We all rely on the grill for burgers, chicken, and hot dogs in the warmer months. But did you know it can serve as a one-stop shop to create a complete meal, and also add smoky, intense flavor to your favorite foods? Check out these 13 unexpected dishes you can either create or enhance on the grill, along with easy recipes you can try tonight!
Add crispness and warmth to pre-baked breads by placing them briefly on the grill. This cornbread recipecomes together with the addition of jalapeno-honey butter, which melts right into the grilled slices.
Photo: Whole and Heavenly Oven
Celebrate the flavors of summer by creating this Grilled Pound Cake with Mascarpone Cream and Blueberries! Perfect for weeknights, it comes together in just under 20 minutes. Putting pre-made pound cake on the grill for just 2-3 minutes per side adds a surprising savory element to this super-sweet treat. This trick works well with angel food cake as well.
Photo: Pumpkin ‘n Spice
No, we don’t mean grilled cheese sandwiches on the grill (although that works well, too!) — this more literal “grilled cheese” involves simply placing a wheel of cheese with a thicker rind (so the melted cheese doesn’t run out) directly on the grates to warm it through and add a bit of smokiness before serving. No need to turn on your oven before hosting an after-work happy hour on your patio!
Photo: Martha Stewart
If you’ve only ever thrown ears of corn into boiling water, it’s time to mix it up! You can cook this corn right alongside the meat you’re serving, rotating until it’s evenly charred. This recipe is slathered in a wow-worthy Mexican-inspired sauce and topped with a sprinkling of Parmesan.
Photo: The Recipe Critic
Don’t reserve the grill for your evening meals — it can make breakfast better, too! Glazed works best – the direct flame caramelizes the sugar and adds an unexpected savory element. This recipe includes lemon cream, whipped strawberry cream, chocolate peanut butter ganache, and whipped salty honey cream dips to turn what started as everyday donuts into a decadent, next-level treat. (PS: See how; Michelle from Michelle’s Party Plan-It threw an entire donut-themed celebration!)
Photo: The Merry Thought
Apricots, peaches, pineapples — your favorite fruits are right at home on the grill! The flame enhances the natural flavors and just like with donuts, caramelizes the sugars for extra depth and intensity. Here, grilled peaches and nectarines are topped with classic vanilla ice cream, drizzled with honey, and sprinkled with sea salt.
Photo: What’s Gaby Cooking
For the same reasons that burgers are the king of the grill, meatballs — which contain the same primary ingredient, after all — come together like a charm over an open flame. Instead of plunking the final product in marinara sauce, try a Mediterranean twist and cook them on skewers with fresh veggies and serve with a garlic yogurt sauce.
Photo: Diethood
If you follow a Paleo diet or just want to try something new in your martini, grilled olives are the thing for you! Toss them in a few savory spices, place in a grill basket over indirect heat, and turn regularly until they soften and grill marks form.
Photo: Primal Palate
If you’ve ever been camping, chances are you know this trick: Wrap food in foil, toss on the grill, and voila! Dinner is served. Use this approach for anything you’d normally put on a sheet pan. Create a packet for each ingredient, place food on the foil, cover with seasonings and a bit of oil, wrap, and cook. This flavorful recipe brings together andouille sausage, potatoes, green beans, and mushrooms with a bold cajun seasoning.
Photo: Damn Delicious
When you want an authentic-tasting, crispy, fired crust — or if it’s just too hot to turn on the oven — the grill is your pizza-making BFF. You’ll need a super-hot grill, and must grill one side of the dough then flip before adding toppings. This complete guide provides step-by-step instructions for a perfect pie.
Photo: The Kitchn
We all know that grilled meat and veggies taste amazing inside a quesadilla — but have you ever tried grilling the quesadilla itself? Skip the stovetop and place an assembled quesadilla over indirect heat for less than a minute per side. You’ll have an inside filled with melty, stretchy cheese, paired with a perfectly crispy outside. Try this vegetarian version filled with black beans and grilled sweet potatoes.
Photo: Frontier Co-Op
Sure, you’ve served salad alongside your grilled dishes — but what about salad as the grilled dish? Romaine hearts are hearty enough to stand up to the grill’s heat, and take on new life with a mild charred, smoky flavor. This meal-in-itself recipe features grilled lettuce topped with bacon, bleu cheese, and a tangy balsamic-based dressing.
Photo: The Garlic Diaries
Tofu is notorious for its mushy texture. Tackle this problem with the help of your grill, which gives it a crispy, firm finish. You can either marinate it ahead of time for enhanced flavor, or follow this recipe for grilled tofu with chimichurri that takes a vegetarian riff on traditional steak.
Photo: Bon Appetit
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