Grilling is just as versatile as any other way you cook, and you can grill just about anything you can cook indoors. Grilled fruit is especially delicious because the natural sugars caramelize, making them extra sweet.
Try changing the burger and hot dog routine and grill nachos or polenta instead. Then make grilled pineapple your go-to dessert. See our list of grilling recipes that will change the way you think about backyard grilling forever.
Grilled Cauliflower
Crowned one of the best vegetables to cook with by top chefs, doctors, nutritionists, foodies, and home cooks alike, cauliflower is a blank slate with great texture. You can do pretty much anything with cauliflower. When cut into large slices and given a good char, it becomes tender, smoky, and (dare we say it) almost steak-like. Just brush the cauliflower slices with 1 tbsp of oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Place them on the grill and cover for 25–35 minutes, turning frequently, and they’re ready to go
Grilled Banana Boats
When you make Grilled Banana Boats with chocolate morsels and mini marshmallows (they’re amazing), you’ll discover a super sweet and gooey treat that everyone at your next cookout will love. It’s also a tasty, and maybe slightly healthier alternative to s’mores when you throw a backyard camping party for the kids.
Grilled Zucchini
When it’s cooked on the grill, this veggie becomes sweet, crispy, and infused with smoky goodness. All you have to do is cut the zucchini into ½” slices or planks and prep your grill for direct cooking over medium-high heat (about 400°F–450°F). Then, brush the planks with vegetable or olive oil and season them with salt and pepper. Cover the grill for 6–8 minutes, turning as needed, until dark grill marks appear. Grilled zucchini tastes great with grilled fish or on fresh summer salads.
Grilled Watermelon
Grilled Pineapple
Grilled Pineapple With Honey Whipped Cream is a fabulous summer dessert that tastes sweeter and juicier after it’s grilled. You can use a grill pan to make it on the stovetop on rainy days, too.
Blackened Cod With Grilled Pineapple is another satisfying grill recipe when you’re looking for a lighter, grilled meal. Use a grill mat to prevent the food from either sticking to the grates or falling through them.
Polenta
Grilling polenta makes it tender in the center and crisp on the outside. Simply brush slices of polenta with 2 tbsp of oil and add salt and pepper to taste. Use direct medium-high heat on the grill. Place your polenta slices on the grill and cover 8–10 minutes or until you see grill marks. Stack them with grilled portabella mushrooms and heirloom tomatoes and top with mozzarella and basil. Delicious!
Tofu
Like cauliflower, tofu is a notoriously bland food that you can transform on the grill. Marinate tofu with any flavors you like. Grill your marinated tofu on direct medium-high heat, covered, for 6–9 minutes until you see char marks.
Here’s a grilling pro tip: Thread the tofu onto skewers to keep it from breaking apart when you turn it on the grill. Soak the bamboo skewers in water for 2 hours or overnight to keep them from burning.
Nachos
Meld all the amazing nachos flavors you love with added smoky depth when you make Grilled Loaded Nachos. Imagine how fast your friends will eat up layers of crispy tortilla chips, roasted veggies, and melted cheese at your next cookout. No need to turn on your oven this summer!
Watch how easy it is to make nachos on the grill.
Fantastic, I cannot wait to try them.
Me either Goldie! Looks delicious!!!
Wow had no idea you could do those on a grill
The watermelon is wonderful. I haven’t tried the bananas but I see that in my future grilling!
Me too! I just showed my husband the bananas!
I love grilled tofu and cauliflower!!
Brisket gueso.
We like wrapping them in foil and putting them in the embers of a fire pit! I’ve never tried grilling them before though…sounds just as delish!
My family has been making Banana Boats since I was a kid and I’m 51 now. We usually wrap them in heavy duty foil and put them on the coals of the campfire. I’m going to have to try it on the grill because they’re yummy!
Me too Terri…Learned in Girl Scouts years ago how to make Banana Boats….YUMMY! ❤
Have Done the banana boat ones before, so good
Thanks I can not wait to try these! Also to the lady who left the recipe thank you too I look forward to trying this one as well 🙂
We did too and I am much older than others. I am making them now for my grandchildren.
Grilled Pineapple ala mode with a sweet and spicy balsamic reduction is one of my favorite desserts to serve for guests! It’s so simple.
Brush fresh slice pineapple lightly with oil.
Sprinkle with chili powder (optional)
Grill 2 minutes make a 1/4 turn
Grill for 2 minutes flip (makes the pretty grill marks!)
