There’s nothing quite like weekend grilling with friends. Firing up the grill and cooking over live fire creates amazing smoky, charred flavors you just can’t replicate indoors. The mouthwatering aromas of sizzling meats and veggies fill the backyard as everyone gathers around the grill. Weekend grilling is the ultimate way to unwind – cracking open some cold drinks, catching up with friends, and savoring every delicious bite hot off the grates.
From juicy burgers and tangy barbecue chicken to grilled pizza and charred corn on the cob, grilling transforms ordinary ingredients into extraordinary meals. Weekend grilling with friends is a cherished ritual that builds memories and brings people together over incredible food. There’s no better way to spend a summer evening
1. Grilled Chicken Kabobs
Smoky flavor with a hint of char
Ingredients; Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, bell peppers, red onion, zucchini, wooden skewers, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper
- Soak wooden skewers in water for 30 mins to prevent burning
- Cut chicken and veggies into 1-inch pieces
- Make marinade with olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, pepper
- Marinate chicken for 30 mins to 1 hour
- Thread chicken and veggies onto skewers
- Grill over medium-high heat for 12-15 minutes, turning occasionally Cook time: 15-20 mins
2. Grilled Shrimp Skewers
Tender, juicy shrimp with a slightly charred flavor
Ingredients; Large shrimp, wooden skewers, olive oil, lemon, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper
- Soak skewers in water for 30 mins
- Peel and devein shrimp, leave tails on
- Make garlic-parsley marinade with olive oil, lemon juice, parsley, garlic, salt, pepper
- Marinate shrimp for 30 mins
- Thread shrimp onto skewers
- Grill over direct high heat for 2-3 mins per side until opaque Cook time: 5-8 mins
3. Grilled Veggie Packets
Tender-crisp veggies infused with garlic butter flavor
Ingredients; Zucchini, bell peppers, red onion, mushrooms, aluminum foil, olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, butter
- Slice veggies into 1/2-inch pieces
- Tear off aluminum foil sheets and divide veggies onto each
- Top with pats of butter, garlic, salt, pepper, olive oil
- Seal packets and grill over direct medium heat for 15-20 mins
- Carefully open packets when done to release steam Cook time: 20 mins
4. Grilled Steak Fajitas
Smoky, sizzling steak with charred veggies
Ingredients; Skirt or flank steak, bell peppers, onion, lime, fajita seasoning, tortillas, toppings
- Rub steak with fajita seasoning and let sit for 15-30 mins
- Slice peppers and onions into strips
- Grill steak over direct high heat 5-7 mins per side for medium-rare
- Grill pepper/onion strips until tender and charred, 10-12 mins
- Slice steak across the grain, serve with grilled veggies, tortillas, toppings Cook time: 20-25 mins
5. Grilled Salmon with Lemon Dill Sauce
Flaky salmon with rich, creamy lemon dill sauce
Ingredients; Salmon fillets, olive oil, lemon, dill, sour cream, garlic, salt, pepper
- Make sauce by mixing sour cream, lemon juice, garlic, dill, salt, pepper
- Brush salmon fillets with olive oil and season with salt/pepper
- Grill salmon over direct medium heat 4-6 mins per side until opaque
- Drizzle grilled fillets with lemon dill sauce
Cook time: 12-15 mins
6. Grilled Pineapple Chicken
Sweet and tangy grilled chicken glazed with pineapple
Boneless chicken thighs, pineapple slices, soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, ginger
- Make marinade by mixing soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, ginger
- Add chicken and pineapple slices to marinade, let sit 30 mins
- Grill chicken over direct medium heat until cooked through, 6-8 mins per side
- Grill pineapple slices until caramelized, 2-3 mins per side
- Serve chicken topped with grilled pineapple slices Cook time: 15-20 mins
7. Grilled Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Rich, meaty, and incredibly savory
Large portobello mushroom caps, olive oil, garlic, spinach, feta, breadcrumbs, parmesan
- Remove stems from caps and clean with damp paper towel
- Brush caps with olive oil and season with salt/pepper
- Sauté garlic in olive oil, add spinach and cook until wilted
- Mix spinach with feta, breadcrumbs, parmesan, salt, pepper
- Grill caps stem-side down for 5 mins
- Flip over, stuff with spinach mixture and grill 5 more mins
Cook time: 15 mins
8. Grilled Peach and Arugula Salad
Sweet grilled peaches with peppery arugula and tangy vinaigrette
Ripe peaches, arugula, red onion, feta, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, honey, salt, pepper
- Halve and pit the peaches, brush with olive oil
- Grill peaches over direct medium heat until softened and charred, 3-4 mins per side
- Make vinaigrette by whisking balsamic vinegar, olive oil, honey, salt, pepper
