19 Grill Recipes for Cookouts, Dinners, and Side Plates

Cookouts feel more complete when the grill handles more than one part of the meal. Pick a recipe for the spot you need to fill, from a main plate to a side that can sit next to it. Use it for an outdoor dinner, a weekend spread, or a plate that needs something warm off the grates.

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

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.

Alternating beef and vegetables makes Beef Kabobs with Chimichurri Sauce a 35-minute grill recipe for 4, plus at least 30 minutes of marinating. Sirloin cubes share the skewers with red bell pepper, zucchini, and red onion after being coated with olive oil and curry powder. Fresh parsley, garlic, red wine vinegar, lemon, and olive oil form the finishing sauce. Serve the kabobs at a cookout with rice, flatbread, corn, or salad.
Get the Recipe: Beef Kabobs with Chimichurri Sauce

Grilled Pork Chops

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

Soy sauce, Dijon, and brown sugar or honey season Grilled Pork Chops, a 25-minute main for 4 after at least an hour of marinating. Four thick bone-in chops sear over high heat, then move to medium heat until they reach 145°F. The method brings clear grill marks and keeps the center ready for a full dinner plate. Add corn, cucumber salad, baked beans, or potato salad for a straightforward cookout meal.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pork Chops

Grilled Lobster Tail

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

Split shells help this Grilled Lobster Tail cook in 20 minutes and provide 2 servings. Two 4- to 5-ounce tails are brushed with melted butter, garlic, lemon, smoked paprika, parsley, and basil before grilling flesh-side down, then shell-side down. The short grill time makes seafood practical even when several other dishes need space. Finish with the reserved herb butter and serve with asparagus, corn, salad, or bread.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Lobster Tail

Tomahawk Steak

Close-up of cooked beef slices on a wooden board, with a fork holding one piece. The meat appears juicy with a seasoned crust. — Tomahawk Steak. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Cast-iron searing starts Tomahawk Steak, a 35-minute recipe for 2 built around a 2-pound bone-in ribeye. Salt, pepper, olive oil, and herb butter keep the ingredient list short before the steak finishes in a 350°F oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Although it is not cooked directly on the grill, it still fits a cookout dinner when the grates are crowded. Slice it after resting and serve with grilled sides.
Get the Recipe: Tomahawk Steak

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.

Fresh chimichurri serves as both marinade and sauce in Grilled Chicken Thighs, a 4-serving recipe with 20 minutes of prep, 20 minutes of cooking, and 30 minutes of marinating. Boneless thighs absorb parsley, cilantro, garlic, red wine vinegar, oregano, and red pepper flakes before grilling for 10 to 15 minutes. Spoon the reserved sauce over the rested chicken. Pair it with grilled corn, potato salad, rice, or roasted vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken Thighs

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.

Ground lamb takes skewer form in Lamb Kebabs, a 20-minute recipe that makes 6 servings. Onion, garlic, coriander, mint, and cumin season the meat before it grills for 8 to 10 minutes. Greek yogurt mixed with paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper supplies a cool sauce for the warm kebabs. Set them on flatbreads with lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and red onion for a cookout main that is easy to hold.
Get the Recipe: Lamb Kebabs

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.

Smoky heat runs through Chipotle Grilled Chicken, a 25-minute main that serves 4. Boneless chicken thighs are coated with chipotle in adobo, garlic, onion powder, lime juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper before cooking over medium-high heat. The meat can be sliced once it reaches 165°F and used across several kinds of plates. Serve it with greens, rice, tacos, burritos, or grilled vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Chipotle Grilled Chicken

Grilled Cheese Burritos

Three foil-wrapped burrito halves filled with ground meat, cheese, lettuce, and tomato are stacked on a pink plate. — Grilled Cheese Burritos. Photo credit: Your Perfect Recipes.

Seasoned beef and rice fill Grilled Cheese Burritos, a 35-minute recipe with 6 servings. Ground beef simmers with onion, garlic, Mexican seasoning, and salsa before Monterey Jack, Mexican rice, sour cream, lettuce, and cilantro go into large flour tortillas. Each burrito cooks on a hot grill pan or griddle for 1 to 2 minutes per side. Wrap them in foil for cookouts, picnics, or handheld dinners away from the table.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Cheese Burritos

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 flank steak gives Grilled Steak Pinwheels a different shape from the usual cookout steak, with 4 servings ready in 35 minutes. Two pounds of butterflied beef hold Emmental cheese and fresh spinach before being sliced into thick rounds. The pinwheels grill for 4 to 5 minutes per side and rest before serving. Add chimichurri or balsamic glaze, then plate them with asparagus, corn, potatoes, or salad.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Steak Pinwheels

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.

