There’s something about eating outdoors that makes everything taste better, especially when it didn’t come from a bag of trail mix. These outdoor recipes were made to deliver full-flavor meals in places where ovens fear to tread. You’ll get big results, minimal cleanup, and maybe a new appreciation for cooking without walls. If you accidentally impress someone, just say you “winged it” and accept the compliments anyway.
Grilled French Onion Pork Burgers
Burgers hit different when you’re standing over the grill instead of waiting on takeout. Grilled French Onion Pork Burgers walk the line between weeknight craving and something you’d serve to friends without warning them it’s outdoor food. These hold up to the heat, the wind, and even the one friend who always shows up late. Make extras or plan for none to be left.
Get the Recipe: Grilled French Onion Pork Burgers
Queso Blanco Rotel Dip
This one always disappears before anyone admits they started it. Queso Blanco Rotel Dip may not look like a full meal, but nobody’s stopping once it hits the table. It’s the kind of outdoor dish that pulls people in and keeps them close until it’s gone. If there’s a bowl and a spoon, it’s not just a snack anymore.
Get the Recipe: Queso Blanco Rotel Dip
The Backyard Table
Get it NOW and level up your outdoor dining! The Backyard Table - Recipes for Summer Cookouts features 34 of Chef Jenn's BEST recipes for outdoor eating and entertaining.
You'll get ad-free recipes like:
- Grilled Corn Guacamole
- Grilled French Onion Burgers
- Deviled Egg Pasta Salad
- Blueberry Grunt
- and so many more!
Every recipe is created, tested and loved by Chef Jenn and her family - there's no AI here!
Get it now, at a special introductory price of $7.99. That's over 50 pages of foodie love at your fingertips!
Buy Now!Grilled Strawberry Shortcake Skewers
Dessert shouldn’t need an oven, and this proves it. Grilled Strawberry Shortcake Skewers show up with no apologies and somehow disappear faster than the burgers did. They’ve got just enough charm to pass as planned, even if someone thought you forgot dessert. If they get messy, that’s part of the fun.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Strawberry Shortcake Skewers
Easy Skillet Lasagna
You don’t need a kitchen to pull off something that feels this complete. Easy Skillet Lasagna proves that outdoor meals don’t have to mean sandwiches and chips. It hits the table with the same kind of comfort you’d expect from a stovetop dinner, just with better scenery. If the pan’s hot and the chairs are folding, dinner’s ready.
Get the Recipe: Easy Skillet Lasagna
Grilled Steaks with Cowboy Butter
Nobody’s checking your technique when the grill’s going and the steaks smell like they mean it. Grilled Steaks with Cowboy Butter turns up like something that should’ve come from a steakhouse kitchen but landed in your backyard instead. It’s bold, it’s straightforward, and it definitely doesn’t need white tablecloths to impress. If it gets quiet around the table, don’t worry—they’re just chewing.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Steaks with Cowboy Butter
Homestyle Hamburger Stew
This one lands like something your parents would’ve served in a bowl, except it came from a campsite. Homestyle Hamburger Stew brings all the comfort of a home-cooked meal, minus the kitchen walls. It’s filling, hot, and reliable when you need a break from cold snacks and burnt marshmallows. If you’re eating it outside, that’s the right place for it.
Get the Recipe: Homestyle Hamburger Stew
Bacon-Wrapped Burgers
You don’t make Bacon-Wrapped Burgers when you’re trying to keep things light—you make them when you want people to actually eat. These hit hard, hold together, and don’t pretend to be anything but crowd-pleasers. They belong outside, with zero judgment and plenty of napkins. If anyone says they’re too much, they’re not invited next time.
Get the Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Burgers
Grilled Vegetables
If you think grilled veggies are just filler, this changes things. Grilled Vegetables hit with enough flavor and char to earn a spot next to anything else on the grill. They don’t need dressing up and don’t care if they’re center stage or playing backup. You’ll eat them before realizing you’re full.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Vegetables
Chicken Fried Rice
There’s nothing delicate about making fried rice outside, and that’s part of the fun. Chicken Fried Rice lands on the plate like something cooked up during a break from yard work—and that’s exactly the vibe. It’s fast, hot, and built to feed people who don’t want to wait around. It’s not just for leftovers anymore.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Fried Rice
Grandma’s Three Bean Salad
This doesn’t need refrigeration, a stove, or even a proper table. Grandma’s Three Bean Salad holds up on any picnic bench and still feels like it was made with intention. It’s simple, reliable, and does its job without trying too hard. If you’re hungry and don’t want to wait, grab a fork and carry on.
