Best Grilling & Summer Barbecue Recipes…Chosen by You

It’s Memorial Day weekend, the sun is shining with a gentle breeze weaving through the leaves and I can think of only one thing. Grilling! Tie on the apron, pull out the tongs and fire up the grill. It’s time to kick off the summer barbecue season.

The recipes below, and the grilling tips, are not only some of my family’s favorites, but they are apparently your favorites, too. As food bloggers are prone to do, I went sifting through my blog stats and found the top 10 grilling and summer barbecue recipes, the ones that you keep coming back to. There’s a little something for everyone here…steaks, vegetarian entrees, chicken, cocktails and dessert.

How to: Grill Like a Girl

I know there are some of you out there who have never turned on a grill. You’ve always left it to the husband, boyfriend or seemingly insane neighbor who likes to play with fire. And, believe me, I used to hide inside of that fear, too. Well, now’s the time to use my post How to: Grilled Like a Girl…My Best Tips (including How to: Turn on a Gas Grill) to push past that fear.

How to: Grilled Like a Girl…My Best Tips (including How to: Turn on a Gas Grill) Oh yeah, and those are my Grilled Mushroom Sliders with Zucchini & Cilantro Almond Pesto.

Watermelon Cocktail & Zucchini Appetizer

Every barbecue needs a refreshing cocktail, and this Watermelon Limeade Vodka Cocktail is perfect for sipping on while tending the grill. Whip up a batch of these easy Grilled Zucchini Rolls to keep your guests happy while they wait for the main event.

Watermelon Limeade Vodka Cocktail
Grilled Zucchini Roll with Herbed Goat Cheese & Kalamata Olives

Grilled Vegetarian & Chicken Entrees

If you are a fan of Eggplant Parmesan, but want something a little lighter then this vegetarian Grilled Zucchini & Eggplant Parmesan is just the thing. To please the chicken lovers in the crowd, pair fresh lemon juice and rosemary to make this light and easy chicken thigh recipe. Chicken thighs hold their moisture well on the grill, and help to avoid the usual dried-out chicken fiasco.

Grilled Zucchini & Eggplant Parmesan {Vegetarian}
Grilled Lemon & Rosemary Chicken

Bring on the steak…and pasta salad

If you are a meat lover, there is nothing better than a perfectly cooked steak, marinated for extra flavor and paired with a light and flavorful sauce. This Marinated Tri-Tip Steak with Red Pepper Cilantro Sauce is a sure-fire winner. But maybe you are all about the side dishes. I know how you feel because, truthfully, I could eat pasta salad all day long. This whole wheat version strays from the norm by pairing salmon & tomatoes with herb dressing.

Grilled Marinated Tri-Tip Steak with Red Pepper Cilantro Sauce
Whole Wheat Pasta Salad with Salmon, Tomatoes & Herb Dressing

My Best Steak Recipe & A Surprising Appetizer

I’ve received many comments and emails about this Tri-Tip Steak with Molasses Chili Marinade, and for good reason. The flavors are simply out of this world and, if cooked properly (i.e., not overdone, please), the tri-tip is as juicy as any steak you’ll ever cook. And the surprising appetizer…well, let me just give you three words. Strawberries, Brie, honey, basil…surprisingly fantastic.

Strawberry, Brie Cheese, Honey & Basil Crostini
Grilled Tri-Tip Steak with Molasses Chili Marinade

Cooling Sorbet and Popular Side Dish

This brightly colored and refreshing strawberry sorbet has only three ingredients. That’s what we call easy summertime living. These Grilled Potatoes with Smoked Paprika are one of the most popular side dishes on my blog. They’re easy, tasty and a welcome change from the standard potato salad.

Easy Strawberry Sorbet
Grilled Potatoes with Smoked Paprika

It’s time to get grilling! Have a wonderful weekend.