17 Grilling Recipes for Feeding a Backyard Crowd

Feeding a backyard crowd gets tricky when everyone wants something different and the cook cannot spend the entire afternoon watching one piece of meat. These 17 cookout recipes cover chicken, steak, seafood, burgers, kebabs, hot dogs, and grilled vegetables, with several options that cook in 30 minutes or less. Pick a few based on your guest list, cook what works for the occasion, and serve each dish with simple summer sides.

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.

Whole Baked BBQ Chicken

Roasted chicken with a crispy, golden-brown skin on a white plate, served with a side of greens in a black bowl. — Whole Baked BBQ Chicken. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Coated with barbecue sauce, smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic, and seasoned butter, Whole Baked BBQ Chicken roasts for a total time of 2 hours and 10 minutes. The 5-pound bird serves five and rests for 10 minutes before carving. Slice the meat for dinner plates or pull it from the bones for sandwiches. This oven option also keeps the grill open for burgers, vegetables, or seafood.
Get the Recipe: Whole Baked BBQ Chicken

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 olive oil and finished with lemon herb butter, Flaky Grilled Salmon cooks in 30 minutes and serves four. The recipe uses four salmon fillets along with lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Crisp skin and tender flakes make it easy to portion straight from the grill. Serve it with grilled vegetables, salad, rice, or crusty bread when the cookout menu needs something besides beef and chicken.
Get the Recipe: Flaky Grilled Salmon

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 juice, onion powder, and olive oil, Chipotle Grilled Chicken is ready in 25 minutes. The recipe grills 1.7 pounds of boneless chicken thighs and serves four people. Slice the cooked chicken for tacos or burritos, or leave the thighs whole for dinner plates. The smoky marinade brings plenty of flavor without requiring a long ingredient list.
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.

Rolled around Emmental cheese and fresh spinach, Grilled Steak Pinwheels turn 2 pounds of butterflied flank steak into four servings in 35 minutes. The steak is secured with twine, sliced, and cooked on the grill for 15 minutes. Each spiral gives guests beef, melted cheese, and greens in one portion. Prepare the roll earlier, then slice and grill it when the crowd is ready to eat.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Steak Pinwheels

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, Juicy Grilled Hot Dogs cook six hot dogs directly on the grates until evenly browned. Tuck them into buns and set out ketchup, mustard, fried onions, or other toppings beside the platter. Since the cooking time is only 5 to 7 minutes, another batch can go on without slowing down the rest of the meal. Let guests dress their own hot dogs to keep serving simple.
Get the Recipe: Juicy Grilled Hot Dogs

Grilled Shrimp

Threaded onto skewers and finished with buttery lemon herbs, Grilled Shrimp serves four in 20 minutes. One pound of peeled shrimp cooks with olive oil, while butter, garlic, lemon juice, zest, parsley, oregano, and dill make the finishing mixture. Add the shrimp to tacos, pasta, or salad, or pass the skewers around as they come off the grill. The 10-minute cook time helps when guests are already waiting.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Shrimp

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 individual foil parcels, Garlic Butter Steak and Potatoes Foil Packet combines cubed sirloin, baby potatoes, pearl onions, melted butter, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder. Four servings are ready in 45 minutes, including 15 minutes of prep. The foil holds the juices around the steak and potatoes while cutting down on dishes afterward. Serve the packets closed or carefully open them before placing them on plates.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Butter Steak and Potatoes Foil Packet

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.

Marinated in honey, garlic, olive oil, and paprika, Grilled Shrimp Kabobs pair one pound of shrimp with red and green bell peppers, red onion, and portobello mushrooms. The recipe serves four and takes 53 minutes, including 30 minutes for marinating. Once prepared, the skewers need only 8 minutes on the grill. Arrange them on a large platter so guests can take a full skewer without waiting for individual portions.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Shrimp Kabobs

Veggie Burger

Made with lentils, black beans, mushrooms, onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, and ground oats, Veggie Burger produces four patties in 35 minutes. The patties cook in a greased skillet for about 8 to 10 minutes per side, which leaves the outdoor grill available for other dishes. Add buns and bowls of sliced tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, and sauces. Guests can build their burgers with whichever toppings they prefer.
Get the Recipe: Veggie Burger

Lamb Kebabs

Three grilled kebabs on flatbread, topped with shredded lettuce, cherry tomatoes, red onion, chopped herbs, and a drizzle of white sauce, served with lime wedges. — Lamb Kebabs. Photo credit: Your Perfect Recipes.

