27 BBQ Recipes That Put the Steakhouse to Shame

These 27 BBQ recipes weren’t built to compete—they were made to win. Each one brings big grill flavor, bold toppings, and flame-seared finishes that steakhouse menus can’t match. From burgers to skewers to steaks, these recipes prove that your backyard is where the real action happens. Fire it up and see why these dishes didn’t just show up for BBQ Day—they stole it.

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 makes BBQ Day feel like a steakhouse splurge without the wait time or price tag. The pork sears up juicy while shrimp grill fast and soak up every bit of smoke. It’s two proteins, one flame, and no room left on the plate. This BBQ recipe is a double hit straight from the grates.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pork Chop Surf and Turf

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 lightens up BBQ Day without losing sight of the fire. The shrimp char in minutes while grains and veggies round it out into a full meal. It balances freshness with flame, proving BBQ can go beyond meat. This bowl skips the steakhouse and still feels complete.
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 throw sweet and tangy flavor on the grill and come off with serious BBQ energy. The glaze sticks, the edges crisp, and the inside stays tender every time. It’s fast, reliable, and full of heat-born character. These chops are proof that a steakhouse menu isn’t the only way to do bold.
Get the Recipe: Citrus Glazed Pork Chops

Tri-tip with Pineapple Mango Red Pepper Salsa

Tri-tip with Pineapple Mango Salsa pulls BBQ Day into steakhouse territory with a smoky sear and fruit that means business. The beef holds its juice, the salsa adds bite, and the plate turns heads fast. It’s colorful, quick, and ready to feed a crowd. This one brings steakhouse flair with a backyard spirit.
Get the Recipe: Tri-tip with Pineapple Mango Red Pepper Salsa

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 delivers on BBQ Day with fast flavor and char that doesn’t overdo it. Pesto clings to the meat while the grill does the rest, creating crisp edges and herb-bright bites. It plates well and disappears faster. This chicken earns its steakhouse shade with backyard ease.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Basil Pesto Chicken

Filet Mignon with Peach Mango Cilantro Sauce

Filet Mignon with Peach Mango Cilantro Sauce shows that the steakhouse doesn’t own fancy cuts or fruity finishes. The grill locks in juices while the sauce brings contrast without overstepping. It looks elevated but lands fast on the plate. This one brings restaurant-level wow with backyard-level prep.
Get the Recipe: Filet Mignon with Peach Mango Cilantro Sauce

Grilled Maple Mustard Chicken

Grilled Maple Mustard Chicken gets sticky, sweet, and tangy in all the right ways. The mustard gives it punch, the maple turns golden, and the grill seals it up tight. No sauce needed—it’s built into the skin. This is BBQ chicken that makes steakhouse orders feel flat.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Maple Mustard Chicken

Bacon-Avocado Ground Beef Burger

Bacon-Avocado Ground Beef Burgers layer crunch, cool, and beefy richness into every bite. They grill fast, hold firm, and hit harder than anything on a pub burger menu. Bacon crisps while avocado smooths the finish. This burger shows that BBQ doesn’t follow—it leads.
Get the Recipe: Bacon-Avocado Ground Beef Burger

Grilled Pork Chops with Pineapple Salsa

Grilled Pork Chops with Pineapple Salsa bring a clean sear and bright topping that make the whole dish stand out. The salsa cools the heat while keeping things textured and fresh. It’s fast to grill and strong on flavor. This chop doesn’t borrow from the steakhouse—it outpaces it.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pork Chops with Pineapple Salsa

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 put spice and char on a stick without trying too hard. They hold up to high heat and hit the plate looking like they took more work than they did. The flavor’s built in, not added after. These skewers steal attention even on a steak-filled grill.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken Kofta Kebabs

Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breasts

Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breasts hit BBQ Day with crisped edges and moisture locked in. The bacon does the heavy lifting while the chicken stays juicy and ready to carve. No need for sauces or sides—it’s complete on its own. This dish makes steakhouse mains look like they’re missing something.
Get the Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breasts

Mediterranean Grilled Shrimp

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

Mediterranean Grilled Shrimp brings herb-forward flavor and grill marks to a protein that finishes fast. It’s simple to prep and bold enough to compete with any steak on the table. The lemon and herbs punch above their weight. These skewers don’t hang around long after they hit the table.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Grilled Shrimp

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 hit BBQ Day with sticky heat and fast-flamed flavor. The glaze grabs on and doesn’t let go, while the grill crisps the edges to perfection. These wings come off sweet, spicy, and smoky without ever needing sauce on the side. They’re the wings that make steak sit one plate over.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Mango-Chipotle Chicken Wings

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 come out hot, crusted, and straight to the point. No marinades, no fuss—just sear, rest, and serve. The cut says steakhouse, but the flavor says backyard win. This steak brings the sizzle without the linen napkins.
Get the Recipe: Ninja Woodfire Grilled T-Bone Steaks

Grilled Shrimp Skewers

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

Grilled Shrimp Skewers go fast from grill to plate, packing flame-kissed flavor into every bite. They’re easy to prep, easier to cook, and land strong on any BBQ Day spread. They don’t need garnish—they just need fire. These shrimp don’t play second to steak—they challenge it.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Shrimp Skewers

Grilled Greek Lemon Chicken Kabobs

Grilled Greek Lemon Chicken Kabobs push citrus and herbs into the grill with fast results and no leftovers. The skewers stay juicy while the char adds texture where it counts. They’re bold without being heavy, and simple without being plain. These kabobs are the answer when steak’s not the only show.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Greek Lemon Chicken Kabobs

Grilled Beef Finger Meat

Grilled Beef Finger Meat brings the beef without ceremony—just flames, salt, and speed. These strips char quick, rest short, and hit the plate hot. You don’t slice them—they tear apart with a fork and some patience. This cut turns BBQ Day into steakhouse night with zero drama.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Beef Finger Meat

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 show up lean, mean, and drenched in green. The steak grills fast while the chimichurri adds brightness without masking the meat. No steakhouse sauce comes close. This is backyard beef with a real bite.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri

Harissa-Honey Chicken Skewers

Harissa-Honey Chicken Skewers land spicy and sweet with caramelized edges that speak loud. They cook fast, eat quick, and stay memorable with every bite. It’s BBQ flavor turned up and tied together with heat. These skewers are why no one misses the steakhouse menu.
Get the Recipe: Harissa-Honey Chicken 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 turn simple beef into a BBQ Day statement. The butter melts on contact, dragging garlic and herbs into every crack of the crust. There’s no garnish needed—just flame and finish. This steak shuts down any talk of eating out.
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 drops pineapple and teriyaki over fire for a meal that smells as bold as it tastes. The glaze locks in juice while the fruit chars just right. It’s a fast way to turn BBQ Day into something worth remembering. This chicken skips the steakhouse and heads straight for the spotlight.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Hawaiian Chicken

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 cooks fast and finishes with a kick that doesn’t back down. The butter slides over the hot surface and seeps into every slice. It’s beef made bigger with barely any effort. This one eats like it cost three times more.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Flank Steak with Chile Butter

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 throw smoke and spice into a party classic that finally gets its grill moment. The skin blisters, the sauce sticks, and the result pulls hands toward the platter. They don’t need anything on the side. These wings are what happens when BBQ takes the lead.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken Wings with Buffalo Sauce

Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

Grilled Bruschetta Chicken loads the grill with fresh tomato topping and bubbling cheese over charred chicken. It’s fast, built for flavor, and lands with the same impact as anything off a steakhouse plate. The bread stays off, the flavor stays on. This chicken took a salad idea and made it BBQ gold.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

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 shows up big, bold, and impossible to miss. It hits the heat hard and cooks through with zero guesswork. It’s all meat, all char, and all about that BBQ Day flex. This is the steak that silences the crowd—in the best way.
Get the Recipe: Ninja Grill Tomahawk Steak

Kefta Kebabs

Kefta Kebabs bring spiced ground meat to the grill with a shape made for sharing and a flavor built for smoke. They cook fast, hold firm, and go from flame to plate with zero extras needed. These kebabs don’t just join the BBQ—they lead it. Every skewer brings the proof that BBQ can mean more than steak.
Get the Recipe: Kefta Kebabs

Grilled Steak with Peaches and Onions

Grilled Steak with Peaches and Onions flips the script on what belongs in a BBQ meal. The meat chars hard while fruit and onions soften, playing savory and sweet without crowding the plate. It’s balanced, bold, and unmistakably grilled. This combo makes any steakhouse special feel overthought.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Steak with Peaches and Onions