Impress Your Guests With These Mouthwatering BBQ Recipes

Summer is officially here, and that means one thing: it’s barbecue season! From simple backyard cookouts to whole hog affairs, barbecue means different things to different folks. To some, it means roasting meat outdoors over an open flame. To others, it means smoking meat at low temperatures for long periods of time. Some think barbecue is just a sweet-and-spicy mop sauce, while others prefer a dry rub. From Kansas City to Memphis, East Texas to North Carolina, even out here in the California, barbecue almost always involves an outdoor meal with friends and family. So, get your apron on and get grillin’ with these amazing barbecue recipes that will impress your guests.

Appetizers

Mesquite Bacon Wrapped Shrimp

Photo courtesy Carlsbad Cravings

This simple appetizer packs a punch! Shrimp are wrapped in par-cooked bacon, skewered on a stick and grilled until crispy. The smoky mesquite flavor is tempered with an easy apricot-chili sauce, perfect for dunking.

Grilled Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers

Photo courtesy Spend with Pennies

In this recipe, fresh jalapeños are stuffed with a cheese mixture, wrapped in bacon and grilled until charred and crispy. You can even dip the whole shebang into a tangy homemade ranch.

Main Dishes

The Good Old Classic American Hamburger

Photo courtesy Girls Can Grill

What says “summer” more than a juicy hamburger straight from the grill? This recipe is a no-frills approach to the classic burger. There’s no need for artisan toppings or fancy sauces here. Sometimes all you need is meat, cheese and condiments for the perfect meal.

Barbecued Chicken on the Grill

Photo courtesy Simply Recipes

Barbecued chicken is another summer classic. Doused in a homemade barbecue sauce or your favorite bottled sauce, this barbecue chicken is sweet and crispy on the outside, moist and tender on the inside. It’s everything a perfect barbecued chicken should be!

Maple Brown Sugar Bacon Ribs

Photo courtesy Girls Can Grill

Bacon is awesome. Ribs are awesome. Combining the two and coating the whole thing in brown sugar and maple syrup and slow-roasting them to charred perfection is next level awesome. Sweet and smoky, crispy and tender – the perfect combination. Pig candy anyone?

Smoky BBQ Black Bean Burger

Photo courtesy Minimalist Baker 

Why should carnivores have all the fun? There are plenty of vegetarian barbecue recipes out there. This one combines black beans with quinoa, pecans, sweet potatoes and mushrooms for a stick-to-your ribs patty that holds up to barbecue sauce and your favorite toppings.

Sides

Grilled Buttered Corn and Spice Rubs

Photo courtesy Cook Republic

A summer barbecue just isn’t complete without grilled corn. In this recipe, fresh corn on the cob is sprinkled with a handmade spice rub. Take your pick from salt & lime, Cajun, or hot Mexican, or let your guests DIY with a spice bar.

Barbecue Baked Beans

Photo courtesy Garlic and Zest

A barbecue isn’t a barbecue without a side of baked beans. This recipe has just the right amount of smoke, just the right amount of heat and just the right amout of sweet. It pairs well with whatever you happen to have on the grill.

Basics

Homemade Barbecue Sauce

Photo courtesy Smitten Kitchen

A homemade barbecue sauces takes your cookout from average to amazing. Skip the store bought stuff and check out this version adapted from Ina Garten. It’s not as complicated as it seems – just mix up a few simple ingredients and you’re good to go. You’ll taste the difference!

BBQ Rub

Photo courtesy Dinner at the Zoo

If you prefer a dry rub over a barbecue sauce, try this all-purpose rub. It’s the perfect blend of sugar and spice and goes well with just about anything you can think of, from chicken to pork, potatoes to cauliflower.

Desserts

Firecracker S’mores

Photo courtesy Love and Olive Oil

Summer and s’mores are a match made in heaven. This recipe takes the classic campfire treat — gooey marshmallows and toasted graham crackers — and adds a firecrackery twist by using a chile-infused chocolate and popping candy. The sparkler is optional (but not recommended!)

Strawberry Lemonade Icebox Pie

Photo courtesy Julie’s Eats and Treats

Strawberries and lemonade are perfect for summer barbecues. Throw them together in pie form and you have a winning combination that’s perfect for a hot summer day. Best of all, this recipe doesn’t require baking – it sets up right in the freezer. With only a few ingredients and nearly zero prep time, it’s easy as … well, pie.