For many home cooks, Summer dinner is synonymous with grilling. There's a reason (or three) for that: grilling cooks meat and veggies in a flash, adds a smoky flavor and beautiful char to just about anything, and, best of all, can be done outside on the nicest of Summer evenings. When "cooking" means tossing a well-seasoned protein on a grill while enjoying the outdoors, it's hard to prep dinner any other way. Here are 15 quick, easy, family-friendly meals you'll want to grill again and again.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Anna Monette Roberts
Why limit queso to a dip for tortilla chips? Try it on a juicy burger for a dinner so good, you won't mind cleaning up the table for inevitable cheese blobs.
You and the little ones will love this casual, family-style dish. Cover your table with a sheet of wax paper and pile the food on top for a social meal that you can all eat with your hands.
The best part about this meal, succulent from the chicken and crispy from the lettuce, is that you can make the grilled chicken ahead of time and use the leftovers for wraps the next day.
If your family takes frequent trips to Chick-fil-A for grilled chicken sandwiches, you'll love this Italian version. Upgrade the plain sandwich in a jiffy with grilled tomato slices and melty mozzarella.
You likely love hot dogs already, but do you have a go-to grilling method? If not, here's one you can rely on every time for successful family cookouts. The key is to simmer the dogs for a few minutes before grilling them.
If you marinate carne asada in the morning, all you have to do in the evening is grill the meat for a few minutes until lightly seared. Next, lay out salsa fresca, corn tortillas, and guacamole for people to serve themselves.
The longer ingredients list for this flatbread is well worth it, as the spices and fresh herbs in grilled chicken and creamy feta go a long way on whole-wheat pita. Store the chicken and cheese in the fridge, and the leftovers will double as a fabulous workday lunch.
Everyone loves a savory burger, but your family will especially appreciate this sandwich's unexpected touch of sweetness from pineapple rings. Grill hamburger patties just how you like them, then throw on the rings for about five minutes on each side until they're slightly charred.
This dish may look fancy, but its simple preparation and robust flavors will appeal to anyone at the table. Pineapple slightly sweetens the savory chicken, and the handheld skewers and dipping sauce make the meal feel casual — perfect for summertime.
It doesn't get much easier than chopping up in-season veggies — while chicken cooks in minutes on the grill — and tossing them into cooked pasta. You can easily change up the ingredients in this adaptable dish based on what you have on hand.
Make an evening out of assembling build-your-own pizzas with the kids, then set them on the grill. They'll be ready in less than 15 minutes, and the fun customization means it won't have felt like work.
If normal hot dogs feel a bit too plain, jazz up your preferred bratwursts with sweet bell pepper relish. The colorful topping comes together in 10 minutes and can easily be doubled if you're cooking for a crowd.
These healthy sandwiches will be a hit for the adventurous and veggie-forward family. Salty, milky halloumi gets perfectly charred when grilled and needs only a four-ingredient sauce to shine between bread.
A barbecue staple, baby back ribs are an essential part of any cook's grilling arsenal. Here's how to re-create Chili's flavorful ribs at home, from the tender meat to the beer-infused barbecue sauce.