27 Must-Try BBQ Recipes for Outdoor Meals

BBQ Chicken Sandwiches from Budget Bytes: These sandwiches are a quick, affordable, and delicious solution for BBQ cravings. The recipe features tender, seasoned chicken thighs, slathered in BBQ sauce and topped with a flavorful ranch slaw, all nestled in soft buns. Ideal for a fast weeknight dinner, these sandwiches bring the taste of BBQ to your table without the need for a grill. They're customizable and perfect for a casual meal.

Grilled Baby Back Ribs from The Country Cook: This recipe offers a simple yet flavorful way to prepare baby back pork ribs on a gas grill. The ribs are seasoned with a homemade rub, and then cooked in an aluminum pan with apple juice for tenderness. The ribs are finished with a glaze made from orange marmalade and apple cider vinegar, creating a unique sweet and tangy flavor. This method requires no special tools and results in delicious, tender ribs.

Grilled Chicken and Pineapple Skewers from Recipe Runner: A delightful summer recipe, these skewers combine juicy chicken with fresh pineapple. Marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, chili garlic sauce, vinegar, honey, lime juice, and smoked paprika, they offer a tantalizing balance of sweet and spicy flavors. Ideal for grilling, these skewers make for a vibrant and tasty dish, perfect for outdoor barbecues or family dinners.

The Slow Cooker Texas Pulled Pork recipe from Our Sweet Adventures offers a hassle-free way to enjoy authentic Texas-style barbecue. This recipe uses a flavorful dry rub and a unique cooking liquid with a hint of liquid smoke to mimic the traditional smoky taste without a grill. Slow-cooked to tender perfection, this dish is ideal for effortless, hearty meals. It's perfect for serving in sandwiches, over nachos, or with baked potatoes, bringing the taste of Texan barbecue to your home with ease.

Best Grilled Salmon Recipe from Rachel Cooks: A delectable grilled salmon recipe featuring a unique marinade made with soy sauce, olive oil, brown sugar, fresh ginger, and garlic. The marinade imparts a delightful blend of sweet and savory flavors, making the salmon incredibly juicy and flavorful. Ideal for summer grilling, this recipe is simple yet impressive, perfect for both casual and special occasions.

Perfect Grilled Peppers from A Couple Cooks: This recipe elevates simple bell peppers into a smoky, tender, and sweet side dish perfect for summer. It involves grilling multi-colored bell peppers, optionally with red onion, using a grill basket or directly on the grates. The process is straightforward, requiring only olive oil and kosher salt for seasoning. These grilled peppers are a healthy, flavorful addition to any grilled meal, from salmon to veggie burgers.

The Easy Ultimate Baked Beans recipe from Your Cup of Cake takes a classic side dish to new heights. This version elevates canned baked beans with a mix of flavorful ingredients like bacon, ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. It's an easy, one-dish recipe that can be either baked in the oven or cooked in a slow cooker. Perfect for BBQs and potlucks, these beans are a hearty and delicious accompaniment to any meal.

Grilled Bananas a La Mode from A Couple Cooks: An innovative dessert that's perfect for grilling season, featuring bananas grilled in their peels and flavored with a blend of maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Topped with vanilla ice cream and optional chopped pecans, this dish is a delightful mix of warm, sweet bananas and cool, creamy ice cream. It's a simple yet impressive dessert that's sure to please.

Steak Kebabs from Cooking Classy: A tantalizing summer dish, these steak kebabs combine juicy, marinated beef with a vibrant mix of vegetables. The marinade, rich in flavors like Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and red wine vinegar, ensures the steak is flavorful and tender. Accompanied by bell peppers, red onion, and mushrooms, these kebabs offer a perfect blend of meaty and fresh tastes. Ideal for outdoor grilling, they're a hit for any cookout.

Grilling Brisket from Foodtastic Mom: This recipe likely guides you through the process of grilling a beef brisket, a cut known for its rich flavor and tender texture when cooked properly. The process often involves slow-cooking the brisket at a low temperature on a grill to achieve a smoky flavor. The brisket might be seasoned with a rub or marinated beforehand, and possibly basted during grilling to keep it moist. This method is perfect for BBQ enthusiasts looking to master a classic dish.

The "Fall Off The Bone Ribs" recipe from Tornadough Alli is a mouth-watering dish that is baked slowly in the oven to achieve its tender, juicy quality. This recipe uses baby back ribs coated in a homemade dry rub, then finished with a honey BBQ sauce, broiled to perfection. The ribs are celebrated for their irresistible flavor and the ease with which the meat falls off the bone. This dish is perfect for those who appreciate a hearty, flavorful meal that's both simple to prepare and deeply satisfying.

Beer Can Chicken from Dinner at the Zoo: This unique recipe features a whole chicken coated in a homemade BBQ spice rub, then grilled over a beer can to achieve smoky tenderness. The beer can acts as a stand and flavor infuser, ensuring the chicken is moist and flavorful. It's a fun and impressive way to grill chicken, perfect for outdoor gatherings. The chicken is garnished with fresh herbs for an added touch of flavor.

Grilled S'mores Pizza from Honest & Truly: This dessert pizza is a unique and delightful treat, perfect for summer grilling. The recipe features a pizza crust topped with Nutella, graham crackers, honey, and marshmallows. It's cooked on a grill using a pizza stone, resulting in a delicious combination of a crispy crust with the gooey, sweet flavors of classic s'mores. This innovative dish is great for sharing and is sure to be a hit with both kids and adults.

