21 Summer BBQ Recipes You’ll Kick Yourself for Skipping

Summer BBQ season doesn’t last forever, and skipping the right recipes can leave your grill feeling underused. These 21 summer BBQ recipes are built to stand out with bold flavor, smart prep, and crowd-ready appeal. They hit the grill hot, hold up in the heat, and bring serious payoff with minimal stress. If you’re planning to fire it up, these are the ones you’ll regret missing.

Grilled steak with peaches and onions on a wooden cutting board. — Grilled Steak with Peaches and Onions. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Grilled Pork Chop Surf and Turf

Bone in pork chop topped with hollandaise sauce and shrimp, on a white plate next to green beans. — Grilled Pork Chop Surf and Turf. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Grilled pork chop surf and turf hits the BBQ theme hard with thick pork and shrimp cooked on the same flame. This summer BBQ recipe brings land and sea together without dragging out prep time. Both proteins grill fast and serve hot with no extra cleanup. It’s the kind of BBQ move that makes skipping it feel like a rookie mistake.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pork Chop Surf and Turf

Grilled Basil Pesto Chicken with Charred Tomatoes and Avocado

Plate of basil pesto chicken with grilled tomatoes and avocado slices. — Grilled Basil Pesto Chicken with Charred Tomatoes and Avocado. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Grilled basil pesto chicken with charred tomatoes and avocado brings a fresh angle to summer BBQ recipes that still centers around flame. The pesto clings to each piece of chicken while tomatoes and avocado add contrast without extra effort. It’s fast to prep and makes the plate look full without going heavy. This is one of those BBQ recipes that proves flavor doesn’t need to be complicated.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Basil Pesto Chicken with Charred Tomatoes and Avocado

Citrus Glazed Pork Chops

Grilled pork chops on a plate with oranges and limes. — Citrus Glazed Pork Chops. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Citrus glazed pork chops bring bold, BBQ-ready flavor with a glaze that cooks into the meat and finishes with a shine. These pork chops are quick to grill and hold their own against any steak or burger at the table. The citrus cuts through the heat, giving every bite a strong finish. You’ll regret skipping this one the second the first chop gets sliced.
Get the Recipe: Citrus Glazed Pork Chops

Grilled Shrimp Grain Bowl

Overhead shot of shrimp skewers and veggie skewers next to a bowl of dressed grains. — Grilled Shrimp Grain Bowl. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Grilled shrimp grain bowl keeps things BBQ-relevant while offering a fresh way to serve shrimp hot off the grill. The grains help anchor the meal while the shrimp stay center stage with their charred edges and quick cook time. This summer BBQ recipe balances ease and flavor in every bowl. It’s what you make when you want the grill to do more than just meat.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Shrimp Grain Bowl

Filet Mignon with Peach Mango Cilantro Sauce

Filet mignon with peach mango cilantro sauce brings steakhouse style straight to the BBQ with seasonal fruit and high-heat sear. The sauce stays fresh while the grill does all the heavy lifting. This recipe proves BBQs can go big without dragging out the smoker. Skipping this one is how you end up wishing you made an extra steak.
Get the Recipe: Filet Mignon with Peach Mango Cilantro Sauce

Tri-Tip with Pineapple Mango Red Pepper Salsa

Tri-tip with pineapple mango red pepper salsa keeps summer BBQ recipes fast, sharp, and packed with heat and contrast. The tri-tip gets seared fast while the fruit salsa cools it down just enough. It’s quick to prep and turns into something bold with barely any effort. BBQ doesn’t get better than steak that doesn’t even need sides.
Get the Recipe: Tri-Tip with Pineapple Mango Red Pepper Salsa

25-Minute Bacon-Avocado Ground Beef Burger

An up-close shot of bacon-avocado ground beef burger on a flat white surface. — 25-Minute Bacon-Avocado Ground Beef Burger. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Bacon-avocado ground beef burgers anchor summer BBQs with crispy bacon, creamy avocado, and patties built to handle the grill. These burgers go from prep to plate in under 30 minutes without losing flavor. They hold shape, hit the heat well, and stay juicy all the way through. This is why burgers never get left off the BBQ menu.
Get the Recipe: 25-Minute Bacon-Avocado Ground Beef Burger

Grilled Greek Lemon Chicken Kabobs

Grilled Greek lemon chicken kabobs give summer BBQ recipes a low-effort option with serious flavor. The marinade does the work ahead of time, so once they hit the grill, it’s just flip and go. They’re fast, easy to serve, and hold their own on a full BBQ table. These kabobs make it clear why no one skips skewer night.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Greek Lemon Chicken Kabobs

Grilled Maple Mustard Chicken

Grilled maple mustard chicken makes its BBQ case with thick sauce that sticks and sweet edges that char without burning. The grill locks in flavor while keeping the process simple and quick. It’s one of those BBQ recipes that makes chicken feel worth turning the heat on for. This bird doesn’t wait in the wings—it shows up ready.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Maple Mustard Chicken

