These 15 summer grilling recipes cover every corner of the outdoor cooking spectrum, from five-minute weeknight fixes to a lobster tail showstopper that comes together in under 30 minutes. Whether you are working with chicken thighs, stone fruit, oysters, or sweet corn, the grill transforms each one in ways a hob or oven simply cannot replicate.
Summer Grilling Recipes: From Weeknight Staples to Centrepiece Dishes
The weeknight case for grilling starts with the salsa verde chicken. Jarred salsa verde and a handful of pantry staples turn plain chicken breasts into a flavour-packed dinner with almost no prep time. At the other end of the effort scale sits the grilled lobster tail, which sounds extravagant but is straightforward in practice. According to Delish, the technique is to place the tails flesh-side down on the grill and cook for about six minutes until slightly charred, then finish with herb butter. The whole dish is on the table in under 30 minutes.
Greek chicken and halloumi skewers offer something in between: halloumi layered with chicken, red onions, and bell peppers on a stick, assembled quickly and suited to the heat of a summer BBQ without feeling heavy. The California grilled chicken takes a different route, topping seasoned, charred chicken with mozzarella, avocado, and tomato directly on the grill for a cheesy, produce-led main course.
For those who prefer white meat from the sea, two shrimp options make the list. The grilled shrimp and mango skewers pair marinated shrimp with chunks of mango and scallions, finished with a tangy mango chutney BBQ sauce. The simpler grilled shrimp recipe uses a spicy marinade that doubles as a glaze, leaning on the grill’s direct heat to do most of the work.
Vegetables, Salads, and Sides That Earn Their Place on the Grill
Corn features twice, which reflects how well it responds to direct flame. The elote version, Mexican street corn, combines mayo, chili powder, cotija cheese, and lime juice into a creamy, spiced coating that clings to each charred kernel. The honey-lime grilled corn goes in a sweeter direction: ears get charred first, then brushed with a honey-lime butter that, according to Delish’s recipe notes, works equally well on grilled sweet potatoes, cornbread, or skirt steak.
Green tomatoes, often overlooked once heirloom varieties arrive, hold their own on the grill. Their firm texture and tart flavour stand up to direct heat without collapsing, making them one of the more versatile ingredients of tomato season. Grilled romaine for the Caesar wedge salad works on a similar principle: a brief spell over high heat imparts char and softens the leaf just enough, while the Caesar dressing provides acidity to balance it.
The two panzanella salads on the list prove the format is more adaptable than its Tuscan origins suggest. The peach-forward version celebrates summer fruit at its peak, grilling the peaches to deepen their sweetness before adding burrata. The grilled plum and pancetta panzanella takes an underrated stone fruit and applies the same logic: char amplifies the plum’s natural sweet-tart character, and pancetta adds a savoury counterweight.
Grilled oysters round out the seafood options. The heat loosens the shell, making them easier to open than raw oysters shucked cold, and the smoky char pairs with kimchi butter for an appetiser that suits a more adventurous backyard menu. For a green herb angle on chicken, the green goddess grilled chicken uses thighs tossed in green goddess dressing and cooked immediately, with no marinating wait required.
Bang bang corn, the final entry, reframes the bang bang flavour profile, typically associated with shrimp, as a sweet-spicy sauce for grilled corn. It is the kind of lateral move that makes a familiar side feel new mid-season, when the novelty of simply firing up the grill has worn off but the summer produce is still at its best.
Full recipe details and step-by-step instructions for all 15 dishes, including the grilled lobster tail’s six-minute flesh-side-down method, are available at Google-preferred source Delish, which has published the complete collection for easy reference throughout the season.