Easy Grilling Menus

Celebrate with a juicy porterhouse and all the fixings, plus a layered, star-spangled finale!

main
Grilled Porterhouse with Shallots and Potatoes
sides
Grilled Tomatoes with Oregano and Lemon
Tricolor Salad
Watermelon, Orange, and Feta Salad
dessert
Red, White, and Blue Berry Trifle

Serves 4

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Spice up your cookout with blackened chicken and a hearty side dish that's cooked in a pot right on the grill. For a sweet finish, grill plums and serve with ice cream and cookies.

main
Blackened Chicken
side
Quick Black-Eyed Peas with Tomatoes
dessert
Grilled Plums with Cookies and Ice Cream

Serves 4

Summertime eating is all about ease and flavor -- and this menu is the epitome of both. Tender, juicy steak and vegetables make a satisfying meal, especially when matched with grilled bread and warm, fresh fruit. 

main and side
Grilled Steak and Summer Vegetable Salad
dessert
Grilled Brioche with Warm Fruit

Serves 4

Get out of the kitchen and into the party with this prep-ahead menu! Brining pork yields the tenderest, most flavorful meat. To make a crowd-pleasing meal, add grilled corn and garlicky potatoes, then top it all off with grilled s'mores.

main
Coriander-and-Oregano-Brined Pork Loin
sides
Pouch-Grilled Potatoes and Garlic
Grilled Corn with Sour Cream and Cotija Cheese
dessert
Grilled S'mores

Serves 4

Set the picnic table, and stick around for spare ribs spiced just the way you like 'em: with the best sauces from Dallas, Memphis, and Kansas City.

main
Grilled Spare Ribs with Barbecue Sauce
sides
Creamy Coleslaw
Cheddar Cornbread
dessert
Mississippi Mud Pie

Serves 6

This grilling menu has all the essential ingredients: meat, vegetables, and a delicious chocolate dessert. Make the salad and dessert a day or two ahead, and grill the rest on the day of the barbecue!

main
Grilled Chicken with Lemon and Oregano
sides
Herbed Pasta Salad
Mixed Grilled Vegetables
dessert
Chocolate-Ricotta Icebox Cake

Serves 8

This sirloin menu is guaranteed to set off fireworks: With an array of tasty toppings, it's all about freedom of choice.

main
Grilled Sirloin Steak with Toppings Bar
sides
Tangy Potato Salad with Scallions
Arugula and Radish Salad
dessert
Classic Ice Cream Sandwiches

Serves 4

In this tribute to the season, grilled pork chops are enhanced by rosemary and lemon, sweet corn is enveloped in a creamy Parmesan sauce, and sliced tomatoes are strewn with thyme for a simple salad.

salad
Sliced Tomatoes with Lemon Thyme
main
Grilled Pork Chops and Onions
side
Creamed Corn with Parmesan
dessert
Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies

Serves 4

A meal with the taste of the Southwest is perfect on a late-summer night: Salmon is seasoned with chile powder, beans are tossed with corn, and crisp vegetables are wrapped in tortillas.

main
Chile-Rubbed Salmon with Papaya and Scallions
sides
Black Beans and Corn
Vegetable-Salad Burritos
dessert
Melon with Lime Syrup

Serves 4