Steal the summer spotlight with bold flavors, juicy meats, and smoky-sweet sides. These 22 must-try summer recipes bring serious heat—from Thai Grilled Chicken spiced just right and BBQ Coffee-Rubbed Corn in Husk to tender pulled pork, saucy wings, and punchy side dishes like bourbon bacon baked beans and grilled potato wedges. There’s something here for every kind of backyard cook, whether you’re all about rubs and marinades or just want something fast and flavorful for dinner. If you’re craving cookout magic that tastes like summer, you’ll want to check out every last one of these mouthwatering ideas.

Thai Grilled Chicken

thai chicken with coconut on it.
Thai Grilled Chicken. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality

Fire up the grill for this exotic flavored spicy Thai chicken recipe. This Thai BBQ Chicken is juicy chicken breasts that are rubbed with a special seasoning mix, cooked on the grill, and served up with a quick and easy spicy sauce. It’s easy to prep ahead so all you have to do at dinner is grill the meat and eat, which means it’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or an easy BBQ meal on the patio in the summer months.
Get the Recipe: Thai Grilled Chicken

BBQ Grilled Corn in Husk

Corn on the cob that has just gotten off the grill
BBQ Grilled Corn in Husk. Image Credit: Intentional Hospitality

Grilled in husk and rubbed with a bold BBQ coffee blend, this corn delivers smoky-sweet flavor that’s far from ordinary. It’s a cookout upgrade worth trying.
Get The Recipe: BBQ Grilled Corn in Husk

Classic Texas-Style BBQ Rub for Grilling

Texas BBQ dry rub
Classic Texas-Style BBQ Rub for Grilling. Image Credit: Intentional Hospitality

This bold Texas-style BBQ rub delivers sweet, smoky flavor and that signature crust every serious griller wants. A must-have blend for big meats on the grill.
Get The Recipe: Classic Texas-Style BBQ Rub for Grilling

BBQ Coffee Rub for Grilling

Coffee dry rub
BBQ Coffee Rub for Grilling. Image Credit: Intentional Hospitality

Easy BBQ Coffee Dry Rub Recipe for Ribs, Steak, Pork & Brisket is the perfect rub for kicking up your vegetables and meats when grilling.  It infuses your taste buds with a sweet slightly nutty flavor and can be kicked up with some heat if you double up on the cayenne pepper.
Get The Recipe: BBQ Coffee Rub for Grilling

Smoky Whiskey Marinade

whiskey marinade and a bottle of crown royal
Smoky Whiskey Marinade Image Credit: Intentional Hospitality

This smoky whiskey marinade delivers juicy, full-flavored steak that’s summer celebration–ready. A recipe worth firing up the grill for.
Get The Recipe: Smoky Whiskey Marinade

Grilled Bone-In Pork Chops Recipe

Grilled pork chop on a dark plate with a sweet potato in the background. The chop has a glossy, caramelized surface with charred edges, hinting at a flavorful marinade.
Grilled Bone-In Pork Chops Recipe. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage

Fire up the grill and get ready to make the juiciest grilled pork chops ever! Tender bone in pork chops with a flavorful caramelized crust, all cooked to perfection without the need for brining. These are not dry boring pork chops but juicy and tender, an easy dinner recipe you’ll want to make over and over again. Simple to make with just 3 ingredients.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Bone-In Pork Chops Recipe

Chicken Kabobs

Grilled chicken and vegetable skewers with red onion, zucchini, red and yellow bell peppers served on a wooden board with a dipping sauce on the side.
Chicken Kabobs. Photo credit: Lauren’s Latest

Chicken Kabobs marinated in a delicious honey and soy sauce mixture are a tasty variation to bring to the grill.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Kabobs

Maple BBQ Rub for Grilling

Maple dry rub
Maple BBQ Rub for Grilling. Image Credit: Intentional Hospitality

This maple-infused dry rub turns ribs into a sweet, savory, pit master–worthy masterpiece. With award-winning flavor, it’s your shortcut to summer fame.
Get The Recipe: Maple BBQ Rub for Grilling

Orange-Coffee BBQ Sauce

Close-up of a glass jar filled with dark brown homemade sauce, labeled "Kerr Self Sealing." Another jar is blurred in the background, with greens faintly visible. The setting appears to be rustic and homemade.
Orange-Coffee BBQ Sauce. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Citrusy, spicy, and bold—this BBQ sauce brings unexpected flavor that’ll wake up any summer cookout. The coffee kick seals the deal for bold BBQ fans.
Get the Recipe: Orange-Coffee BBQ Sauce

Bacon-Whiskey BBQ Sauce

A square glass container filled with dark, rich BBQ sauce is placed on a wooden surface. Next to it, a wooden spoon with "Bacon Whiskey BBQ Sauce" printed on the handle holds a small amount of sauce. A bottle is partially visible in the background.
Bacon-Whiskey BBQ Sauce. Image Credit: Intentional Hospitality

Sweet, smoky, and packed with bacon and whiskey flavor, this BBQ sauce is the kind of recipe a grill master keeps secret—and uses on everything.
Get The Full Recipe: Bacon-Whiskey BBQ Sauce

Best BBQ Chicken Wings Recipe

bbq chicken wings with sauce brushed on
Best BBQ Chicken Wings Recipe. Image Credit: Intentional Hospitality

These bold, finger-licking wings come together fast and pack just the right BBQ punch. A fiery crowd-pleaser perfect for any summer spread.
Get The Recipe: Best BBQ Chicken Wings Recipe

