Come On Over: Backyard Grilling

In my rainy, Pacific Northwest town, you know summer is on its way the first day you get to dust the cobwebs off the grill. Perhaps because of all the rain, people here take summer very seriously. As of right now, my summer calendar is already filled to the brim with backyard barbecue invitations, each promising a slew of sausages, slaws, and skewers.

Many of my friends take the most casual approach of all. Their invitations say, “BYOB and something to throw on the grill.” And that’s the beauty of the grill-out. Whether it’s chicken or fish, mushrooms, zucchini, or corn, everything is fair game for the grill. All you need to fill out the meal are some easy sides, quick stir-together sauces, and a selection of ice creams, and you’ve got an almost instant party.

In this special summer issue, Simply Recipes has everything you need to bring the party to your yard with ease and style. Grilling expert and contributor Mike Lang shares his best grilling tips and three (easy!) recipes that will make you look like a grilling pro, too. If skewers are more your thing, we’ve got a selection of recipes to choose from. For those planning a classic grill-out, we have a primer on grilling the best burger of your life.

Don’t forget the sides! We’ve got 24 for you to choose from, whether you’re looking for a new spin on potato salad or a classic Caprese. Of course, you’ll want to slather those grilled mains with a tasty sauce, and we’ve got ’em, both homemade and store-bought.

Finish your grill-out menu with a few of the easiest (and best) ice cream desserts on planet Earth and our favorite store-bought shortcuts, from coleslaw to salsa. No matter what kind of party you’re planning to have, we’ve got you covered.

Happy Grilling!

—Senior Editor Meg Scott

How To Throw a Stress-Free Grill-Out, According to Grillmaster Mike Lang

Grilling expert and longtime Simply Recipes contributor Mike Lang knows his way around the grill. As a cookbook author and the official “grillographer” for Weber grills, he’s here to help you make your backyard grill-out look as good as it tastes. You’ll want to bookmark Mike’s Guide To Throwing a Stress-Free Grill-Out before you light that charcoal.

According to Mike, “Chicken halves are the only way to go for the best flavor and juicy texture on the grill.” They cook faster, too. If you’ve never cut a chicken in half before, don’t stress: a sturdy pair of kitchen shears (and Mike’s great tips) will do the job, or just ask your supermarket butcher to tackle it for you.

Get the recipe: Grilled Half Chicken

Why is Broccolini Mike’s favorite vegetable to grill? “On the whole, most vegetables need some sort of culinary intervention before grilling. Zucchini needs to be sliced. Asparagus needs to be peeled. The list goes on. Broccolini is like me on a Saturday morning: ready to go.”

Get the recipe: Easy Grilled Broccolini

“When it comes to barbecue sauces, I’m definitely team vinegar, so it’s no surprise that I’m a huge fan of Alabama white sauce. Whereas traditional sauces generally use a tomato or ketchup base, the foundation of Alabama white sauce is mayonnaise cut with a generous amount of apple cider vinegar.”

Get the recipe: Alabama White Barbecue Sauce

Simple Summer Skewers

Skewers are a grilling cheat code. Smaller chunks of meat and veggies cook faster, get more evenly browned, and are super easy to serve, no knives required! Get those bamboo skewers soaking in 3, 2, 1…

The Perfect Burger

Sure, you can throw just about any old thing on the grill, but mastering the art of the perfect hamburger is a task that every would-be grill cook should tackle. Start at the store by buying the ground beef butchers recommend for burgers.

While you’re there, grab a bag or two of the hamburger buns recommended by experts. Once you get home, learn the best way to shape that ground meat into patties that won’t shrink on the grill. Finally, put all your skills together to grill the best burger you’ve ever tasted.

Easy Side Dishes

We can talk about grilling mains all day long, but just like at Thanksgiving, some of us are only here for the sides. If you’d rather load up your plate with potato salad, grilled corn, perfect summer tomatoes, and slices of quenching watermelon than burgers, brats, and beef skewers, we’ve got all the side dishes your heart desires. Whether you’re in search of a classic ambrosia recipe to make Mom happy, a Korean spin on potato salad, or a veggie-packed pasta salad, take your pick of the best we have to offer.

Get the recipes: 24 Easy Side Dishes for Your Next Grill-Out

Simple Sauces

Grilling is one of the easiest ways to make food taste delicious, but no grill-out is complete without a sauce or two. Sauces are the perfect way to add zing to all that grilled goodness. They will also make your food look and taste like you put in a ton of work, but our dirty little secret is that the best sauces are also the easiest.

Easy Ice Cream Desserts

Sure, you could just grab a few half-gallons of ice cream, chocolate syrup, and sprinkles and call it a day (if that’s your vibe, we have recommendations for the best vanilla and chocolate ice cream money can buy), but something tells us you might want to splash out a little more in the name of summer.

We straddle the line between zero-effort and Martha Stewart circa 1998 with these uber-easy ice cream desserts that take store-bought ice cream up a notch.

Store-Bought Shortcuts

There’s no shame in rolling up to the cookout with a store-bought something-or-other. Everyone will be too busy basking in the summer evening to know or care. But store-bought doesn’t have to mean sub-par. That’s why we polled the experts to find out what brands they’re toting to their next cookout.