23 BBQ Recipes That Made My Sister Text Me Mid-Bite for the Recipe

A backyard meal stands out when people pause between bites to ask how something was made. These 23 BBQ recipes cover grilled chicken, steaks, ribs, burgers, wings, skewers, lamb, sausage, corn, vegetables, and stacked sandwiches. Some cook in 25 minutes or less, while the larger cuts and marinated dishes use resting time, smoke, or indirect heat to build the finished plate. The collection gives cookouts, family dinners, and weekend gatherings enough range to keep recipe requests coming from the first platter to the last.

A plate of sliced Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri, served on a white rectangular dish.
Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Grilled Dijon Rosemary Chicken Thighs

Grilled Dijon rosemary chicken thighs are arranged on a rectangular black slate platter, garnished with fresh rosemary, next to a white floral napkin on a wooden surface.
Grilled Dijon Rosemary Chicken Thighs. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Grainy mustard, Dijon, lemon, honey, and rosemary coat Grilled Dijon Rosemary Chicken Thighs with a glossy finish. Four servings take 25 minutes using boneless chicken thighs, salt, and pepper. The glaze goes on near the end so the honey can caramelize without burning over the fire. Serve the thighs with corn, roasted potatoes, rice, or salad for a barbecue dinner that can earn questions before the plate is empty.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Dijon Rosemary Chicken Thighs

Grilled Steaks with Cowboy Butter

A grilled steak with cowboy butter on a white plate.
Grilled Steaks with Cowboy Butter. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Garlic, parsley, chives, smoked paprika, chipotle, and Dijon melt over Grilled Steaks with Cowboy Butter. Four servings take 52 minutes using the cook’s choice of steaks with salt and pepper. The compound butter can be prepared ahead, leaving the grill and resting time as the main dinner tasks. Slice the steaks beside potatoes, corn, salad, or bread so the seasoned butter can run across the whole plate.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Steaks with Cowboy Butter

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Grilled Mediterranean Lamb Chops

Three Grill Mediterranean Lamb Chops topped with gremolata on a white plate.
Grilled Mediterranean Lamb Chops. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Lemon zest, parsley, olives, capers, and pine nuts finish Grilled Mediterranean Lamb Chops with a textured gremolata. Four servings take 25 minutes with lamb loin chops, olive oil, oregano, garlic, red wine vinegar, honey, and shallot. A hot grill sears the chops quickly before they rest under the fresh topping. Add couscous, tomatoes, grilled vegetables, or flatbread for a barbecue plate with enough contrast to prompt recipe requests.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Mediterranean Lamb Chops

Grilled Chicken Wings

A plate of seasoned, grilled chicken wings arranged on a white surface.
Grilled Chicken Wings. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

A smoked paprika dry rub gives Grilled Chicken Wings crisp skin without relying on a wet sauce. Six servings take 50 minutes with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. The wings cook over indirect heat before a short direct finish adds color without scorching the outside. Bring them to the table with dips, celery, slaw, or corn for a barbecue platter that disappears a few pieces at a time.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken Wings

Grilled Pork Souvlaki

Ninja Woodfire Pork Souvlaki with Horiatiki Salad and pita bread on a white plate.
Grilled Pork Souvlaki. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Lemon, oregano, garlic, and olive oil season Grilled Pork Souvlaki before the pork tenderloin reaches the skewers. Six servings take 25 minutes, plus a 20 to 30 minute marinade. Tzatziki mixed with shallot, dill, capers, and honey gives the grilled pork a cool sauce. Serve the skewers with pita, tomatoes, cucumbers, or salad for an outdoor dinner that moves easily from the grill to waiting plates.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pork Souvlaki

Grilled Chicken Caprese Sandwich

Grilled Chicken Caprese Sandwich served with a creamy pasta salad on side.
Grilled Chicken Caprese Sandwich. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Fresh mozzarella and tomato bring Grilled Chicken Caprese Sandwich a cool Caprese layer over sliced grilled chicken. Two sandwiches take 10 minutes to assemble with bakery buns, lettuce, mayonnaise, and basil pesto. Using already grilled chicken keeps the work focused on toasting, mixing the spread, and stacking the ingredients. Serve it with chips, pasta salad, or fruit when leftover barbecue chicken needs to become a lunch worth repeating.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken Caprese Sandwich

Grilled Teriyaki Mango Skewers

Three Grilled Teriyaki Mango Skewers with bell peppers, zucchini, and onions served on a bed of yellow rice on a white plate.
Grilled Teriyaki Mango Skewers. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Honey mango, zucchini, red onion, and bell peppers make Grilled Teriyaki Mango Skewers colorful across four servings. The 40-minute recipe includes a homemade sauce of soy sauce, maple syrup, rice vinegar, cornstarch, and water. The fruit and vegetables grill on skewers while the glossy sauce is brushed over them. Serve them with turmeric rice, quinoa, or another grain when the barbecue needs a produce-centered dish with a memorable sweet-savory finish.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Teriyaki Mango Skewers