Grill for 2 minutes make a 1/4 turn
Grill for 2 minutes and plate
Meanwhile, in a saucepan over medium heat
Add balsamic syrup (I use a whole bottle because I love this stuff)
Add something sweet (honey, brown sugar, sugar, agave syrup…) I use a few Tbsp to 1 bottle vinegar
Add a dash of chili powder (optional)
Bring mixture to a simmer and allow to simmer until reduced to a syrup.
Start checking it after it’s reduced by more than half.
To serve
Plate two slices warm grilled pineapple
Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream
Drizzle with balsamic reductions.
Omg Terri, me too! Those were my favorite growing up.we also used tin foul. I made them for my children when they were young. It’s been a long time since i last made them, now i’m gonna start again.
Where you say “add balsamic syrup”, do you mean balsamic vinegar?
Not sure if anyone replied to you or not, but yes, balsamic vinegar.
Thanks I wondered about that as I haven’t used the vinegar very much but this sounds really yummy for summer!
that looks yummy…thanks for sharing
Awesome! Had this at a restaurant several years ago and it was fantastic!❤️ So glad to have a recipe.
Juliana- Awesome! Had the Balsamic Reduction on ice cream at a restaurant several years ago and it was fantastic!❤️ So glad to have a recipe.
Thank you!! This sounds AMAZING!!!
Great ideas.
WOW, I must be hungry everything looks delicious! Need to get a new grill!
Grilled Romaine Lettuce – sprinkle with a little oil, salt, garlic, fresh parmesan cheese and set it on the grill for a quick grill. Great with fish, chicken, beef, whatever.
We grow our own fresh pineapples, so we love to throw those on the grill for a few seconds.
They are so sweet and sugary they brown very quickly.
Watermelon and tofu, great ideas can’t wait to try!
Love Grilled Pineapple ! Grilling changes up the taste it’s amazing.
I’ve got to try some of these.
Try grilled Cabbage Steaks- Alice a head of cabbage into thick slices- marinate in olive oil and white wine and seasoning of choice. Then grill them!!! I use one of those grill trays, cause they will fall apart if moved around too much- but talk about so good!!!
Lemon tarts with grilled peaches. peel and slice fresh peaches, brush with a little coconut oil and grill just until they are slightly tender. Makes the best finishing touches on lemon tarts.
We grill zucchini, yellow squash and eggplant all the time! Love it.
Also sliced beets, red or gold. I cut them 1/4-1/3″ thick, brush with oil and season with salt and whatever herbs seem right that day for the rest of the meal. They take longer than the pineapple but are worth the wait!
Grill fresh peaches. OH.SO.GOOD!
I saw an idea to grill salmon in a piece of pineapple rind. It not only keeps the salmon from sticking but it adds a wonderful flavor. Can’t wait to try that
I also baked a cake in my grill just to see if I could. It thought I had put the pan in the oven and it was great. Didn’t have a smoky flavor at all. My grill has a thermometer on the front but you can put an oven thermometer on the rack And it works if your electricity is off!!
Planked: meatloaf, mashed potatoes, hamburgers. Pizza. All great on the grill.
That Pineapple looks lushes. I’m going to make sure my son picks up a pineapple before the 4th weekend. I’m letting him fire up his BBQ & fix whatever he & my youngest grandson want to eat.
Oh Boy! The Banana Boats are a blast from my Girl Scout summer camp past!
Lots of great ideas here!!
I include cucumbers on my kabobs…sliced 1/2 to 3/4 inches thick. got this idea from a Japanese cookbook I have…deliccious
I can’t wait until I get the indoor/outdoor grill to be able to try these!
We love grilled pizza! Brush one side with a little vegetable oil, grill for a couple minutes till warmed and thise beautiful grill lines appear. Flip iit so the grill lines are what you put your toppings on. ( I also oil the other side so the crust won’t stick when I finish cooking it) Put your toppings on, return to grill for another 5-6 minutes, till chees melts and everything is hot. Yum!
I can’t wait to try some of this!!
Grilled avacados are amazing!!
Grilled pineapple brushed with pure maple syrup is my favorite.
Becca, I hope my stone arrives soon! These recipes look delicious 😋
Fried jalapeño poppers wrapped in bacon
We brush with a little bit of olive oil and a pinch of salt on peach halfs and grill them. They are so good. Either with meat or with homemade ice cream – if they make it.
Great ideas. Can’t wait to try some.
Grilled pizza w/fresh mozzarella & what ever toppings you crave. A little corn meal on the crust so it doesn’t stick
Those grilled pineapples look great!!!!!
Grilled pineapple and banana boats are my favorite things to grill.
