23 Summer BBQ Recipes You’ll Regret Not Grilling First

These 23 summer BBQ recipes are exactly what the grill was made for. They cook fast, hit hard with flavor, and make the kind of meals you’ll remember. If you skip these, you’ll regret it the second you smell someone else’s BBQ. Let the fire do the work—and let these recipes prove why they should’ve gone on first.

Tri-Tip with Pineapple Mango Red Pepper Salsa

Tri-tip with pineapple mango red pepper salsa is a summer BBQ recipe that hits every mark—fast grill, bold flavor, and no extras needed. The steak cooks hot and stays juicy, while the salsa cools things down with a sweet edge. This is the kind of grilled meat that looks like you planned it days in advance. It’s what BBQ legends are made of, no apologies necessary.
Get the Recipe: Tri-Tip with Pineapple Mango Red Pepper Salsa

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 brings grilled shrimp to the table without missing the BBQ mark. The grains keep it grounded while the charred shrimp stay at the center, making it a fit for any summer BBQ spread. It comes together fast and can feed a crowd without a heavy lift. It’s proof that not everything on the grill has to be meat to make an impact.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Shrimp Grain Bowl

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 the kind of fire-seared flavor BBQs are known for, with a glaze that sticks and finishes strong. The meat cooks fast and comes off juicy with no added effort. This is the kind of summer BBQ recipe you regret skipping once you see the grill marks. It’s pork made to steal the spotlight.
Get the Recipe: Citrus Glazed Pork Chops

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 nails the BBQ theme by pairing quick-seared shrimp with thick-cut pork on the same flame. It’s efficient, packed with flavor, and looks as good as it eats. There’s no need to pick between land or sea when this hits the plate. It’s the kind of combo that makes guests double back for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pork Chop Surf and Turf

Grilled Maple Mustard Chicken

Grilled maple mustard chicken checks the BBQ box with sweet charred edges and a sauce that cooks into the meat instead of sliding off. It’s ready fast and works on any type of grill, keeping prep low and reward high. This is one of those summer BBQ recipes that proves chicken doesn’t need to be basic. Every grill session should make room for a bird this bold.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Maple Mustard Chicken

Filet Mignon with Peach Mango Cilantro Sauce

Filet mignon with peach mango cilantro sauce gives summer BBQs a reason to step up. The grill does the heavy lifting while the fruit sauce keeps it seasonal without going overboard. This is the kind of dish that gets people hovering near the grill, just waiting. When high-end cuts meet fire and fruit, it’s hard to regret throwing them on first.
Get the Recipe: Filet Mignon with Peach Mango Cilantro Sauce

Grilled Greek Lemon Chicken Kabobs

Grilled Greek lemon chicken kabobs bring balance to summer BBQs with easy skewers, short cook time, and flavor that sticks through the fire. The lemon and herbs soak in ahead of time, so they’re grill-ready with zero stress. They’re easy to grab, pass, and stack next to anything else on the plate. Kabobs like these remind everyone why the grill never takes a break in summer.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Greek Lemon Chicken Kabobs

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 is built for BBQs that want more than just meat. The pesto clings to the chicken while the tomatoes burst with fire-cooked flavor. This recipe balances freshness and flame without losing speed or substance. It’s summer BBQ done like you’ve actually done this before.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Basil Pesto Chicken with Charred Tomatoes and Avocado

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 keep BBQs anchored with crispy bacon, creamy avocado, and beef that holds up to the heat. These burgers stack fast and grill faster, making them a no-miss choice for any cookout. They’re the kind of burger that skips the extras and gets straight to what works. This is why summer BBQs still revolve around the grill.
Get the Recipe: 25-Minute Bacon-Avocado Ground Beef Burger

Grilled Steak with Peaches and Onions

Grilled steak with peaches and onions keeps summer BBQs grounded in sweet, seared simplicity. The fruit caramelizes next to the meat, making every bite layered and built for warm-weather eating. It’s easy to prep and bold enough to carry a plate on its own. If BBQ has a flavor soundtrack, this steak plays the opening chords.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Steak with Peaches and Onions

