A plate of sliced Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri, served on a white rectangular dish.

23 BBQ Recipes That Made My Mom Ask for a To-Go Plate Before Leaving

A good cookout usually ends with somebody checking what is left before the serving dishes are cleared. These 23 BBQ recipes cover wings, ribs, chicken, steak, burgers, skewers, lamb, sausage, corn, and grilled sandwiches with enough range to fill more than one plate. The collection moves between quick direct-heat grilling, longer two-zone cooking, marinades, sticky sauces, fresh toppings, and vegetable sides. Choose a few for the grill when the goal is a backyard spread that still sounds good after everyone says they are full.

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 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.

Spicy buffalo sauce finishes Grilled Chicken Wings with Buffalo Sauce after the wings pick up char over medium-high heat. Four servings take 20 minutes with chicken wings, hot pepper sauce, butter, vinegar, Worcestershire, cayenne, and garlic powder. The sauce simmers separately before coating the cooked wings, keeping the sugars and butter away from the grill. Set them out with celery, carrots, and blue cheese when the BBQ spread needs a saucy starter.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken Wings with Buffalo Sauce

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.

Two-zone charcoal cooking gives Grilled Ribs on a Charcoal Grill time to tenderize before the rack moves over direct heat for char. Four servings take 1 hour 40 minutes with pork ribs, olive oil, brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and optional BBQ sauce. The sauce goes on only during the final minutes to reduce burning. Serve the sliced ribs with beans, slaw, potato salad, or mac and cheese.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Ribs on a Charcoal Grill

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.

Sweet mango and chipotle bring Grilled Mango-Chipotle Chicken Wings into six servings in 40 minutes, with additional marinating time recommended. Brown sugar, chipotle powder, smoked paprika, mustard powder, mango, and apple cider build the rub and fruit glaze around two pounds of wings. The mango is grilled before blending into the sauce, adding another layer of char. Pair the wings with grilled corn or vegetables when the cookout needs something sweet and spicy.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Mango-Chipotle Chicken Wings

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, oregano, olives, pine nuts, capers, and herbs give Grilled Mediterranean Lamb Chops a bright finish around grilled lamb. Four servings take 25 minutes, using lamb loin chops, olive oil, parsley, shallot, red wine vinegar, garlic, and honey before the gremolata goes on top. The chops cook quickly on the Ninja Woodfire Grill, making them useful when the BBQ menu needs something beyond chicken and beef. Add pita, salad, or grilled vegetables alongside.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Mediterranean Lamb Chops

Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

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

Fresh tomato topping keeps Grilled Bruschetta Chicken colorful after the chicken comes off the grill. The 25-minute recipe makes four servings from chicken breasts marinated with olive oil, red wine vinegar, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, then topped with mozzarella and bruschetta made with tomatoes, basil, shallot, sun-dried tomatoes, and garlic. Parmesan and balsamic syrup can finish each plate. Serve it with grilled vegetables or bread when the BBQ spread needs a lighter main.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

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 an easy two-serving grill dinner in 20 minutes. Barese sausage cooks with red onion, green pepper, red or orange pepper, olive oil, and Italian seasoning, then goes into bakery-fresh buns with whole-grain mustard. The peppers and onion share the grill, so the sandwich gets its vegetables without another pan. Scale the recipe for a larger crowd and serve it with chips, corn, or a cold pasta salad.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Sausage & Peppers

Grilled Chicken Wings

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

Indirect heat first helps Grilled Chicken Wings cook through before a short finish over direct heat crisps the skin. Six servings take 50 minutes with wings, olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. The unsauced base leaves room for BBQ sauce, buffalo sauce, or honey garlic after grilling. Pile them onto a platter with ranch or blue cheese, celery, and carrots for a cookout dish that can handle several sauce preferences.
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.

Pork tenderloin cubes carry Grilled Pork Souvlaki with lemon, olive oil, oregano, garlic, salt, and pepper before hitting hot skewers. The displayed total is 25 minutes for six servings, while the instructions also include 20 to 30 minutes of marinating. A tzatziki sauce with shallot, dill, capers, and honey goes alongside. Serve the pork with pita, chopped vegetables, and salad when the BBQ menu could use a Greek-inspired option.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pork Souvlaki

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.

Whole-bird grilling gives Grilled Whole Chicken six servings in about an hour using a two-zone setup. Cooking oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, salt, and black pepper form the rub, with BBQ sauce optional near the end. Indirect heat handles most of the cooking before hotter heat helps the skin finish. Carve it for a family cookout and add corn, potatoes, slaw, or grilled vegetables around the platter.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Whole Chicken

Grilled Beef Finger Meat

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

Only two main ingredients keep Grilled Beef Finger Meat focused on the beef itself. Two pounds of trimmed finger meat and Montreal steak seasoning make four servings in 20 minutes, with the meat grilled over medium-high direct heat while flareups are managed. The short cook time gives a lesser-used cut a place beside burgers and steaks on the grill. Slice it for a platter and serve with bread, salad, potatoes, or grilled vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Beef Finger Meat

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 and honey balance heat and sweetness in Sweet & Spicy Grilled Harissa-Honey Chicken Skewers. Four servings take 50 minutes including 30 minutes of marinating, with boneless chicken thighs, harissa paste, honey, red onion, and lemon juice covering the entire ingredient lineup. The chicken is cut into strips and threaded onto skewers before grilling. Add couscous, flatbread, salad, or grilled vegetables when the cookout needs a fast skewer with a different spice profile.
Get the Recipe: Sweet & Spicy Grilled Harissa-Honey Chicken Skewers

Korean Galbi Ribs

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

Thin flanken-style ribs make Korean Galbi Ribs quick on the grill after a long marinade. Four servings use Korean short ribs with brown sugar, soy sauce, water, mirin, onion, Asian pear, garlic, and sesame oil. Preparation is 10 minutes and cooking is 15 minutes, with six hours of marinating. Each side needs only a few minutes over medium-high heat. Serve them with rice, kimchi, cucumber salad, or other banchan.
Get the Recipe: Korean Galbi Ribs

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.

