These Bold Recipes Were Born for Your Outdoor Barbecue Agenda

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Some recipes just make sense outside, with smoke in the air and a grill that’s actually doing its job. These outdoor barbecue recipes aren’t trying to impress anyone—they just work. They bring bold flavor without dragging out your prep time or wrecking your grocery list. You’ll find solid options for feeding a group without juggling five burners or constantly checking a thermometer. If you’ve got people to feed and coals to manage, these are the recipes worth having on hand.

The Best Carne Asada Marinade

Sliced grilled steak on a plate with fresh cilantro, orange halves, tortillas, and a glass of drink on a tiled surface.
The Best Carne Asada Marinade. Photo credit: Two Cloves Kitchen.

You don’t need to overthink things when lime, garlic, and a kick of spice do all the heavy lifting. This one keeps your grill game strong and your neighbors curious. Definitely belongs on any list of outdoor barbecue recipes.
Get the Recipe: The Best Carne Asada Marinade

Tangy Citrus Grilled Pork Chops

A grilled chicken breast with sauce on a white plate, placed on a dark table with a fork and knife in the background.
Tangy Citrus Grilled Pork Chops. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

These chops hit the grill with a punchy citrus kick that cuts through summer heat like a pro. Easy to prep and big on flavor, they’re built for outdoor barbecue recipes that don’t mess around.
Get the Recipe: Tangy Citrus Grilled Pork Chops

Chicken Kofta Kebabs

A grilled meat skewer topped with white sauce and fresh chopped herbs is served on a patterned plate with a jar of sauce on the side.
Chicken Kofta Kebabs. Photo credit: At The Immigrant’s Table.

Grab a skewer, toss on these juicy kebabs, and enjoy the easiest crowd-pleaser on the patio. They bring enough flavor to keep your grill from getting bored—perfect for outdoor barbecue recipes with a twist on tradition (but we won’t use that word).
Get the Recipe: Chicken Kofta Kebabs

Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill Grilled Sausage & Peppers

A sandwich bun filled with sausage, sautéed bell peppers, and onions; served on a white plate with leafy greens on the side.
Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill Grilled Sausage & Peppers. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

This one’s here for the grillers who want to keep it simple without phoning it in. Sausage and peppers just hit different when cooked outside, and this combo deserves a spot in your outdoor barbecue recipes lineup.
Get the Recipe: Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill Grilled Sausage & Peppers

Barbecue Turkey Sliders

Three chicken sliders on a wooden surface with lettuce, avocado slices, cheese, and red onion rings in soft buns.
Barbecue Turkey Sliders. Photo credit: Lara Clevenger.

Small but scrappy, these sliders are the underdog champs of summer grilling. You can stack a tray in no time, and they always disappear faster than you expect—exactly what outdoor barbecue recipes need.
Get the Recipe: Barbecue Turkey Sliders

Grilled Shrimp Grain Bowl

A bowl containing grilled shrimp, roasted zucchini, yellow squash, bell peppers, and a serving of cooked barley, garnished with chopped herbs.
Grilled Shrimp Grain Bowl. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Not every BBQ needs to come with a side of regret. This one’s fresh, fast, and accidentally fancy, so it earns its place among outdoor barbecue recipes that don’t weigh you down.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Shrimp Grain Bowl

Grilled Shrimp Skewers

Shrimp, mushrooms, zucchini, and red bell peppers on skewers are being grilled over a barbecue.
Grilled Shrimp Skewers. Photo credit: Low Carb No Carb.

These skewers cook fast, taste like summer, and leave room on your plate for everything else. When you want outdoor barbecue recipes that keep things moving, this one pulls its weight.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Shrimp Skewers

Grilled French Onion Pork Burgers on a Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill

A burger with cheese and herbs.
Grilled French Onion Pork Burgers on a Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Your grill has one job—impress the crowd—and this burger handles the rest. All the best parts of French onion soup, just without the soup, make it a standout in your outdoor barbecue recipes stash.
Get the Recipe: Grilled French Onion Pork Burgers on a Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill

30-Minute Grilled Rockfish Tacos

Three soft shell tacos filled with grilled chicken, shredded cheese, red cabbage, chopped vegetables, and green sauce are arranged in a row on a wooden surface.
30-Minute Grilled Rockfish Tacos. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

These tacos don’t waste time or flavor. Light but bold, they slide right into any mix of outdoor barbecue recipes when you want something a little unexpected but still easy.
Get the Recipe: 30-Minute Grilled Rockfish Tacos

Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

Two pieces of grilled chicken topped with mozzarella, diced tomatoes, basil, grated cheese, and balsamic glaze, served on a white plate with basil leaves.
Grilled Bruschetta Chicken. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Think bruschetta, but grilled and ready for a fork. It’s a great way to dress up your chicken without going full apron mode, so it fits right in with your outdoor barbecue recipes lineup.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

Grilled Hawaiian Chicken

Three grilled sandwiches with melted cheese, ham, and glazed sauce are garnished with sliced green onions in a rectangular dish.
Grilled Hawaiian Chicken. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Sweet, smoky, and probably the first thing gone off the platter. This chicken earns its keep in any outdoor barbecue recipes collection with its perfect blend of grill marks and pineapple charm.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Hawaiian Chicken

Kefta Kebabs

A plate of food on a table.
Kefta Kebabs. Photo credit: Honest And Truly.

