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79 Cookout Menu Ideas That'll Make This The Most Delicious Summer Ever

We've got you more than covered this grilling season.

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green goddess grilled chicken drizzled with green goddess dressing.
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

This summer, the hottest place to eat in town is right next to your grill. Even if you're new to hosting a killer cookout, no need to fret. Whether you're a beginner or an expert level BBQ-er, we've got all the tips and tricks on how to make this your summer of cooking out. As the head grill master in charge, we highly suggest you get to grilling up any (or all) 79 of these ultimate cookout menu recipe ideas (like delicious ribs, burgers, hot dogs, and even more) all summer long. Get those tongs ready!

Burgers and dogs or grilled chicken and steak are classic, but don't stop there: Our favorite no-fail grilling recipes that are sure to impress your guests? Foil packs and grill skewers. They're a no-brainer, and not just because they require little prep or cleanup. Our tried-and-true favorites? You can never go wrong with our corn & tomato gnocchi foil packets, our campfire hot dog skewers, our surf 'n' turf foil packs, or our sticky soy steak skewers.

Sometimes side dishes at summer BBQs completely steal the spotlight from the usual suspects at our cookouts. Regular potato salad and pasta salad are great, but it's the twists on them that'll really have people coming back for more. Try our antipasto potato salad, our Hawaiian macaroni salad, our deviled egg pasta salad, or our Greek orzo salad, and see what we mean. And don't forget about lighter fruit-and-veggie-filled fare too. Our watermelon Caprese, our classic coleslaw, our panzanella salad, and our fruit salad will keep your guests feeling cool no matter how hot it is outside.

Speaking of, don't forget to round out your cookout with one of our easy frozen desserts; they've got guaranteed cool factor (in more ways than one!).

1

Mexican Corn Salad

mexican corn salad mixed in a bowl
PHOTO: MURRAY HALL; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Esquites is one of those dishes that’s far greater than the sum of its parts: Sweet corn is tossed with crunchy, spicy aromatics and smothered in a creamy, smoky, lime-spiked sauce that is unreasonably good. The sauce is so irresistible, it transforms humble corn kernels into the kind of summer side that reliably outshines whatever main course you serve it with.

Get the Mexican Corn Salad recipe.

2

Shrimp Pasta Salad

shrimp pasta salad with chopped tomatoes and red onion
PHOTO: ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

If you’ve found yourself making the same macaroni salad over and over again, this is the recipe for you. It’s bright and zingy, with perfectly cooked shrimp. We took inspiration from classic Peruvian ceviche, with its lime- and fresh cilantro-forward flavor profile, and you’ll be glad to know you only need 8 simple ingredients to make this.

Get the Shrimp Pasta Salad recipe.

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3

Green Goddess Grilled Chicken

green goddess grilled chicken drizzled with green goddess dressing.
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Summer cookouts call for food with bright herbs, creamy sauces, and tons of char, and this green goddess grilled chicken is bringing all that and more. Chicken thighs are tossed in a simple green goddess dressing and grilled immediately for a no-wait, no-fuss dinner that hits all those alfresco dinner vibes.

Get the Green Goddess Grilled Chicken recipe.

4

Culver's ButterBurger

double patty with cheese, lettuce, and tomato on a bun
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

Served on a toasted and lightly buttered Kaiser-style bun, these burgers are so good you don’t even need condiments. While we wait (and pray) for a Culver’s to someday open near me, I’ll have to stick with replicating them at home—and now with this copycat recipe, you can too!

Get the Culver's ButterBurger recipe.

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5

Hot German Potato Salad

potato salad with chopped onions and bacon
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Unlike the chilled, creamy, mayo-dressed picnic staple we're familiar with, German potato salad is served warm, or even hot, with a bacon vinaigrette. We repeat, bacon vinaigrette. If you've never made a dressing with bacon fat, you're in for a treat.

Get the Hot German Potato Salad recipe.

6

Sticky Soy Steak Skewers

marinated pieces of sirloin steak in soy and chili garlic sauce, skewered with red onion, and brushed with a sweet and savory honey garlic glaze
PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

For this recipe, we marinated pieces of sirloin steak in soy and chili-garlic sauce, skewered them alongside red onion, then grilled the skewers until medium-rare while brushing them with a sweet and savory honey-garlic glaze. The result is a combination of tender, slightly spicy charred grilled steak that'll make you forget about any other BBQ main.

Get the Sticky Soy Steak Skewers recipe.

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7

Deviled Egg Pasta Salad

the perfect fuss free solution for deviled egg lovers this deviled egg pasta salad has tender elbow macaroni noodles and crispy bacon combined with garlic powder and sweet paprika seasoned mayonnaise dijon dressing, then tossed with celery, scallions, and parsley for mild onion flavor and a slight crunch
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

This pasta salad is the perfect fuss-free solution for deviled egg lovers, with tender macaroni noodles, bacon, and a mayo-Dijon dressing. Top the whole thing with expertly boiled and quartered eggs and a dusting of sweet paprika, and you’ll have your new favorite potluck contribution.

Get the Deviled Egg Pasta Salad recipe.

