Get ready to fire up the grill and enjoy some classic American BBQ with these 23 essential recipes. These cookout favorites are easy to make and perfect for any backyard gathering. From savory mains to delicious sides, these dishes will make your BBQ a hit. Gather your friends and family, and let’s get cooking for a memorable outdoor feast.
Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes
These mashed potatoes are rich and creamy, featuring brown butter and garlic. The main ingredients include potatoes, butter, garlic, and sage. They take about 30 minutes to make and have a deep, savory flavor with a hint of nuttiness. Perfect for pairing with grilled meats.
Get the Recipe: Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Citrus Asparagus Couscous
This couscous dish is light and refreshing, combining citrus flavors with tender asparagus. It includes couscous, asparagus, lemon, and orange. Ready in just 20 minutes, it offers a bright and zesty taste. Ideal as a side for any BBQ meal.
Get the Recipe: Citrus Asparagus Couscous
Screaming Skillet Green Beans
These green beans are sautéed with garlic and red pepper flakes for a spicy kick. Main ingredients are green beans, garlic, and red pepper flakes. They cook in about 15 minutes and are crisp and flavorful. Great for adding some heat to your BBQ spread.
Get the Recipe: Screaming Skillet Green Beans
Summer Orzo Salad
This salad features orzo pasta mixed with cucumber and tomato for a fresh taste. It includes orzo, cucumber, tomato, and a light vinaigrette. Takes about 25 minutes to prepare and is cool and refreshing. A perfect side dish for hot summer days.
Get the Recipe: Summer Orzo Salad
Sweet Potato Fritters with Sweet & Spicy Sauce
These fritters are made from grated sweet potatoes and served with a sweet and spicy dipping sauce. Main ingredients are sweet potatoes, flour, and spices. They take around 30 minutes to make and are crispy and flavorful. A great appetizer or side dish for BBQs.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Fritters with Sweet & Spicy Sauce
Veggie Couscous Salad
This couscous salad is packed with fresh vegetables and a light dressing. It includes couscous, bell peppers, cucumber, and tomatoes. Ready in 25 minutes, it’s vibrant and healthy. Ideal for adding a veggie option to your BBQ menu.
Get the Recipe: Veggie Couscous Salad
Zucchini Noodle Salad
This salad features spiralized zucchini mixed with a tangy dressing. Main ingredients are zucchini, lemon, and olive oil. It takes about 20 minutes to make and is light and refreshing. Perfect as a low-carb side for BBQ dishes.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Noodle Salad
25-Minute Bacon-Avocado Ground Beef Burger
This burger combines ground beef, crispy bacon, and creamy avocado. Ingredients include ground beef, bacon, and avocado. Ready in just 25 minutes, it’s juicy and flavorful. A classic choice for any BBQ gathering.
Get the Recipe: 25-Minute Bacon-Avocado Ground Beef Burger
California Steak Salad
This salad features grilled steak on a bed of fresh greens with avocado and tomatoes. It includes steak, avocado, tomatoes, and mixed greens. Takes about 30 minutes to prepare and is hearty and satisfying. Great as a main dish for a BBQ.
Get the Recipe: California Steak Salad
Carolina BBQ Chicken Salad
This salad combines BBQ chicken with fresh vegetables and a tangy dressing. Main ingredients are chicken, BBQ sauce, lettuce, and tomatoes. Ready in 35 minutes, it’s smoky and flavorful. A delicious and healthy option for your BBQ.
Get the Recipe: Carolina BBQ Chicken Salad
Cilantro Lime Chicken & Rice
This dish features chicken marinated in cilantro and lime, served with rice. Ingredients include chicken, cilantro, lime, and rice. Takes about 45 minutes to make and is zesty and savory. Perfect for adding a bit of flair to your BBQ.
