13 BBQ Dinners to Fire Up the Grill For

BBQ dinners feel easier when the table has a good mix of chicken, beef, pork, seafood, and handheld plates. These 13 recipes cover drumsticks, pork chops, kabobs, chipotle chicken, steak pinwheels, pulled pork sliders, wings, hot dogs, salmon, shrimp, lobster tails, chicken thighs, and tri-tip. Most go straight on the grill, while a few bring oven-baked or assembled BBQ-style options to fill out the spread. Use this list when dinner needs a backyard setup with enough choices for everyone.

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

Grilled Pork Chops

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

Ready in 25 minutes and serving four, Grilled Pork Chops give the grill a fast pork main. Bone-in pork chops are marinated with olive oil, low-sodium soy sauce, brown sugar or honey, Dijon mustard, garlic, and black pepper. The chops sear over high heat, then finish over medium heat until they reach temperature. Serve them with grilled corn, potato salad, rice, slaw, baked beans, or cucumber salad.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pork Chops

BBQ Drumsticks

Juicy, crispy glazed chicken drumsticks with herbs and dipping sauce. — BBQ Drumsticks. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Ready in 55 minutes and serving four, BBQ Drumsticks bring sticky chicken to the table without needing more grill space. Chicken drumsticks are coated with olive oil, salt, and pepper before baking. BBQ sauce and apple cider vinegar are mixed together, brushed over the chicken, then baked again until the glaze turns glossy. Serve these drumsticks with coleslaw, baked beans, corn, potato salad, or cornbread for a BBQ-style dinner.
Get the Recipe: BBQ Drumsticks

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.

With a 35-minute total time and four servings, Beef Kabobs with Chimichurri Sauce bring beef and vegetables together on skewers. Sirloin cubes are marinated with olive oil, curry powder, salt, and pepper before being threaded with red bell pepper, zucchini, and red onion. Parsley, red wine vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic make the chimichurri. Serve with rice, flatbread, potatoes, salad, or grilled corn.
Get the Recipe: Beef Kabobs with Chimichurri Sauce

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.

Ready in 25 minutes and serving four, Chipotle Grilled Chicken gives the BBQ table a fast chicken thigh option. Skinless boneless chicken thighs are seasoned with salt and pepper, then coated with garlic, chipotle in adobo, onion powder, lime juice, and olive oil. The chicken cooks on a greased grill until browned and cooked through. Serve sliced with tortillas, rice, salad, grilled vegetables, corn, or beans.
Get the Recipe: Chipotle Grilled Chicken

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.

With a 35-minute total time and four servings, Grilled Steak Pinwheels turn flank steak into an organized platter for a BBQ dinner. Butterflied flank steak is layered with Emmental cheese and fresh spinach, rolled tightly, tied or skewered, sliced into pinwheels, and brushed with olive oil. The pinwheels grill for a few minutes per side before resting. Serve with potatoes, grilled vegetables, salad, rolls, garlic bread, or chimichurri.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Steak Pinwheels

Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sliders

Close-up of a pulled pork sandwich with pickles and red cabbage on a bun, held in hand, with chips in the background. — Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sliders. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Ready in 10 minutes and making 12 sliders, Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sliders work when cooked pulled pork is already waiting. Hawaiian rolls are filled with heated pulled pork, coleslaw, breaded pickle chips, and BBQ sauce. Melted butter mixed with BBQ seasoning goes over the tops before serving. These sliders help round out a grill night without adding another item to the grates. Serve with chips, beans, corn, or salad.
Get the Recipe: Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sliders

BBQ Wings

A platter of glazed chicken wings topped with chopped green onions and drizzled with white sauce, served with a small bowl of dipping sauce and a spoon. — BBQ Wings. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

With a 55-minute total time and four servings, BBQ Wings bring a saucy wing option to the BBQ table. Chicken wings are coated with flour, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, sea salt, and black pepper before baking. BBQ sauce goes on near the end, so the wings finish sticky and browned. Serve with celery, ranch, fries, potato wedges, slaw, baked beans, or grilled corn.
Get the Recipe: BBQ Wings

Juicy Grilled Hot Dogs

Four hot dogs in buns topped with crispy fried onions are arranged on parchment paper in a basket. — Juicy Grilled Hot Dogs. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Ready in 16 minutes and serving six, Juicy Grilled Hot Dogs keep the cookout simple and fast. Hot dogs go directly on the grill grates and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, turning often so they brown evenly. The buns can be filled with ketchup, mustard, fried onions, or other toppings. Serve with chips, pasta salad, baked beans, corn, pickles, coleslaw, or a tray of sliders.
Get the Recipe: Juicy Grilled Hot Dogs

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.

Ready in 30 minutes and serving four, Flaky Grilled Salmon gives the BBQ spread a lighter seafood main. Salmon fillets are patted dry, coated with olive oil, salt, pepper, and lemon zest, then brushed with lemon herb butter. The fillets grill skin-side down until the flesh turns opaque and flakes easily. Serve with pasta salad, grilled vegetables, rice, asparagus, corn, or a crisp green salad.
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.

With a 53-minute total time, including marinating, Grilled Shrimp Kabobs serve four with shrimp, vegetables, and a honey-garlic marinade. Shrimp, bell peppers, red onion, and portobello mushrooms are tossed with garlic, olive oil, honey, paprika, salt, and pepper before going onto skewers. The kabobs grill quickly over medium heat until the shrimp turn opaque. Serve with rice, salad, flatbread, corn, or extra grilled vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Shrimp Kabobs

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 a 1-hour 10-minute total time and four servings, Grilled Chicken Thighs use chimichurri as both marinade and sauce. Skinless boneless chicken thighs are coated with parsley, cilantro, garlic, red wine vinegar, olive oil, red pepper flakes, oregano, salt, and pepper before grilling. Half of the chimichurri is saved for serving. Pair the chicken with rice, grilled vegetables, potatoes, corn, or a simple salad.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken Thighs

Grilled Lobster Tail

Cooked lobster tail with herbs and seasoning served on a white plate. — Grilled Lobster Tail. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Ready in 20 minutes and serving two, Grilled Lobster Tail gives the BBQ table a seafood option that feels special without a long cook. Lobster tails are split lengthwise, brushed with herb butter made from melted butter, garlic, lemon juice, smoked paprika, parsley, basil, salt, and pepper, then grilled until cooked through. Serve with lemon wedges, corn, salad, rice, grilled vegetables, or baked potatoes.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Lobster Tail

Grilled Tri Tip

Ready in 40 minutes and serving four, Grilled Tri Tip brings a sliced beef main to the BBQ table. A 2-pound tri-tip marinates with parsley, cilantro, garlic, red wine vinegar, olive oil, red pepper flakes, oregano, salt, and black pepper. The meat grills for about 10 minutes per side, rests, then gets sliced against the grain. Serve with potatoes, salad, corn, rolls, or grilled vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Tri Tip