These spiced kebabs don’t play around, and neither should your grill. Add them to your go-to outdoor barbecue recipes and watch them vanish one skewer at a time.
Get the Recipe: Kefta Kebabs

Beef Kafta

Grilled meat skewers served with rice, olives, sliced tomato and cucumber salad, feta cheese, and a bowl of hummus with olive oil on a wooden board.
Beef Kafta. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Easy to prep and quicker to vanish, these ground beef skewers are a no-brainer. Toss them on the grill and call it a day—outdoor barbecue recipes don’t always need a showstopper, just something this solid.
Get the Recipe: Beef Kafta

Ranchera Meat

Sliced grilled steak arranged on a dark rectangular platter, with lime wedges placed around the edges.
Ranchera Meat. Photo credit: Two Cloves Kitchen.

This cut knows how to soak up a good marinade and throw down hard on a hot grill. When your outdoor barbecue recipes need a dependable hit, this one doesn’t disappoint.
Get the Recipe: Ranchera Meat

Grilled Beef Kabobs Recipe

Skewers with pieces of grilled meat, green bell peppers, onions, and whole cherry tomatoes cooking on a barbecue grill.
Grilled Beef Kabobs Recipe. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

These kabobs check all the boxes: juicy beef, grilled veggies, and no forks required. You can throw these into your outdoor barbecue recipes and trust the job’s handled.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Beef Kabobs Recipe

Tajin Grilled Chicken

Sliced grilled chicken breast on a white plate, surrounded by lime, lemon, a fork, and a napkin on a tiled surface.
Tajin Grilled Chicken. Photo credit: Two Cloves Kitchen.

This chicken doesn’t try too hard—it doesn’t need to. With a bold coating and crispy skin, it earns its spot on the list of outdoor barbecue recipes worth repeating.
Get the Recipe: Tajin Grilled Chicken

Korean Gochujang Chicken

Grilled chicken topped with sauce on a rectangular plate, served with fresh lettuce, mint leaves, sliced radishes, pickled onions, and a bowl of dipping sauce.
Korean Gochujang Chicken. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

When you want heat, this chicken brings it—and then some. Toss it on your grill and into your outdoor barbecue recipes if you’re not afraid of a little attention.
Get the Recipe: Korean Gochujang Chicken

Grilled Pork Chop Surf and Turf

A grilled fish fillet topped with shrimp and melted cheese sauce, served with green beans on a white plate.
Grilled Pork Chop Surf and Turf. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

It’s hard to argue with pork and shrimp sharing a plate. This combo brings solid backyard bragging rights, making it a natural fit for any outdoor barbecue recipes roundup.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pork Chop Surf and Turf

Ninja Woodfire Grill Pork Tomahawk Chops

Two grilled pork chops with bone-in are placed on a rectangular white plate, showing visible grill marks.
Ninja Woodfire Grill Pork Tomahawk Chops. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

These chops look impressive and hit like a flavor bomb. Add them to your outdoor barbecue recipes and just wait for someone to ask for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Ninja Woodfire Grill Pork Tomahawk Chops

Grilled Flank Steak with Chile Butter

Grilled steak topped with orange sauce and garnished with chopped parsley on a white plate.
Grilled Flank Steak with Chile Butter. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

You don’t need a dozen ingredients to grill like you mean it. This one proves less is plenty, especially when it comes to outdoor barbecue recipes that don’t mess around.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Flank Steak with Chile Butter

Ninja Woodfire Grill Tomahawk Steak

Sliced, seasoned grilled steak with bone served on a white rectangular plate on a rustic white wooden table.
Ninja Woodfire Grill Tomahawk Steak. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

You could call this steak subtle, but you’d be lying. It shows up big—literally—and doesn’t back down, so go ahead and let it anchor your outdoor barbecue recipes.
Get the Recipe: Ninja Woodfire Grill Tomahawk Steak

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Sarita Harbour has been stretching her food dollars to feed her family for over 30 years. As a former banker and current freelance writer, she's written boatloads of articles about budgeting, homesteading, gardening, personal finance and more. Her food-related articles have been widely syndicated through AP and MSN. Look for her food features at NBC, The Seattle Times, Yahoo! Life, Chowhound, Tasting Table and MSN.