CHICKEN

Chicken may be a popular grilling item, but that doesn’t mean it’s foolproof. Grilled chicken can cook unevenly or turn out dry. Use the right heat for the right cut (medium is always a good bet), and marinate when necessary (e.g., with boneless, skinless chicken there’s almost no fat to protect the meat while it cooks). Here are some of our favorite recipes for various cuts of our favorite bird.

Boneless, Skinless Chicken

By marinating the meat and then cooking it over consistent medium heat, you ensure a moist chicken. » Buttermilk Chicken with Peach-Tomato Salsa

Whole Chicken

Removing the backbone allows for more even cooking and increases the cooking surface area, so the overall time on the grill is nearly halved.
» Oregano-Marinated Grilled Chicken with Charred Lemons

Whole Chicken Cut Up

Everyone loves barbecued chicken, but you’ll find differing opinions on white versus dark meat. By cutting up the whole chicken and cooking it over even medium heat, you get flavorful pieces to satisfy everyone.
» Basic Barbecued Chicken

Chicken Skewers

The best way to ensure even cooking is to cut everything into evenly sized pieces. Both dark and white meat get tasty results.
» Honey-Mustard Chicken Skewers

Chicken Sausages

With their high ratio of fat to meat, sausages are perfect for grilling. Here we pair them up with seasonal fruit and herbs.
» Grilled Chicken Sausages with Peach-Sage Skewers

BURGERS

Iconic cookout food, yes. Boring, samey-same, and boring, maybe. Are you on burger autopilot? Fly free, from hard-core to basic.

Beef

Hubert Keller is a burger maximalist. While his Black Jack Burger stops short of absurdity (it’s not stuffed with short ribs, for example), it’s still an impressive hunk of juicy meat that will halt the most dedicated of carnivores in his tracks. » Black Jack Burger

Bison

Healthy but far from tasteless, bison is a great alternative to beef. Ground bison doesn’t need to cook as long as beef, and it has a richer flavor; experiment with toppings to make it your own. » Bison Bacon Cheeseburger

Lamb

Lamb is often relegated to special occasions, with racks, legs, and chops being the most common cuts. Ground lamb brings down the fuss factor in this burger loaded with Middle Eastern flavors. » Middle Eastern Lamb Burgers

Turkey

The turkey burger is to the ’90s what Madonna is to the ’80s: essential then, has-been now. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth grilling up every now and again. » Mushroom Turkey Burgers

STEAK

If you’re a classicist, opt for the top sirloin or rib-eye cuts. For some adventure and slightly lighter, leaner fare (that’s also lighter on the wallet), opt for flank or skirt steaks.

Top Sirloin

A great value, top sirloin is a favorite of steak-lovers no matter how it’s cooked. In this salad it can stand up to the vinaigrette without overwhelming everything. » Steak Salad with Tomato Vinaigrette

Rib-Eye

Well-marbled and flavorful—dare we say manly? You pay a price for all that manliness, though, so do it right with bold flavors that won’t overshadow the meat itself. » Basic Grilled Rib-Eye » Grilled Rib-Eyes with Chile-Lime-Tequila Butter

Rib Steak

With more fat and bone than a rib-eye, this cut is perfect for a weeknight fix. » Rib Steaks with Spice Rub and Green Bean Salad

Flank Steak

Affordable, ubiquitous, and forgiving—what more do you want from a cut of meat? A variety of marinades work well with flank steak, and you can eat it on its own, in a burrito, in a filling sandwich, or in a salad for a lighter take. » Flank Steak Salad with Arugula » Carne Asada » Bourbon-Marinated Flank Steak

Skirt Steak

Most famous as the cut used for fajitas, skirt steak is tender and flavorful. We’ll let this Mediterranean-inspired preparation do all the talking. » Grilled Skirt Steak with Caramelized Butter and Cumin

VEGETABLES

From classics like corn on the cob to more intriguing applications, recipes for veggie sides, salads, sandwiches, and mains all deserve their own space on the grill.

Whole Peppers

Stuffed peppers are the perfect edible vehicle for various flavors. Try Greek, Mexican, or whatever else fulfills your needs. » Stuffed Poblanos with Black Beans and Cheese » Stuffed Bell Peppers with Feta and Herbs

Romaine Hearts

Wilted lettuce is what you get when you let it sit in the fridge for a week. That sort of wilting is not the goal here: Romaine hearts soften and char up perfectly when grilled for a few minutes. It’s the summertime take on the warm salad. » Grilled Greek Salad

Asparagus

Need we state the obvious? Don’t line up the asparagus with the grate; lay it across the grate. After a few minutes, the stalks will be charred, tender, and bursting with flavor—the perfect combo for this toasty sandwich. » Grilled Vegetable Sandwich with Egg Salad and Bacon

Mushrooms

Hearty mushrooms like portobellos and creminis get smoky and juicy when caressed by the flames of the grill. Try them on their own, as the topping for a burger, or in a sweet-sour salad like this one. » Grilled Portobello and Radicchio Salad

Corn

We like grilling it in the husk so it stays moist yet benefits from the smokiness of the grill. You can slather on some butter and call it a day, or dress it up Latin-style (it’s called elote). » Basic Grilled Sweet Corn » Grilled Corn with Cayenne, Lime, and Cotija

Summer Beans

Something about grilling makes beans—be they green, romano, or cranberry—take on a meaty, full flavor. You can lightly grill them until tender or char them to amp up the smokiness. » Fire-Charred Green Beans with Cajun Dipping Sauce

SEAFOOD

Seafood is intimidating to cook even before you consider the open flame and unmediated heat factors of a grill. Throw caution to the wind: The trout and shrimp are a cinch, and once you’ve mastered those, challenge yourself with the fillet.

Whole Fish

We think you’ll find pretty much any trout, small salmon, or small bass quite agreeable when grilled whole. Switch up the seasonings to suit your taste, from lemongrass and cilantro to shallots and basil. » Campfire Trout with Herbs and Bacon

Fish Steak

The hardest of the seafood cuts to prepare on the grill. Everything (the grill, the spatula, and the fish) needs to be well oiled, and pay attention: The fish goes from undercooked to overdone quickly. » Halibut with Orange-Parsley Butter and Succotash

Shrimp

Skewering them helps keep things orderly while cooking. If shrimp aren’t your thing, try this with scallops or a cubed fatty fish like halibut or salmon. » Pineapple-Glazed Shrimp Skewers

DESSERT

You needn’t leave your perch at the grill, even for dessert. From fruit to cake, there are lots of sweet options to heat up while the grill cools down.

Fruit

Lots of fruit disintegrates or turns mushy on the grill, but stone fruit, pineapple, figs, and grapes do especially well. » Baklava Sundae with Grilled Peaches

Cake

Any substantial cake, from pound cake or angel food cake to shortcake, can be grilled. But steer away from fine-crumbed cakes (like standard birthday cake), which fall apart. » Grilled Lime Pound Cake with Raspberry-Kirsch Sorbet

Chocolate

Even chocolate can be grilled, we say. Try this grilled chocolate sandwich with spiced sugar; you can change the type of bread and the spices to your liking. » Grilled Chocolate Sandwich