30 Interesting Things to Grill for a Full Course Meal
One of the most beloved methods for preparing food is to grill it. Even reading about grilling traditions around the world, as shared by Bon Appétit, may be enough to get your mouth watering and your brain mulling over the possibilities to try. At Freddy’s, we use this cooking method for dishes like the Grilled Chicken Club Sandwich, the Grilled Cheese Steakburger, and more! If you are looking to expand your repertoire of things to grill at home, you might be interested in the following:
● Making appetizers on the grill
● Creating salads using grilled ingredients
● Trying new things to grill and serve as the main dish
● Using produce for a grilled side dish
● Daring to make dessert on the grill
Keep reading to discover more than 30 ideas to try when grilling at home or in making a full course meal!
Appealing Appetizers to Grill
Bags of chips, slices of watermelon or dips with pretzels or pita pieces frequently precede grilled main courses. However, many appetizers can also be made on the grill. For a unique approach to these starter snacks, check out these things to grill and serve as appetizers:
● Skip the jars. Instead of grab-and-go containers of guacamole or salsa, create individual appetizer servings that feature many of those familiar components. In this recipe shared by Jessica Levinson, grilled avocado is the platform for a fresh salsa made of corn, black beans and more!
● Reimagine your cheese plate centerpiece. Looking to upgrade your usual plate of cheese and crackers? Try this Prosciutto-Wrapped Grilled Brie with Pineapple from the Food Network Kitchen. Both the pineapple and the complete package with all three components get grilled for a crispy, salty, sweet and gooey spread to pair with your favorite crackers or grilled bread.
● Enhance your sliced bread! Brush your bread slices with a little olive oil as well as a sprinkle of salt and pepper or other herbs. Then, after just a few minutes on each side, enjoy enticing grill marks and even more flavorful bread. Or, try one of these grilled bread recipes from Allrecipes.
● Make shrimp cocktail but skewered! Instead of the traditional cold shrimp served with this dish, grill shrimp on skewers instead and serve with the usual sauce or another dip of your choice. For a guide on making shrimp skewers, check out this recipe from The Pioneer Woman!
● Swap frozen potato skins for ones with a little smokiness. Gina Neely and Pat Neely via the Food Network offer some options for fillings as well as guidance on how to prepare and grill the potato skins. To save a little time, you might opt for a fill-your-own approach to this potato-based appetizer after the initial grilling.
● Forget about frying your wings. In this recipe from Allrecipes, most of the work for this dish can be done the night before or hours ahead of the actual grilling. Especially if you are making many dishes in a single day, a recipe like this one may help streamline cooking and reduce equipment needs in addition to serving as a tasty appetizer!
Delicious Salads from the Grill
Salads are things to grill that can be served as their own course or as an accompaniment to a meal. In this list, find familiar salads transformed and unique creations that make the most of seasonal produce. With this list, be encouraged to try some different things to grill or new salad flavor combinations!
● A favorite lettuce choice for salads, romaine is also sturdy enough to hold up to grilling. The tenderness and smoky notes achieved in this process lend additional flavor and a unique look. From simple preparations like this one from Simply Recipes to variations on the classic Caesar salad, these salads may be served in the form of a whole or half heart of romaine or the usual chopped cuts.
● Instead of coleslaw, consider transforming your cabbage by grilling it. This method brings softness and a little sweetness to this vegetable. In this recipe from Serious Eats, grilled cabbage is accompanied by a spicy Thai dressing that features fresh lime, mint, cilantro and some heat! There are also other dressing options listed at the end of the recipe.
● Corn on the cob is a summer BBQ staple, but it can take up a lot of space on the grill. In a salad, sweet and juicy grilled corn can be prepared ahead of time but bring similar flavor! In this recipe from Love and Lemons, the salad is inspired by a Mexican dish called elote.
● A fruit salad is a refreshing dish, especially on hot days. However, many of your favorite fruits can also be grilled, like peaches, and combined with leafy greens for a delicious salad. In this recipe from Southern Living, slightly peppery arugula and creamy, tangy feta provide delicious contrasts to the sweet grilled peaches!
● Make the most of seasonal produce or your own garden bounty in a salad, like this one from Rick Bayless that features multiple grilled components. While a fresh slice of tomato often brings color to barbecued burgers, grilling them along with onions and garlic scapes makes for a sweet and savory salad.
● This vegetable is often enjoyed raw or pickled, but grilling or roasting them brings more softness in both texture and flavor. Here’s a unique salad from Feasting At Home that features grilled radishes, green beans and onion.
Things to Grill as Main Dishes
Thinking about things to grill for an upcoming cookout? Burgers and hot dogs inspired by fast casual favorites like the BBQ Brisket Steakburger or Chili Cheese Dog at Freddy’s may be the first ideas that come to mind. However, they aren’t the only ones you might enjoy! Whether you explore new proteins, marinades, pairings or cooking approaches, discover several ideas to try during peak outdoor cooking season!
Grilled Chicken Margherita: If you can’t decide whether you want something on the grill or a favorite Italian dish, this recipe shared by Creme De La Crumb may be the ideal solution. It’s also a great way to use up the cherry tomatoes and fresh basil flourishing in your garden.