We have made s’mores from the grill as well!😋
Watermelon! Who knew? Just bought one yesterday & will have to try it!
Bacon wrapped meatloaf
Pineapple, watermelon, and banana I would like to try. Some of the others I have tried.
I always have apples and love them grilled, cut in half, clean seeds out and grill~
I love to grill veggies of all kinds- zucchini, eggplant, carrots, peppers, yellow squash, sliced sweet potato, mushrooms…make the best snacks, salads, sandwiches and wraps
Caramelized Brown Sugar Cinnamon Grilled Pineapple
1 pineapple (cut into spears)
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1/2 cup Butter (melted)
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1. Lay the pineapple spears on a pan. Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon. Whisk together the butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. (If it seems thick, I always put it in the microwave for a few seconds so that it can easily pour on top of the pineapple.) Spread on top of the pineapple using a cooking brush.
2. Grill directly on grates for about 7-10 minutes or until it is starting to turn golden brown. I always like to brush the excess sauce from the pan back on top of the pineapple before serving.
~ NOTES ~
* What to Serve with Grilled Pineapple: *
This grilled pineapple is perfect as a side dish, adding it to salads or salsa. This pineapple tastes delicious once grilled and can be served so many ways.
* Appetizer: * Add some extra flavor to this pineapple cheese ball.
* Side Dish: * Pineapple is sweet and subtle for any home cooked meal.
* Salad: * This grilled mango and pineapple salad is perfect for adding in grilled pineapple.
* Burger or Sandwich: * Most burgers or sandwiches taste better with a citrus pineapple slice that is grilled up.
* Salsa: * Chop up the pineapple spears and add in some extra flavors to your salsa.
* Topping: * Pineapple topping with various ingredients added on top of steak, pork or chicken makes a great topping.
* Stir Fry: * Cook some rice and vegetables and add in grilled pineapple chunks for more sweet and citrusy texture and taste.
* You can even grill your desserts – toast slices of pound cake or angel food cake and serve with a strawberry-blueberry topping and vanilla ice cream.*
CAMPFIRE APPLE PIE (Foil Packets) (Grill)
1 apple, (cored and sliced)
1 tbsp butter
1 1/2 tbsp brown sugar
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp dried cranberries or raisins, (optional)
1 tbsp chopped pecans, (optional)
1. Preheat grill (to medium heat). Cut a 12 x 18-inch sheet of nonstick foil.
2. Place apple slices on foil along with butter, brown sugar and cinnamon and dried cranberries.
3. Wrap packet securely with double-fold seals, allowing for a bit of room for heat expansion.
4. Place packet on grill; cover and cook for about 15 minutes over medium heat.
5. Be careful when removing from the grill it will be very hot! Also, use caution when opening packets because there will be hot steam as you open them.
6. We serve right in the packets. There will be juices on the bottom of the packet so gently stir the apples before taking a bite.
~NOTES~
I’m adding dried cranberries to this but you can leave those out, or use raisins. My other favorite ingredient to have (if I have them on hand) are some chopped pecans.
This recipe is for one serving. So it’s easy to take this recipe and make as many as you need for your crowd.
This would be fun to set up as a baked apple bar. Set all the ingredients out for your guests and let them top with whatever they like and then grill them to order!
I am making these like fried apples so I keep the peel on but you can obviously peel your apples if you don’t enjoy it that way.
*CAN I MAKE THESE IN THE OVEN?*
Keep in mind, any recipe that is made on the grill can also be made in the oven. Generally it can be baked at 350° F. on a baking sheet but you may have to play with the cooking times a bit. I would say about 15- 20 minutes. But this is a simple recipe to enjoy some sweetened fruit with your meal. Great for camp outs and BBQ’s! My husband loves to open his packet and dig in.
*Tips*
Preheat grill (to medium heat). Cut a 12×18-inch sheet of nonstick foil. Place apple slices (on the nonstick side of the foil) along with butter, brown sugar and cinnamon and dried cranberries (if using). If you don’t have nonstick foil, just put a little bit of nonstick spray on the foil to keep the apples from sticking while baking.
Place packet on grill and cover and cook for about 15 minutes over medium heat. If using a charcoal grill, make sure your grate is set at least 4-6 inches above the charcoals.
This would be fun to set up as a baked apple bar. Set all the ingredients out for your guests and let them top with whatever they like. This is delicious put into a bowl and a little ice cream served on top! I will take the extra juices from the foil packet and drizzle it over the ice cream.
Grilled peaches are amazing on the grill. Love to do pizza too.