22 Grilling Recipes for Your Memorial Day Cookout

Citrus-Brined Grilled Pork Chops

Giving thick chops an hour to brine is well worth the added step to keep them nice and juicy. They’re topped with a brown sugar and paprika rub and hit the grill for six minutes per side. Use an instant read thermometer to ensure perfectly cooked pork chops. (RK)

Spicy Grilled Turkey Burger with Coleslaw

A shake or two of tabasco sauce ups the wow factor for these easy turkey burgers. Fresh basil and mayo are used for both the burgers and the coleslaw, which helps tie the meal together and makes prep time a breeze. (RK)

Grilled Romaine Lettuce

If you’re looking for an easy upgrade to the side salad, try grilling whole romaine hearts! A herb vinaigrette is lightly brushed on right before grilling on high heat. Serve whole or chopped, for a simple grilled salad. (RK)

Char Siu Chicken

Only requiring eight ingredients and 30 minutes of active time, this dish is sure to delight. Chicken thighs are quickly marinated in a combination of ginger, soy sauce, and hoisin sauce before grilling. Serve with classic potato salad or daikon and carrot pickles. (RK)

Grilled Mexican Street Corn (Elote)

This quick and easy side dish can feed a large crowd. Sweet, char-grilled corn is topped with a tangy sauce of crema, lime, and cilantro—serve with carne asada and you will not disappoint your guests.

Of course, you can do plain grilled corn on the cob, too. (RK)

Slow and Low Country Ribs

Cooking meaty pork ribs over low heat for hours lends a tender, perfectly juicy rib. Baste in barbecue sauce, serve with coleslaw and a fistful of napkins. (RK)

How to Grill the Best Steak

I love a thick ribeye steak for special occasions, especially for a smaller gathering. Season the steak and let it dry brine in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours before grilling. Thirty minutes before you want to eat, make the herbed butter on the stovetop and heat up the grill. Cook the steak to desired doneness and let it rest for five minutes before slicing and serving. (RK)

Grilled Chicken with South Carolina-Style BBQ Sauce

It’s surprisingly easy to make your own mustard-based barbecue sauce. This one uses seven basic pantry ingredients and is ready in ten minutes. You can make it ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Leftovers can be used to make an excellent pulled chicken sandwich. (RK)

Grilled Fish Tacos with Strawberry Pineapple Salsa

Kick off summer with light and fresh fish tacos. The strawberry pineapple salsa is perfectly in-season and can be put together two days beforehand. (RK)

Hot Dogs with Spicy Kimchi Slaw

Make your backyard barbecue seamless and easy by setting out a variety of toppings for a build-your-own hot dog bar. This kimchi slaw is a fresh and easy addition to an all-meat or meatless hot dog. (RK)

Greek Pizza on the Grill

Who says you can’t grill up a variety of pizzas for your Memorial Day celebration? Grilled potatoes, zucchini, olives, and feta are added to a grilled pizza crust for an unforgettable vegetarian pie. Feel free to experiment and use any other veggies, cheeses, and meats you have on hand. (RK)

Grilled Artichokes

Simply prepared artichokes are steamed first and then brushed with an herb infused oil. Set them on the grill to take on a little char and you’ll never want to eat artichokes any other way. (RK)

Barbecued Pork Shoulder on a Gas Grill

Fire up the gas grill for this pork shoulder that's wrapped in foil and grilled low and slow, taking on a smoky flavor. Start early in the day. A four-pound roast can take about 8 hours, but it's definitely worth it. (RS)

Grilled Spicy Citrus Ribs With Bourbon Glaze

Brine plumps up the meat with extra moisture so they won't dry out easily on the grill—which comes in handy if the Memorial Day cookout festivities distract you. (RS)

Grilled Onions

Take your burger toppings up a notch with these grilled onions. They take on a sweet and smoky flavor that complements any grilled patty. (RS)

Easy Grilled Salmon

This grilled salmon recipe gives four different marinades to choose from. Each works with the same basic method, one that ingeniously prevents the fish falling apart on the grate. (RS)

Grilled Asparagus

Fresh asparagus is abundant just around Memorial Day, and this recipe cooks them simply and quickly on the grill. They're tender, but still have a bit of a crunch. Grill a bunch, because they're kind of irresistible. (RS)

Grilled BBQ Wings

Start the cookout off with these popular wings. Grill them low and slow over indirect heat and then slather with homemade Buffalo sauce. (RS)

Grilled Radicchio Salad

Grilling radicchio transforms the vegetable's bitterness into a slight nuttiness. It's super easy to grill, and you can serve it warm or at room temperature. Throw it on the grill first and it'll still be good by the time you finish the burgers, dogs, and BBQ chicken. (RS)

Beef Kabobs

Fill the grill with these kabobs, pile the skewered grilled meat and vegetables high on a plate, and watch them disappear. Marinate the beef overnight for the best results. (RS)

Juicy Lucy Hamburger

What's a juicy Lucy burger? It's a cheeseburger with the cheese inside instead of on top. There's a molten American cheese center in this grilled, super juicy burger, perfect for a Memorial Day cookout. (RS)

Beer Can Chicken

Serve the juiciest chicken to ever come off your grill to your cookout guests when you cook the entire chicken on top of a can of beer. As the beer steams inside the bird's cavity, it keeps it moist on the inside while the heat from the grill crisps up the outside. (RS)