BBQ Ideas: 9 Classic Mains and Side Dishes for Grilling

BBQ, or barbecue, refers to both a type of cuisine and the cooking process itself. The term can also refer to the apparatus on which you barbecue food or an event where barbecuing occurs or guests enjoy barbecued foods. For example, a summer cookout, or a summer BBQ, is an event that centers around these grilled foods, usually meats and vegetables, and their complementary side dishes. To cook on a barbecue usually means to cook food over direct or indirect heat. A charcoal or gas grill provides direct heat, whereas smoking or roasting involves indirect heat.

BBQ can also refer to the specific flavors you might associate with barbecuing. BBQ flavor tends to be a smoky flavor, whether from the smoking process itself or the addition of a spice rub or BBQ sauce. Many barbecue recipes call for some type of barbecue sauce, whether it’s tomato-based or vinegar-based, which you brush on the meat or veggies as they grill.

Meat is a classic feature in BBQ recipes and summer dinner ideas. Listed below are a handful of ideas for BBQ meat:

1. 1. Baked beans: To make baked beans on the grill, place a saucepan with the beans and a sweet sauce right on the grill grates or on the side burner of the grill. They absorb some of the smoky flavor from the grill and cook in much the same way as baked beans would on the stovetop or in a slow cooker.
2. 2. Burgers: You can grill chicken burgers, turkey burgers, and even sturdy black bean burgers. Brush the burgers with BBQ sauce, top them with cheese, and serve them on buns for classic burgers or in lettuce wraps if you wish for gluten-free alternatives.
3. 3. Chicken: Cook chicken breasts, chicken thighs, or chicken wings right on the grill. For a simple chicken recipe, marinate the chicken in lemon juice, olive oil, and garlic, then brush the meat with BBQ sauce as it cooks. You can enjoy the barbecue chicken by itself or make a BBQ chicken sandwich topped with coleslaw and more BBQ sauce.
4. 4. Corn on the cob: Grilled corn has a charred flavor and an intensified natural sweetness. Eat the corn right off the cob or cut it off to make a corn salad with a light vinaigrette, feta cheese, and red onions. Alternatively, you can make elote, a classic Mexican street food, by mixing the corn with aioli, cilantro, and queso fresco.
5. 5. Kebabs: A food with Greek and Middle Eastern origins, kebabs have become popular all over the world. Kebabs consist of grilled meat—and sometimes vegetables—on skewers. Dip the kebabs in sauces or wrap the meat in pita bread with various toppings. Lamb kebabs, or shish kebabs, are the most traditional, but chicken kebabs, veggie kebabs, and steak kebabs are also common.
6. 6. Pork: Rest grilled pork chops in a soy sauce marinade or make classic BBQ ribs with a spice rub. Pork is a mild poultry, so feel free to season the meat with chipotle peppers, brown sugar, or lime juice, or a combination. Pork ribs and pork chops work well on the grill but pulled pork less so.
7. 7. Sausage: Hot dogs and other sausages benefit from the smoky flavor of a grill. Try grilling hot Italian sausages, pork sausages injected with cheese, spicy jalapeño sausages, or traditional bratwursts. If you’re using buns, you can toast them on the grill, too.
8. 8. Steak: One of the most traditional types of meat to barbecue, steak is a popular grilled meat. Use flank steak, ribeye, strip steak, or any other cut of steak that you prefer. Steak takes on strong flavors well, so feel free to season it with plenty of black pepper, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. You can use the grilled steak for fajitas and tacos or top it with a chimichurri featuring fresh herbs.
9. 9. Vegetables: Grilled veggies taste both fresh and smoky. Try barbecuing zucchini, bell peppers, thick slices of onion, or wedges of cabbage for a smoky slaw. Serve the grilled vegetables as is or use them to make other side dishes, such as a vegetable tray appetizer or a creamy dip.

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