Get the Recipe: Cilantro Lime Chicken & Rice
Citrus Glazed Pork Chops
These pork chops are glazed with a citrus sauce for a sweet and tangy flavor. Main ingredients are pork chops, orange juice, and honey. Ready in 30 minutes, they’re juicy and flavorful. Ideal for a quick and tasty BBQ main course.
Get the Recipe: Citrus Glazed Pork Chops
Creamy Balsamic Chicken Skillet
This chicken dish is cooked in a creamy balsamic sauce with garlic and herbs. Ingredients include chicken, balsamic vinegar, cream, and garlic. Takes about 40 minutes to prepare and is rich and tangy. Perfect for a more gourmet BBQ option.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Balsamic Chicken Skillet
Garam Masala Cedar Plank Salmon
This salmon is seasoned with garam masala and cooked on a cedar plank. Main ingredients are salmon, garam masala, and cedar plank. Ready in 25 minutes, it’s aromatic and flavorful. A unique and delicious choice for BBQ seafood lovers.
Get the Recipe: Garam Masala Cedar Plank Salmon
Grilled Maple Mustard Chicken
This chicken is marinated in a maple mustard sauce and grilled to perfection. Ingredients include chicken, maple syrup, and mustard. Takes about 30 minutes to make and is sweet and tangy. Great for adding some sweetness to your BBQ menu.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Maple Mustard Chicken
Grilled Pork Chop Surf and Turf
This dish combines grilled pork chops with shrimp for a surf and turf experience. Main ingredients are pork chops and shrimp. Ready in 40 minutes, it’s savory and delicious. Perfect for those who love both meat and seafood at their BBQ.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pork Chop Surf and Turf
Grilled Rockfish Tacos
These tacos feature grilled rockfish topped with fresh salsa. Ingredients include rockfish, tortillas, and salsa. Takes about 25 minutes to prepare and is fresh and flavorful. A great option for adding some seafood to your BBQ.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Rockfish Tacos
Grilled Shrimp Grain Bowl
This grain bowl includes grilled shrimp with a mix of grains and vegetables. Main ingredients are shrimp, quinoa, and veggies. Ready in 30 minutes, it’s light and healthy. Ideal for a nutritious BBQ dish.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Shrimp Grain Bowl
Lemon Dill Salmon and Asparagus
This dish features salmon baked with lemon and dill, served with asparagus. Ingredients include salmon, lemon, dill, and asparagus. Takes about 35 minutes to make and is fresh and aromatic. Perfect for a simple yet elegant BBQ option.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Dill Salmon and Asparagus
Stuffed Shells with Spinach and Ricotta
These pasta shells are filled with a mix of spinach and ricotta cheese. Main ingredients are pasta shells, spinach, and ricotta. Ready in 50 minutes, they’re creamy and satisfying. A great vegetarian option for your BBQ spread.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Shells with Spinach and Ricotta
Slow Cooker Pork Shoulder with Mustard BBQ Sauce
This pork shoulder is cooked in a slow cooker with a mustard BBQ sauce. Ingredients include pork shoulder, mustard, and BBQ sauce. Takes about 8 hours to cook and is tender and flavorful. Perfect for a low-effort, high-reward BBQ main dish.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pork Shoulder with Mustard BBQ Sauce
Summer Veggie Couscous with Sauteed Tilapia
This dish combines couscous with summer vegetables and sautéed tilapia. Main ingredients are couscous, tilapia, and veggies. Ready in 30 minutes, it’s light and fresh. Great for adding a healthy option to your BBQ menu.
Get the Recipe: Summer Veggie Couscous with Sauteed Tilapia
Tri-tip with Pineapple Mango Red Pepper Salsa
This tri-tip is served with a fresh pineapple mango red pepper salsa. Ingredients include tri-tip, pineapple, mango, and red pepper. Takes about 1 hour to make and is juicy and flavorful. Perfect for a fruity twist on BBQ meat.
Get the Recipe: Tri-tip with Pineapple Mango Red Pepper Salsa