25 BBQ Recipes That Made Summer Worth Sweating For

Grilling in the summer heat isn’t for the faint of heart—but these BBQ recipes made every drop of sweat worth it. Each one delivers the kind of sear, flavor, and fire that turns a backyard into the best table in town. Whether it’s steak, chicken, or shrimp, these 25 BBQ recipes hit hard and don’t miss. This is how summer earned its flavor and kept the grill busy from start to finish.

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

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 fire-grilled seafood to the BBQ scene without feeling heavy. Shrimp sear fast, while grains and vegetables make it a complete summer meal. It proves that BBQ recipes can be bold and balanced without leaning on ribs or brisket. This BBQ recipe is for when the grill’s hot and you’re still thinking light.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Shrimp Grain Bowl

Grilled Basil Pesto Chicken

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

Grilled Basil Pesto Chicken nails BBQ flavor in under 30 minutes with crispy skin and herbed char. The pesto clings to every bite, giving it sharpness without extra effort. It’s quick, flavorful, and perfect for summer grilling when time and heat are both short. This BBQ recipe makes skipping the steakhouse a no-brainer.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Basil Pesto Chicken

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 make BBQ night taste like summer with sweet glaze and caramelized edges. They grill fast and stay juicy, making them reliable for any outdoor cookout. These chops prove that pork earns its place on any hot-weather menu. This BBQ recipe delivers tang and fire without the wait.
Get the Recipe: Citrus Glazed Pork Chops

Tri-tip with Pineapple Mango Red Pepper Salsa

Tri-tip with Pineapple Mango Red Pepper Salsa adds steakhouse weight to a BBQ spread with grilled fruit kick. The beef stays tender, while the salsa adds color and bite to every serving. It’s the kind of dish that catches eyes as fast as it clears plates. This BBQ recipe brings steak-level drama straight to the backyard.
Get the Recipe: Tri-tip with Pineapple Mango Red Pepper Salsa

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 layers smoky pork and shrimp into one seriously stacked BBQ recipe. The surf meets turf without needing a restaurant tab or white tablecloth. Both proteins cook quick and handle heat without losing their texture. This BBQ recipe serves steakhouse vibes with a grill-side grin.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pork Chop Surf and Turf

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 hits the grill hard and finishes with heat-packed butter in every bite. The beef stays tender while the spice cuts through with purpose. It’s a no-frills BBQ recipe that still eats like a splurge. This one proves that steak and fire never needed a reservation.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Flank Steak with Chile Butter

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 go bold with fast-seared steak and bright herb sauce that cuts right through the richness. It’s lean, fast, and loud enough to carry the BBQ spread. The chimichurri balances the char with zero extras needed. This BBQ recipe is backyard grilling with no weak spots.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri

Bacon-Avocado Ground Beef Burger

Bacon-Avocado Ground Beef Burgers hit with texture, heat, and cool finish in every stacked bite. The burger stays intact on the grill and pulls double duty with crisp bacon and creamy avocado. It’s bold enough to steal spotlight from anything else on the BBQ table. This BBQ recipe is what happens when burgers go for the win.
Get the Recipe: Bacon-Avocado Ground Beef Burger

Ninja Grill Tomahawk Steak

A sliced tomahawk steak on a white plate. — Ninja Grill Tomahawk Steak. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Ninja Grill Tomahawk Steak brings out the showpiece cut with full char and no overthinking. It sears strong, holds its size, and keeps the flavor locked in. This one was made to show off on BBQ Day without needing much prep. This BBQ recipe turns backyard heat into steakhouse confidence.
Get the Recipe: Ninja Grill Tomahawk Steak

Grilled Chicken Kofta Kebabs

Chicken skewers on skewers with lemon wedges. — Grilled Chicken Kofta Kebabs. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Grilled Chicken Kofta Kebabs roll bold flavor into every skewer and take on heat like pros. They hold shape, grill fast, and don’t need sauce to be noticed. Built with spice and meant for the grill, they pack punch into every serving. This BBQ recipe proves that kebabs aren’t just filler—they’re a feature.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken Kofta Kebabs

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 coat sweet heat onto crispy grilled skin without losing the BBQ edge. The glaze chars right and keeps the wings sticky enough to remember. They grill up fast and disappear even faster. This BBQ recipe shows wings can carry the day, not just the snacks.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Mango-Chipotle Chicken Wings

Grilled Shrimp Skewers

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

Grilled Shrimp Skewers lock in flame-grilled flavor with a short cook time and big results. They sear fast and serve even faster, needing only salt and heat to impress. It’s BBQ built for speed without missing on flavor. This BBQ recipe brings the smoke without slowing down.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Shrimp Skewers