Brown sugar and dark rum caramelize Caramelized Grilled Pineapple, a 20-minute side or dessert for 4. Ten thick pineapple rings rest in the mixture before grilling for 2 to 4 minutes per side. Flaky sea salt and mint balance the fruit once it comes off the heat. Use the warm rings beside pork, chicken, or seafood, or add ice cream when the cookout needs a quick sweet finish.
Get the Recipe: Caramelized Grilled Pineapple

Grilled Chicken Sandwich

Close-up of a cheeseburger with a sesame bun, bacon, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and beef patty. — Grilled Chicken Sandwich. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Three hours of marinating give Grilled Chicken Sandwich plenty of time to absorb lemon, garlic, thyme, oregano, and olive oil before the 10-minute cook. The recipe makes 4 sandwiches with thin chicken cutlets, cheddar, bacon, tomato, lettuce, mayonnaise, and mustard on rolls. Grilling the chicken for 2 to 3 minutes per side keeps the active work short. Serve the handhelds with slaw, potato salad, or grilled corn.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken Sandwich

Charred Grilled Asparagus

Grilled asparagus spears served on a plate with two charred lemon halves. — Charred Grilled Asparagus. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Thick spears hold up well in Charred Grilled Asparagus, a 10-minute side that serves 4. One pound of asparagus is coated with olive oil, salt, and black pepper before grilling until tender-crisp with visible marks. Lemon juice goes over the warm vegetables after they leave the heat. Put the platter beside steak, chicken, salmon, or kabobs when the cookout needs a fast vegetable side.
Get the Recipe: Charred Grilled Asparagus

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.

Honey and paprika coat Grilled Shrimp Kabobs, a 53-minute recipe that includes 30 minutes of marinating and makes 4 servings. Shrimp share the skewers with red and green bell peppers, red onion, and portobello mushrooms. Once assembled, they need only 6 to 8 minutes over medium heat. Serve them as a cookout main with rice or couscous, or place smaller portions on side plates with corn and salad.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Shrimp Kabobs

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.

Smoked paprika, oregano, cumin, and brown sugar season Wingstop Louisiana Rub Wings, a 25-minute recipe for 4. Sixteen wings bake at 428°F for 15 to 20 minutes after being dried, misted with oil, and coated with the seasoning blend. This one uses the oven rather than the grill, which can free the grates for chops and skewers. Serve the crisp wings with ranch, slaw, corn, or grilled vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Wingstop Louisiana Rub Wings

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.

Lemon-herb butter finishes Flaky Grilled Salmon, a 30-minute main that makes 4 servings. Skin-on fillets are coated with olive oil, lemon zest, salt, and pepper, then grilled before butter, garlic, lemon juice, parsley, oregano, and dill go over the top. The fish needs 4 to 5 minutes uncovered and another 5 to 10 minutes with the lid closed. Pair it with corn, asparagus, potatoes, or salad.
Get the Recipe: Flaky Grilled Salmon

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 keeps Greek Chicken Kabobs coated in a lemon, garlic, red wine vinegar, oregano, and paprika marinade before grilling. The 25-minute recipe serves 6, though the chicken should rest in the marinade for at least 30 minutes. Crumbled feta, parsley, and tzatziki finish the skewers after 10 to 15 minutes of cooking. Serve them with pita, Greek salad, rice, or grilled vegetables at a cookout or weeknight dinner.
Get the Recipe: Greek Chicken Kabobs

Grilled Corn on the Cob

Four grilled corn cobs topped with crumbled cheese, chopped herbs, and spices are arranged on a white plate. — Grilled Corn on the Cob. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Tajín butter brings extra seasoning to Grilled Corn on the Cob, a 25-minute side for 4. Four shucked ears are brushed with oil and turned over the grill for about 15 minutes until tender and charred. Lime juice, cilantro, and Cotija cheese finish the corn once it is off the heat. Add it to plates with chicken, pork, steak, seafood, or kabobs for a familiar cookout side with more detail.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Corn on the Cob

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.

Colorful vegetables make Charred Grilled Chicken Kabobs a complete skewer dinner with 4 servings in 30 minutes, plus 30 minutes of marinating. Chicken breast alternates with red and green bell peppers, red onion, and portobello mushrooms after a coating of garlic, olive oil, honey, and paprika. Grill the skewers for 12 to 15 minutes, turning occasionally. Serve them with rice, tzatziki, flatbread, or a simple side salad.
Get the Recipe: Charred Grilled Chicken Kabobs

Grilled Tri Tip

Herb-heavy chimichurri seasons Grilled Tri Tip, a 40-minute main for 4, plus at least 30 minutes of marinating. A 2-pound roast is coated with parsley, cilantro, garlic, red wine vinegar, olive oil, oregano, and red pepper flakes before grilling for about 10 minutes per side. Resting and slicing against the grain keep the pieces manageable for serving. Bring it to the cookout table with potatoes, corn, beans, or salad.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Tri Tip