Get the Recipe: Grandma’s Three Bean Salad
Grilled Pork Chops with Pineapple Salsa
You don’t have to pick between flavor and convenience when you’re outdoors. Grilled Pork Chops with Pineapple Salsa shows that real meals can happen outside without borrowing anything from the kitchen. It’s the kind of plate that makes people ask if you actually cooked this yourself. Just nod like you do it every weekend.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pork Chops with Pineapple Salsa
Texas Corn Succotash
No one expects something this good to come from outside, but it does. Texas Corn Succotash holds its own against any indoor side dish without needing much more than a grill and a bowl. It’s fast to disappear and somehow always ends up being the thing people ask for again. If it’s sitting next to anything grilled, it won’t sit for long.
Get the Recipe: Texas Corn Succotash
Grilled Greek Chicken
This one feels like something you should eat at a table, but it holds up just fine by the fire pit. Grilled Greek Chicken balances bold flavor with the kind of hands-off approach outdoor meals need. It fits on any plate and goes quiet once everyone starts chewing. No one asks for seasoning when it’s done right.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Greek Chicken
Montreal Smoked Meat Hash
Hash outside hits different, especially when it’s got some edge to it. Montreal Smoked Meat Hash isn’t shy about being filling and doesn’t care if you eat it with a fork or your fingers. It does the job whether it’s breakfast or a late dinner with zero ceremony. Serve it once and people will ask when it’s happening again.
Get the Recipe: Montreal Smoked Meat Hash
Sweet & Spicy Grilled Harissa-Honey Chicken Skewers
You might not expect big flavor on a stick, but here it is. Sweet & Spicy Grilled Harissa-Honey Chicken Skewers punch way above their weight with minimal effort and zero cleanup stress. They cook fast, disappear faster, and somehow make people think you planned things out. The grill does the heavy lifting, you take the credit.
Get the Recipe: Sweet & Spicy Grilled Harissa-Honey Chicken Skewers
Sweet Potato Hash with Pulled Pork
You probably didn’t think to make this outdoors, but once you do, it sticks. Sweet Potato Hash with Pulled Pork brings serious meal energy to a setup that usually only promises hot dogs. It doesn’t ask for much but delivers like a full dinner. You’ll need a fork, a seat, and probably a second serving.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Hash with Pulled Pork
Grilled Bruschetta Chicken
Nobody said outdoor food had to be plain. Grilled Bruschetta Chicken brings just enough kick to feel like someone actually planned the meal instead of just firing up the grill. It looks like effort without requiring too much of it, which is the goal here. If you’re eating outside, this one earns a real plate.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Bruschetta Chicken
Cottage Cheese Toast with Bacon & Poached Egg
It sounds like a brunch plate, but it handles itself outside just fine. Cottage Cheese Toast with Bacon & Poached Egg takes what feels like a kitchen-only idea and turns it into something you can eat by the grill in flip-flops. It’s quick, satisfying, and more than enough to pass for a full meal. If it ends up being breakfast, lunch, and dinner, no one’s complaining.
Get the Recipe: Cottage Cheese Toast with Bacon & Poached Egg
Grilled Tomahawk Steak
No one’s pretending this is casual. Grilled Tomahawk Steak shows up loud and proud, taking up all the space on the grill and the table. It’s not about subtle flavor or dainty servings—it’s about cooking something that makes people stop and stare. And yes, it tastes just as good as it looks.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Tomahawk Steak
Chicken Al Pastor Quesadillas
These don’t mess around. Chicken Al Pastor Quesadillas are packed, grilled, and eaten way too fast to ever count as leftovers. They’re made for outside eating and don’t require much beyond a flat surface and a hot flame. If you’re serving these, expect requests for more.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Al Pastor Quesadillas
Grilled T-Bone Steaks
Sometimes you just need to throw something big on the fire. Grilled T-Bone Steaks don’t require a sales pitch—they do what they do, and they do it well. They take over the grill and the plate with no apologies. If you’re sharing, you’re more generous than most.
Get the Recipe: Grilled T-Bone Steaks
Honey Almond Granola
Some people bring bars, others bring this. Honey Almond Granola doesn’t need refrigeration, utensils, or anything more than a container and a crowd. It’s the kind of thing that starts as a snack and turns into “who brought that?” before it’s gone. If someone asks for the recipe, act like it’s a secret.
