10 Easy Grilling Recipes for Your Next Backyard BBQ

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Nothing beats a backyard BBQ in the summer. Good food, good people, and hopefully a cold drink in hand. The trick is keeping it low stress so you actually get to enjoy yourself instead of spending the whole time hovering over the grill. These are my favorite recipes for exactly that kind of easy, delicious cookout.

Tandoori Chicken Skewers

Bold, smoky, and seriously juicy off the grill. The marinade does all the heavy lifting and these skewers are always the first thing to disappear at a cookout. Serve with rice or warm naan and watch everyone go back for seconds. Full recipe: Tandoori Chicken Skewers

Chimichurri Chicken Thighs

Grilled chicken thighs loaded with a fresh, garlicky chimichurri sauce. They are bold, zesty, and so easy to pull together. Make extra chimichurri because people will absolutely be asking for more on the side. Full recipe: Chimichurri Chicken Thighs

Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

A sweet, sticky, pineapple teriyaki marinade that makes the chicken come off the grill perfectly caramelized and juicy. A fun upgrade from the usual burgers and hot dogs that the whole family will love. Full recipe: Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

Grilled Zucchini and Summer Squash

The side dish that goes with absolutely everything on this list. A little char, a light marinade, and you have something bright and buttery that makes the whole plate feel complete. Easy to prep and hard to mess up. Full recipe: Grilled Zucchini and Summer Squash

Grilled Chimichurri Pork Tenderloin

Want to impress without the stress? This is it. Juicy pork tenderloin with a herby chimichurri that works as both marinade and drizzle. It looks and tastes like you really went all out, and nobody needs to know how easy it was. Full recipe: Grilled Chimichurri Pork Tenderloin

Balsamic Pasta Salad with Grilled Vegetables

Colorful grilled veggies, crumbled feta, and a zippy homemade balsamic vinaigrette all tossed through pasta. This one is make-ahead friendly and holds up beautifully outdoors, which makes it perfect for a cookout spread. Full recipe: Balsamic Pasta Salad with Grilled Vegetables

Grilled Vietnamese Chicken Skewers

My newest grill obsession and honestly one of my favorites yet. Juicy chicken thighs marinated in a sweet and savory mix of fish sauce, garlic, and fresh herbs, then grilled until perfectly charred. Serve over rice with the most incredible peanut sauce on the side. Full recipe: Grilled Vietnamese Chicken Skewers

Peach Mango Salsa

Sweet, a little spicy, and packed with fresh summer flavor. Spoon it over grilled chicken or fish, pile it onto tacos, or just put a bowl out with chips. It comes together in minutes and people absolutely love it. Full recipe: Peach Mango Salsa

Strawberry Salsa

Another no-cook stunner for the snack table. Fresh strawberries with jalapeño, lime, and cilantro that works as a dip or a topping for anything off the grill. Trust me on this one, it always gets people talking. Full recipe: Strawberry Salsa

Grilled Balsamic Chicken

Juicy, tangy, and packed with flavor from a simple balsamic marinade that you can throw together in minutes. It is easy to prep ahead, great for a backyard BBQ, and works just as well sliced over a salad or tucked into a wrap the next day. This one is a summer staple for a reason. Full recipe: Grilled Balsamic Chicken