After an Easter Bank Holiday weekend filled with sunshine and blue skies, we’ve now been given just a tiny glimpse into the glorious Summer we’ve got to look forward to. With this in mind, if you are the designated chef of the family, now is the perfect time to begin experimenting with weird and wonderful recipes that can be introduced to the months of barbeques that await you. Take a look at our super quick and easy Summer BBQ ideas; we promise that there will be something to tantalise the tastebuds of every guest!
Easy Summer BBQ Ideas You Must Try!
The sun brings joy to every household; it gives each family member the well-needed motivation to get up and moving. Summer is fantastic for bringing loved ones together for long evenings of laughter, fun and most importantly, mouthwatering food! For those who adore nothing more than trailing new ingredients, spices and cooking techniques, the approaching barbeque season brings the perfect opportunity to test the recipes you have been dreaming of all Winter. With years of experience providing BBQ smoked catering in Bedford, we’ve picked up our fair share of unique recipes we’d love to share. So, here is our favourite 15 Summer-inspired dish ideas!
1. Burrito Bowls
If you love the idea of BBQ food but would prefer to prepare a set meal for guests, burrito bowls are ideal. Filled with a plethora of authentic Mexican flavours, burrito bowls are not only tasty but also super healthy. They allow considerably more freedom with meat choices and accompaniments meaning bowls can be perfectly tailored to your tastebuds – there are even solely veggie-based recipes. The only components that must be included to create a traditional burrito bowl are salsa, guacamole, beans and sour cream.
To stick with the Mexican theme, why not consider serving your dish in gorgeously patterned ‘bohemian’ style bowls. We love the Maxwell & Williams set available on JD Williams!
2. Sweet and Sour Shrimp
Many assume that when throwing a BBQ, you must stick to traditional barbequed meats such as chicken, sausages and burgers; however, this most definitely is not the case. A quirky seafood twist can be added through delicious sweet and sour shrimps. Sweet and sour shrimps take less than 15 minutes to prepare and can be cooked on skewers in as little as 10 minutes!
The sweet and sour sauce is, in fact, super easy to make from scratch and requires just five ingredients – barbeque sauce, lemon juice, pineapple preserves, soy sauce and ground ginger. Taste Of Home has put together a guide on how to prepare and cook sweet and sour shrimps using these ingredients!
3. Sesame Steak
If you’re a self-confessed lover of steak, then you’re probably shaking your head at the thought of adding a sticky sauce to your barbequed meat, but trust us!
Sesame includes the perfect balance of sweet and savoury flavours, bringing a whole host of fantastic health benefits to your favourite meat. Not only does sesame hold an exceptional nutritional profile but it is also, surprisingly, proven to improve dental health, strengthen your immune system and fights off free radicals.
Preparing sesame steak couldn’t be easier. While there are a number of different ingredients required to make the marinade, it is merely a case of combining all components in a resealable plastic bag. The necessary ingredients for your marinade are soy sauce, brown sugar, vegetable oil, sesame seeds, onion powder, lemon juice, ground ginger and of course, your steak. For a full recipe on how to make sesame steaks, take a look at Reader’s Digest!
4. Grilled Potato Skins
You simply cannot throw a BBQ without adding crispy loaded potato skins to your menu – they are a timeless classic that everyone will enjoy!
Potato skins are super versatile which means that they can be accompanied by any filling that you think your guests will love. Whether you opt for a simple bacon and cheese combination or something a little different such as BBQ pulled pork, potato skins are guaranteed to go down a storm. They are an excellent choice for starters or appetisers to keep friends and family full until the main courses are ready.
The only downside to potato skins is that that cannot be entirely cooked on the BBQ. They must first be popped in the microwave to soften and will require just a final grilling on the BBQ for a smoky taste before serving.
5. Lemon Chicken Flatbreads
Lemon chicken flatbreads are the perfect ‘guilt-free’ yet tasty barbequed dish. They are ideal if you cannot wait to sit in the garden enjoying the delicious chargrilled taste of the BBQ, yet do not want to break the clean diet you have kept up over the fast few months.
To marinate your chicken, combine lemon zest, lemon juice, oregano, garlic, cinnamon and oil in a bowl then add the chicken. Allow the chicken to chill in the fridge covered for no longer than an hour. Once marinated, the chicken can then be removed and placed on the BBQ to grill. Your flatbreads can also be warmed up and slightly chargrilled on the griddle. Now that your chicken has been cooked and flatbread warmed up, the dish can then be finished with a dash of Greek yoghurt, chopped red pepper and lettuce.