Get the Recipe: Honey Almond Granola
Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri
This is what happens when backyard cooking gets serious. Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri come out looking like someone knew exactly what they were doing, even if they didn’t. The results are loud, satisfying, and totally worth the extra heat from the grill. Expect silence while everyone’s chewing.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri
Bacon Fried Corn
You could serve this alongside anything, but it’ll still steal the plate. Bacon Fried Corn ditches the subtle flavors and goes straight for smoky, rich, and ridiculously good. It’s loud enough to be a main, even if it shows up listed as a side. Expect it to be scooped, scraped, and eaten straight from the pan.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Fried Corn
Grilled Steak Skewers with Mojo Rojo
These don’t pretend to be fancy, but they come off looking like they belong at a pop-up restaurant. Grilled Steak Skewers with Mojo Rojo deliver big flavor on sticks, which means fewer dishes and zero excuses for small servings. They go fast, hold heat, and taste like more work than they actually were. If you want people to hang out near the grill, this is how.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Steak Skewers with Mojo Rojo
Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowl
You don’t need a kitchen to build something this satisfying. Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowl brings the full plate energy, layered with just enough heat, crunch, and comfort to pass as a sit-down dinner—even if you’re eating it standing by a cooler. It’s the kind of outdoor meal that gets quiet once everyone takes a bite, which is usually a good sign. If this shows up, paper plates start looking fancy.
Get the Recipe: Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowl
Grilled Sausage & Peppers
There’s nothing delicate about this one, and that’s exactly why it works. Grilled Sausage & Peppers comes in hot, loud, and unapologetically bold—no forks required, though nobody will judge if you use one. It holds its own on a plate or straight off the grill, soaking up sun, smoke, and whatever sauce lands on the table. Bring extra napkins and zero expectations of leftovers.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Sausage & Peppers
Corned Beef Fritters
These don’t ask for much, but they deliver like something you planned a day ahead. Corned Beef Fritters bring that salty, crispy edge that turns heads at any table, especially the folding kind. They don’t sit around long and definitely aren’t something you make “just in case.” Serve them once and people will hover until you make more.
Get the Recipe: Corned Beef Fritters
Grilled Chicken Wings with Buffalo Sauce
This isn’t clean eating, and that’s kind of the point. Grilled Chicken Wings with Buffalo Sauce hit with enough fire and flavor to distract everyone from the fact that they’re licking their fingers in public. They cook fast, disappear faster, and make even paper towels feel fancy. If you hear silence after the first bite, it’s working.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken Wings with Buffalo Sauce
Barley Salad with Herbs & Lemon Vinaigrette
Lighter doesn’t have to mean boring. Barley Salad with Herbs & Lemon Vinaigrette comes in chilled, solid, and full of enough bite to feel like it belongs next to the heavier stuff. It travels well, tastes better after sitting a while, and somehow still feels like real food. No one expects it to be the favorite, but it usually is.
Get the Recipe: Barley Salad with Herbs & Lemon Vinaigrette
Watermelon Salad with Balsamic Glaze & Feta
Everyone thinks they’ve had this before, until they try this version. Watermelon Salad with Balsamic Glaze & Feta skips the fluff and lands with that perfect sweet-salty balance that somehow works in heat, wind, and outdoor chaos. It’s refreshing without being forgettable, and strange enough to earn a few raised eyebrows before the second bite. This one disappears fast and gets asked about later.
Get the Recipe: Watermelon Salad with Balsamic Glaze & Feta
Creamy Radish Salad
You don’t bring Creamy Radish Salad expecting it to outshine the mains, but somehow it ends up doing just that. It’s cool, crisp, and just sharp enough to wake everything else on the plate up. It doesn’t try too hard and doesn’t need to—it’s exactly what outdoor food should be: simple, cold, and ready to go. Don’t be surprised if people go back for thirds.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Radish Salad
Brisket Fried Rice
Leftovers don’t usually look this put-together. Brisket Fried Rice makes its case fast with smoky edges, crispy bits, and enough heft to count as a full meal, even outside. It’s the kind of dish that blurs the line between resourceful and brilliant. Set it down and watch how fast it disappears without explanation.
Get the Recipe: Brisket Fried Rice
Summer Bow Tie Pasta Salad
There’s always a pasta salad, but this one actually gets finished. Summer Bow Tie Pasta Salad skips the mushy, bland trap and brings texture, bite, and flavor that doesn’t rely on being cold to taste good. It works with anything on the grill and holds up through the heat, sun, and second rounds. It won’t win any awards, but it might just win the table.
Get the Recipe: Summer Bow Tie Pasta Salad
Baked Bean Casserole
This one brings all the comfort of a slow-cooked meal with none of the indoor effort. Baked Bean Casserole doesn’t hold back—it’s smoky, a little sticky, and just rich enough to feel like something you’d eat out of a cast iron pan. It fits every plate, every cookout, and every excuse to eat outside. The spoon always scrapes the bottom.
Get the Recipe: Baked Bean Casserole