Summertime is the perfect time to break out the barbeque and cook delicious meals.
This blog post will share 31 mouth-watering barbeque ideas for dinner that will please even the pickiest of eaters. From burgers to ribs to veggies, we have got you covered! So fire up the grill and get ready for the summer barbecue!
You know, that annual event that’s as American as is America itself.
If you’re like me and the weather has been too cold lately for outdoor summer grilling, then you’re probably already dreaming about breaking out your grill come summertime.
Or maybe you just scrolled down because the word “grill” got your attention!
Whether for your weeknight dinner or a special weekend get-together, our barbecue ideas should have something for everyone!
31 Barbeque Ideas for Dinner
Here are some bbq food ideas for dinner
#1 Chicken and Bacon Sliders
These are the perfect game-day menu. If you’re looking for something simpler, how about serving them with your favorite sweet potato fries?
You can keep it easy or complicated; either way, they will still be delicious!
BBQ Chicken Wings. Credit: canva
#2 Bourbon Chicken Wings
If you know me well by now, you know that I like to throw some bourbon into my wings whenever possible.
These wings will be sure to impress even the pickiest of eaters! They’re tender and crispy all at the same time.
#3 Grilled Corn with Feta and Green Onions
You might think this is a strange mix, but the feta adds a lot to this dish. It’s best to use the freshest, most flavorful green onions, so don’t be afraid to put them on the table.
Grilled steak doesn’t have to mean meat boiled at too high of a temperature for too long.
A little charcoal can take your steak to the next level. Fresh chimichurri makes this dish great for entertaining too!
#5 Grilled Chicken Breast with Pineapple and Avocado Salad
This combination is pretty much as good as it sounds! The grilled chicken breast makes an excellent base for this tropical dinner!
You can also serve it with a side salad or a fruit salad. If you’re pressed for time, you can always go the fast-food route and prepare your chicken breast on a sandwich bun.
#6 Grilled Salmon with Pesto
Pesto makes almost any dish taste better. With the grill’s unique ability to add an extra charred flavor, you can make pesto the main ingredient, in your words, with fresh salad, fresh basil, and fresh coleslaw.
#7 Garlic Grilled Corn on the Cob with Chipotle-Lime Butter
This recipe has a kick! The recipe uses chipotle lime butter to spice up the corn and garlic to kick it without overpowering it.
The perfect recipe for summertime entertaining.
#8 Corn on the Cob with Blue Cheese Dressing
This recipe, however, is meant to be eaten at home!
You can replace the blue cheese with feta or romano if that’s more to your taste. This is also one of those great recipes where you can use frozen corn if it’s too hot to grill outside!
#9 Bacon Wrapped Grilled Shrimp
Bacon and shrimp belong together, don’t they? We couldn’t leave this recipe out of our bbq recipes for dinner!
#10 Grilled Chicken Breast with Lemon Garlic Dressing
While on the menu, make it your own by switching out the lemon garlic dressing with some balsamic vinegar and fresh herbs!
#11 Grilled Bratwurst with Grilled Onions
This is a great summertime party menu.
#12 Grilled Salmon with Asparagus and Tomato Salsa
Each ingredient is grilled separately, but they are all delicious when mixed in this salsa.
You can cook the salmon on the grill, but most supermarkets sell cooked fillets. Substitute salmon with almost any kind of fish that you like!
Steak on grill. Credit: canva
#13 BBQ Pork Tenderloin with Pineapple Salsa
You can use whatever honey or maple syrup you prefer in your salsa. Just be sure to mix it in well to not burn on the grill!
#14 Grilled Pork Chops with Blackberry Barbecue Sauce
This recipe is great for summer entertaining. It’s simple to make, and the blackberry makes an interesting flavor that you won’t find in many other best bbq recipes for dinner.
You can also use lemon or raspberry barbecue sweet and spicy sauce!
#15 BBQ Chicken Tenderloins with Chipotle Lime Dressing
Pre-cooked chicken tenderloins are great to have on hand for making meals in a snap. This recipe calls for big hunks of lime, which you can replicate by buying fresh limes and grating them yourself!
#16 Grilled Flank Steak with Soy Sauce
This recipe even looks like it could be barbecue! It’s a straightforward recipe; you must ensure the meat is at room temperature before firing up the grill. Be sure to use steak that has an intense marbling of fat.
#17 Grilled Salmon with Cherry Tomato Salsa
#18 Grilled Burgers with Sweet Potato Fries
Burgers grilled on a charcoal BBQ grill. Credit: canva
If you want to impress your guests, do yourself a favor and make these burgers. They don’t take much effort but are sure to be delicious!
#19 Grilled Pork Loin with Citrus Caramel Sauce
Everyone has different tastes so that you can serve this with plain rice or corn.
