A cookout usually starts with the grill, but the table fills out with the food around it. You can pick a main, add a side, or bring a dip or dessert based on what the menu still needs. Keep a few options in mind for the backyard table and choose the one that matches the spot you need to fill.
Coleslaw
Crisp and creamy, Coleslaw combines green cabbage, red cabbage, and grated carrot with mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, sugar, celery seed, and onion powder. The recipe takes 20 minutes of active time, then benefits from at least 2 hours in the refrigerator, and the recipe yields 6 portions. Its sweet-tangy dressing works well beside sandwiches, burgers, or grilled vegetables. Keep it chilled until the burgers come off the grill.
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Grilled Thai Chicken Skewers
A ginger-lime marinade gives Grilled Thai Chicken Skewers layers of lemongrass, red curry paste, sesame oil, and fish sauce before the chicken thighs hit the grill. The full recipe takes 1 hour 5 minutes and makes 4 portions, including a peanut sauce with soy sauce, Sriracha, honey, and lime. Fresh herbs and chopped peanuts finish the tray. Set out extra sauce so each skewer gets a proper dunk.
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Crack Chicken Dip
Warm from the oven, Crack Chicken Dip folds shredded chicken and crumbled bacon into cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar, mozzarella, and ranch seasoning. The 45-minute recipe fills a 9-inch baking dish and yields 8 portions, with 20 to 25 minutes of baking until the top is hot and bubbling. Green onion adds a fresh finish against the rich base. Bring it out with crackers, celery, or sturdy chips.
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Honeycrisp Salad
Honeycrisp apples bring clean crunch to Honeycrisp Salad, paired with frisée, arugula, candied walnuts, and crumbled blue cheese. A spiced cider vinaigrette mixes apple cider vinegar, honey, cinnamon, cumin, and olive oil, and the entire bowl comes together in 15 minutes for 4 portions. The fruit and greens add a lighter break between richer dishes. Add it when the menu needs something cool and crunchy.
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Hot Crab Dip
Baked until hot and bubbling, Hot Crab Dip blends 1 pound of jumbo lump crab with cream cheese, sour cream, Dijon, Worcestershire sauce, Old Bay, mayonnaise, and Monterey Jack. It takes 45 minutes from start to finish and yields 8 portions. Keeping the crab lumps intact gives the dip more texture under the melted cheese. Spoon it into a heat-safe dish and keep the crackers close.
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Blackened Chicken Clubs
Seasoned with paprika, cayenne, garlic, onion, and oregano, Blackened Chicken Clubs stack skillet-cooked chicken cutlets with bacon, Swiss cheese, tomato, lettuce, and lemon mayonnaise on Texas toast. The recipe takes 30 minutes and makes 4 sandwiches, so it can anchor the spread without a long wait. Buttered bread and crisp toppings keep every layer distinct. Cut each sandwich in half and stack them on a platter.
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Bacon Wrapped Smokies
Brown sugar caramelizes over Bacon Wrapped Smokies, where thin-cut bacon wraps about 32 little sausages before a 15-minute bake. The full recipe takes 25 minutes and yields 12 portions, using only bacon, smokies, brown sugar, and spiced mayonnaise for dipping. Toothpicks keep the bites secure while the bacon turns golden. Pass the spiced mayo around once the tray reaches the table.
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Big Mac Sloppy Joe
Borrowing the familiar burger layers, Big Mac Sloppy Joe piles seasoned ground beef, cheddar, shredded lettuce, pickles, and homemade special sauce into toasted buns. The filling and sauce come together in 35 minutes, and the recipe yields 6 portions from 1 pound of beef. Toasting the buns helps them hold the saucy mixture without collapsing. Build the buns just before handing them out.
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Flaky Grilled Salmon
Skin-on fillets give Flaky Grilled Salmon crisp edges while lemon, garlic, butter, dill, parsley, and oregano season the tender fish. The recipe takes 30 minutes and makes 4 portions, with the salmon grilled first over direct heat and then under a closed lid until opaque. Half the herb butter is held back for the final drizzle. Finish each fillet with reserved herb butter and lemon.
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Mango Ice Cream
Fresh mango turns Mango Ice Cream bright and creamy with heavy cream, sugar, lemon juice, vanilla, and a pinch of salt. The recipe makes 6 portions and takes 4 hours 40 minutes, including 25 minutes in the ice cream maker and at least 4 hours in the freezer. Its make-ahead timing leaves the last course ready before guests arrive. Let it soften for five minutes before scooping into bowls or cones.