Curved corn pieces turn Grilled Elote Corn Ribs into four servings in 20 minutes. Corn cobs grill before getting a mixture of sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic powder, cumin, chipotle powder, lime juice, salt, and pepper, with cotija and cilantro on top. Cutting the cobs into ribs makes the side easier to pick up from a crowded cookout table. Serve them beside wings, burgers, steak, or ribs when the BBQ spread needs a vegetable with its own seasoning.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Elote Corn Ribs

Grilled Tomahawk Steak

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

Thick bone-in beef gives Grilled Tomahawk Steak two servings in 25 minutes with little more than Montreal steak seasoning. The Ninja Woodfire Grill adds smoke while the steak starts over high heat and finishes at lower heat after the first flip. Keeping the ingredient lineup short puts the focus on beef and grill technique rather than a heavy marinade. Slice it before serving so several people can share it beside potatoes, corn, or grilled vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Tomahawk Steak

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.

Already-grilled chicken makes Grilled Chicken Caprese Sandwich a 10-minute assembly for two sandwiches. Bakery-fresh buns hold chicken breast, pesto mayonnaise, fresh mozzarella, tomato, and lettuce, bringing Caprese ingredients into a cookout-friendly handheld meal. The instructions begin with cooked grilled chicken, so this entry depends more on assembly than active grilling. Use leftover chicken from the BBQ, toast the buns, and serve the sandwiches with corn, potato salad, or grilled vegetables.
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.

Mango caramelizes beside zucchini, red onion, and bell peppers in Grilled Teriyaki Mango Skewers. Four servings take 40 minutes, including a homemade sauce made from soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, maple syrup, water, and cornstarch. The skewers grill until the vegetables are crisp-tender and the fruit picks up grill marks. Serve them over rice or quinoa, or place them beside meatier BBQ dishes when the table needs a colorful vegetable-and-fruit option.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Teriyaki Mango Skewers

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 and Dijon coat Grilled Dijon Rosemary Chicken Thighs with lemon, honey, and fresh rosemary. Four servings take 25 minutes including a five-minute rest, while boneless skinless thighs keep the grilling time to about 10 minutes. The mustard mixture adds both seasoning and a glossy surface without requiring a long ingredient lineup. Pair the thighs with grilled potatoes, corn, salad, or vegetables for a main that can move from weeknight dinner to backyard BBQ.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Dijon Rosemary Chicken Thighs

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.

BBQ sauce goes directly into the beef for Easy Grilled Beef Burgers, helping eight patties come together in 27 minutes. Ground beef is seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder before shaping, while buns, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles stay optional for assembly. A direct and indirect heat setup gives more control over doneness. Set out the toppings buffet-style so everyone can build a burger before heading back for sides.
Get the Recipe: Easy Grilled Beef Burgers

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.

Steak shares every skewer with zucchini ribbons and tomatoes in Grilled Steak and Veggie Skewers. Six servings take 2 hours 30 minutes, with two hours devoted to marinating sirloin in garlic, soy sauce, Worcestershire, sugar, Dijon, smoked paprika, and olive oil. The actual grill time is only about five minutes. Thread the vegetables between the beef pieces, then serve the skewers with rice, salad, or bread for a cookout main that already brings produce.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Steak and Veggie Skewers

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.

Cool-zone cooking keeps Grilled Chicken Drumsticks away from direct heat until the meat is nearly done, then the final stage handles browning and BBQ sauce. Four servings take 50 minutes with drumsticks, avocado oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, salt, and pepper. Brushing sauce on after most of the cooking reduces the chance of scorching. Serve the drumsticks with slaw, beans, potato salad, or corn for a straightforward backyard plate.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken Drumsticks

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.

Herb-packed cowboy butter turns Grilled Steaks with Cowboy Butter into four servings in 52 minutes. The steaks need only salt and pepper, while softened butter carries garlic, parsley, chives, smoked paprika, chipotle powder, Dijon, and black pepper. The compound butter is prepared while the meat grills and can melt over each steak at serving time. Add baked potatoes, corn, asparagus, or salad when the BBQ menu needs a steak centerpiece with its own finishing sauce.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Steaks with Cowboy Butter

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, smoked ham, and pepper Jack turn Grilled California Chicken Burger into four stacked servings in 35 minutes. Grilled chicken breast goes onto buns with lettuce, tomato, cheese, avocado, and a chipotle-style spread, while the ham adds another smoky layer. The combination makes the sandwich more substantial than a plain grilled chicken burger without requiring a second main dish. Serve it with grilled corn, fries, slaw, or a cold salad for a full cookout plate.
Get the Recipe: Grilled California Chicken Burger

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.

Chimichurri gives Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri a fresh herb finish after a short, hot cook. Four servings take 2 hours 20 minutes, including two hours of marinating, while the grill time is 10 minutes. Hanger steak marinates with olive oil, oregano, cumin, paprika, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper before grilling, then chimichurri goes over the sliced meat. Serve it with potatoes, bread, or grilled vegetables so the sauce has plenty to land on.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri

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