17 Cookout Recipes That Feed a Family for Less Than a Restaurant Starter

A restaurant starter for four can run $15 to $20 before anyone orders a main. These 17 recipes cover the full cookout spread for a fraction of that: grilled proteins in three different directions, sides that hold up on the table while the mains finish cooking, tacos built for taco night or game day, wings that rival any bar order, and a few appetizers that keep guests busy at the grill while dinner comes together.

Beef Kabobs with Chimichurri Sauce

Beef sirloin cubed and threaded with red bell pepper, zucchini, and red onion, cooked on the grill until the outside has a proper char, then served with a bright chimichurri of parsley, cilantro, garlic, red wine vinegar, olive oil, red pepper flakes, and dried oregano, Beef Kabobs with Chimichurri Sauce come together in 35 minutes and deliver steakhouse-level flavor at a fraction of the cost. The chimichurri doubles as a marinade and a finishing sauce, which is the reason the flavor carries through every bite.
Get the Recipe: Beef Kabobs with Chimichurri Sauce

Cheeseburger

A well-seasoned ground beef patty cooked over direct heat until the outside is seared and the inside is juicy, then topped with melted cheddar, lettuce, and tomato on a toasted bun, Cheeseburger is the cookout anchor that every other recipe on this list gets served alongside. The difference between a great home burger and a fast-food order comes down to the beef quality and the sear, both of which you control completely here. Make the patties ahead and refrigerate until the grill is hot.
Get the Recipe: Cheeseburger

Fresh Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies

Cavatappi pasta tossed with grilled zucchini, red bell pepper, red onion, black olives, and cherry tomatoes, then dressed in a balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and Dijon mustard vinaigrette, Fresh Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies takes 40 minutes and gets better the longer it sits. Make it in the morning and refrigerate; pull it out when the grill goes on. It works as the cold side that balances every hot dish on the cookout table.
Get the Recipe: Fresh Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies

Chipotle Grilled Chicken

Chicken marinated in chipotle seasoning and grilled in about 25 minutes until the surface caramelizes and the inside stays juicy, Chipotle Grilled Chicken is the weekly rotation recipe that works as a main, sliced into tacos, or chopped over rice bowls. The smoky heat from the chipotle builds in the marinade rather than burning on the grill. Leftovers reheat cleanly and hold in the fridge, which makes this a strong meal-prep option.
Get the Recipe: Chipotle Grilled Chicken

Charred Grilled Potatoes

Baby yellow potatoes halved, tossed in olive oil and garlic powder, and grilled directly on the grates in 30 minutes for 4 servings, Charred Grilled Potatoes come off with crispy edges and a fluffy center that no roasted potato achieves. The lemon squeezed over them right before serving is the finishing move. These pair with every protein in this collection, from the tri tip to the drumsticks.
Get the Recipe: Charred Grilled Potatoes

Grilled Thai Chicken Skewers

Chicken threaded on skewers with a Thai-spiced marinade and grilled until cooked through with some char at the edges, Grilled Thai Chicken Skewers are the flavor-forward option in this collection. Serve with peanut sauce and a wedge of lime. These cost less per portion than any takeout Thai order and come off the grill in the same amount of time it would take for delivery to arrive.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Thai Chicken Skewers

Grilled Tri Tip

A full tri-tip seasoned with a parsley, cilantro, garlic, red wine vinegar, olive oil, and oregano marinade that doubles as a chimichurri, grilled in about 40 minutes and rested before slicing against the grain, Grilled Tri Tip is the cut that gives you brisket-level impressiveness at sirloin prices. Slice it thin, and it feeds four to six people from a single piece of meat. This is the centerpiece recipe when the cookout needs a proper anchor.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Tri Tip

Street Steak Tacos

Grilled steak sliced thin and piled into warm taco shells with cilantro, diced onion, and salsa, Street Steak Tacos are the Taco Tuesday recipe that pulls double duty for tailgates, cookouts, and summer gatherings. The steak cooks quickly over high heat and rests before slicing, which keeps every bite juicy. Make a double batch of steak; the leftovers work in quesadillas or rice bowls the next day.
Get the Recipe: Street Steak Tacos

