Fast-and-Easy Grilling Recipes

When we say easy, we mean it! With our foolproof technique, you don't need fancy gear or secret spices. See our "Ribs Made Easy" story for step-by-step instructions, and check out our recipes for All-Purpose Rib Rub and Chipotle BBQ Sauce.

Ribs Made Easy

All-Purpose Rib Rub

Chipotle BBQ Sauce

Garlic, garam masala and fresh ginger season the chicken in this Indian-inspired recipe from The Spice House shop in Milwaukee. The refreshing yogurt-based sauce is similar to traditional cucumber raita. 

Spiced Chicken with Cucumber-Mint Sauce

Our steak's peppery rub and a topping of juicy tomatoes make a colorful and flavorful main dish. Serve with a baked sweet potato or our Grilled Sweet Potato Wedges.

Peppery Grilled Steak With Tomatoes

At Angry Trout Cafe in Grand Marais, Minnesota, this grilled fish is often served as a salad, atop a "whatever is colorful and seasonal" mix of lettuce, veggies and fruits. (For the full effect, make the restaurant's Maple-Mustard Dressing, too.) But the fish is equally tasty as a stand-alone main.

Grilled Fish with Lime and Tarragon 

Horseradish mustard adds a kick to grilled burgers, while barbecue sauce and white Cheddar cheese create a flavorful topping combo.

Barbecue-Sauced Burgers

This classic Argentinian sauce with fresh parsley and cilantro is made for spooning over grilled meats (especially steak), but we also love it with scrambled eggs or roasted potatoes. The recipe comes from chef Michael Ollier of Certified Angus Beef in Wooster, Ohio.

Chimichurri

Fresh fruit and bottled barbecue sauce lend sassy sweetness to low-cal, vitamin-rich grilled fish tacos.

Mango-Barbecue Fish Tacos

Joann Gough-Stallbaumer of Topeka uses Kansas top sirloin steak and a horseradish-mayo dipping sauce in her recipe, one of the finalists at Midwest Living's first Best of the Midwest cook-off.

Grilled Sirloin Kabobs with Zesty Top City Sauce

All you need is a steak, a three-ingredient marinade, a few veggies and tortillas heated right on the grill. Boom. 

Grilled Steak Fajitas

We liked the hoppy bitterness of a pale ale for these simmered brats, but you can use a more mild lager.

Beer Simmered Brats and Potatoes

Grilling brings out the sweetness in cherry tomatoes, which pair beautifully with the smoky flavor of planked salmon. Brown rice or quinoa round out a healthy dinner.

Planked Salmon with Grilled Tomato Salsa

With just 5 ingredients and ready in less than 30 minutes, this colorful, family-friendly meal is sure to earn a spot in your summer weeknight dinner rotation.

Mustardy Grilled Corn and Sausage Kabobs

Bring along extra toppers inspired by pizza-parlor classics: thinly sliced sweet peppers and onion, spinach, sautéed mushrooms, jarred banana peppers or sliced olives.

Pizza Burgers

Lean and tender steaks crown a bright, lemony salad made with asparagus, peas and couscous. The recipe comes from chef Michael Ollier, of Certified Angus Beef in Wooster, Ohio. He calls for generous 8-ounce steaks; for budget or dietary reasons, you may want to use a more modest 4-ounce steak. Just reduce the grilling time accordingly.

Spring Revival Couscous Salad with Filet Mignon

Cider-molasses marinade perks up slices of grilled pork loin in this sizable sandwich.

Sweet on a Pig

Although it sounds like it would be burn-your-mouth-hot, the five-spice powder in this fall comfort food is actually a mild blend that commonly consists of star anise, anise seed, cloves, cinnamon and ginger.

Chinese Five-Spice Marinated Pork Satay

This flaky white fish looks like a gourmet dish when served over a bed of couscous and dressed with mesclun (a mix of salad greens) and colorful radish slivers.

Grilled Fish with Moroccan Vinaigrette

After searing a burger on cast iron (and tasting the crust that develops), you may never grill burgers outside again. We topped ours with herby veggies and feta cheese.

Greek Burgers

Move over, burgers! There's a new sandwich in town. Rosemary and oregano season a rustic, open-face pileup that's ready in just 35 minutes.

Grilled Steak Sandwich with Herbed Tomato Sauce 

Simple and perfect are the only way to describe this fabulous salad from chef Michael Ollier of Certified Angus Beef in Wooster, Ohio. The steak, blue cheese and garden-fresh veggies meld beautifully with the honey-sweetened balsamic dressing.

Steakhouse Salad with Ribeye and Blue Cheese

Although this recipe takes very little hands-on cooking time, be sure to allow an hour to marinate the salmon so it absorbs all the flavors of the sweet-and-salty marinade.

Honey-Bourbon Salmon

This simple, flavorful recipe comes from reader Doug Heiken of Grand Rapids, Minnesota. It's a quick, easy recipe to throw together if you have a vegetarian at a cookout.

Grilled Portobellos

A wrapping of bacon gives special flair to this beer-soaked brat. A quick stop on the grill crisps the bacon and browns the brat.

Baconista Brats

One-pan cooking, summer-style: As the vegetables and brats finish grilling, nestle them in a pan of seasoned sauerkraut.

Grilled Veggies and Brats in Kraut

A lively ginger marinade flavors chicken pieces on their way to the grill. The recipe is a backyard favorite from Linda Taylor of West Des Moines.

Sesame Grilled Chicken

Garlic and fennel flavor this dish with northern Minnesota heritage.

Porketta Roast

A mixture of fresh basil, pistachios, lime juice, garlic and butter tops easy grilled salmon. Store leftover pistachio-basil butter in your refrigerator for up to a week; toss with hot pasta or spread on toasted French bread.

Grilled Salmon with Pistachio-Basil Butter

A mix of paprika, brown sugar, onion salt, garlic powder, ginger, cinnamon, cumin, dry mustard and pepper creates a pork chop rub that's sweet and a little spicy. The recipe was inspired by Paul Bernhard of Bancroft, Iowa, known on RAGBRAI as Mr. Pork Chop.

Spice-Rubbed Grilled Pork Chops on a Stick

Basil and lime juice flavor the fruity salsa on this ready-in-minutes, low-cal grilled sausage sandwich.

Chicken Sausage Sandwiches with Watermelon Salsa

This easy sauce spices up hot dogs, sandwiches or any grilled meat.

Horseradish-Mustard Mayonnaise

Serve this grilled steak-and-corn-on-the-cob duo with your favorite warm or cold potato salad.

Peppery T-Bones and Chili Corn

These succulent chicken wings might disappear as fast as you can grill them. The recipe comes from Danny Edwards Famous Kansas City BBQ, formerly Li'l Jake's Eat It and Beat It. The tiny, no-frills eatery has served weekday lunch crowds in Kansas City for more than two decades.

Spicy Chicken Wings with Blue Cheese Dressing

This sweet-and-savory recipe features a Circle B Ranch product called Marina's Cranberry Chutney. Buy it at circlebranch.com or just substitute another chutney.

Grilled Pork with Cranberry Chutney

Combine cubes of lamb, cantaloupe and honeydew for this Mediterranean-inspired kabob recipe. Serve with yogurt seasoned with lime peel and tarragon. 

Honey-Lime Lamb and Melon Skewers

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