My Favorite Cookout Recipes for Summer Fun and Feasting
These summer cookout recipes will make eating outside so much more fun–from classic hot dogs and burgers to refreshing side dish options, we’ve got it all.
One of my favorite summer rituals is eating outside in the backyard. Even if it’s just Dan and me, it feels so much better to sit around our outdoor dining table and relax–especially these days.
Over the years, I’ve amassed a long list of tried-and-true cookout recipes that are absolutely perfect for serving and enjoying outdoors.
Some, like burgers and hot dogs, just taste best on the grill. Others, like my stovetop baked beans, tangy coleslaw, or elote corn salad, can be made ahead of time and brought outside when it’s time to dig in.
All of these easy cookout recipes can serve groups both large and small–so you don’t need to wait around for the day when you can finally have people over again.
Even if it’s just your family, eating outdoors offers a change of pace that makes the summer season that much more special.
And maybe this summer is the time to try a project like making your own burgers or freezing a batch of homemade pudding pops.
Or just do something new like mixing it up with a new hot dog topping, like my favorite Chicago dog relish.
Bookmark this list of my go-to summer cookout recipes for when you need a pick-me-up–I’m sure they’ll become your favorites too.
Easy Summer Cookout Recipes
Marinated hot dogs? Yes! Trust me, once you try this method, it's the only way you'll want to eat grilled hot dogs from now on.
Primanti's, Pittsburgh's most famous sandwich shop, puts coleslaw and french fries in each 'wich. This is the famous vinegar-based slaw you'll want to put on everything.
This Chicago dog relish mixes the classic Chicago dog toppings—pickles, mustard, peppers, and more—into one easy relish that you can use all summer.
Elote corn salad is a riff on everyone's favorite Mexican street snack—this one, you can eat easily with a fork instead of your fingers!
Whether or not you want to grind your own burger meat, you'll definitely want to make these jalapeño-garlic hamburgers.
Not only can you make these baked beans in the stovetop instead of turning on your oven, but guess what? They're also vegetarian.
For a sweet finish, make homemade pudding pops with real pudding—not from a box!
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Casey Barber
Casey Barber is the owner and founder of Good Food Stories LLC and a visual storyteller whose work often focuses on the intersection of food and culture. She is also the author of the cookbooks Pierogi Love: New Takes on an Old-World Comfort Food and Classic Snacks Made from Scratch: 70 Homemade Versions of Your Favorite Brand-Name Treats, and she couldn’t get anything done without the help of her executive assistant cats, Bixby and Lenny. Her favorite color is obviously orange.