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Lobster Roll
Butter-baked lobster fills Lobster Roll with garlic, lemon, dill, chives, and plenty of melted butter inside two toasted buns. The 30-minute recipe makes 2 portions, starting with 1 pound of uncooked lobster meat that bakes until opaque before being chopped and tossed with the herbs. Warm buns catch the buttery juices without hiding the seafood. Pair each roll with chips, lemon wedges, or a scoop of slaw.
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Ham and Swiss Sliders
Layered in one baking dish, Ham and Swiss Sliders tuck 1 pound of honey ham and eight slices of Swiss cheese into 12 Hawaiian rolls. A butter mixture with Dijon, brown sugar, and everything bagel seasoning coats the tops before baking, and the full recipe takes 45 minutes for 6 portions. The connected rolls make the batch simple to portion after the cheese melts. Lift the whole slab from the pan, slice, and arrange on a board.
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Caesar Salad
Romaine, Parmesan, and homemade croutons give Caesar Salad its familiar mix of cool leaves, salty cheese, and crisp bread. The 35-minute recipe yields 6 portions and includes a dressing made with garlic, anchovy paste, egg yolks, lemon juice, Dijon, and vegetable oil. Thick French bread cubes bake with olive oil and Italian seasoning for 15 minutes. Toss just before bringing the bowl outside.
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Tomahawk Steak
Thick-cut and bone-in, Tomahawk Steak starts with a 2-pound ribeye seasoned simply with sea salt, black pepper, and olive oil. The recipe lists 35 minutes and 2 portions, with a skillet sear followed by 25 to 30 minutes in a 350°F oven. A 10 to 15 minute rest protects the juices before carving, while herb butter adds the final layer. Rest it fully, slice across the grain, and share from one board.
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Brats in a Blanket
Wrapped in crescent dough, Brats in a Blanket combine fully cooked bratwurst halves with caramelized onion, cheddar cheese, egg wash, and everything bagel seasoning. The recipe makes 8 pieces in 35 minutes, with 12 to 15 minutes in the oven until the pastry is puffed and golden. Their compact size keeps the sausage, cheese, and onion together in each portion. Put mustard or beer cheese nearby for dipping.
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Mango Shrimp Salad
Chilled shrimp meets diced mango, avocado, red bell pepper, red onion, cilantro, and lime in Mango Shrimp Salad. The recipe takes 25 minutes and makes 4 portions, with the shrimp boiled briefly, transferred to an ice bath, and folded into the produce once cool. Small, even pieces help each spoonful carry a balanced mix of seafood, fruit, and vegetables. Chill the bowl until the rest of the spread is ready.
Get the Recipe: Mango Shrimp Salad
Black Bean Burger
Black beans form the base of Black Bean Burger, mixed with onion, garlic, vegetarian Worcestershire sauce, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, egg, and panko. The recipe produces 6 patties in 22 minutes, with about 12 minutes in a skillet to char both sides. Roughly mashed beans help the patties hold together without becoming too soft. Load the patties into buns with sauce and fresh toppings.
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Caprese Appetizer Bites
Toasted baguette rounds carry Caprese Appetizer Bites with fresh mozzarella, tomato slices, basil, Italian seasoning, and balsamic glaze. The recipe takes 15 minutes and yields 20 portions, making a broad platter from one baguette, 12 ounces of mozzarella, and five tomatoes. Cooling the bread before topping keeps the cheese in place and the base crisp. Drizzle the balsamic glaze at the last moment to protect the crunch.
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Tabbouleh
Finely chopped herbs make Tabbouleh fresh and substantial, combining parsley, mint, cooled bulgur, cucumber, tomato, scallions, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, coriander, and cinnamon. The recipe yields 4 portions and takes 1 hour, including a 30-minute chill that lets the dressing soak into the grains and vegetables. It can be brought out chilled or at room temperature. Give the salad its full chill time before setting it beside the mains.
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Queso Dip
Melted with evaporated milk and cream cheese, Queso Dip combines cheddar and Monterey Jack with onion, jalapeño, garlic, cumin, chili powder, and hot sauce. The one-pan recipe takes 25 minutes and yields 8 portions, with the shredded cheeses added gradually over low heat for a smooth consistency. A splash of milk can loosen the dip as it sits. Top with pico de gallo and keep the chips within reach.
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Grilled Peaches
Halved peaches pick up light char in Grilled Peaches, then get a warm sauce of butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice, and optional golden rum. The recipe takes 11 minutes and yields 6 portions, with only 2 to 3 minutes on the grill for the fruit. Firm, ripe peaches hold their shape while softening at the edges. Spoon over the butter sauce and add ice cream at the table.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Peaches