6. Chilli-Butter BBQ Corn
Corn on the cob is a ‘must have’ addition to any barbeque, however, can sometimes taste a little dull. A fantastic way to add a unique twist to your corn is incorporating a spicy garlic butter.
When preparing your chilli-butter corn, one of the main ingredients will be harissa, a Tunisian hot chilli pepper paste. The amount of harissa you add, of course, will be based on the level of heat you prefer. Your chilli garlic butter will consist of butter, honey, tomato sauce, garlic and harissa; all of which are mashed together into a smooth mix. Many opt for preparing two bowls of butter, one with harissa and one without, so guest can choose whichever option is best suited to them. Just before you place your corn on the grill, use a pastry brush to add a generous layer of chilli garlic butter then cook.
7. 5-a-day Veggie Burgers
Barbeques can often be very much meat orientated, and while this isn’t a problem, those who are vegetarian can often struggle to find a tasty dish that meets their requirements. So, if you are a vegetarian hoping to experiment with new BBQ dishes this Summer or are inviting guests who do not eat meat, 5-a-day veggie burgers are ideal. There are many different components of the 5-a-day veggie burger including peach ketchup, mushroom and bean patties and a Panzanella-style salad, but don’t let this put you off! It will take under an hour to prepare your burgers and just 15 minutes to cook on the barbeque. This BBC Good Food recipe includes all steps required to cook the perfect 5-a-day veggie burger!
8. Orange Picante Pork Chops
Although you will need to begin preparing orange Picante pork chops the day before your barbeque, the final taste will most definitely be worth the wait. Using just four main ingredients, this dish is ideal for adding an intense flavour to pork chops that are often relatively plain in taste. While the combination of Picante sauce and an orange juice may seem a little out of the ordinary, they work in perfect harmony. The spice of the Picante sauce and citrus zing of the orange create a rich, savoury dish that fantastically compliments the pork.
Begin with adding 2 cups of Picante sauce, 3 cups of orange juice and 3 minced garlic cloves to a small bowl. Pour a few cups of the marinade into a resealable bag and add the pork chops. Allow the pork chops to sit in the marinade in the fridge for at least four hours, aim to leave overnight. Once the pork chops have been infused, they can then be popped on the barbeque to cook.
9. Grilled Vegetable Platter
With so much emphasis on the huge array of main dishes to trial at your next barbeque, we thought it would be only fair to incorporate a tasty side dish all guests will love. Opting to serve a grilled vegetable platter is a wonderful accompaniment and means that there is guaranteed to be something everyone will enjoy. Similarly to potato skins, your grilled vegetable platter can be super flexible to meet your requirements. The vegetables you choose to include are entirely your choice, some of the most popular include asparagus, red peppers, sweet potato and carrots.
When preparing your grilled vegetables, ensure that they are cut into large chunks as it will make it considerably easier to cook on the barbeque. Small pieces of vegetables are likely to fall through the grill onto the coal and will no longer be edible. It is your choice whether you stick to simple grilled vegetables or add a flavourful marinade. We love the five fantastic vegetable marinade ideas on Care2!
10. Sticky Glazed Ribs
Nothing says Summer BBQ like getting stuck into a rack of super sticky glazed ribs. In our many years providing special occasion catering in Buckingham and surrounding areas, we must admit that sticky BBQ ribs are always guaranteed to go down a treat!
Due to the evergrowing popularity of glazed ribs, you will never be short for unique recipes to try from the comfort of your home. There are many different recipes that can bring either a sweet or savoury twist to your meat depending on the flavours you love the most. One of the most quirky recipes for ribs we have come across is the Dr Pepper glaze featured in Olive Magazine. Using a combination of Dr Pepper, whole allspice berries and star anise, along with a spicy caramel glaze, a whole new taste sensation is introduced to the traditional barbeque dish!
Throw The Ultimate Summer BBQ!
While some of our favourite Summer barbeque recipes may sound a little out of the ordinary, you would be surprised how well they work. The combination of intense flavours with rich meat and vegetables is guaranteed to go down a storm with your lucky guests. Always spend time experimenting with different ingredients and tailor recipes to suit your tastebuds. Be bold with flavours and think outside the box!
We hope that you love our super tasty recipes as much as we do, if so, why not share with your loved ones on social media?