurters to a new level, with lettuce, tomato, and avocado complementing the sausage sandwich. A simple corn relish lends even more summer notes, and for a bit of heat, if desired, top the loaded dogs with sliced fresh jalapeño peppers.

All-American Chicken with Balsamic Barbecue Sauce

The secret to success for acing our signature barbecued chicken recipe? Brush on the barbecue sauce during the last 15 minutes of grilling for a gorgeous glaze that won't have time to burn. You won't want to miss a drop of this unique homemade sauce featuring lager beer, white balsamic vinegar, and Asian chili sauce.

Southwestern Stuffed Roasted Peppers

Incredible as either a side or main dish, these stuffed peppers are jam-packed with flavor. Each pepper half is piled high with a hearty mix of veggies, shrimp, chicken, sausage, and corn bread stuffing. Oh yes, and they're topped off with Alfredo sauce. This delicious grilling recipe is sure to be a hit with you and your dinner companions.

Grilled Baby Veggies with Arugula-Mint Pesto Sauce

An arugula, mint, and lime marinade adds bright flavor to this array of colorful baby veggies. Serve them with the remaining sauce for dipping, and they'll be gone in a flash.

Sweet and Spicy Mango-Sauced Ribs with Smoky Slaw

Cook fresh mangoes down into a sweet and tangy sauce that pairs perfectly with smoky grilled pork ribs. Look for the ripest mangoes you can find for the this recipe—you'll want the sweetness to balance the acidic and spicy ingredients in the sauce. While you've got the grill going, toss on the veggies to make a grilled cabbage slaw.

Plank-Smoked Portobello Mushrooms

This stuffed mushroom recipe will have everyone fighting over the last cap. To make it, fill portobello mushroom tops with a blend of spicy mustard, baby spinach, bread crumbs, cheddar cheese, and chopped pecans. This is one seriously addictive plant-based recipe, one of our best grill menu ideas, with a wide variety of flavors and textures.

Salmon Kabobs with Cucumber-Feta Salsa

Marinated in a white balsamic vinegar, this salmon's flavor pairs perfectly with cool cucumbers and salty feta. Give your kabobs added citrusy zing by soaking the skewers in lemon juice instead of water before threading on the fish. (By the way, fresh or frozen salmon works wonderfully in this grill recipe idea, so feel free to use whichever is handy in this grilled dinner idea.)

Grilled Donuts

All the best grilled dinner ideas include dessert. For a gooey grilled dessert recipe, just pop packaged glazed donuts onto the grill for 1 to 2 minutes. Dust the donuts with cinnamon, nutmeg, or cardamom and pair with our strawberry-basil dip for an extra-special summer treat. To take this to the next decadent level, slice the donuts in half as you would a bagel, grill glazed-side up, and sandwich a scoop of ice cream between the two halves.

Grilled Corn with Smoky Lime Butter

Peak season corn on the cob is tough to beat. But we think we've improved plain corn with an easy upgrade: Smoky Lime Butter! Butter, lime, fresh cilantro, and a bit of paprika are all you need to dress up the tender stalks of sweet corn. The entire summer grilling recipe side dish requires little prep and takes just 20 minutes over flames.

Cumin-Crusted Veggie Burgers with Pineapple Salsa

Sweet and spicy, this vegetarian burger packs in loads of summer flavor. Grilled pineapple slices share their natural sugars, while the cumin-crusted burgers bring just enough warm, earthy heat. Add chips as a side for this grill recipe idea, and you have a top-notch warm-weather meal.

Baby Beet and Flank Steak Salad Dijon

If you're struggling to choose between steak, sandwich, or salad, turn to this tasty dish that combines all three in one well-balanced meal. Grilled flank steak and roasted baby beets top toasted French bread in this delicious open-face sandwich recipe. This grilled dinner idea, topped with a simple, zippy dressing, is perfect for serving at the end of a hot summer day.

Passion Fruit Shrimp and Scallop Skewers

A quick trip to the frozen fruit aisle of the grocery store is all you need to give this grilled scallop and shrimp recipe a tropical twist. Use it to make a citrusy glaze that's slathered on the seafood during grilling.

Peanut Butter Burger

We're not nuts—promise! Fine, maybe we are a bit about peanut butter. For this best grill recipe, we mix a couple of spoonfuls into the beef patties for extra moisture. Then, spread some on the bun for a nice salty stabilizing layer that helps keep the juicy burger, crispy bacon, and fresh toppings between the buns (rather than on your lap).

Grilled Chicken Finger Fajitas with Peppers and Onions

This is one of the best grilling recipes if you're in the mood for Mexican fare. It's also a winner if you're crunched for time. Everything for these easy chicken fajitas goes on the grill with just 15 minutes of prep. A mixture of Mexican crema and taco seasoning adds south-of-the-border flavor to the fajita toppings. As the vegetables, chicken, and tortillas cook, mix up a batch of refreshing margaritas for the 21+ crowd.

Lamb Chops with Blackberry-Pear Chutney

For an elevated recipe from the grill, try these earthy, succulent grilled lamb chops instead of the more standard pork chop. This easy dish is sure to impress friends and family when paired with a sweet blackberry-pear chutney. The warm spices in the rub and the chutney, plus late-season fruit, make this the perfect dinner to savor as summer tiptoes into fall.

Eggplant Panzanella

Grilled baguette cubes and eggplant slices star in this vegetable-rich twist on the Italian bread salad. We tossed both (plus mozzarella, of course!) with plenty of arugula and tarragon for extra freshness in this dinner party grill idea. If you don't have either, feel free to swap in any leafy greens and fresh herbs you have handy—think of the ratios as a template.

Grilled Drunken Shrimp and Scallop Skewers

Crank up the flavor in these party-ready skewers with a tequila-infused lime-and-garlic marinade. The bright, flavorful sauce also dresses the accompanying jicama-and-avocado slaw.

Test Kitchen Tip: If you're using wooden skewers for this grilling recipe, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before using them, so they don't scorch or start to flame.

Pesto-Veggie Gyros

Vegetarians need not survive on sides alone at the barbecue. Try this Mediterranean meal is one of the best grill menus to please meat-eaters and meat-free guests. The easy flatbread sandwich makes the most of colorful summer veggies, such as yellow summer squash, zucchini, and red peppers. Fresh homemade pesto gives the veggie gyros a bright flavor, while rich grilled Halloumi cheese replaces the meat.

Tamarind BBQ Chicken

Tamarind paste is a sticky condiment that has a sour, smoky taste. It's made from tamarind tree fruit and is common in Thai cooking. It lends its distinct flavor to the sweet and savory sauce on this grilled chicken recipe. Serve it with a quick topper made from macadamia nuts and fresh cilantro.

Thai-Inspired Beef and Cucumber Salad

This grilled steak recipe calls for just 25 minutes of hands-on time. The secret to its speedy cooking? Marinating the meat in a lime and soy sauce mixture to infuse flavor and help tenderize the steak.

Grilled Salmon and Romaine Salad

Meet your new favorite summer salad. Fresh ingredients like asparagus, romaine lettuce, and cara cara oranges brighten up meaty grilled salmon. Toss nearly every ingredient on the grill to infuse smokiness into each bite.