21 BBQ Recipes That Made My Grandpa Trade His Usual Order for Seconds

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A backyard barbecue gets more interesting when the grill can handle steak, chicken, lamb, burgers, ribs, vegetables, dips, and skewers in the same spread. These 21 BBQ recipes cover high-heat searing, two-zone cooking, longer marinades, quick sides, and a few make-ahead components that keep the menu varied. Most are direct grill recipes, while Copycat Texas Roadhouse Beef Tips grills the beef first before finishing it in onion and mushroom gravy. The mix gives the table mains, sides, and shareable dishes without leaning on one cut of meat or one cooking style.

Grilled Steak and Veggie Skewers

Grilled skewers with beef, zucchini, and cherry tomatoes on a wooden board, garnished with fresh parsley. A striped cloth and loose cherry tomatoes are nearby.
Grilled Steak and Veggie Skewers. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

A two-hour marinade sets up Grilled Steak and Veggie Skewers for a quick six-minute finish over medium-high heat. Sirloin cubes soak with garlic, soy sauce, Worcestershire, sugar, Dijon, smoked paprika, and olive oil before sharing skewers with zucchini ribbons and cherry tomatoes. The recipe makes six servings in 2 hours and 30 minutes. Let the skewers rest for three minutes, then serve them with rice pilaf, grilled flatbread, pasta salad, or a dipping sauce.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Steak and Veggie Skewers

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.

Sweet mango and smoky heat meet in Grilled Mango-Chipotle Chicken Wings, a six-serving batch with 40 minutes of listed prep and cooking. Two pounds of wings are coated with brown sugar, chipotle powder, smoked paprika, mustard powder, salt, and pepper before grilling. A caramelized mango and apple cider sauce goes over the cooked wings. The directions also call for one to two hours of marinating, so that extra time should be planned before the grill heats up.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Mango-Chipotle Chicken Wings

Easy Grilled Beef Burgers

A close-up of a hamburger with lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese, ketchup, and a beef patty in a bun, served on a white plate.
Easy Grilled Beef Burgers. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Eight patties come off the grill with Easy Grilled Beef Burgers, which uses 24 ounces of ground beef for a 27-minute cookout main. A small amount of barbecue sauce, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder seasons the meat before the patties grill for three to four minutes per side. Cheese can melt on during the final minute, and the buns toast briefly on the grill. Set out lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles for easy assembly.
Get the Recipe: Easy Grilled Beef Burgers

Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

Grilled Bruschetta Chicken on a white plate.
Grilled Bruschetta Chicken. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Fresh tomato topping turns Grilled Bruschetta Chicken into a four-serving main with mozzarella, Parmesan, basil, and balsamic syrup over the chicken. The 25-minute listed time covers 10 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking, while the chicken also marinates for at least four to six hours. Olive oil, red wine vinegar, and Italian seasoning season the meat before grilling. Serve each breast with the bruschetta mixture spooned over the top while the chicken is still warm.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

Grilled Mediterranean Lamb Chops

Three Grill Mediterranean Lamb Chops topped with gremolata on a white plate.
Grilled Mediterranean Lamb Chops. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Herbs and a briny gremolata keep Grilled Mediterranean Lamb Chops focused on bold Mediterranean flavors across four servings. Two pounds of lamb loin chops marinate with olive oil, parsley, shallot, red wine vinegar, oregano, garlic, and honey before grilling. Olives, pine nuts, capers, parsley, olive oil, and lemon zest finish the chops. The recipe lists 25 minutes total, though the directions also call for at least 20 minutes of marinating before the lamb reaches the grill.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Mediterranean Lamb Chops

Grilled Dijon Rosemary Chicken Thighs

Grilled Dijon rosemary chicken thighs are arranged on a rectangular black slate platter, garnished with fresh rosemary, next to a white floral napkin on a wooden surface.
Grilled Dijon Rosemary Chicken Thighs. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Mustard glaze goes on late in Grilled Dijon Rosemary Chicken Thighs, helping the honey avoid burning while four servings cook. Boneless thighs start over direct heat, then move to indirect heat before a mixture of grainy mustard, Dijon, lemon juice, honey, and fresh rosemary is brushed over both sides. The recipe takes 25 minutes including a five-minute rest. Pair the chicken with grilled vegetables, corn, rice pilaf, or a green salad for a full barbecue plate.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Dijon Rosemary Chicken Thighs