Sweet & Spicy Grilled Harissa-Honey Chicken Skewers

Sweet and spicy grilled harissa-honey chicken skewers hit the grill fast and serve even faster. The glaze sticks with every turn, creating edges that bite back just enough. These skewers hold their own at any BBQ and disappear as quickly as they hit the tray. It’s the kind of heat that makes everyone forget about side dishes.
Get the Recipe: Sweet & Spicy Grilled Harissa-Honey Chicken Skewers

Grilled Flank Steak with Chile Butter

Sliced flank steak with chili butter. — Grilled Flank Steak with Chile Butter. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Grilled flank steak with chile butter makes summer BBQ recipes shine with minimal work and maximum return. The steak sears quickly while the butter melts into every slice, making the meat pop without extra effort. This recipe gets straight to the point and stays there. It’s steak that makes the grill feel like it means business.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Flank Steak with Chile Butter

Grilled Pork Chops with Pineapple Salsa

Grilled pork chops with pineapple salsa bring sweet and savory to the grill with no extra prep. The salsa cools the heat while the pork holds onto perfect char marks. It’s a classic BBQ setup that doesn’t take long but still gets remembered. When pork meets pineapple like this, there’s no need for a backup plan.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pork Chops with Pineapple Salsa

Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri

Sliced Grilled Hanger Steak with Chimichurri on a white plate. — Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Grilled hanger steaks with chimichurri keep BBQs fast, bold, and straight to the point. The herb sauce cuts right through the rich steak, giving each bite just enough punch. This recipe doesn’t drag—it hits hard and gets out of the way. These steaks are what happen when someone actually respects the grill.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri

Ninja Woodfire Grill Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breasts

Four bacon-wrapped chicken breasts on a white rectangular plate garnished with sprigs of parsley. — Ninja Woodfire Grill Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breasts. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Bacon-wrapped chicken breasts crisp up fast on the grill and hold onto every bit of juice inside. The bacon seals in flavor while the chicken stays tender through every slice. It’s easy to scale and looks like more effort than it really is. These are the kind of BBQ wins that make you wish you’d made a second batch.
Get the Recipe: Ninja Woodfire Grill Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breasts

Grilled Steaks with Cowboy Butter

A grilled steak with cowboy butter on a white plate. — Grilled Steaks with Cowboy Butter. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Grilled steaks with cowboy butter lock in heat and flavor with every slice straight off the flame. The butter melts with garlic and herbs into the meat, making each bite hit harder. It’s fast, no-fuss steak that still lands big on the BBQ board. This one’s got the grill marks to prove it was never just filler.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Steaks with Cowboy Butter

Grilled Hawaiian Chicken

Grilled chicken breasts stuffed with ham, pineapple and Jarlsberg cheese garnished with green onion. — Grilled Hawaiian Chicken. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Grilled Hawaiian chicken throws BBQ flavor into gear with sticky pineapple glaze and charred edges that hang onto every bit of sauce. It cooks quickly, looks bold, and tastes like summer in full swing. This dish brings balance without slowing things down. You don’t forget a BBQ that tasted like a weekend trip.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Hawaiian Chicken

Grilled Mango-Chipotle Chicken Wings

A plate of chicken wings on a white plate with a slice of mango. — Grilled Mango-Chipotle Chicken Wings. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Grilled mango-chipotle chicken wings hold the grill’s fire while staying sticky, sweet, and packed with heat. The glaze coats fast and stays locked in with every flip. These wings cook quickly and hit harder than anything store-bought. They’re the ones that leave fingers messy and plates empty.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Mango-Chipotle Chicken Wings

Ninja Woodfire Grill T-Bone Steaks

A grilled t-bone steak on a black platter. — Ninja Woodfire Grill T-Bone Steaks. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

T-bone steaks on the Ninja Woodfire grill get it done with thick cuts, crisp sear, and flavor that needs no dressing up. The flame leaves its mark and the bone locks in every ounce of heat. These steaks serve big and carve even better. When they hit the grill, everything else just lines up behind.
Get the Recipe: Ninja Woodfire Grill T-Bone Steaks

Mediterranean Grilled Shrimp

Shrimp skewers on a white plate with lemon wedges. — Mediterranean Grilled Shrimp. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Mediterranean grilled shrimp bring fresh citrus and herbs to the fire with zero prep drama. They cook in minutes and go from grill to plate with flavor that sticks. It’s fast, sharp, and doesn’t need sides to shine. These skewers prove BBQ isn’t just about the meat—it’s about not missing the good stuff.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Grilled Shrimp

Grilled Shrimp Skewers

Shrimp skewers on a plate with lemon wedges. — Grilled Shrimp Skewers. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Grilled shrimp skewers make the summer BBQ list because they’re quick, easy, and flame-friendly from the start. Each shrimp turns golden fast without drying out or falling apart. They plate well, pair with anything, and don’t waste a second. This is how shrimp shows up for BBQ season.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Shrimp Skewers

Grilled Steak with Peaches and Onions

Grilled steak with peaches and onions brings BBQ balance with rich meat and sweet fruit that caramelize side by side. It’s low-effort, high-impact, and built to feed without dragging out prep. The sear holds while the fruit softens, giving every bite contrast. This one feels like summer with a fork in hand.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Steak with Peaches and Onions