When cookout season hits, you want food that’s easy to make and disappears fast. These 21 recipes cover all the bases, from grilled mains and sides that go with everything to desserts that are gone before you know it. They’re simple, tasty, and made for long afternoons, paper plates, and second helpings. You’ll keep coming back to these all summer long.
Grilled S’mores Pizza. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.
Beer Boiled Brats
Fire up the grill and get these brats going in a pot of beer first. The simmer makes them extra juicy and gives them big flavor that tastes even better with a little char. It’s one of those easy and tasty cookout recipes you’ll keep using because it always hits the mark.
Get the Recipe: Beer Boiled Brats
Oven Roasted Potatoes with Spinach and Garlic
Shake up your side dish routine with these roasted potatoes tossed with garlic and spinach. They come out crispy on the outside and soft inside, with the spinach giving them something extra. This is one of those easy and tasty cookout recipes that fit with everything on the table.
Get the Recipe: Oven Roasted Potatoes with Spinach and Garlic
Grilled Fruit Kebabs with Brown Sugar Caramel
Load up skewers with fresh fruit and throw them on the grill for a sweet twist. The heat brings out the flavor, and the brown sugar caramel sauce makes them even better. It’s an easy and tasty cookout recipe that feels fun but doesn’t take much effort.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Fruit Kebabs with Brown Sugar Caramel
Traditional Peach Kuchen
Slice into something sweet with this simple peach kuchen that’s soft, fruity, and just the right amount of sweet. It comes together easily and is different from the usual dessert tray. This is a great cookout recipe when you want a dessert that feels homemade and a little special.
Get the Recipe: Traditional Peach Kuchen
Lemon Marinated Chicken Kebabs
Whip up this quick lemon marinade and let the chicken take in all that bright, tangy flavor before it hits the grill. You can skewer it with veggies or serve it on its own, and it still turns out juicy and full of fresh taste. It’s one of those easy and tasty cookout recipes that disappear from the plate in no time.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Marinated Chicken Kebabs
Grilled S’mores Pizza
Turn s’mores into something new with this grilled dessert pizza. It starts with a simple crust and ends with a gooey mix of marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers. This is a fun and tasty cookout recipe that’s a hit with both kids and grown-ups.
Get the Recipe: Grilled S’mores Pizza
Homemade Smoky Baked Beans
Skip the can and make these sweet and smoky baked beans from scratch. They’re rich, full of flavor, and go with every main dish on the grill. This is a great cookout recipe when you need something hearty and filling that doesn’t take a lot of work.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Smoky Baked Beans
Lemon-Marinated Kefir Chicken
Soak chicken in a mix of lemon and kefir for a tangy flavor that makes every bite tender and juicy. It’s an easy way to make grilled chicken taste fresh and full of flavor. This is a great cookout recipe when you want something simple that still feels special.
Get the Recipe: Lemon-Marinated Kefir Chicken
Vegan Couscous Salad
Stir together couscous with lots of fresh veggies for a salad that’s full of color and flavor. It works great on its own or as a side with whatever you’re grilling. This is one of those easy and tasty cookout recipes that fit in anywhere on the table.
Get the Recipe: Vegan Couscous Salad
7 Layer Bars
Make dessert easy with these sweet and chewy 7 layer bars stacked with all kinds of good stuff. They’ve got chocolate, coconut, and everything else people love in one bite. This is a great cookout recipe when you want a dessert that’s simple but gets eaten fast.
Get the Recipe: 7 Layer Bars
Hearts of Palm Salad
Toss together hearts of palm, tomatoes, and cucumbers with a quick vinaigrette for something cool and crisp. It’s light, fresh, and goes with all kinds of grilled mains. This is a tasty cookout recipe that adds something different to the spread without a lot of work.
Get the Recipe: Hearts of Palm Salad
Twix Copycat Bars
Bake up a pan of these Twix-style bars with layers of shortbread, caramel, and smooth chocolate. They cut clean and hold their shape, which makes them easy to serve outside. This is one of those tasty cookout recipes that feels like a candy bar but tastes even better.
Get the Recipe: Twix Copycat Bars
Homemade BBQ Sauce
Whisk together this BBQ sauce with pantry ingredients and skip the bottled stuff. It’s sweet, smoky, and works great on chicken, burgers, or even grilled veggies. This is a great cookout recipe to keep in the fridge because it adds flavor to anything on the grill.
Get the Recipe: Homemade BBQ Sauce
Decadent Chocolate Caramel Bars
Layer caramel and chocolate over a soft cookie base for an easy dessert that feels rich and gooey. These bars slice well and travel even better, so they’re perfect for bringing to a cookout. This is a great recipe when you want something sweet but don’t want to fuss.
Get the Recipe: Decadent Chocolate Caramel Bars
Shredded BBQ Chicken
Let the pressure cooker do the work and make this BBQ chicken that’s tender, juicy, and full of smoky flavor. You can pile it on buns, salads, or eat it as is, and it still works. This is an easy and tasty cookout recipe that makes feeding a group simple.
Get the Recipe: Shredded BBQ Chicken
Blueberry Crumb Bars
Layer blueberries under a buttery crumble for a dessert that’s part pie and part bar. These bars hold their shape and pack up easily, which makes them perfect for cookouts. This is one of those easy and tasty cookout recipes that disappear before the party ends.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Crumb Bars
Raspberry Jam Bars
Spread your favorite jam between soft layers of crust for a dessert that’s quick to make but always a hit. They cut clean and taste great warm or cold, which makes them easy to serve anytime. This is a great cookout recipe when you need something sweet that works for everyone.
Get the Recipe: Raspberry Jam Bars
Blueberry Peach Crisp
Combine two favorite fruits in one fast and easy crisp with a soft middle and crunchy top. It tastes great on its own or with a scoop of something cold. This is a tasty cookout recipe that brings just the right amount of sweetness to the table.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Peach Crisp
Cucumber Salad
Slice up some cucumbers and toss them with herbs and dressing for a salad that’s crisp and cool. It’s light but full of flavor, and it fits in with almost any main dish. This is a great cookout recipe when you want something fresh and easy on the side.
Get the Recipe: Cucumber Salad
Avocado Tomato Salad
Mix up chopped avocado, tomato, and lettuce with a simple dressing that comes together fast. It’s creamy, crunchy, and full of flavor in every bite. This is an easy and tasty cookout recipe that helps balance out all the grilled food.
Get the Recipe: Avocado Tomato Salad
Grilled Baby Bok Choy
Cut baby bok choy in half, marinate it, and toss it on the grill for a quick veggie side. It cooks in minutes and brings a nice smoky flavor that works with anything. This is a great cookout recipe when you want to serve something green without much prep.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Baby Bok Choy