Grilled California Chicken Burger

A grilled California chicken burger with lettuce, tomato, cheese, and ham on a bun, served with potato chips on a white plate.
Grilled California Chicken Burger. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Avocado, tomato, smoked ham, pepper Jack, and lettuce stack Grilled California Chicken Burger into four substantial sandwiches. The 35-minute recipe uses seasoned chicken breasts, burger buns, and a chipotle spread. Grilling the chicken and melting the cheese provide the hot center, while the fresh toppings stay cool. Serve the burgers with chips, slaw, or grilled corn for a backyard dinner with enough layers to keep every bite different.
Get the Recipe: Grilled California Chicken Burger

Grilled Beef Finger Meat

Grilled Beef Finger Meat on a wooden cutting board.
Grilled Beef Finger Meat. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Hot direct heat cooks Grilled Beef Finger Meat quickly after excess fat and connective tissue are trimmed away. Four servings take 20 minutes with only beef finger meat and Montreal steak seasoning. The narrow strips need about two to three minutes per side, so the grill stays active for only a short stretch. Slice them for tacos or serve them with corn, potato salad, or vegetables when the table needs a beef-heavy platter.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Beef Finger Meat

Grilled Mango-Chipotle Chicken Wings

A plate of chicken wings on a white plate with a slice of mango.
Grilled Mango-Chipotle Chicken Wings. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

A brown sugar and chipotle rub gives Grilled Mango-Chipotle Chicken Wings heat before a fruit glaze coats the cooked pieces. Six servings take 40 minutes with smoked paprika, mustard powder, fresh mango, and apple cider. Grilling the mango first develops the sauce while the wings cook over medium-high heat. Bring them out with slaw, corn, or a cooling dip when the barbecue needs a sweet and spicy option that earns repeat requests.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Mango-Chipotle Chicken Wings

Korean Galbi Ribs

Korean Galbi Ribs on a slate platter with red chopsticks beside them.
Korean Galbi Ribs. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Asian pear helps tenderize Korean Galbi Ribs in a marinade of brown sugar, soy sauce, mirin, onion, garlic, and sesame oil. Four servings need six hours of marinating, followed by about 15 minutes of cooking. The thin flanken-style ribs grill for only three to four minutes per side once the meat is ready. Serve them with rice, cucumber salad, kimchi, or pickled vegetables for a barbecue plate with a short final cook.
Get the Recipe: Korean Galbi Ribs

Grilled Whole Chicken

A roasted chicken with barbecue sauce on a white plate, with green beans, corn on the cob, a glass of beer, and salt and pepper shakers in the background.
Grilled Whole Chicken. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Two-zone cooking helps Grilled Whole Chicken finish with crisp skin without burning before the thighs are done. Six servings take one hour with oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, salt, and pepper. The bird cooks on the cooler zone before a short hot-zone finish adds color to the skin. Carve it beside corn, potato salad, or grilled vegetables for a centerpiece that can bring everyone toward the cutting board.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Whole Chicken

Grilled Tomahawk Steak

A sliced tomahawk steak on a white plate.
Grilled Tomahawk Steak. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Montreal seasoning is the only coating Grilled Tomahawk Steak needs before smoke and high heat work across the thick cut. Two servings take 25 minutes with one 1.5-pound steak. The meat sears first, finishes over lower heat, and rests for 10 minutes before slicing. Place it at the center of a shared platter with potatoes, grilled vegetables, or salad when one dramatic cut needs to start the conversation.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Tomahawk Steak

Sweet & Spicy Grilled Harissa-Honey Chicken Skewers

A rectangular white plate with four Sweet & Spicy Grilled Harissa-Honey Chicken Skewers garnished with chopped herbs.
Sweet & Spicy Grilled Harissa-Honey Chicken Skewers. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Harissa, honey, and lemon give Sweet & Spicy Grilled Harissa-Honey Chicken Skewers a short marinade with noticeable heat. Four servings take 50 minutes, including a 30-minute rest before grilling. Boneless chicken thighs and red onion cook on skewers for six to eight minutes with occasional turning. Serve them over couscous or beside salad and grilled vegetables when the barbecue needs a main that can be prepared before guests arrive.
Get the Recipe: Sweet & Spicy Grilled Harissa-Honey Chicken Skewers

Grilled Ribs on a Charcoal Grill

Close-up of Grilled ribs covered in sauce, garnished with chopped parsley, served on a white plate.
Grilled Ribs on a Charcoal Grill. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Indirect heat gives Grilled Ribs on a Charcoal Grill tender meat before a short direct-heat finish caramelizes the surface. Four servings take 1 hour 40 minutes with pork ribs, olive oil, brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and optional barbecue sauce. Turning the rack once keeps the process straightforward while the closed lid holds steady heat. Serve the sliced ribs with coleslaw, potato salad, cornbread, or baked beans at a backyard meal.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Ribs on a Charcoal Grill

