Sometimes nothing but a burger will do. But we’d like to dare you to fire up the grill for some less-expected dishes. You’ll be glad you did when you taste these—and have fewer dishes sitting in the sink. And, hey, anything you can make without turning on the oven in the summer is pretty amazing, isn’t it?
Pizza
Buy ready-made pizza dough from your supermarket. Spread it out into a circle, 12 or 16 inches round. Coat one side with olive oil and grill that side down on medium heat until it’s browned. Then coat the side facing up with oil and flip it over until it’s browned. Take the dough off the grill and add your sauce, mozzarella, and whatever toppings you like. Place it back on the grill (cover down) until the cheese starts melting and bubbling. It takes all of 15 minutes.
Quesadillas
It’s not as messy as it sounds. Brush olive oil on a large flour tortilla and place it on the medium hot grill. Top with shredded cheese and bits of your favorites: refried beans; cooked ground beef, chicken, or pork; sautéed onions; tomatoes; peppers; olives… Then add salsa. Top again with more cheese and another tortilla and let the cheese melt like a glue that holds everything together. Flip it over to heat the other side golden brown. It’s great as an appetizer or main dish.
Corn on the Cob
You don’t need to deal with a large pot of boiling water. Just place the corn (husks and all) on your hot grill and cook for about 10 minutes, turning occasionally. The husks seal in the natural juices and keep the corn from drying out and burning. It’ll have a mild, smoky flavor.
Pineapple
For a different dessert, peel, core, and cut a whole pineapple into 1-inch sliced rings. Dip each ring in a bowl of coconut milk, and coat with cinnamon sugar. Grill each side for about 5 minutes until golden brown. You could call it a kind of barbecued piña colada (without the rum, of course).
S’mores
Here’s a twist on an old campfire favorite. For each s’more, place a marshmallow and half a chocolate bar between two graham crackers or shortbread cookies. Wrap each s’more loosely in its own little foil pouch, and grill for about 4 or 5 minutes over indirect heat until they’re just gooey enough. Or for a healthier version, cut bananas into slices, then grill on a skewer for about 5 minutes (until soft). Use the hot banana slices in place of marshmallows with room-temp chocolate and grahams.
What Else?
We know families who cook meatballs, sweet potatoes, all kinds of vegetables on the grill. Some even grill their bananas for banana splits on the grill. And if you have a cast-iron griddle or skillet, take breakfast outside.
What’s the special dish you make for BBQ’s? Oh yeah, don’t forget about the desserts!
Comments from Members
great ideas for the summer!
The pineapple idea is a new one to me - I think I'll try it!
We grill orange wedges with chicken. Makes a very nice dish.
I will grill year round - in the snow, with a flashlight!!! My family loves it when I wrap crab legs in aluminum foil with a little butter - and flip them every few minutes... it keeps the seafood smell out of my kitchen! I have grilled peaches (that have soaked in brandy for an hour). I grill corn on the cob (with the burner on low to med) just trim the silks and keep the husk on, turn them every few minutes. About 15 minutes and they are steamed and ready. The corn stays hot for a while until you are ready to peel back the husk!
We grill asparagus spears. Just put a little olive oil and seasonings (we like Mrs Dash) on first. Absolutely delicious!
During the summer we use the grill for baking casseroles (mac and cheese, enchilada cassarole, etc). I put ingredients in an aluminum pan or oven proof dish, then completely enclose in foil and place on the grill. Keeps my kitchen cool, the AC doesn't come on because of the oven, and it drives my neighbors crazy when they smell dinner cooking!
I take the foil off fo about 10 minutes before i remove from grill.
These ideas are great!!
Thanks, we love to grill.Got to try the pineapples
My kids like quesidillas wraped in foll and heated in the oven until the cheese melts.15 min on350. Less mess. I just fill w/ some refried beans and cheese. They aren't into salsa yet.
these are gret ideas for the summer...i want to try the smores!
I usually grill extra, like chicken legs, than cut it up and freeze it. When I need a quick meal take it out, add barbeque sauce, heat it. It is quicker and cheaper than take-out.
These are some good ideas.
These are some good ideas.
I have never tried a few of these ideas. Will have to check them out. They are great and different. Cant wait to try some of them and see what they taste like.
BACON ON THE GRILL IS GREAT AND NO PANS TO CLEAN!JOY - N.J.
All of these ideas sound great. Will have to try some of them. Enjoy and happy eating. Willing to try new things on or off the grill.
The corn is great cooked on the grill, my husband cooked it for us last summer for the first time
I made stuffed peppers on the grill yesterday. Pizza on the grill is spectacular. So is cauliflower, quarter it, season with a little butter, s & p, wrap in foil. We like asparagus to, we use olive oil, s & p, and a little balsalmic vinigar.
