13 BBQ Dinners for Slow Summer Weekends

Slow summer weekends need dinners that can stretch across the afternoon without making the cook stay tied to the kitchen. These 13 BBQ dinners lean on grill heat, foil packets, slow cooker ribs, and oven-finished sliders, so the main dish can match whatever pace the day takes. The mix covers chicken, beef, pork, salmon, and shrimp, with skewers, chops, sliders, ribs, and steak packets that work for backyards, decks, and camping tables.

A close-up of a barbecued pork rib with a glossy layer of barbecue sauce on a white plate. — Slow Cooker Ribs. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Chipotle Grilled Chicken

Grilled chicken breast slices served over a bed of greens with lemon wedges on the side. — Chipotle Grilled Chicken. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Marinated with chipotle in adobo, garlic, lime, and olive oil, Chipotle Grilled Chicken finishes in 25 minutes and serves 4 people. Skinless, boneless chicken thighs go over medium-high grill heat until they reach 165°F. The short cook time makes this useful for the first round of food on a slow weekend, especially when tacos, burrito bowls, or rice bowls are nearby. Serve sliced over greens or tucked into tortillas with grilled vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Chipotle Grilled Chicken

Beef Kabobs with Chimichurri Sauce

Grilled meat and vegetable skewers with zucchini, red onion, and red bell pepper, garnished with chopped herbs, served on a beige plate. — Beef Kabobs with Chimichurri Sauce. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Threaded with beef sirloin, red bell pepper, zucchini, and red onion, Beef Kabobs with Chimichurri Sauce serve 4 in 35 minutes. The chimichurri uses parsley, red wine vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper, while curry powder seasons the beef. These fit the slow-weekend BBQ pace because the skewers can be assembled ahead and finished quickly once the grill is hot. Serve over rice, with flatbread, or beside grilled potatoes.
Get the Recipe: Beef Kabobs with Chimichurri Sauce

Grilled Tri Tip

Sliced medium-rare steak arranged on a wooden board, topped with a green herb sauce. — Grilled Tri Tip. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

After a chimichurri bath made with parsley, cilantro, garlic, red wine vinegar, and olive oil, Grilled Tri Tip serves 4 in 40 minutes. The 2-pound tri-tip grills about 10 minutes per side, rests, and gets sliced against the grain. It suits a weekend BBQ when dinner needs one larger cut instead of a pile of separate skewers. Bring it to a board with grilled corn or a green salad.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Tri Tip

BBQ Chicken Sliders with Homemade Slaw

Three pulled pork sliders with coleslaw on a white plate, topped with a sprig of parsley. — BBQ Chicken Sliders with Homemade Slaw. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Baked in a 9×13-inch dish with cooked chicken, BBQ sauce, and cabbage-carrot slaw, BBQ Chicken Sliders with Homemade Slaw serve 6 in 30 minutes. A 12-count roll pack makes the sliders easy to portion, and the butter-brushed tops turn golden in the oven. Because these finish off the grill, they help when the grates are already full. Set them out with extra slaw, chips, or a simple salad.
Get the Recipe: BBQ Chicken Sliders with Homemade Slaw

Grilled Pork Chops

A grilled pork chop garnished with chopped parsley is served on a plate. — Grilled Pork Chops. Photo credit: Your Perfect Recipes.

Olive oil, low-sodium soy sauce, brown sugar or honey, Dijon, and garlic form the marinade for Grilled Pork Chops, a 25-minute dinner that serves 4. The recipe uses 4 bone-in pork chops at least 1 inch thick and finishes them at 145°F after a hot sear and lower-heat grilling. This works for a long weekend because marinating can happen earlier while sides get made. Serve with corn, cucumber salad, or baked beans.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pork Chops

Grilled Chicken Thighs

Grilled meat ribs garnished with chopped herbs and garlic, served on a white platter with fresh parsley in the background. — Grilled Chicken Thighs. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

With chimichurri working as marinade and sauce, Grilled Chicken Thighs serves 4 in 1 hour 10 minutes, including marination. The recipe uses 1 pound of skinless, boneless chicken thighs with parsley, cilantro, garlic, red wine vinegar, olive oil, oregano, and red pepper flakes. The 30-minute marinade gives the cook time to set up sides before the grill gets busy. Serve with roasted potatoes, grilled corn, or rice.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken Thighs

