19 Grill Recipes With Mains, Sides, and Skewer Ideas

A hot grill can do more than handle the main dish. Pick a skewer for the center of the plate, or add a side when the rest of dinner is already planned. You can use one recipe for an outdoor meal, a weeknight plate, or a side that goes straight to the table.

Close-up of grilled veggie kabobs with zucchini, bell peppers, eggplant, and onions, garnished with fresh herbs. — Grilled Veggie Kabobs. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

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 and spinach, Grilled Steak Pinwheels uses 2 pounds of flank steak and grills 4 to 5 minutes per side after a 20-minute prep. Serve with balsamic glaze or chimichurri when the steak main should look like more than plain slices. Total time: 35 minutes. Feeds 4.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Steak Pinwheels

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 foil with sirloin steak, baby potatoes, pearl onions, butter, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning, Garlic Butter Steak and Potatoes Foil Packet takes 45 minutes total. The packets grill 10 to 12 minutes per side or bake at 425°F if the weather turns. Feeds 4 and keeps cleanup low.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Butter Steak and Potatoes Foil Packet

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.

Warm spices do most of the work in Lamb Kebabs, mixing ground lamb with onion, garlic, cilantro, mint, cumin, salt, and pepper. The shaped kebabs go on a grill or griddle pan for 8 to 10 minutes, then get a spiced Greek yogurt sauce. Ready in 20 minutes. Feeds 6 with flatbreads, lettuce, tomatoes, and red onion.
Get the Recipe: Lamb Kebabs

Veggie Burger

Lentils and black beans give Veggie Burger its structure, with mushrooms, breadcrumbs, oats, onion, garlic, and parsley blended into 4 patties. The recipe cooks them in a nonstick skillet, not on the outdoor grill, so it works best as the burger option for a grill-adjacent menu. Ready in 35 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Veggie Burger

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.

A fast side with real char, Charred Grilled Peppers uses 2 bell peppers, olive oil, salt, pepper, optional oregano, and optional garlic. The peppers hit a grill or grill pan for 5 to 7 minutes skin side down, then 2 to 3 minutes on the flesh side. Ready in 15 minutes. Feeds 4.
Get the Recipe: Charred Grilled Peppers

Copycat Smash Burger

Pressed thin in a hot cast iron skillet, Copycat Smash Burger turns 1/2 pound of ground beef into 4 cheeseburgers with cheddar, brioche buns, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and spicy mayo. Total time is 25 minutes, and the high heat gives the crust. Use it for the burger lane when the outdoor grill is already crowded.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Smash Burger

Fresh Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies

A bowl of vibrant pasta salad with penne, cherry tomatoes, black olives, diced cucumbers, red onions, and a drizzle of dressing. — Fresh Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Broiled vegetables and balsamic vinaigrette anchor Fresh Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies, a 40-minute salad with zucchini, red bell pepper, red onion, tomatoes, black olives, cavatappi, parsley, Dijon, garlic, and lemon. The vegetables are charred under the broiler rather than on grill grates. Feeds 4 and gives burgers or skewers a pasta side.
Get the Recipe: Fresh Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies

Grilled Thai Chicken Skewers

Thai chicken skewers topped with a creamy sauce and garnished with chopped herbs and peanuts, served over a bed of white rice. — Grilled Thai Chicken Skewers. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Ginger, lemongrass, red curry paste, lime, sesame oil, and fish sauce coat diced chicken thighs in Grilled Thai Chicken Skewers. After at least 15 minutes of marinating, the skewers go on a medium-high grill and finish with peanut sauce, herbs, and chopped peanuts. Total time: 1 hour 5 minutes. Feeds 4.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Thai Chicken Skewers

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 first and charred after, Charred Mexican Street Corn uses 8 ears of corn, crema or sour cream, mayo, lime, garlic, cotija, cilantro, and Tajín. The corn finishes on a hot grill after 10 to 12 minutes in boiling water. Ready in 30 minutes. Feeds 6.
Get the Recipe: Charred Mexican Street Corn