- Toss arugula with vinaigrette, top with grilled peaches, onions, feta Cook time: 10 mins
9. Grilled Pizza Margherita
Classic Italian flavors with a charred, crispy crust
Ingredients; Pizza dough, marinara sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil leaves, olive oil
- Roll or stretch out pizza dough into a circle
- Brush one side with olive oil
- Grill dough olive oil-side down over direct medium heat until lightly charred on bottom, 2-3 mins
- Flip crust, top with marinara, fresh mozzarella slices and basil leaves
- Close grill lid and cook until cheese melts, 3-5 more mins Cook time: 10 mins
10. Grilled Corn on the Cob with Herbs
Smoky, crisp corn coated in herby butter
Ingredients; Ears of corn, butter, parsley, chives, garlic, salt, pepper
- Pull back husks but leave attached at base
- Remove silk strands, pull husks back over corn
- Soak in water for 30 mins, drain
- Grill corn over direct medium heat, turning occasionally until husks char, 20-25 mins
- Make herb butter by mixing softened butter with chopped parsley, chives, garlic, salt, pepper
- Remove husks, brush grilled corn with herb butter Cook time: 30 mins
11. Grilled Halloumi Cheese Skewers
Salty, chewy, charred halloumi kebabs
Ingredients; Halloumi cheese, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, red onion, wooden skewers, olive oil
- Soak wooden skewers in water for 30 mins
- Cut halloumi into 1-inch cubes and veggies into chunks
- Thread halloumi and veggies onto skewers in an alternating pattern
- Brush skewers with olive oil
- Grill over direct medium-high heat, turning occasionally until marked and tender, 10-12 mins Cook time: 15 mins
12. Grilled BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
Tangy barbecue chicken piled high on toasted buns
Ingredients; Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, BBQ sauce, hamburger buns, coleslaw
- Pound chicken breasts to even 1/2-inch thickness
- Grill chicken over direct medium heat, brushing with BBQ sauce until cooked through, 6-8 mins per side
- Toast buns on grill during last few minutes
- Pile saucy BBQ chicken onto buns and top with coleslaw Cook time: 15 mins
13. Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Chimichurri
Herby, garlicky chimichurri perfectly complements the smoky pork
Ingredients; Pork tenderloin, olive oil, parsley, oregano, garlic, red wine vinegar, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper
- Make chimichurri sauce by mixing chopped parsley, oregano, minced garlic, vinegar, olive oil, red pepper, salt and pepper
- Rub pork tenderloin all over with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper
- Grill over direct medium heat, turning occasionally until hitting 145°F internally, 20-25 minutes
- Let rest 5 minutes, then slice and serve drizzled with chimichurri sauce Cook time: 30 minutes
14. Grilled Zucchini Rolls with Ricotta
Creamy ricotta filling in tender grilled zucchini
Ingredients; Zucchini, ricotta cheese, garlic, basil, lemon zest, olive oil, salt, pepper
- Slice zucchini lengthwise into 1/4-inch thick strips using a mandoline
- Mix ricotta with garlic, basil, lemon zest, salt and pepper
- Spread ricotta mixture onto zucchini strips and roll up
- Brush or spray zucchini rolls with olive oil
- Grill over direct medium heat until zucchini is tender, 3-4 minutes per side
- Cook time: 10 minutes
15. Grilled Fingerling Potatoes with Rosemary
Crispy, charred potatoes infused with aromatic rosemary
Ingredients; Fingerling potatoes, olive oil, fresh rosemary, salt, pepper
- Toss fingerling potatoes with olive oil, salt, pepper and minced rosemary
- Place potatoes in a grill basket or foil packet
- Grill over direct medium heat, shaking occasionally until tender, 20-25 minutes
- Remove from grill and season with more rosemary if desired Cook time: 25 minutes
16. Grilled Panzanella Salad
Smoky, grilled bread soaks up tomato juices in this classic Italian salad
Ingredients; Crusty bread, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, basil, olive oil, red wine vinegar
- Cube bread and toss with olive oil, salt and pepper
- Grill bread over direct heat until charred on both sides
- Chop tomatoes, cucumber, onion and basil
- Let grilled bread cool slightly then tear into bite-size pieces
- Toss bread with tomato mixture and dress with olive oil and vinegar Cook time: 15 minutes
17. Grilled Oysters with Garlic Butter
Briny oysters smothered in rich, garlicky butter
Ingredients; Fresh oysters, butter, garlic, parsley, lemon, crushed crackers or panko
- Shuck oysters, leaving them on the half shell
- Melt butter with minced garlic and parsley
- Place oysters shell-side down on grill grate and grill 2-3 minutes
- Top each oyster with garlic butter and a sprinkle of cracker crumbs
- Grill 2-3 minutes more until butter is sizzling
- Squeeze lemon juice over top before serving Cook time: 6-8 minutes
18. Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs
Sweet, tangy glaze over juicy, crispy-skinned chicken thighs
Ingredients; Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, honey, Dijon mustard, olive oil, salt, pepper
- Pat chicken dry and season all over with salt and pepper
- Whisk honey and mustard together in a bowl
- Grill chicken thighs over direct medium heat for 15 minutes
- Brush chicken all over with honey mustard glaze
- Grill 10-15 mins more, glazing every few minutes, until chicken reaches 175°F
- Cook time: 25-30 minutes
19. Grilled Surf and Turf Skewers
Succulent shrimp pairs perfectly with tender steak
Ingredients; Sirloin steak, large shrimp, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, wooden skewers, steak seasoning, lemon wedges
- Soak skewers in water for 30 mins
- Cut steak into 1-inch cubes, defrost & peel shrimp
- Make skewers by alternating steak, shrimp, tomatoes, zucchini
- Season steak pieces generously with steak seasoning blend
- Grill skewers over direct high heat 8-10 mins, turning frequently
- Squeeze lemon juice over skewers before serving Cook time: 10-12 mins
20. Grilled Eggplant Parmesan Stacks
Smoky eggplant layered with marinara and gooey cheese
Ingredients; Eggplant, olive oil, marinara sauce, mozzarella, parmesan, basil, panko breadcrumbs
- Slice eggplant into 1/2-inch rounds and brush both sides with olive oil
- Grill eggplant until very tender, 4-5 minutes per side
- Layer eggplant slices with marinara, mozzarella, parmesan and basil
- Top stacks with panko breadcrumbs and more parmesan
- Wrap in foil and grill 10 more minutes until cheese melts Cook time: 25 minutes
21. Grilled Flank Steak with Chimichurri
Bright, herbaceous chimichurri is the perfect pairing for smoky flank steak
Ingredients; Flank steak, olive oil, parsley, oregano, red wine vinegar, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper
- Make chimichurri sauce (see #13)
- Rub flank steak all over with olive oil and season generously
- Grill over direct high heat 4-5 minutes per side for medium-rare
- Let steak rest 5 minutes then slice across the grain
- Serve steak slices topped with chimichurri sauce
- Cook time: 15 minutes
22. Grilled Balsamic Glazed Peaches
Sweet grilled peaches with a tangy balsamic glaze
Ingredients; Ripe peaches, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, cinnamon,
- Cut peaches in half and remove pits
- Brush with olive oil and grill cut-side down until slightly charred, 3-4 minutes
- Flip and grill 2 more minutes
- Make glaze by heating balsamic vinegar and brown sugar until dissolved
- Brush peaches with balsamic glaze and grill 2-3 more minutes to caramelize
- Sprinkle with cinnamon before serving
Cook time: 10 minutes
23. Grilled Pork Chops with Pineapple Salsa
Juicy chops with a sweet and spicy tropical salsa
Ingredients; Thick pork chops, olive oil, chili powder, pineapple, red onion, jalapeño, lime juice, cilantro
- Pat pork chops dry and rub all over with olive oil and chili powder
- Make salsa by dicing pineapple, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro and tossing with lime juice
- Grill chops over direct medium heat until done, 6-8 minutes per side
- Let pork chops rest 5 minutes, then serve with pineapple salsa spooned over top
- Cook time: 20 minutes
24. Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad
Smoky grilled chicken over crisp romaine with creamy caesar dressing
Ingredients; Boneless chicken breasts, romaine lettuce, croutons, parmesan, caesar dressing, lemon wedges
- Pound chicken to 1/2-inch thickness and brush with olive oil
- Grill over direct medium-high heat until cooked through, 5-6 minutes per side
- Let chicken rest then slice or chop
- Grill halved romaine hearts until lightly charred, 2-3 minutes per side
- Make salad with grilled romaine, chicken, croutons, parmesan and caesar dressing
- Squeeze lemon wedges over top before serving Cook time: 15 minutes
25. Grilled Sesame Ginger Salmon Skewers
Flaky salmon glazed in an Asian-inspired sesame ginger sauce
Ingredients; Salmon fillets, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, green onions, sesame seeds
- Cut salmon into 1-inch cubes and thread onto skewers
- Make marinade by mixing soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, grated ginger, garlic, sliced green onions
- Marinate salmon for 30 minutes
- Grill skewers over direct medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally
- Brush with reserved marinade while grilling
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds before serving
Cook time: 15 minutes
Conclusion
Whether you’re grilling tasty kabobs, flaky fish, or smoky meats, weekend grilling gets everyone excited to gather around incredible dishes. With simple ingredients transformed by live fire, grilling celebrates flavor, friends, and easygoing summer fun.