45 Easy Cookout Menu Ideas To Try This Summer

This flavorful and healthy way to grill corn on the cob doesn't require a smoker. Instead, you'll infuse the corn with wood smoke using a clever foil packet of wood chips and a grill.

Get the Smoked Corn On The Cob recipe.

Don't let your cookout be plagued by dry, boring chicken breasts. Instead, skewer up chicken thighs, which are a lot more forgiving. They taste best alongside bok choy and scallions, then glazed with a hoisin BBQ sauce.

Get the Grilled Chicken Kebabs recipe.

This tasty Mexican-inspired hot dog is one of our favorites, and it’s not just because it’s bacon-wrapped… it’s also the condiments, which make up a totally irresistible, fully loaded dog. Our take on the Sonoran hot dog is based off of versions made in Arizona where it's a standard—warm pinto beans, fresh jalapeño salsa, onion, tomato, mustard, and mayo. The split top bun is essential to the look, but the hot dogs can be prepared on regular buns; you can simply split the tops yourself and load up!

Get the Sonoran Hot Dog recipe.

Sure gnocchi is amazing served in a bowl with a sauce, but have you ever had nicely browned gnocchi taken straight off the grill?The gnocchi paired with blistered grilled tomatoes and tender red onion make for a perfect summer dinner or side dish.

Get the Tomato Gnocchi Kebabs recipe.

For fans of potato salad, there is endless possibility for different kinds of flavorings and mix-ins. You like red potatoes? We got red potato salad. We also have antipasto potato salad, ranch potato salad, German potato salad. But what we didn’t have was tzatziki potato salad, which is perfect for summer. This salad is very dill forward, nicely lemony, and bright with yogurt, crunchy cucumber—both fresh and pickled—and creamy boiled baby reds.

Get the Tzatziki Potato Salad recipe.

Super-thin patties and crispy edges are the draw of a smash burger. The patty is so thin, it’s almost impossible to dry out because it cooks so quickly, and cooking two patties for each burger gives you more of those lacey edges. Using an ungreased skillet or griddle is important, as it gives the ground beef a chance to really stick to the surface and form a crust. Since the skillet is so hot, the meat will still release easily. Make sure your meat starts to sizzle excitedly as soon as it hits the pan, that’s when it’s hot enough.

Get the Smash Burgers recipe.

From cauliflower baked ziti to cauliflower grilled cheese, no weird or wacky preparation of cauliflower has gone untried in the Delish kitchen. Of all the different ways to prepare this lovely vegetable, grilling might be our favorite. The steaks still have a bit of crunch, and the smoky flavor plays well with melty cheese and creamy ranch.

Get the Loaded Grilled Cauliflower recipe.

Putting your peach on the grill does wonders for the fruit: it amplifies the natural sweetness, makes it extra soft and juicy, and even caramelizes it slightly. Just like in our grilled pineapple and grilled avocado recipes, grilling is the best way to give a unique, smoky flavor to the classic sweet fruit.

Get the Grilled Peaches recipe.

Potato salad is about as classic a summer side as it gets, and we love experimenting with different flavor combinations. If you’re looking to lighten up your usual potato salad, look no further—this version is bursting with all the flavors of your favorite antipasto.

Get the Antipasto Potato Salad recipe.

In the heat of summer, nothing satisfies quite like a fruit popsicle. This classic strawberry version is big on fruit flavor and not too sweet.

Get the Fruit Popsicles recipe.

Hawaiian macaroni salad is a creamy, tangy, iconic comfort food that is practically synonymous with the state. It’s very simple to prepare—you might already have all the ingredients on hand!—making it the perfect easy side to bring to any cookout.

Get the Hawaiian Macaroni Salad recipe.

Grilling fish can be intimidating, but with foil packs, there's no need to stress. Rather than worry about the fish sticking to the grates or flipping the flaky flesh, you'll fold the salmon up in tin foil instead. It's not just fish inside, either—there's a medley of zucchini and yellow summer squash with a smoky honey-chipotle sauce.

Get the Grilled Honey-Chipotle Salmon Foil Packets recipe.

This iconic potato salad is creamy and tangy, with a little bit of crunch from the onion and pickles. For potato salad purposes, you need waxy potatoes, such as red potatoes, Yukon Golds, and fingerlings. They hold their shape better when cooking and they usually have creamier interiors.

Get the Classic Potato Salad recipe.

On a hot summer day, these cucumbers are like the spicy-savory equivalent of slices of cold, juicy watermelon.

Get the Chili Oil Smashed Cucumbers recipe.

Dairy Queen’s classic ice cream cake is king in the realm of frozen desserts, but our copycat recipe is coming for the crown. Starring that signature ribbon of fudge and chocolate cookie crunchies sandwiched between vanilla and chocolate ice cream, this homemade version of this iconic treat is equally easy to make and delicious to eat.

Get the Copycat Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake recipe.

Bang Bang Shrimp doesn't get to have all the fun with this seriously addictive creamy, spicy-sweet sauce.

Get the Bang Bang Corn recipe.

You might not think to add taco seasoning on shrimp recipes—but think again: Marinated in a mix of taco seasoning, enchilada sauce, and lime juice, these shrimp are seriously bangin'.

Get the Taco Lime Shrimp recipe.

It takes almost zero cooking skills to pull off perfectly charred brats with caramelized onions and peppers. First, the brats get burnished on the grill, then they finish in a simmering beer bath alongside the veg. Use whatever beer you like to drink, but not IPAs (India Pale Ales), which are too hoppy (i.e. bitter) for this recipe.

Get the Grilled Beer Brats recipe.

This side is perfect for any cookout staple—try it with BBQ chicken or grilled steak—or, at a party, you could set up all of the toppings (adding a few wildcards, like scallions, crumbled bacon and sriracha) and create a Build Your Own Elote Bar. 😱

Get the Mexican Street Corn (Elote) recipe.

Baked beans are sweet, tangy, savory, and the best part, surprisingly easy to make. Not to mention, they’re a one-pot wonder! Put them on your hot dogs, pair them alongsiide your cornbread, or enjoy them all on their own this Memorial Day.

Get the Baked Beans recipe.