Sometimes, staying inside the kitchen feels boring, and the sink is just full of dirty dishes. On days like that, I like to take our plates outside to the small table on the balcony and pretend we are far away on a trip. Cooking outside on a grill changes everything because it makes dinner feel like a backyard party where you can eat with your hands. These 13 summer grilling recipes help you slow down, enjoy the warm air, and feel like you are on vacation without ever leaving home.
Grilled Scallops With Lemon, Mint, And Pinot Grigio Sauce
I like scallops best when they are left alone and given a very hot grill. A quick sear gives them a golden crust, while lemon and mint keep everything bright and sharp. This is the sort of meal that makes an ordinary weeknight feel less rushed.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Scallops With Lemon, Mint, And Pinot Grigio Sauce
Smoked Blackened Salmon Sliders
On warm evenings, these are the kinds of sandwiches I reach for. Smoky salmon and a crisp spice crust give them plenty of character without much fuss. They have a way of making dinner feel pleasantly removed from the usual routine.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Blackened Salmon Sliders
Vegetarian Kofta Kebabs Recipe
It's easy to forget you're eating a vegetarian meal when these koftas come off the grill. Garlic, herbs, and warm spices give them plenty of character, while a drizzle of tahini brings everything together. For a little while, dinner feels farther from the usual routine.
Get the Recipe: Vegetarian Kofta Kebabs Recipe
Grilled Pineapple Avocado Salad
You can taste the difference once the pineapple has been over the fire for a few minutes. Tossed with avocado and lime, it becomes bright, simple, and hard to stop eating. The whole thing feels a little like eating outdoors on purpose instead of out of convenience.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pineapple Avocado Salad
Grilled Halloumi Burger
Not every burger needs a patty. Halloumi holds its shape over the flames, picking up dark grill marks while staying soft in the middle. It is messy in the best possible way and usually requires an extra napkin or two.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Halloumi Burger
Grilled Chicken Kofta Kebab
Kofta always takes me back to the open-air markets I wandered through in Israel, where smoke drifted from every corner. These chicken skewers stay tender thanks to a generous handful of fresh herbs mixed into the meat. They belong on a crowded table with salads, flatbread, and people reaching for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken Kofta Kebab
Nordic Fire-Grilled Salmon
Few things improve salmon more than fire and salt. The thick crust protects the fish while it cooks, leaving the center soft and the skin crisp enough to pick at before dinner even starts. It feels closer to a campfire meal than a backyard barbecue.
Get the Recipe: Nordic Fire-Grilled Salmon
Spiced Grilled Corn
I always end up standing by the grill a little longer than necessary when corn is cooking in the husk. The smell alone is reason enough. By the time it's ready, nobody seems in much of a hurry to go back inside.
Get the Recipe: Spiced Grilled Corn
Bang Bang Chicken Skewers
The sauce is what draws everyone in here. It caramelizes onto the chicken during the final moments of grilling, creating sticky edges and plenty of charred bits worth fighting over. Someone always appears in the backyard the moment these hit the grill.
Get the Recipe: Bang Bang Chicken Skewers
Grilled Eggplant with Feta and Harissa Oil
Eggplant transforms completely over live fire. The flesh softens into something almost spoonable, ready for crumbled feta and spicy harissa oil to settle into every crevice. Warm flatbread is less a serving suggestion than a necessity.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Eggplant with Feta and Harissa Oil
Grill Halloumi Cheese
My family treats grilled halloumi more like a snack than part of dinner. A few minutes over the fire gives it crisp edges and a soft center that still feels slightly improbable every time. It is the kind of food that keeps everyone lingering outside a little longer.
Get the Recipe: Grill Halloumi Cheese
Apple Cider Grilled Chicken Skewers with Gouda Cheese Sauce
My kids always notice these skewers the moment they come off the grill. The apple cider leaves sweet caramelized spots on the chicken, while the warm Gouda sauce settles into every corner. For a little while, dinner feels less like a weeknight obligation and more like something we planned all day for.
Get the Recipe: Apple Cider Grilled Chicken Skewers with Gouda Cheese Sauce
Grilled Hawaiian Chicken
The first bite of this chicken always surprises me a little. I expect sweetness from the pineapple, but the smoke and melted cheese are what keep me coming back. It feels like a brief change of scenery at the end of a long day.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Hawaiian Chicken
Go outside, turn on the gas, and pretend the laundry inside doesn't exist for the next two hours.