Flaky Grilled Salmon

A close-up of a cooked salmon fillet topped with a mixture of chopped herbs, garlic, and seasonings. — Flaky Grilled Salmon. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Brushed with lemon herb butter on the grill, Flaky Grilled Salmon serves 4 in 30 minutes. The recipe uses about 4 salmon fillets, olive oil, lemon zest, butter, lemon juice, garlic, and fresh herbs such as parsley, oregano, or dill. It gives the BBQ dinner a seafood option that cooks fast after heavier meats are off the grates. Serve hot with lemon slices, rice, salad, or grilled vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Flaky Grilled Salmon

Grilled Shrimp Kabobs

A white plate holds grilled shrimp and vegetable skewers with mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes, garnished with chopped herbs. — Grilled Shrimp Kabobs. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Skewered with shrimp, red and green bell peppers, red onion, and portobello mushrooms, Grilled Shrimp Kabobs serves 4 in 53 minutes. The marinade brings in garlic, olive oil, honey, paprika, salt, and pepper, with 30 minutes built in for marinating. Since the shrimp grill in 6 to 8 minutes, this is the quick seafood round for a relaxed BBQ. Serve over rice or salad once the vegetables are tender.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Shrimp Kabobs

Charred Grilled Chicken Kabobs

Grilled chicken skewers with red bell peppers, green bell peppers, and onions are served on a white plate, garnished with chopped herbs. — Charred Grilled Chicken Kabobs. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Loaded with chicken breast, bell peppers, red onion, and portobello mushrooms, Charred Grilled Chicken Kabobs serves 4 in 30 minutes. Garlic, olive oil, honey, paprika, salt, and pepper make the marinade, and the skewers grill for 12 to 15 minutes. This fits a slow summer weekend because guests can grab a skewer without needing a plated dinner right away. Serve with rice, tzatziki, or grilled flatbread.
Get the Recipe: Charred Grilled Chicken Kabobs

Grilled Steak Pinwheels

Close-up of sliced stuffed beef roulade with visible layers of meat, cheese, and spinach on a wooden board. A glass of beer is blurred in the background. — Grilled Steak Pinwheels. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Rolled with Emmental cheese and fresh spinach, Grilled Steak Pinwheels turns 2 pounds of butterflied flank steak into 4 servings in 35 minutes. The steak is seasoned, brushed with olive oil, tied or skewered, then grilled 4 to 5 minutes per side. It brings a steak-house style option to a BBQ night without a long marinade. Serve with grilled vegetables, corn, or a chilled pasta salad.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Steak Pinwheels

Greek Chicken Kabobs

Grilled chicken skewers topped with a creamy white sauce and chopped herbs, served on a plate with sliced vegetables. — Greek Chicken Kabobs. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Greek yogurt, garlic, olive oil, lemon, red wine vinegar, oregano, and paprika make the marinade for Greek Chicken Kabobs, a 25-minute dinner that serves 6. The recipe uses 2 pounds of boneless skinless chicken breasts and finishes with feta, parsley, and tzatziki. The yogurt marinade gives the skewers a different lane from the BBQ-sauce dishes on a slow weekend table. Serve warm with pita, salad, or rice when the grill is already running.
Get the Recipe: Greek Chicken Kabobs

Garlic Butter Steak and Potatoes Foil Packet

Chunks of cooked beef and roasted potatoes served in an open aluminum foil packet, garnished with herbs. — Garlic Butter Steak and Potatoes Foil Packet. Photo credit: Your Perfect Recipes.

Packed into four sealed portions with sirloin steak, baby potatoes, pearl onions, butter, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder, Garlic Butter Steak and Potatoes Foil Packet serves 4 in 45 minutes. The packets grill over medium-high heat for 10 to 12 minutes per side or bake at 425°F for 25 to 30 minutes. This is the low-cleanup dinner for a slow summer weekend. Serve straight from the foil with salad, corn, or coleslaw.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Butter Steak and Potatoes Foil Packet

Slow Cooker Ribs

Cooked mostly away from the grill, Slow Cooker Ribs serve 4 in 4 hours 20 minutes with a 10-minute oven finish. The recipe uses 2 pounds of baby back ribs, brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and 2 cups of barbecue sauce. It fits a slow summer weekend because the ribs cook while the rest of the BBQ happens outside. Slice them for plates with coleslaw, beans, or grilled corn.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Ribs