The Best Summer BBQ and Grill Season Recipes
Thank you so much for visiting! This post may contain affiliate links that I receive commissions from purchases made. Click HERE for my disclosure statement.
a
A round-up of summer BBQ and grill season recipes, including grilling tips, cool salads, refreshing drinks, and no-bake desserts for a perfect backyard cookout!
Summer around here basically means living outdoors, and if you’re anything like me, that also means the grill is firing up on a regular basis. We have long, hot summers here in Central Florida, which means we’re really good at figuring out what to eat that won’t have you sweating over a hot stove. Whether you’re hosting a big Fourth of July cookout, a fun day at the pool, or just trying to feed your family on a weeknight without heating up the whole house, this round-up pulls together all my favorite summer food ideas in one spot.
I’ve got you covered from the rub you put on the meat before it ever hits the grill, all the way to the cool dessert you’re eating on the porch when it’s all said and done.
Start with a Great BBQ Rub
Every good cookout starts before anything hits the grill, and that means having a solid dry rub ready to go. My Basic Barbecue Rub is built on smoked paprika, brown sugar, garlic, onion, chili powder, and a little ground red pepper for heat. I shake it all together in a mason jar, keep it in the pantry, and use it for everything. There is a rib rub and a chicken rub recipe version, so it’s really three recipes packed into one. Coat your meat, wrap it up, let it sit in the fridge for a couple of hours or overnight, and you’re halfway to a great meal before you’ve even lit the charcoal.
50+ Burger Recipes
If you’re grilling this summer, you’re probably grilling burgers, and my 50+ Burger Recipes gives you way more than enough options to keep things interesting all season long. Classic beef, veggie versions, and different toppings. It’s a list that’s great for everyone on your grill party list.
Last Minute Steak Sauce
Mr. G sure did love his steaks, especially if they were grilled. And I have been known to forget the streak sauce at the store. That’s exactly what my Last Minute Steak Sauce was made for, and you know what’s in it. It comes together fast and really does make a simply grilled steak feel like something special. Worth keeping the ingredients on hand all summer.
Grilled Tomato Pimento Cheese Sandwich
This one might be the most underrated recipe in my summer archive. My Grilled Tomato Pimento Cheese Sandwich is a Southern staple made even better when the tomatoes are in season, and you throw the whole thing together and grill it in a skillet. It’s unexpected enough to feel fun but familiar enough that everybody loves it. If you’ve never tried this combination, summer is the time.
Cool Salads to Serve on the Side
No cookout spread is complete without something cold and fresh to go alongside the meat, and I’ve got you covered there, too. My Easy Greek Pasta Salad is a crowd-pleaser that actually gets better as it sits, which makes it perfect for making ahead. My Summer Pasta Salads and Simple & Cool Summer Salads collections go even bigger with a whole collection of salad ideas so you can find exactly the right flavor for your crowd. And if you want something lighter, my Mediterranean Chickpea Salad is packed with flavor and holds up beautifully in the heat, and great for potlucks because it keeps well.
And for those of us who need to watch our carb intake, my Low Carb Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad and my Southern Coleslaw recipes are the perfect choice.
And I can’t forget the Tri-Color Pasta Salad that started it all for me, which my mom made all the time. The recipe my brother always asks for. It’s a keeper, Mr. G said the first time I made it for him. 🥲
Something Cool to Drink
You can’t be outside in a Florida summer without something cold in your hand. My Cool Off with Summer Drinks post has you covered with slushies, lemonades, teas, and more. There’s enough variety to keep everyone happy, whether they want something sweet, tart, or fruity.
Sweet Endings: Desserts That Don’t Require Turning On the Oven
After a big cookout, nobody wants to go back inside and bake anything. My Easy No-Bake Desserts for Summer Time collection was built exactly for those lazy hot summer days when you still want something sweet without the misery of a hot kitchen. And if you’re looking for something frozen and fun, my Refreshing Homemade Popsicle Recipes and Homemade Ice Cream Desserts are both worth bookmarking. Ice cream is just one of those things that tastes better on a hot summer evening on the porch, and making it at home means you get to pick exactly what goes in it.
That’s a full summer cookout from start to finish! Which recipe are you trying first? Drop a comment and let me know!
My Kitchen Favs
Shop kitchen items that are essential for anyone.
subscribe
Sign up for our newsletter to receive recipes, gardening tips, decor ideas, travel, vintage galore, and more inspiration!
And don’t worry, we hate spam too! You can unsubscribe at any time, and your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Privacy Policy
Shop my Amazon Storefront, my LTK sources, my favorite finds, and garden supplies. If you have a fur baby, check out some of Dixie’s favorite items. When you purchase through one of my links, I earn a small commission, which helps me continue sharing the content you expect on my blog.
Tammy
I’m just a country girl loving my geeky life, always taking pictures, getting my hands dirty in the garden, exploring with travels, and enjoying thrifting. But above all, living my faith as a child of God!
Read more about me and check out my media kit. Our Privacy Policy
I’m bookmarking this! I do a TON of grilling and barbecuing during the summer, and these are great options.
omg everything that I love in one post! THANK YOU SO MUCH…Your timing is perfect. I can’t wait to start cooking my family amazing bbq.