Grilled Cauliflower Steaks: In the heat of the summer, you might be craving a lighter main course option. In this recipe from Well Plated by Erin, cauliflower is cut into thick “steaks” and lightly seasoned. If you are looking for additional sauces to serve with this grilled component, then check out the list of suggestions from Nora Cooks, such as a green goddess dressing.
Herby Miso Grilled Salmon Skewers: Perhaps, you are no stranger to making kabobs. In fact, your steak kabobs may be what your family requests on a regular basis. Mary Berg via the Food Network explores a potentially less familiar recipe for things to grill, specifically salmon on skewers. Utilized in both the marinade and a creamy dip, the miso and herb mixture may also bring a different flavor profile to your usual skewered offerings!
Grilled Pork Chops with Plums, Halloumi, and Lemon: This recipe from Bon Appétit via Epicurious is all about the grill. In addition to the pork chops, the chunks of cheese and halves of plums and lemons are also grilled. Don’t miss the tip for easy preparation and clean up too!
Mole-Crusted Fajitas: At Serious Eats, steak is marinated in a mole mixture prior to grilling. The other serving components, peppers and onions, can also be prepared on the grill in addition to the tortillas.
Chewy Blackened Tofu Steaks: Are you looking for an alternative to the portobello burger for your plant-based diners or simply trying to incorporate many different protein sources into your diet? Try a recipe for tofu steaks, like the one from My Darling Vegan.
Standout Grilled Sides
Sometimes, the plan for grilling centers entirely around a particular choice of meat. If you want to make it even harder for your guests to decide on their favorite component of the meal, try one of these smoky, savory sides!
Avocado: This recipe from Love and Lemons is a colorful and elevated side or appetizer to try. Here, the avocados are prepared on the grill and then filled with a blend of vegetables prepared in the style of ceviche. If hotter peppers aren’t right for your diners, then you might swap them for a milder bell pepper.
Endive: This endive dish from The Spruce Eats is a light and simple side dish that may work well with similar fare. In addition to a shorter ingredient list and the recommendation to serve directly from the grill, it may also be a leafy vegetable that your guests may not have tried before or in this type of preparation.
Carrots: Carrot sticks are a familiar accompaniment for appetizer dips. However, grilling carrots further enhances their sweetness and softens them. Choose rainbow carrots to provide a spectrum of color and pique the interest of even reluctant vegetable eaters. This recipe from The Kitchn combines grilled carrots and leeks and offers a yogurt-based sauce for pairing.
Zucchini: This versatile vegetable is one of the things to grill that often appears on a skewer. However, slices of it can also be placed directly on the grill. As recommended in the recipe at Walder Wellness, a little fresh basil, honey and goat cheese can further enhance a side dish of grilled zucchini.
Potatoes: Like other things to grill and serve as sides, potatoes can be prepared directly on the grill or using the foil packet method. This recipe from Bobby Flay shared at Food Network makes sweet potato wedges the star!
Asparagus: As with many other vegetables, all grilled asparagus really needs to shine is a little olive oil, salt and pepper. This recipe from Allrecipes brings additional flavor to this side dish with some brightness from lemon and a bit of tang from the choice of grated cheese.
Sweet Things to Grill for Dessert
At Freddy’s, you can create your own frozen custard treats or choose from our current menu of offerings and any limited-time seasonal specials like the Key Lime Pie Concrete. Grilling can be quite a process, so going out for dessert may be the perfect end to a delicious day. However, you might also discover things to grill for dessert below that make your mouth water and stomach rumble in anticipatory glee!
S’mores: Skip the sticks but keep the heat for a grilled variation of this treat, as shared by Food & Wine. Instead of trying to ensure that the toasty marshmallows and melting chocolate don’t fall apart on the way to being consumed, enjoy s’mores in the pie form explained in this recipe!
Sundaes: In this recipe from Ellie Krieger as shared by Food Network, grilled pineapple rings are the foundation for a sweet sundae with vanilla ice cream and a homemade sauce. However, scoops from your pint of Freddy’s frozen custard or store-bought hot fudge or caramel sauce would also pair well with grilled pineapple!
Cookies: Take it from the grill experts at Weber: yes, you can make cookies on your grill! When you want a sweet treat but don’t want to heat up the house, try this preparation. As per the baking specialists at King Arthur Baking Company, you can also make one enormous cookie using your grill and a skillet.
Crisps: Foil packs aren’t just for things to grill like fish or vegetables. In fact, Delish explains how to make individual Berry Crisp desserts with your grill, some foil and fewer than 10 ingredients!
Cakes: As shared by Sur La Table, pound cake grills well, and this cooking method brings out the cake’s buttery deliciousness. This recipe from this kitchen resource encourages making your own pound cake and serving it topped with strawberries and whipped cream. However, for a grill-only approach, you might use premade pound cake and serve it with other things to grill like peaches or plums and your favorite Freddy’s frozen custard.
Fruit: Instead of sliced fruit or fruit popsicles, grill your fruit-based dessert. Feel Good Foodie recommends putting your favorite fruit on skewers, like strawberries and melon, for hand-held sweet bites that are fun to eat and easy to prepare and clean up.
Whether you are planning to create a multi-course meal or simply looking for new things to grill, hopefully you’ve found a recipe to try or other cooking inspiration. If you are taking the night off from being the grillmaster, then visit your local Freddy’s for your favorite grilled steakburger, cool and creamy frozen custard treats and many other meal selections!