Cheeseburger

High heat and a cast iron skillet drive Cheeseburger, using 1/2 pound of ground beef, cheddar, buns, lettuce, pickles, tomato, red onion, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce. The buns toast on a grill, while the patties cook in the skillet. Ready in 20 minutes. Feeds 2, which makes it better for a smaller grill-night plate.
Get the Recipe: Cheeseburger

Grilled Eggplant

Thick 1-inch eggplant rounds carry Grilled Eggplant, brushed with olive oil, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper before hitting a 400°F grill. The slices grill 4 to 5 minutes per side, then finish with parsley. Ready in 25 minutes. Feeds 4 as a side, appetizer, or lighter main.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Eggplant

Charred Grilled Asparagus

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

One pound of thick asparagus spears, olive oil, salt, pepper, and lemon make Charred Grilled Asparagus a 10-minute side. It grills at 400°F for 6 to 10 minutes until tender-crisp, then gets lemon juice on the platter. Feeds 4 and gives the menu a fast green side when mains are taking up space.
Get the Recipe: Charred Grilled Asparagus

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.

With 6 hot dogs, 6 buns, ketchup, mustard, and fried onions, Juicy Grilled Hot Dogs keeps the main simple and fast. The hot dogs grill for 5 to 7 minutes with turns every 1 to 2 minutes, then rest before going into buns. Total time is 16 minutes. Feeds 6.
Get the Recipe: Juicy Grilled Hot Dogs

Grilled Shrimp

Skewered and brushed with lemon herb butter, Grilled Shrimp uses 1 pound of shrimp, wooden skewers, olive oil, butter, lemon juice and zest, garlic, and fresh herbs. The shrimp grill 4 to 5 minutes per side and finish with more herb butter. Ready in 20 minutes. Feeds 4 with salad, rice, or grilled vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Shrimp

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.

Chimichurri is both marinade and sauce in Grilled Chicken Thighs, coating 1 pound of boneless skinless thighs with parsley, cilantro, garlic, red wine vinegar, olive oil, oregano, and red pepper flakes. The chicken marinates at least 30 minutes, then grills 10 to 15 minutes to 165°F. Total time: 1 hour 10 minutes. Feeds 4.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken Thighs

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.

A griddle-crisped wrap rather than an outdoor-grill recipe, Grilled Cheese Burritos fills 6 tortillas with ground beef, onion, garlic, Mexican seasoning, salsa, Monterey Jack, Mexican rice, sour cream, lettuce, and cilantro. The burritos brown seam-side down for 1 to 2 minutes per side after assembly. Ready in 35 minutes for a hand-held main.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Cheese Burritos

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, garlic, paprika, olive oil, peppers, onion, mushrooms, and 1 pound of shrimp build Grilled Shrimp Kabobs. The skewers marinate at least 30 minutes, then grill over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes until the shrimp are pink and the vegetables are tender. Total time: 53 minutes. Feeds 4 and covers the seafood-skewer slot.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Shrimp Kabobs

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.

Oven heat, not the grill, carries Whole Baked BBQ Chicken, using a 5-pound whole chicken, BBQ sauce, chicken broth, butter, chili powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. It bakes at 425°F, then 350°F, and rests before carving. Total time: 2 hours 10 minutes. Feeds 5. Keep it only if this roundup allows baked BBQ mains.
Get the Recipe: Whole Baked BBQ Chicken

Grilled Veggie Kabobs

Lemon herb dressing gives Grilled Veggie Kabobs its flavor, coating zucchini, red onion, mushrooms, green bell pepper, and eggplant before the vegetables go onto skewers. The recipe takes 40 minutes total and feeds 4. Grill until browned and tender, then finish with extra dressing and fresh basil for a side or appetizer skewer.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Veggie Kabobs