8

Grilled Stuffed Peppers

grilled bell peppers stuffed with meat and cheese
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

Why grill your stuffed peppers? Because it’s summer and we want to be outside! Don’t stay indoors and turn on the hot oven. Instead, step outside to the grill and take advantage of the great weather and the nice smoky charred flavor grilling brings to this classic comfort dish.

Get the Grilled Stuffed Peppers recipe.

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9

Spinach & Artichoke-Stuffed Burgers

burgers filled with spinach artichoke dip
PHOTO: MURRAY HALL; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

These spinach and artichoke-stuffed burgers are a two-in-one dinner that will make you the star of any game day or summer BBQ, and will have you leaving the basic burgers behind.

Get the Spinach & Artichoke-Stuffed Burgers recipe.

10

Campfire Hot Dog Skewers

grilled skewers with sliced hot dogs, pineapple, red bell peppers basted with a bbq sauce
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

In this recipe, we layer cut up hot dogs, bell peppers, pineapple, and onions on skewers before basting with a homemade sweet-tangy BBQ sauce and grill until charred and caramelized. Skip the chicken skewers or basic hot dogs in a bun—and turn to these hot dog skewers.

Get the Campfire Hot Dog Skewers recipe.

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11

Broccoli Caesar Pasta Salad

broccoli caesar pasta salad topped with crunchy croutons
PHOTO: ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

If Caesar salad took a vacation to the Midwest, she would become this broccoli Caesar pasta salad. Bright green crisp-tender broccoli is tossed with cavatappi, shredded parm, and shards of crispy croutons in a silky homemade Caesar dressing for an unforgettable spin on the classic cookout staple.

Get the Broccoli Caesar Pasta Salad recipe.

12

Chicken Burgers

chicken burger topped with sauce, lettuce, sliced red onion, and tomato
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

We use ingredients like caramelized onions, mayonnaise, and the perfect combination of seasonings to create a chicken burger that definitely won’t disappoint. Topped with a tangy homemade burger sauce and sandwiched between two toasted buttery brioche buns, we’re thinking we might just convert you to team chicken when it comes to your burger preference.

Get the Chicken Burgers recipe.

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13

Cowboy Beans

hearty, creamy beans are cooked with bacon, ground beef, aromatics, and pickled jalapenos in a sweet, slightly spicy, and tangy sauce
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: LIBERTY FENNELL

Hearty, creamy beans are cooked with bacon, ground beef, aromatics, and pickled jalapeños in a sweet, slightly spicy, and tangy sauce. Baked beans are usually thought of as a side dish, but the addition of meat and bacon makes this dish filling enough to eat as a main.

Get the Cowboy Beans recipe.

14

BBQ Pulled Mushrooms

bbq tossed mushrooms
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

The speedy nature of this recipe makes it THE perfect dish to whip up for a weeknight dinner. We've used king oyster mushrooms as their meaty texture and thick stem make perfect pork-like shreds. This recipe is so meaty we believe it could convince even the biggest of mushroom haters that these veggie heroes aren't so bad after all.

Get the BBQ Pulled Mushrooms recipe.

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15

Grilled Potatoes

grilled potatoes on a platter topped with herby green sauce
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Burgers and fries might be a culinary power couple, but if you’re already using the grill for burgers, you can’t go wrong with these grilled potatoes. Cooked until lightly charred and drizzled with a bright green herb sauce, these simple spuds will make you wish every night was a cook-out.

Get the Grilled Potatoes recipe.

16

Oklahoma Fried Onion Burgers

cheeseburger with fried onions
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

If you have never had a fried onion burger, welcome! We won’t exclaim that we can’t believe you’ve never had one; instead, we’ll take joy in getting to serve you your very first one.

Get the Oklahoma Fried Onion Burgers recipe.

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17

Honey Lime Grilled Corn

honey lime grilled corn
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

If you’re looking for an easy warm weather side, nothing says summertime like grilled corn. Trust us—if you’ve got even just a little bit of extra time, this herby, citrusy honey butter is worth it.

Get the Honey Lime Grilled Corn recipe.

18

Carrot Coin Salad

carrot coins tossed in a salad
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Whether they’re roasted, grilled, air fried, candied, or tucked in a hot dog bun (you heard us right), carrots always shine. This meal prep-friendly carrot coin salad, tossed with a sweet-tangy sesame miso dressing, is perfect for make-ahead lunches or a cool, crunchy cookout side.

Get the Carrot Coin Salad recipe.

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19

Korean BBQ Cheesy Corn

korean bbq cheesy corn
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Korean BBQ cheesy corn is the gooey-est side dip to pair with all your grilled mains. It’s one of the quickest side dishes to make with easy-to-buy summer-y ingredients of corn, mayo, and mozzarella.

Get the Korean BBQ Cheesy Corn recipe.

20

Panzanella Salad

panzanella salad in a bowl with shallots and basil
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Summer tastes like a huge bowl of panzanella in the center of the table: generous bronzed croutons tossed with chunks of juicy tomato, shallots, and torn basil in a bright vinaigrette. It might technically be called a salad, but you’ll probably find yourself snacking on it for breakfast, dinner… and dessert.

Get the Panzanella Salad recipe.

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