Baja Style Mexican Hot Dogs from Girl and the Kitchen: A festive twist on the classic hot dog, this recipe features hot dogs simmered for tenderness and then grilled for a crisp finish. They're topped with a bright cucumber salsa, a spicy mustard aioli, and served in buns. The recipe combines the juiciness of the hot dogs with fresh, vibrant toppings, making it perfect for summer BBQs or any festive gathering.

Simple Grilled Pork Chops with Secret Sweet Rub from Hey Grill Hey: This recipe features pork chops grilled to perfection using a two-zone cooking method. The chops are seasoned with a homemade sweet rub, combining dark brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic, and onion powders, adding a delightful sweet and savory flavor. The technique ensures juicy, well-cooked chops with a caramelized crust, ideal for a simple yet delicious meal.

Grilled Portobello Mushrooms from Skinnytaste likely feature large portobello mushrooms marinated and then grilled to perfection. The marinade possibly includes ingredients like balsamic vinegar, olive oil, garlic, and herbs, enhancing the mushrooms' natural flavors. This dish is often served as a vegetarian main or a hearty side, perfect for a healthy and delicious meal.

Grilled Corn on the Cob from Spend With Pennies: A classic and versatile summer side dish, this recipe offers three methods for grilling corn: in the husk, husk removed, and wrapped in foil. Each method enhances the natural sweetness of the corn with a delightful smoky flavor. The recipe also includes suggestions for flavored butter, like Mexican Elote style or with fresh basil, to elevate the dish. It's a perfect addition to any BBQ or outdoor meal.

Chinese BBQ Pork (Cha Siu) from The Woks of Life likely features pork shoulder or loin marinated in a mix of soy sauce, hoisin sauce, sugar, Chinese five-spice, and other ingredients, giving it a sweet and savory flavor. The pork is usually roasted or barbecued until caramelized and slightly charred. This dish is a staple in Chinese cuisine, often enjoyed with rice or noodles.

Grilled BBQ Chicken from Spend With Pennies: This delightful recipe is perfect for a summer barbecue, featuring chicken pieces seasoned with salt, pepper, and olive oil. The chicken is grilled with a skin side down for a crispy finish, then constantly basted with BBQ sauce for a sweet and sticky exterior. It's cooked to perfection, ensuring a tender and juicy experience. Ideal for family gatherings, it pairs well with salads and sides.

Grilled Fruit Kabobs from FeelGoodFoodie: These kabobs make for a light, refreshing, and healthy dessert or snack option. The recipe involves grilling skewered pieces of fruits like pineapple, cantaloupe, and strawberries, which brings out their natural sweetness through caramelization. Optionally brushed with maple syrup before grilling, these skewers are a fun and simple way to enjoy a variety of fruits. They're perfect for cookouts and BBQs, offering a delightful and vibrant taste.

BBQ Chicken Salad likely combines grilled, BBQ sauce-coated chicken with a fresh salad of lettuce, tomatoes, corn, black beans, and avocado. It's often dressed with ranch or a similar creamy dressing and garnished with tortilla strips or croutons. This salad is a flavorful blend of smoky, tangy, and fresh tastes, perfect for a satisfying meal.

Honey BBQ Chicken Kebabs from Cookin' with Mima: A tantalizing BBQ dish perfect for backyard parties. This recipe features chicken cubes marinated in a honey BBQ sauce, threaded on skewers with bell peppers and onions. It offers a mix of smoky, sweet, and a bit spicy flavors. The marinade includes BBQ sauce, honey, oil, soy sauce, lime juice, sriracha, ginger, and garlic. These kabobs are ideal for prepping ahead and are sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

Barbecued Burgers from Taste of Home: This delicious burger recipe is a family treasure, featuring homemade barbecue sauce made with ketchup, brown sugar, honey, molasses, and spices. The burgers themselves are a mix of ground beef, egg, oats, and seasonings, grilled to perfection and basted with BBQ sauce. These juicy burgers are perfect for summer cookouts and can be customized with various toppings.

Grilled Steak with Herb Butter from Iowa Girl Eats: This recipe offers a juicy, sizzling steak seasoned with a homemade dry rub and topped with melty herb butter. The steak is grilled using a two-zone method for a crusty exterior and tender interior. The herb butter, a mix of rosemary, thyme, parsley, garlic, and steak seasoning, adds a flavorful finish. It's a simple yet mouthwatering dish for steak lovers.

Grilled Caramelized Brown Sugar Pineapple from Six Sisters' Stuff: A sweet and simple recipe featuring pineapple coated with a mixture of brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, vanilla, and honey, then grilled to caramelized perfection. This dish is versatile, serving as a delicious appetizer, side, or dessert. It's especially delightful when served warm with ice cream or whipped cream. This recipe replicates the flavors of restaurant-style grilled pineapple at home.

BBQ Grilled Vegetables from RecipeTin Eats: This recipe features a mix of fresh vegetables like bell peppers, red onions, eggplant, zucchini, asparagus, and mushrooms, grilled to a tender-crisp with charred edges. Post-grilling, they are tossed in a lemon herb and garlic marinade, enhancing the flavor and making them taste like homemade antipasto. Served freshly made or the next day, they're a versatile dish for any meal.

Grilled Steak Tacos from FoodieCrush: This recipe highlights the flavors of Mexican cuisine with a marinade of orange juice, garlic, chipotle peppers, cilantro, cumin, and cinnamon. It features flat iron steak, an affordable cut that becomes luxurious after marinating. Grilled to perfection, the steak is served in tacos with toppings like avocado, tomato, onion, cilantro, and queso fresco. The dish is perfect for entertaining, allowing guests to customize their tacos.