6 Grilled Recipes to Make Your Weeknights Easier

It’s grilling season, and you know what that means. It’s time to treat your family to some new flavors and put that outdoor kitchen to good use. Of course, cooking out can be a little intimidating if you’re used to hovering over a stove. However, as long as you pick a few easy recipes like the ones below, you’ll be whipping up dinner in no time. 

1. Peruvian Chicken

Pollo a la Brasa, or Peruvian chicken, is the spicy, citrusy flavor combo you never knew you needed. While traditional recipes call for the whole chicken, using a few thighs or breasts will keep this meal quick and simple. If you’re an excellent multitasker, you can pull the dish together in as little as 40 minutes. 

First, make the marinade and allow the chicken to marinate overnight. Then, whip up the spicy Peruvian green sauce while you’re waiting on the grill to heat up. Make the avocado tomato-cucumber salad while your meat is cooking and add cilantro rice for a heartier meal. Serve in bowls or allow everyone to assemble their own.  

2. Masala Street Corn

Maybe you’ve already prepared an entree and you’re looking for a grilled side to serve along with it. Well, this masala street corn might just fit the bill. This flavorful dish hails from Mumbai and tastes like all things summer. 

First, shuck your cobs and place them on the grill for about 12 minutes. Make the ghee-infused garam masala in the meantime. Then, lather it on your corn and add a squeeze of lime. Serve with optional garnishes like scallions, cilantro, chiles and lime wedges. 

3. Glazed Carrots

Glazed carrots are another easy side dish you can make right on the grill. Odds are you already have most — if not all — of the required ingredients, which makes this sweet, savory side the ideal accompaniment to almost any meal. Plus, they only take 15 to 20 minutes to make, glaze and all. 

Toss the carrots in olive oil and place them directly on the grill. Rotate them every few minutes until they’re charred on every side. Brush on the honeybutter brown sugar glaze just before pulling them off the grill, allowing them to cook an additional minute. Finally, remove the carrots and glaze them one last time before dishing up dinner. 

4. Teriyaki Shrimp and Pineapple

If you and the kids have a hankering for seafood, whip out the skewers and have some fun making this Asian-inspired dish. Sweet pineapple is the perfect complement to the spicy sriracha teriyaki sauce. Plus, both shrimp and pineapple are rich in antioxidants, which neutralize free radicals to boost overall health.

Make your own sauce or pick up some from your local grocery store. