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8 Foods You Didn’t Know You Could Grill

Grilled Pineapple With Honey Whipped Cream

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

Cauliflower

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 Banana Boats

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

Slice your watermelon into wedges, leaving the rind on—it will give you a place to easily grasp with your tongs to turn or move the fruit without damaging the flesh. Because of the high water content, you won’t see deep char marks, but don’t worry, grilling brings out a richer flavor in the watermelon. And, like watermelon, mangos are great on the grill, too!

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.

Grilled Pineapple With Honey Whipped Cream

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.


Grilled Tofu

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.
 

56 Responses to 8 Foods You Didn’t Know You Could Grill

  1. Goldie Jones May 9, 2016 at 12:20 am #

    Fantastic, I cannot wait to try them.

  2. Candace May 9, 2016 at 10:26 am #

    Me either Goldie! Looks delicious!!!

    • Darlene July 9, 2020 at 5:27 pm #

      Wow had no idea you could do those on a grill

  3. Maureen May 9, 2016 at 8:26 pm #

    The watermelon is wonderful. I haven’t tried the bananas but I see that in my future grilling!

    • Candace Kirkham May 11, 2016 at 12:10 pm #

      Me too! I just showed my husband the bananas!

      • de Jesus Mary Kay June 26, 2020 at 8:57 pm #

        I love grilled tofu and cauliflower!!

      • Kim S August 3, 2020 at 8:51 am #

        Brisket gueso.

    • Chelsea July 9, 2020 at 2:06 pm #

      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!

  4. Terri Raterink August 13, 2016 at 3:59 pm #

    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!

    • Kathy August 5, 2018 at 1:10 pm #

      Me too Terri…Learned in Girl Scouts years ago how to make Banana Boats….YUMMY! ❤

      • Stacy Walters June 26, 2020 at 7:31 pm #

        Have Done the banana boat ones before, so good

      • Alicia Littlejohn June 27, 2020 at 8:29 pm #

        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 🙂

    • Elaine June 26, 2020 at 10:25 pm #

      We did too and I am much older than others. I am making them now for my grandchildren.

  5. Juliana June 1, 2018 at 2:17 pm #

    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.

    • Lynette July 30, 2018 at 9:10 am #

      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.

    • Karen August 28, 2018 at 10:37 pm #

      Where you say “add balsamic syrup”, do you mean balsamic vinegar?

      • Jodi Gement July 9, 2020 at 11:30 am #

        Not sure if anyone replied to you or not, but yes, balsamic vinegar.

      • Nicola (Nicky) Kaufmann February 5, 2021 at 5:25 pm #

        Thanks I wondered about that as I haven’t used the vinegar very much but this sounds really yummy for summer!

    • Fran Jones June 26, 2020 at 3:49 pm #

      that looks yummy…thanks for sharing

    • Brenda June 27, 2020 at 10:06 am #

      Awesome! Had this at a restaurant several years ago and it was fantastic!❤️ So glad to have a recipe.

    • Brenda June 27, 2020 at 10:08 am #

      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.

    • Allison Pascucci July 23, 2020 at 10:57 am #

      Thank you!! This sounds AMAZING!!!

  6. Jean Freeman July 2, 2018 at 1:42 pm #

    Great ideas.

  7. Mary Rodriguez Morales July 5, 2018 at 1:23 pm #

    WOW, I must be hungry everything looks delicious! Need to get a new grill!

  8. Marcella Lierly August 16, 2018 at 6:29 pm #

    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.

  9. Kathleen Byers June 9, 2020 at 9:05 am #

    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.

  10. Sandra Grimsley June 16, 2020 at 7:59 am #

    Watermelon and tofu, great ideas can’t wait to try!

  11. Lisa grasser June 23, 2020 at 8:47 am #

    Love Grilled Pineapple ! Grilling changes up the taste it’s amazing.

    • Patricia Lamm June 28, 2020 at 7:46 pm #

      I’ve got to try some of these.

  12. Michelle June 25, 2020 at 2:32 pm #

    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!!!

  13. Emily June 26, 2020 at 3:15 pm #

    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.

  14. ann June 26, 2020 at 3:19 pm #

    We grill zucchini, yellow squash and eggplant all the time! Love it.

  15. Teri M June 26, 2020 at 3:20 pm #

    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!

  16. Camille June 26, 2020 at 3:22 pm #

    Grill fresh peaches. OH.SO.GOOD!

  17. Mikki June 26, 2020 at 3:26 pm #

    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!!

  18. Gary M June 26, 2020 at 3:50 pm #

    Planked: meatloaf, mashed potatoes, hamburgers. Pizza. All great on the grill.

  19. Marge Murray June 26, 2020 at 3:51 pm #

    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.

  20. Pamela Szponer June 26, 2020 at 5:55 pm #

    Oh Boy! The Banana Boats are a blast from my Girl Scout summer camp past!
    Lots of great ideas here!!

  21. deborah June 26, 2020 at 7:22 pm #

    I include cucumbers on my kabobs…sliced 1/2 to 3/4 inches thick. got this idea from a Japanese cookbook I have…deliccious

  22. Robyn June 26, 2020 at 8:28 pm #

    I can’t wait until I get the indoor/outdoor grill to be able to try these!

  23. LuAnne K June 27, 2020 at 6:45 am #

    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!

  24. Jamie Brovont June 27, 2020 at 8:17 am #

    I can’t wait to try some of this!!

  25. Kathy June 27, 2020 at 2:19 pm #

    Grilled avacados are amazing!!

  26. Amy June 27, 2020 at 7:34 pm #

    Grilled pineapple brushed with pure maple syrup is my favorite.

  27. Roseann Clark June 28, 2020 at 1:44 pm #

    Becca, I hope my stone arrives soon! These recipes look delicious 😋

  28. Nicole Hubert June 28, 2020 at 10:35 pm #

    Fried jalapeño poppers wrapped in bacon

  29. Monya McCoy July 3, 2020 at 12:18 am #

    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.

  30. Tammy July 9, 2020 at 11:48 am #

    Great ideas. Can’t wait to try some.

  31. Jes July 21, 2020 at 9:07 am #

    Grilled pizza w/fresh mozzarella & what ever toppings you crave. A little corn meal on the crust so it doesn’t stick

  32. Debra Grider July 27, 2020 at 8:05 am #

    Those grilled pineapples look great!!!!!

  33. Judy July 27, 2020 at 9:25 am #

    Grilled pineapple and banana boats are my favorite things to grill.
    We have made s’mores from the grill as well!😋

  34. Lynn July 28, 2020 at 6:19 am #

    Watermelon! Who knew? Just bought one yesterday & will have to try it!

  35. Tracey Byrd August 18, 2020 at 9:44 am #

    Bacon wrapped meatloaf

  36. Pauline McCallie April 28, 2021 at 9:06 am #

    Pineapple, watermelon, and banana I would like to try. Some of the others I have tried.

  37. Hope Holten May 11, 2021 at 11:30 pm #

    I always have apples and love them grilled, cut in half, clean seeds out and grill~

  38. Tamara November 6, 2022 at 4:29 am #

    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

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