Occasion Collection

Summer BBQ & Grilling Recipes for the Whole Cookout

A great summer cookout is less about one show-stopping cut of meat and more about a table that keeps everyone coming back for seconds. This hub pulls together our favorite grilling recipes for warm-weather entertaining — smoky mains, charred skewers, and the cookout sides that quietly steal the show. Fire up the grill for juicy classic cheeseburgers and all-American pulled pork sandwiches, then branch out with globe-trotting favorites like Korean bulgogi, Chinese char siu, Caribbean jerk chicken, and Japanese yakitori skewers that prove the barbecue is a worldwide language. Lighter eaters can reach for salt-grilled salmon or carne asada tacos, while the sides — Mexican street corn elote, tangy coleslaw, and a creamy Southern potato salad — round the spread into a real meal. Every dish links straight to a full, tested recipe with ingredients, prep and grill times, and step-by-step instructions, so there is no guesswork between the page and the plate. We have grouped the collection into mains, skewers, and cookout sides so you can plan a balanced menu for a crowd instead of scrambling at the last minute. Whether you cook over charcoal or gas, lean on a hot zone for searing and a cooler edge to finish thicker pieces gently, then let everything rest briefly before serving. Pick a couple of mains, add two or three sides, and you have a backyard barbecue worth lighting the coals for.

Recipes in this collection

Every recipe below links to full, tested instructions — ingredients, timing, and a step-by-step method — so you can cook straight from the page.

What makes this collection different

Cookout menu planner that groups every dish into mains, skewers, and crowd-pleasing sides, so you can build a balanced spread for a crowd instead of just grilling one thing.

Browse the full recipe catalog, or see all recipe collections for more curated menus.

Frequently asked questions

How do I plan a balanced BBQ menu for a crowd? +
Aim for two or three mains across different proteins — say a beef burger, jerk chicken, and grilled salmon — then add two or three cookout sides like coleslaw, potato salad, and grilled corn. Favor dishes you can prep ahead so you are not stuck at the grill while guests wait.
Which of these grilling recipes can I prep ahead of time? +
Most of them. Marinades for bulgogi, char siu, and jerk chicken are best made a day ahead, and sides like coleslaw and Southern potato salad hold happily in the fridge overnight. That leaves only the actual grilling for the day of the cookout.
Can I make these BBQ recipes without an outdoor grill? +
Yes. A cast-iron grill pan or a hot broiler gives burgers, skewers, and salmon a similar char indoors, while pulled pork and char siu are oven- or slow-cooker-friendly from the start. Each recipe notes indoor alternatives where the method allows.

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