Dry Rub for Chicken Wings Recipe

dry rub wings in oven
Dry Rub for Chicken Wings Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality

Skip the fryer—these oven-baked wings use a dry rub that crisps up beautifully for a BBQ-worthy crunch every grill lover can appreciate.
Get the Recipe: Dry Rub for Chicken Wings Recipe

Classic BBQ Pulled-Pork Recipe

pulled bbq pork from crock pot
Classic BBQ Pulled-Pork Recipe. Image Credit: Intentional Hospitality

Slow-cooked to perfection, this BBQ pulled pork is the ultimate cookout classic. Just 10 minutes of prep for tender, smoky pork that’s great for sandwiches, sliders, or BBQ platters.
Get The Recipe: Classic BBQ Pulled-Pork Recipe

Dry Rub Recipe for Tender Ribs

bbq ribs and sauce
Dry Rub Recipe for Tender Ribs. Image Credit: Intentional Hospitality

These dry rub baked ribs are a sweet and smoky dish that’s irresistibly tender and easy to prepare. Made with a maple spice blend and baked low and slow, these ribs are perfect for cozy family dinners or relaxed BBQ gatherings. Enjoy them sauced or dry for crowd-pleasing results every time.
Get The Recipe: Dry Rub Recipe for Tender Ribs

BBQ Pulled Chicken Recipe

bbq chicken sandwich on a bun
BBQ Pulled Chicken Recipe. Image Credit: Intentional Hospitality

Fast and flavorful, this pulled chicken is ready in 30 minutes and full of bold BBQ flavor. Perfect for sliders, tacos, or grilling season potlucks.
Get The Recipe: BBQ Pulled Chicken Recipe

BBQ Pulled-Pork Sliders

Pork sliders on Hawaiian buns with extra barbecue sauce and melted cheese
BBQ Pulled-Pork Sliders. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

These pulled pork sliders are the ultimate cookout appetizer—sweet, tangy, and loaded with BBQ flavor on soft Hawaiian rolls.
Get the Recipe: BBQ Pulled-Pork Sliders

BBQ Grilled Pork Tenderloin

Sliced, glazed pork tenderloin on parchment paper with a black fork beside it. The meat appears juicy and is coated in a shiny, reddish-brown sauce.
BBQ Grilled Pork Tenderloin. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This simple Grilled BBQ Pork Tenderloin recipe is super simple to make without sacrificing flavor or spending hours over a hot grill!
Get the Full Recipe: BBQ Grilled Pork Tenderloin

Smoked Wings Recipe

A pile of grilled chicken wings coated in a glossy barbecue sauce on a rectangular metal tray, showcasing their crispy, charred texture.
Smoked Wings Recipe. Photo credit: Lauren’s Latest

Smoked Chicken Wings have made it to the weekly rotation now that the weather is beautiful and we’re outside more. Chicken wings have always been a family favorite, but smoking has become my go-to way to cook them.
Get the Full Recipe: Smoked Wings Recipe

Grilled Potato Wedges

A hand dipping a grilled potato wedge into a bowl of creamy sauce. The wedges are golden brown with grill marks, arranged on a dark plate beside the bowl, which sits on a small plate with a ruffled edge. The background is a light gray surface.
Grilled Potato Wedges. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage

This recipe for grilled potato wedges takes less than 20 minutes to make. With their crispy golden outsides and hot and fluffy insides, this potato recipe is the summer side dish you’ve been looking for.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Potato Wedges

Chipotle-Style Black Beans (Side Dish)

A bowl of black bean chili garnished with fresh cilantro and lime slices. A spoon rests in the dish, and lime wedges are placed nearby for added flavor.
Chipotle-Style Black Beans (Side Dish). Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality

These chipotle-style black beans make the perfect smoky, hearty side for your favorite grilled mains. They’re versatile and round out any small-batch grilling menu.
Get the Recipe: Chipotle-Style Black Beans (Side Dish)

Bourbon Bacon Baked Beans (Side Dish)

baked beans with bacon and burbon
Bourbon Bacon Baked Beans (Side Dish). Image Credit: Intentional Hospitality

Slow-cooked with smoky bacon and a splash of bourbon, these rich baked beans are a must-have BBQ side—made to stand up to any serious smoker plate.
Get The Recipe: Bourbon Bacon Baked Beans (Side Dish)

Boston Baked Beans (Side Dish)

Baked beans with bacon on top
Boston Baked Beans (Side Dish). Image Credit: Intentional Hospitality

Loaded with molasses, bacon, and deep flavor, these old-school baked beans are a true BBQ side staple. Simple, slow-cooked, and grill-master approved.
Get The Recipe: Boston Baked Beans (Side Dish)

40 Slow Cooker Recipes That Do the Work for You!

German goulash
40 Slow Cooker Recipes. Image credit: Intentional Hospitality

If you’re craving easy, comforting meals without spending hours in the kitchen, these slow cooker recipes are exactly what you need. From rich and hearty no-bean chili to creamy chicken and gnocchi soup, tender Mexican steak picado, and even slow-cooked sloppy joes, every dish brings big flavor with barely any effort. You’ll find cozy soups, flavorful stews, cheesy casseroles, and no-fuss meats perfect for busy nights, family dinners, or meal prepping ahead. With everything from Pollo Verde to pulled pork, these crock pot favorites are sure to keep your mealtime stress-free and totally delicious. Get All The Recipes: 40 Slow Cooker Recipes That Do the Work for You