Mixed with onion, garlic, fresh mint, coriander, and cumin, Lamb Kebabs turn one pound of ground lamb into six servings in 20 minutes. A cool sauce made with Greek yogurt, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper is served alongside. Slide the cooked kebabs into flatbreads with lettuce, tomatoes, and red onion, or place them over salad. The short cooking time makes another round manageable when more guests arrive.
Get the Recipe: Lamb Kebabs

Copycat Smash Burger

Pressed in a very hot cast-iron skillet, Copycat Smash Burger uses half a pound of ground beef to make four burgers in 25 minutes. Cheddar cheese melts over the patties before they are tucked into brioche buns with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and spicy mayo. Cook the burgers in batches while someone else handles the grill. Place finished patties on buns immediately so the crisp beef edges stay intact.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Smash Burger

Wingstop Louisiana Rub Wings

Close-up of grilled chicken wings with a crispy texture, next to a red bowl of creamy dipping sauce. — Wingstop Louisiana Rub Wings. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Seasoned with smoked paprika, oregano, cumin, brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper, Wingstop Louisiana Rub Wings cooks 16 wings in 25 minutes. The wings bake in a hot oven rather than taking up grill space and serve four. Set them beside ranch, blue cheese dressing, celery, or extra napkins. Their dry coating also makes them easier to carry around the yard than heavily sauced wings.
Get the Recipe: Wingstop Louisiana Rub Wings

Charred Mexican Street Corn

Close-up of Mexican Street Corn on the cob topped with creamy sauce, crumbled cheese, chili powder, and chopped cilantro. — Charred Mexican Street Corn. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Boiled until tender and finished over high heat, Charred Mexican Street Corn turns eight ears of sweet corn into six servings in 30 minutes. Each cob is coated with a mixture of sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, and garlic, then topped with cotija cheese, cilantro, and Tajín. The corn can be boiled ahead and grilled shortly before serving.
Get the Recipe: Charred Mexican Street Corn

Charred Grilled Peppers

Grilled red and yellow bell peppers with char marks, topped with crumbled feta cheese and garnished with herbs. — Charred Grilled Peppers. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Lightly coated with olive oil, sea salt, black pepper, and optional oregano, Charred Grilled Peppers turn two large bell peppers into four servings in 15 minutes. Ten minutes on the grill softens the pepper halves and gives the edges some color. Slice them for burger toppings, toss them into salad, or serve them alongside steak and chicken. They can go on whenever there is a small open section of the grill.
Get the Recipe: Charred Grilled Peppers

Caramelized Grilled Pineapple

Close-up of grilled pineapple rings topped with coarse salt and drizzled with syrup. — Caramelized Grilled Pineapple. Photo credit: Your Perfect Recipes.

Coated with brown sugar and dark rum, Caramelized Grilled Pineapple turns 10 fresh pineapple rings into four servings in 20 minutes. The slices rest in the sweet mixture before grilling for 2 to 4 minutes per side, then get flaky sea salt and fresh mint. Serve the warm rings beside grilled pork or chicken, chop them for burgers and tacos, or add vanilla ice cream when the cookout needs a simple dessert.
Get the Recipe: Caramelized Grilled Pineapple

Grilled Pork Chops

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

Marinated in olive oil, soy sauce, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, garlic, and black pepper, Grilled Pork Chops serve four in 25 minutes. The recipe uses four thick, bone-in chops that sear over high heat before finishing over medium heat and resting for 5 minutes. Set them out with grilled corn, baked beans, potato salad, or sliced vegetables. Each chop provides a full main-course portion without requiring extra assembly at the table.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pork Chops

Grilled Chicken Thighs

Marinated with parsley, cilantro, garlic, red wine vinegar, olive oil, red pepper flakes, and oregano, Grilled Chicken Thighs serve four in 1 hour and 10 minutes. That total includes a 30-minute marinating time and 20 minutes of cooking. Boneless thighs are easy to portion and hold the herb mixture across the surface. Serve them whole, slice them for sandwiches, or cut them into strips for salads and wraps.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken Thighs