You’ll want to ensure that the pork is not pink in the middle and has a smoky flavor. A meat thermometer is best if you don’t have much experience grilling.
#20 Grilled Sausages with Marinated Peppers
These are great for parties but also great for entertaining at home!
#21 Grilled Steak with Chimichurri Sauce, Peppers, and Onions
Depending on your preferences, you can serve these with grilled vegetables or a side salad. Making them ahead of time will make all the difference in how good they are when you do them to your guests!
#22 Grilled Vegetables with Lemon-Dill Yogurt Sauce
You can use whatever grilled veggies or bananas you want in your soy sauce, but it’s best to stick with fresh herbs like bbq baked beans! For the yogurt, you can use Greek yogurt.
#25 Grilled Chicken Breasts with Blue Cheese Sauce
#26 Grilled Chicken Thighs Fajitas with Corn Salsa
It’s simple to put together but definitely worth inviting guests over for! Serve it with lots of warm tortillas and your favorite meats!
#27 Grilled Shrimp with Jalapeno Pepper Jelly
This filling and delicious shrimp are perfect as a quick and easy main dish. You can make it as fast as you want by using frozen chicken tenders. Serve with your favorite side dishes or chips!
#28 Grilled Pork Chops with Green Chile BBQ Sauce
This recipe is pretty simple, but it takes time to let everything marinate.
#29 Grilled Pork Tenderloin Chops with Cherry Salsa
It’s another quick recipe, but it looks awe-inspiring! Serve with tortillas or rice.
#30 Grilled Lobster Tail with Tomato-Cucumber Salad
This is an excellent recipe for an appetizer or dinner. Just be sure to remove the skin of the lobster before grilling!
#31 Grilled Veggies with Barbecue Sauce
BBQ Dinner Ideas: Easy Grill Recipes
BBQ party. Credit: canva
Easy Grill Traditional BBQ Recipe
This recipe is great with simple ingredients. It is excellent for any summertime party or get-together! This recipe can use skinless chicken breasts, beef, pork ribs, or lamb.
Ingredients
Your favorite BBQ sauce
Ketchup
Worcestershire sauce
Apple cider vinegar
Brown sugar
Dijon mustard
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Cayenne pepper (if you like spicy)
Salt
Pepper
Instructions
Mix all of the ingredients for the BBQ sauce in a small bowl. Set aside.
Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
Season your meat or fish with salt and pepper, then brush with the BBQ sauce.
Grill for about 15 minutes or until cooked through.
Serve with your favorite sides!
Grilled Veggies Recipe
Grilled vegetables are great. Grilling gives such an excellent depth of flavor to veggies.
Ingredients
One yellow squash
One zucchini
8 ounces cremini mushrooms, stemmed
One small red onion
One red bell pepper
One green bell pepper
Banana peppers
Green beans
One ear of fresh corn, cut into 1-inch rounds
Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Heat a grill to medium-high and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
Cut the vegetables into similar-sized chunks and thread them onto 4 metal skewers. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
Grill the skewers for 8 minutes per side or until the vegetables are tender and lightly charred.
Remove from the grill, season to taste, and serve with desired sauce or dressing.
Veggie skewers on grill. Credit: canva
Ideas for a Barbeque Side Dishes
There are endless possibilities for side dish ideas at a barbecue! You can never go wrong with classics like potato salad, macaroni salad, or coleslaw.
If you’re looking to mix things up, try one of these ideas:
Roasted corn on the cob
Corn salad
Grilled fruit kabobs
Fried pickles
Watermelon salad
Black beans
Cucumber tomato salad
Potato chips with dipping sauce
Fresh fruit cups
Your favorite salad, such as Greek salad, light salad, broccoli salad, fresh corn salad, or the usual tossed green salad.
Ice cream sundaes (with vanilla ice cream)
No matter what you choose, your guests are sure to be impressed! So fire up the grill and get cooking!
FAQs
What is a good menu for a BBQ?
There are endless possibilities for a summer BBQ menu, but some classics include hamburgers, hot dogs, and ribs. You can also mix things with grilled vegetables, kabobs, or salads.
What else can you cook on a BBQ?
In addition to meat and vegetables, you can also grill fruit, bread, grilled pizza, and even desserts!
What is the most popular BBQ food?
Hamburgers are the most popular BBQ food, followed by hot dogs, ribs, and chicken.
What is the best sauce for BBQ?
This is a matter of personal preference, but some famous sauces include ketchup, mustard, vinegar, and barbecue sauce.
What is typical BBQ food?
The most popular BBQ foods in the United States are meat. Hamburgers, hot dogs, pulled pork, and grilled chicken are all examples of delicious American barbecues.
Vegetarians, vegans, and other non-meat eaters had choices in common. Among them are potato chips, fruit salad, and watermelon, which are likely to be served at many events.