Grilled Teriyaki Mango Skewers

Three Grilled Teriyaki Mango Skewers with bell peppers, zucchini, and onions served on a bed of yellow rice on a white plate.
Grilled Teriyaki Mango Skewers. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Mango takes the lead in Grilled Teriyaki Mango Skewers, a four-serving dish ready in 40 minutes. Honey mangos, red onion, zucchini, and red and orange bell peppers are threaded onto skewers and brushed with a homemade teriyaki sauce made from soy sauce, maple syrup, rice wine vinegar, cornstarch, and water. The skewers grill until lightly charred and crisp-tender. Serve them over turmeric rice, quinoa, or another grain, with extra sauce spooned over the top.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Teriyaki Mango Skewers

Grilled Lime-Garlic Chicken Breasts

Grilled chicken on a wooden board with cilantro and tomatoes in the back.
Grilled Lime-Garlic Chicken Breasts. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Cilantro, lime, garlic, cumin, and jalapeño season Grilled Lime-Garlic Chicken Breasts before four portions hit a medium-high grill. The chicken cooks for about five to six minutes per side and rests briefly before slicing. The recipe lists 1 hour and 25 minutes total, but the detailed directions call for two to three hours of marinating, with up to eight hours allowed. Serve the chicken with cilantro-lime rice, grilled vegetables, tacos, wraps, or grain bowls.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Lime-Garlic Chicken Breasts

Grilled Radishes w/ Jalapeño Dipping Sauce

Grilled radish halves on a green plate with lime wedges and a bowl of herb dip; herbs and utensils in the background.
Grilled Radishes w/ Jalapeño Dipping Sauce. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

A chilled dip adds contrast to Grilled Radishes w/ Jalapeño Dipping Sauce, a four-serving side ready in 20 minutes. Halved radishes get melted butter, lime juice, honey, and black pepper before grilling cut-side down until tender and lightly charred. The dip combines mayonnaise, sour cream, jalapeño, cilantro, garlic, lime juice, and pepper. It can be made a day ahead, and the source suggests at least 30 minutes of chilling before serving beside the warm radishes.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Radishes w/ Jalapeño Dipping Sauce

Grilled Chicken Drumsticks

A plate of grilled chicken drumsticks garnished with chopped herbs, served with lemon slices.
Grilled Chicken Drumsticks. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Two-zone cooking keeps Grilled Chicken Drumsticks away from the hottest part of the grill until the meat is nearly done. Two pounds of drumsticks get avocado oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, salt, and pepper, then spend most of the cook over indirect heat. A short direct-heat finish adds char, and barbecue sauce goes on only at the end. The recipe serves four in 50 minutes and works well with slaw, corn, beans, or potato salad.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken Drumsticks

Grilled Corn Guacamole

Corn guacamole with tortilla chips on a plate.
Grilled Corn Guacamole. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Charred kernels change the texture of Grilled Corn Guacamole, a six-serving dip ready in 15 minutes. One cob of corn grills for about three to four minutes per side before the kernels are mixed with four avocados, red onion, garlic, cilantro, jalapeño, fresh lime juice, salt, and pepper. Cotija is optional on top. Serve it right away with tortilla chips, or spoon it onto tacos and burgers while the avocado is still bright and the corn is freshly grilled.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Corn Guacamole

Grilled Whole Chicken

A roasted chicken with barbecue sauce on a white plate, with green beans, corn on the cob, a glass of beer, and salt and pepper shakers in the background.
Grilled Whole Chicken. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

A whole bird gets the two-zone treatment in Grilled Whole Chicken, which serves six in about one hour. A 2½- to 3½-pound chicken is rubbed with oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, salt, and pepper before cooking breast-side down on the cooler zone. It flips once, then moves to the hot side for a short skin-crisping finish. Optional barbecue sauce goes on during the last minute or two, followed by a 10-minute rest before carving.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Whole Chicken

Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri

A plate of sliced Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri, served on a white rectangular dish.
Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

A long marinade leads to a short sear for Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri, which serves four in 2 hours and 20 minutes. Two pounds of hanger steak rest with olive oil, oregano, cumin, paprika, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper before cooking over high heat for three to four minutes per side. The beef rests for 10 minutes before slicing. Spoon chimichurri over the top, and save the marinated onions for grilling or cooking alongside the steaks.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri

Grilled Chicken Wings

A plate of seasoned, grilled chicken wings arranged on a white surface.
Grilled Chicken Wings. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Indirect heat handles most of Grilled Chicken Wings, giving six servings time to cook through before the final crisping step. Two pounds of wings are coated with olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper, then spend 30 to 35 minutes on the cooler side. They move over direct heat for the final few minutes. The recipe totals 50 minutes and can be served dry or tossed with buffalo, barbecue, or honey garlic sauce.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken Wings