BBQ Drumsticks

Chicken drumsticks tossed in olive oil with smoked paprika, garlic, and onion powder, coated in BBQ sauce, and cooked for 55 minutes until the skin is lacquered and the meat pulls clean from the bone, BBQ Drumsticks serve 4 and are the lowest-cost protein in this collection per portion. They hold heat well and work straight from the oven or finish over indirect heat on the grill. Put these out as the handheld option alongside the tacos.
Get the Recipe: BBQ Drumsticks

Spicy Blackened Salmon Tacos

Salmon fillets coated in a bold blackening spice blend, seared in a hot cast iron skillet in about 30 minutes, then served in tortillas with red cabbage, corn, fresh cilantro, lime, jalapeño slices, and a sour cream and cotija lime crema, Spicy Blackened Salmon Tacos are the seafood taco option that competes directly with any restaurant fish taco at a fraction of the price. The crema cuts through the spice, and the cabbage gives each taco real crunch.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Blackened Salmon Tacos

Buffalo Wings

Chicken wings baked in the oven until the skin is genuinely crispy without deep-frying, then tossed in a honey buffalo sauce and served alongside a homemade blue cheese dip, Buffalo Wings are the game-day snack that clears the table faster than any restaurant order. The skin crisps in the oven as reliably as a deep fryer, and the honey in the sauce gives the coating a gloss and a slight sweetness that straight hot sauce doesn’t deliver. Make the blue cheese dip the day before.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Wings

Grilled Veggie Kabobs

Zucchini, red onion, mushrooms, green bell pepper, and eggplant threaded on skewers, marinated in white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, olive oil, garlic, basil, parsley, and lemon, then grilled for 30 minutes until charred and tender, Grilled Veggie Kabobs are the side that stands on its own as a main or sits alongside the meat options without needing anything else. The marinade does the work; these come off the grill with depth and real char.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Veggie Kabobs

Black Bean Burger

Black beans mashed with onion, garlic, and spices, formed into patties and pan-fried in 25 minutes until the outside is crispy and the inside holds together, Black Bean Burger is the option for anyone at the cookout who wants something substantial without meat. The patty holds up on a bun and takes toppings well. Put it on the same platter as the cheeseburger so guests can pick without anyone needing to ask.
Get the Recipe: Black Bean Burger

Charred Grilled Asparagus

Asparagus spears coated in olive oil, salt, and pepper and grilled on a hot grate until they pick up char and become just tender, Charred Grilled Asparagus takes only a few minutes and pairs with every protein in this list. Finish with lemon right before serving. The grill gives asparagus a smoky edge that the oven never does, which is the reason this version beats roasted every time.
Get the Recipe: Charred Grilled Asparagus

Garlic Butter Steak and Potatoes Foil Packet

Sirloin steak cubed and packed into a foil packet with diced potatoes, garlic, and butter, sealed and cooked over the grill until the steak is tender and the potatoes have soaked up all the garlic butter, Garlic Butter Steak and Potatoes Foil Packet is the one-packet dinner that requires zero cleanup. Open the foil at the table, and the garlicky steam that hits you is the whole point. Great for when you want steak night without the mess.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Butter Steak and Potatoes Foil Packet

Charred Grilled Peppers

Bell peppers halved and grilled until blistered and soft, with olive oil, garlic, and herbs, Charred Grilled Peppers are the side that layers onto burgers, sits next to kabobs, or fills a plate as a stand-alone for anyone who wants a lighter option. The char pulls out a sweetness from the peppers that raw versions don’t have. Optional crumbled feta over the top turns them into a proper dish.
Get the Recipe: Charred Grilled Peppers

Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers

Fresh jalapeños halved, filled with cream cheese, wrapped tightly in bacon, and baked until the bacon crisps and the cream cheese melts into the pepper, Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers are the appetizer that keeps guests occupied while the proteins cook. The heat from the jalapeño, the richness of the cream cheese, and the smoke from the bacon hit three different flavor notes in one bite. Set them out first, and they’re gone before the grill is ready.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers