Long summer holiday weekends almost always mean a cookout, but by midsummer, we’ve all had enough burgers on the grill to crave something a little different. When you think about it, there’s not much you can’t grill.
I’ve rounded up some of my favorite ideas to help get you started thinking beyond the burger. It’s time to grill all the things!
Grilled Pizza
Almost anything done on the grill feels summery, including pizza. Think of it as a do-it-yourself take on wood-fired crust. Grilled pizza is a cut above the delivery pizza of Netflix-and-chill nights, and you won’t have to overheat the kitchen by turning on the oven to bake it.
For best results, make sure you have all your pizza toppings ready to go and within reach before you begin. I like to use smaller amounts of dough, so that they’re less unwieldy on the grill and everyone can top their personal pizza the way they like.
First, brush one side of the dough with olive oil, then put it on the grill, oil side down, and brush the other side with olive oil. Flip it after about 2–3 minutes, and then top with sauce, cheese and whatever other delicious things you prefer. Continue to cook the pizza for 3–5 more minutes, until it looks nice and done!
For more great tips on grilling pizza (with a dough recipe included!), visit this article from our Dish Test Kitchen archives.
Avocado Toast
It’s no secret that avocado toast is having a moment. Why not bring that to your barbeque? I bet your friends will appreciate it. Grab a fancy French loaf to make some grilled toast. Smear some avocado on it, and pretend you’re in a chic health-conscious cafe. I’d also sprinkle a ton of goat cheese on top for an extra delicious treat.
Fruit
This seems so easy and obvious, but it’s one I often forget about. The possibilities are limited only by the fruit you have on hand. I’ve really been wanting to try grilled watermelon! I don’t know what could be more summery, except maybe a watermelon margarita.
Loaded Potatoes
Those campfire packets of potatoes you made as a kid can just as easily be cooked on the grill. Open the foil up when they’re cooked through and sprinkle some toppings on them to melt while they’re still warm.
Corn
I’ve been obsessed with corn on the grill since having two key experiences with it in college. The first involved a really easy process of soaking the corn while still in the husk, and simply grilling that. It was perfect.
The second experience was thanks to a drifter who set up a “Cuban corn” stand near my alma mater. The stand lasted about two weeks, but the memory of the “Cuban corn” (I have no idea if this really had anything to do with Cuba or not—probably not) lives forever. The star of that show was the toppings; the corn was loaded with a mixture of mayonnaise, spices (paprika and/or cayenne), lime juice, cilantro and cotija cheese. It was phenomenal. I haven’t attempted this on my own, but it’s on my list for this summer.
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What are you waiting for? Fire up the grill—and be sure to let us know what your favorite grilled foods are in the comments below!
- Pizza photo: Lisa Yoder
- Watermelon photo: Yeko Photo Studio: Bigstock.com
- Corn photo: GraphicStock
