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.

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

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 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 

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

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 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 

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

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

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