Grill night can turn into a full backyard meal when the main dishes have enough variety. These 19 recipes cover whole chicken, lamb chops, drumsticks, ribs, chicken skewers, steak skewers, wings, burgers, shrimp, sandwiches, and several steak cuts. Some cook fast over direct heat, while others use two-zone grilling or longer marinating time. Use this list when the grill needs more than one strong reason for everyone to stay near the patio.
Grilled Whole Chicken
With a 1-hour total time and six servings, Grilled Whole Chicken gives the table a full bird from the grill. A 2.5 to 3.5-pound chicken is rubbed with oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper. The chicken starts on the cool side, then finishes over the hot zone to crisp the skin. Serve with corn, salad, potatoes, or rolls.
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Grilled Mediterranean Lamb Chops
Ready in 25 minutes and serving four, Grilled Mediterranean Lamb Chops bring lamb to the grill with a bright herb marinade. Lamb loin chops are coated with olive oil, parsley, shallot, red wine vinegar, oregano, garlic, and honey. A topping made with olives, pine nuts, parsley, capers, olive oil, and lemon zest finishes the chops. Serve with couscous, grilled vegetables, roasted potatoes, or salad.
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Grilled Chicken Drumsticks
With a 50-minute total time and four servings, Grilled Chicken Drumsticks keep the grill focused on dark meat and simple seasoning. Chicken drumsticks are coated with oil, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried thyme. The drumsticks cook over indirect heat first, then move to the hot side before the BBQ sauce is brushed on. Serve with slaw, beans, rolls, or corn.
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Grilled Ribs on a Charcoal Grill
Ready in 1 hour and 40 minutes and serving four, Grilled Ribs on a Charcoal Grill bring pork ribs to a two-zone setup. A rack of ribs is rubbed with olive oil, brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. The ribs cook over indirect heat before a short direct-heat finish with optional BBQ sauce. Serve with baked beans, cornbread, potato salad, or slaw.
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Grilled Chicken Wings
Ready in 50 minutes and serving six, Grilled Chicken Wings use a two-zone grill setup to keep the skin from burning before the meat cooks through. Chicken wings are coated with olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. They cook on the cool side first, then finish over direct heat for a crisp edge. Serve with BBQ sauce, celery, fries, or slaw.
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Grilled Steak and Veggie Skewers
With a 2-hour 30-minute total time and six servings, Grilled Steak and Veggie Skewers bring beef and vegetables together on one stick. Sirloin cubes are marinated with garlic, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, and olive oil. Zucchini ribbons and cherry tomatoes go onto the skewers with the steak. Serve with rice, flatbread, pasta salad, or a dipping sauce.
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Grilled Dijon Rosemary Chicken Thighs
Ready in 25 minutes and serving four, Grilled Dijon Rosemary Chicken Thighs keep chicken thighs fast but still layered with flavor. A glaze made with grainy mustard, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, honey, and fresh rosemary goes on near the end so it does not burn. The chicken starts over direct heat, then finishes over indirect heat until cooked through. Serve with potatoes, salad, rice, or grilled vegetables.
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Grilled Steaks with Cowboy Butter
With a 52-minute total time and four servings, Grilled Steaks with Cowboy Butter bring compound butter into steak night. Four steaks are seasoned with salt and pepper, then grilled to the preferred doneness. The butter mixes softened butter, garlic, parsley, chives, smoked paprika, chipotle powder, Dijon mustard, and black pepper. The butter melts over the rested steaks before serving. Pair with grilled corn, salad, potatoes, or vegetables.
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Sweet & Spicy Grilled Harissa-Honey Chicken Skewers
With a 50-minute total time and four servings, Sweet & Spicy Grilled Harissa-Honey Chicken Skewers bring chicken thighs to the grill in strip form. Boneless skinless chicken thighs are coated with harissa paste, honey, lemon juice, and red onion before marinating. The strips go onto skewers and cook quickly on the grill. Serve with couscous, rice, grilled vegetables, salad, or flatbread.
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Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri
With a 2-hour 20-minute total time and four servings, Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri bring a strong beef option to the grill. Hanger steak is rubbed with olive oil, oregano, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper, then topped with onion and garlic while it marinates. The steaks grill hot and fast before resting. Serve sliced with chimichurri, potatoes, salad, grilled vegetables, or bread.
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Grilled Bruschetta Chicken
Ready in 25 minutes and serving four, Grilled Bruschetta Chicken gives grilled chicken breasts a fresh tomato topping. The chicken marinates with olive oil, red wine vinegar, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper before grilling. Roma tomatoes, olive oil, basil, shallots, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and seasonings make the bruschetta. Mozzarella, Parmesan, basil, and balsamic syrup can finish the dish. Serve with pasta, salad, or grilled vegetables.
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Easy Grilled Beef Burgers
With a 27-minute total time and eight burgers, Easy Grilled Beef Burgers make a classic grill meal easy to scale. Ground beef is mixed with BBQ sauce, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder before being shaped into patties. A small dent in the center helps the burgers cook evenly. Add cheese during the last minute, then serve on buns with lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles.
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Grilled Chicken Wings with Buffalo Sauce
Ready in 20 minutes and serving four, Grilled Chicken Wings with Buffalo Sauce bring a saucy wing option to the grill. The wings cook over medium-high heat until they reach temperature, then get tossed with a sauce made from Frank’s RedHot, butter, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne, and garlic powder. Extra sauce can go on the side. Serve with celery, carrots, blue cheese dip, fries, or slaw.
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Grilled Beef Finger Meat
Ready in 20 minutes and serving four, Grilled Beef Finger Meat keeps the beef simple and direct. Beef finger meat is trimmed, seasoned with Montreal steak seasoning, and grilled over medium-high heat. The recipe cooks quickly because the meat is sliced into long pieces from between the ribs. Rest the beef before serving so the slices stay juicy. Serve with potatoes, corn, grilled vegetables, tortillas, or salad.
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Grilled Chicken Caprese Sandwich
With a 10-minute total time and two sandwiches, this Grilled Chicken Caprese Sandwich works best when the grilled chicken is already cooked. Bakery buns are layered with grilled chicken breasts, pesto mayonnaise, fresh mozzarella, tomato, and lettuce. The buns can be toasted before assembly for better texture. Serve these sandwiches with potato salad, corn on the cob, chips, grilled vegetables, or a light side salad.
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Grilled Ribeye Cap Steak
With 5 minutes of prep and 10 minutes of cooking, Grilled Ribeye Cap Steak gives the grill a rich steak cut. Ribeye cap steaks are seasoned with kosher salt and cracked black pepper, then seared hot before finishing to medium-rare. Butter or compound butter goes on before serving. The steak rests before slicing so the juices settle. Serve with potatoes, salad, corn, beans, or grilled bread.
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Grilled Mango-Chipotle Chicken Wings
Ready in 40 minutes and serving six, Grilled Mango-Chipotle Chicken Wings bring fruit and heat to the wing tray. Chicken wings are coated with a rub made from brown sugar, chipotle powder, smoked paprika, mustard powder, salt, and pepper. Mango is grilled with brown sugar, then blended with apple cider for the sauce. Serve with grilled corn, burgers, slaw, celery, or extra sauce for dipping.
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Mediterranean Grilled Shrimp
With a 30-minute total time and four servings, Mediterranean Grilled Shrimp gives the grill a seafood option that cooks fast. Shrimp are marinated with olive oil, shallot, garlic, lemon juice, parsley, thyme, oregano, salt, and pepper. The shrimp go onto skewers and grill for a few minutes per side until opaque. Serve with rice, orzo, Greek salad, pita, vegetables, or a simple dipping sauce.
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Grilled California Chicken Burger
Ready in 35 minutes and serving four, Grilled California Chicken Burger stacks grilled chicken with smoky ham, avocado, cheese, and chipotle mayo. Chicken breasts are cut into cutlets, seasoned, and grilled with avocado slices and ham. Jack cheese melts over the chicken near the end. The burgers finish on buns with lettuce, tomato, grilled avocado, ham, and chipotle mayo. Serve with chips, coleslaw, corn, or fries.
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