Grilled Chicken Wings with Buffalo Sauce

Grilled Chicken Wings with Buffalo Sauce on a white square plate.
Grilled Chicken Wings with Buffalo Sauce. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

A quick grill gives Grilled Chicken Wings with Buffalo Sauce crisp edges before the meat is tossed in a buttery hot sauce. Four servings take 20 minutes with chicken wings, Frank’s RedHot, butter, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne, and garlic powder. The wings cook for only a few minutes per side over medium-high heat. Serve them with celery, carrots, and blue cheese dip when the barbecue table needs a spicy handheld plate.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken Wings with Buffalo Sauce

Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

Grilled Bruschetta Chicken on a white plate.
Grilled Bruschetta Chicken. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Fresh tomatoes, basil, garlic, shallots, and optional mozzarella top Grilled Bruschetta Chicken after the marinated breasts come off the heat. Four servings take 25 minutes of preparation and cooking, plus at least four hours for the marinade. Red wine vinegar, olive oil, and Italian seasoning carry the chicken while balsamic syrup and Parmesan finish the plate. Serve it with pasta, grilled asparagus, potatoes, or crusty bread at a summer barbecue.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

Grilled Elote Corn Ribs

Grilled corn on the cob pieces topped with cheese, chili powder, and cilantro, served on a black slate plate with lime wedges on the side.
Grilled Elote Corn Ribs. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Quartered cobs curl into Grilled Elote Corn Ribs with smoky kernels and an easy-to-hold shape. Four servings take 20 minutes with sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic powder, cumin, chipotle powder, lime juice, Cotija cheese, and cilantro. The corn grills for two to three minutes per side before the creamy sauce and toppings go on. Serve the ribs hot or at room temperature beside steak, chicken, burgers, or wings for a side that attracts its own recipe questions.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Elote Corn Ribs

Grilled Steak and Veggie Skewers

Grilled skewers with beef, zucchini, and cherry tomatoes on a wooden board, garnished with fresh parsley. A striped cloth and loose cherry tomatoes are nearby.
Grilled Steak and Veggie Skewers. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

A two-hour marinade gives Grilled Steak and Veggie Skewers seasoned beef before the skewers hit high heat. Six servings take 2 hours 30 minutes with sirloin, garlic, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, Dijon, smoked paprika, olive oil, and vegetables. The actual grilling takes only minutes once the steak and produce are threaded. Serve the skewers over rice or beside salad for a barbecue plate that portions meat and vegetables together.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Steak and Veggie Skewers

Grilled Sausage & Peppers

A sandwich with grilled sausage & peppers, and onions on a plate.
Grilled Sausage & Peppers. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Coiled sausage makes Grilled Sausage & Peppers easy to fit inside round buns with softened onions and bell peppers. Two servings take 20 minutes with Barese sausage, olive oil, Italian seasoning, whole-grain mustard, and bakery-fresh buns. The sausage grills first while the vegetables cook beside it, keeping the full meal on one outdoor surface. Serve each coil in a toasted bun for a quick barbecue dinner that needs little indoor preparation.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Sausage & Peppers

Easy Grilled Beef Burgers

A close-up of a hamburger with lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese, ketchup, and a beef patty in a bun, served on a white plate.
Easy Grilled Beef Burgers. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

A small amount of barbecue sauce keeps Easy Grilled Beef Burgers moist inside while the patties sear over direct heat. Eight burgers take 27 minutes with ground beef, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. A thumb indentation helps each patty cook flatter, and cheese can melt during the final minute. Set out buns, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and pickles for a cookout where everyone can finish a burger their own way.
Get the Recipe: Easy Grilled Beef Burgers

Grilled Chicken Drumsticks

A plate of grilled chicken drumsticks garnished with chopped herbs, served with lemon slices.
Grilled Chicken Drumsticks. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

A smoked paprika dry rub gives Grilled Chicken Drumsticks seasoned skin before barbecue sauce goes on near the end. Four servings take 50 minutes with avocado oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried thyme. Indirect grilling cooks the meat through without scorching the coating, while a final glaze adds the sticky finish. Add corn, coleslaw, potato salad, or baked beans for a barbecue plate built around a familiar handheld main.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken Drumsticks

Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri

A plate of sliced Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri, served on a white rectangular dish.
Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

A cumin, oregano, paprika, onion, and garlic marinade seasons Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri before a fast grill. Four servings take 2 hours 20 minutes, including two hours for the meat to rest in the seasoning. The steaks cook for about 10 minutes and are sliced before the herb sauce goes on. Serve them with bread, potatoes, corn, or grilled peppers when a shared steak platter needs a fresh finish.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri

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