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 go heavy on beef and bold on flavor, finished with herbed butter that melts on contact. The steak sears crisp and holds its juice, needing nothing more than fire and rest. It’s a no-nonsense BBQ recipe that eats like a restaurant meal. This is the kind of steak that makes you cancel your dinner plans.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Steaks with Cowboy Butter

Ninja Woodfire Grilled T-Bone Steaks

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

Ninja Woodfire Grilled T-Bone Steaks bring out the grill hero with thick cuts and serious sear. No extra seasoning needed—just heat and timing. These steaks land with authority and disappear fast from the platter. This BBQ recipe speaks in sizzle and serves in silence.
Get the Recipe: Ninja Woodfire Grilled T-Bone Steaks

Kefta Kebabs

Kefta Kebabs stack spiced beef on skewers that grill in minutes and hold shape on the plate. They bring flavor without fuss, delivering BBQ heat that stands up to the best of them. Built for big groups and fast hands, they show up strong. This BBQ recipe proves that ground beef can lead the grill, not just follow it.
Get the Recipe: Kefta Kebabs

Grilled Beef Finger Meat

Grilled Beef Finger Meat hits the grill with no frills and all fire, tearing apart tender after a quick sear. It’s casual, quick, and heavy on beef flavor without the wait. Served straight from the grates, it’s BBQ made easy. This one earns its spot for flavor that skips the extras.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Beef Finger Meat

Grilled Chicken Wings with Buffalo Sauce

Chicken wings on a white plate with sauce and carrots. — Grilled Chicken Wings with Buffalo Sauce. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Grilled Chicken Wings with Buffalo Sauce get blistered by flame and drenched in heat, giving BBQ Day the kick it didn’t know it needed. The sauce clings, the skin pops, and the platter clears. Fast, fiery, and unmistakably grilled, they hold their own next to any steak. This BBQ recipe keeps the hands messy and the plates empty.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken Wings with Buffalo Sauce

Grilled Pork Chops with Pineapple Salsa

Grilled Pork Chops with Pineapple Salsa bring sweet fruit and grill-charred pork together on one bold plate. The salsa cools the heat while the meat holds flavor through every bite. It’s quick to prep and even faster to finish. This BBQ recipe skips tradition and lands flavor-first.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pork Chops with Pineapple Salsa

Harissa-Honey Chicken Skewers

Harissa-Honey Chicken Skewers sear up sticky, spicy, and fast—ready to challenge anything else on the grill. The caramelized edges grab the flame, while the inside stays juicy. It’s fire-licked and fork-ready without slowing down the BBQ pace. This recipe proves that chicken skewers can hold their own on the hottest grill.
Get the Recipe: Harissa-Honey Chicken Skewers

Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

Grilled Bruschetta Chicken turns the salad course into a BBQ-worthy main with tomato, cheese, and charred chicken. The grill brings depth while fresh toppings bring contrast and crunch. It’s quick, filling, and fit for the fire. This BBQ recipe makes vegetables and flame work together without apology.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

Grilled Steak with Peaches and Onions

Grilled Steak with Peaches and Onions adds fruit to flame without missing the point—sweet meets savory, and both win. The steak grills hot while peaches soften and onions caramelize right beside it. It’s a full-flavored dish that doesn’t need anything else. This BBQ recipe plays bold and still leaves room for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Steak with Peaches and Onions

Mediterranean Grilled Shrimp

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

Mediterranean Grilled Shrimp lays down lemon, herbs, and char without slowing down the grill. They’re light, bright, and fast enough for seconds without the wait. The flavor stays big, even with a short prep. This BBQ recipe keeps it clean but never quiet.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Grilled Shrimp

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 pineapple and teriyaki over flame, sealing in sweet while finishing with a hint of caramel. The glaze catches just enough char to keep it from going soft. It’s BBQ flavor that plays tropical without losing heat. This BBQ recipe smells like summer and eats like it too.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Hawaiian Chicken

Grilled Greek Lemon Chicken Kabobs

Grilled Greek Lemon Chicken Kabobs punch citrus and char into skewers that work fast and hold strong. The herbs stick through the heat, and the lemon cuts through every bite. Quick to grill and easy to serve, they earn a spot on any summer table. This BBQ recipe proves you don’t need red meat to win the grill.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Greek Lemon Chicken Kabobs

Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breasts

Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breasts crisp up fast and lock in moisture while bacon takes care of the rest. No marinade needed, no sauce required—just fire and fat working together. The chicken stays juicy, the bacon delivers bite. This BBQ recipe gets attention from the first crackle.
Get the Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breasts