Grilled Ribs on a Charcoal Grill

Close-up of Grilled ribs covered in sauce, garnished with chopped parsley, served on a white plate.
Grilled Ribs on a Charcoal Grill. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Most of the cook happens away from direct flame in Grilled Ribs on a Charcoal Grill, a four-serving recipe that takes 1 hour and 40 minutes. One rack gets olive oil and a rub of brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper before cooking bone-side down over indirect heat. The ribs finish over the hot side for char and caramelization. Barbecue sauce is optional and goes on only during the final three minutes to prevent burning.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Ribs on a Charcoal Grill

Sweet & Spicy Grilled Harissa-Honey Chicken Skewers

A rectangular white plate with four Sweet & Spicy Grilled Harissa-Honey Chicken Skewers garnished with chopped herbs.
Sweet & Spicy Grilled Harissa-Honey Chicken Skewers. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Harissa and honey keep the ingredient list short in Sweet & Spicy Grilled Harissa-Honey Chicken Skewers, which serves four in 50 minutes. Two pounds of boneless chicken thighs marinate with harissa, honey, lemon juice, and sliced red onion for at least 30 minutes before being threaded onto skewers. The chicken grills for about six to eight minutes, with the onions cooked alongside. The marinade can sit overnight, making the final grill session especially quick once everything is ready.
Get the Recipe: Sweet & Spicy Grilled Harissa-Honey Chicken Skewers

Grilled Ratatouille

Close-up shot of Grilled Ratatouille on a black plate.
Grilled Ratatouille. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Eggplant, zucchini, peppers, onion, and tomatoes all reach the grill in Grilled Ratatouille, a four-serving side ready in 20 minutes. Garlic and thyme first season olive oil, which coats the vegetables before they cook over medium-high heat. The larger slices grill for three to four minutes per side, while cherry tomatoes go on only near the end. Serve the vegetables warm as a side, or turn them into a lighter main with couscous, quinoa, or crusty bread.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Ratatouille

Grilled California Chicken Burger

A grilled California chicken burger with lettuce, tomato, cheese, and ham on a bun, served with potato chips on a white plate.
Grilled California Chicken Burger. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Chicken, ham, avocado, and pepper Jack stack into Grilled California Chicken Burger, a four-serving meal with 35 minutes of listed prep and cooking. The chicken cutlets, avocado slices, and smoked ham all hit the grill before the sandwich is assembled with tomato, lettuce, and a chipotle spread. That spread combines mayonnaise, chipotle powder, honey, vinegar, and garlic. The directions call for at least four hours of chilling for the sauce, so make it well before grilling.
Get the Recipe: Grilled California Chicken Burger

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.

Compound butter gives Grilled Steaks with Cowboy Butter its finishing layer while four steaks cook over medium-high heat. Butter is mixed with garlic, parsley, chives, smoked paprika, chipotle powder, Dijon, and black pepper, then chilled into a firm log before serving. The recipe lists 52 minutes total, including 37 minutes of cooking. Let the steaks rest for five to 10 minutes before topping each one with a slice of the seasoned butter so it melts over the meat.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Steaks with Cowboy Butter

Copycat Texas Roadhouse Beef Tips

Texas Roadhouse Beef Tips with mushroom gravy over mashed potatoes, garnished with chives on a white plate.
Copycat Texas Roadhouse Beef Tips. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

Grill marks come first in Copycat Texas Roadhouse Beef Tips, then the four-serving dish moves indoors for its onion and mushroom gravy. Two pounds of sirloin tips grill for three to four minutes per side before being added to a skillet sauce made with butter, flour, Worcestershire, Maggi, beef base, garlic powder, and onion powder. The recipe takes 30 minutes. Serve the beef and gravy over mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles for a full barbecue-style dinner.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Texas Roadhouse Beef Tips

Grilled Elote Corn Ribs

Grilled corn on the cob pieces topped with cheese, chili powder, and cilantro, served on a black slate plate with lime wedges on the side.
Grilled Elote Corn Ribs. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Quartered corn cobs turn into Grilled Elote Corn Ribs, a four-serving side ready in 20 minutes. The corn grills for two to three minutes per side before getting a sauce of sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic powder, cumin, chipotle powder, and lime juice. Cotija and cilantro finish the ribs after they leave the heat. Serve them hot or at room temperature beside steak, chicken, ribs, burgers, or smoked meat when the barbecue spread needs a vegetable side.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Elote Corn Ribs

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