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BBQ Recipes — Easy Grilling Ideas for Outdoor Cooking

There's something about cooking outdoors that makes food taste better — the char, the smoke, the ritual of it. These BBQ recipes are built for the grill: smoky BBQ chicken thighs basted with sauce, garlic herb shrimp skewers that cook in under 5 minutes, honey-glazed pulled chicken perfect for sandwiches, and corn on the cob charred until caramelized. Whether you're cooking on a gas grill, charcoal, or a cast-iron grill pan indoors, these recipes deliver the same result: deeply flavored, slightly charred food with a complexity you can't get from the oven. The key to great grilling is high heat and patience. Get the grill properly hot before adding food, don't move proteins before they naturally release, and baste sauces on in the last few minutes to avoid burning. Use our AI recipe generator for more BBQ and grilling ideas tailored to what you have.

Recipes

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American45 minutesEasy3.9

BBQ Chicken Thighs

Juicy chicken thighs grilled or baked with smoky BBQ sauce. Crowd-pleasing summer classic.

  • · Chicken thighs
  • · BBQ sauce
  • · Smoked paprika
  • +4 more ingredients
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🍤
Mediterranean20 minutesEasy4.4

Grilled Shrimp Skewers

Garlic herb shrimp skewers grilled until juicy with charred edges. Quick BBQ starter.

  • · Shrimp
  • · Garlic
  • · Lemon
  • +5 more ingredients
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🍗
American40 minutesEasy4.0

BBQ Pulled Chicken

Shredded chicken slow-cooked in tangy BBQ sauce. Perfect for sandwiches or bowls.

  • · Chicken breasts
  • · BBQ sauce
  • · Onion
  • +4 more ingredients
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🍽️
American15 minutesEasy4.1

Grilled Corn on the Cob

Charred corn with garlic butter and chili lime seasoning. Ultimate summer side.

  • · Corn on the cob
  • · Butter
  • · Garlic
  • +4 more ingredients
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🐟
General20 minutesEasy4.6

BBQ Salmon Fillets

Honey-glazed salmon on the grill with smoky spice rub. Healthy BBQ main.

  • · Salmon fillets
  • · Honey
  • · Soy sauce
  • +4 more ingredients
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Lemon Herb Roast Chicken - recipe photo
General1 hour 20 minutesMedium4.3

Lemon Herb Roast Chicken

Juicy roast chicken with lemon and fresh herbs. Simple and impressive for any dinner.

  • · 1 whole chicken
  • · 2 lemons
  • · Fresh rosemary and thyme
  • +3 more ingredients
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Honey Garlic Chicken Stir-Fry - recipe photo
Asian25 minutesEasy4.3

Honey Garlic Chicken Stir-Fry

Sweet and savory honey garlic chicken with vegetables. Serve over rice or noodles.

  • · 1 lb chicken breast
  • · 3 tbsp honey
  • · 3 tbsp soy sauce
  • +3 more ingredients
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Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs - recipe photo
American45 minutesEasy4.3

Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs

Crispy-skinned baked chicken thighs with simple spices. Minimal effort, maximum flavor.

  • · 6 chicken thighs
  • · 1 tbsp olive oil
  • · Paprika
  • +2 more ingredients
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Garlic Butter Shrimp - recipe photo
General10 minutesEasy4.4

Garlic Butter Shrimp

Juicy shrimp in garlicky butter sauce with lemon. Ready in 10 minutes.

  • · Shrimp
  • · Butter
  • · Garlic
  • +4 more ingredients
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Shrimp Tacos - recipe photo
Mexican20 minutesEasy4.1

Shrimp Tacos

Crispy shrimp tacos with slaw and chipotle sauce. Fun and fresh.

  • · Shrimp
  • · Tortillas
  • · Cabbage slaw
  • +4 more ingredients
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Shrimp Fried Rice - recipe photo
Asian20 minutesEasy4.0

Shrimp Fried Rice

Classic shrimp fried rice with egg, peas, and soy sauce. Better than takeout.

  • · Shrimp
  • · Cooked rice
  • · Eggs
  • +5 more ingredients
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Shrimp Scampi - recipe photo
Italian25 minutesEasy4.1

Shrimp Scampi

Classic shrimp scampi with white wine, lemon, and loads of garlic over linguine.

  • · Shrimp
  • · Linguine
  • · Garlic
  • +5 more ingredients
View Recipe

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Related categories

  • Summer Recipes
  • Recipes with Chicken
  • Recipes with Shrimp
  • Easy Dinner Ideas
  • Party Food Ideas
  • Family Dinner Recipes

Explore more

  • Recipes with Eggs
  • Recipes with Chicken
  • Recipes with Rice
  • Easy Dinner Ideas
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Frequently asked questions

  • What is the easiest thing to grill for beginners?

    Shrimp skewers, chicken thighs, and corn are the most beginner-friendly. Shrimp cooks in 2–3 minutes per side. Chicken thighs are more forgiving than breasts and harder to dry out. Corn is very hard to ruin on the grill.

  • How do I stop chicken from sticking to the grill?

    Pat dry and oil the chicken (not the grill). Get the grill properly hot before adding food. Don't try to move the chicken — it will naturally release when properly seared. Use tongs, never a fork, to avoid losing juices.

  • Can I BBQ without a grill?

    Yes. A cast-iron grill pan gets excellent char marks and flavor. Broiling in the oven at high heat is another option. For pulled chicken, a heavy-bottomed pan on the stovetop works well.

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