Sweet & Spicy Grilled Harissa-Honey Chicken Skewers

Sweet and spicy grilled harissa-honey chicken skewers hit summer BBQs with caramelized heat and color straight off the grill. They’re fast to finish and don’t need much to stand out among heavier dishes. Each skewer gives you crunch, heat, and just enough bite to go again. They disappear before you even think about reheating.
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 brings heat and richness to the BBQ with little effort and big payoff. The steak sears quickly and the butter melts right into the grain, soaking up every ounce of fire. It feeds plenty and doesn’t need fancy sides to look complete. This is the steak that makes your grill feel like it’s doing real work.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Flank Steak with Chile Butter

Grilled Pork Chops with Pineapple Salsa

Grilled pork chops with pineapple salsa hit the grill with balance—rich meat and fire-kissed fruit in one plate. The salsa cools things off while the chops hold strong grill marks and tenderness. They’re easy to scale and even easier to serve. When pork meets pineapple on a summer BBQ menu, regrets are off the table.
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 bring speed and sharp flavor to summer BBQs without missing a beat. The herb sauce cuts through the richness and lands bold without overpowering the meat. It’s one of the fastest ways to serve steak with actual character. Backyard grills were made for cuts like this.
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 crank up summer BBQ flavor with crisp edges and juicy centers in every slice. The bacon locks in the heat while the chicken cooks through cleanly and evenly. It’s a crowd-pleaser that plays like a main and eats like a treat. This is the kind of BBQ move that keeps you near the grill for round two.
Get the Recipe: Ninja Woodfire Grill Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breasts

Grilled Beef Finger Meat

Grilled beef finger meat cooks fast and stays rich, making it a perfect match for high-heat, low-fuss BBQ cooking. It sears in minutes and pulls apart once rested, landing somewhere between steak and ribs. This cut doesn’t need a sauce or sides to earn its spot. It’s what happens when the grill handles business straight.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Beef Finger Meat

Peach Salmon Skewers with Peach Jalapeño Crema

Side view of salmon skewers with more in background. — Peach Salmon Skewers with Peach Jalapeño Crema. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Peach salmon skewers with peach jalapeño crema pack sweet heat into every bite, built for fire and fast flavor. The salmon cooks cleanly while the crema cools things off with just enough bite. These skewers make seafood feel like it belongs on every BBQ table. It’s hard to regret grilling these when the sticks come back empty.
Get the Recipe: Peach Salmon Skewers with Peach Jalapeño Crema

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 lean into the BBQ theme with high-heat sear and a butter drizzle that does more than dress the plate. Garlic, herbs, and pan drippings pull straight into every slice. They look good on the grill and even better on a full plate. BBQ doesn’t get louder than steaks with this kind of finish.
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 vacation mode with pineapple glaze, teriyaki char, and just the right amount of stick. The meat cooks through fast while staying juicy under the grill’s flame. It’s a one-step ticket to a cookout that actually feels like summer. Fire, fruit, and sauce—that’s all it needed.
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 handle BBQ day with messy fingers and no regrets. The sweet glaze turns sticky fast while the heat from the grill gives the skin its edge. They’re simple to prep and hard to beat when the fire’s going strong. Once these hit the table, everything else takes a back seat.
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.

Ninja Woodfire grilled T-bone steaks lock in BBQ perfection with crisp edges and bold presence straight from the flame. These steaks need little more than salt to earn their place on the grill. The cut speaks for itself and fills every plate like it’s earned it. When the bone’s still hot and the grill lines are clear, you know you didn’t miss.
Get the Recipe: Ninja Woodfire Grill T-Bone Steaks

Mediterranean Grilled Shrimp

Mediterranean grilled shrimp bring citrus and herb right into BBQ season with just minutes on the flame. They’re sharp, simple, and built to shine without extras. Each shrimp holds the grill’s edge while keeping its brightness intact. You’ll regret skipping these the second the skewers run out.
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 are a summer BBQ go-to that land flavor in minutes with minimal prep and zero stress. The shrimp go golden over flame, holding onto their seasoning without drying out. They’re quick to serve and even quicker to finish. No one misses out when the grill starts with these.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Shrimp Skewers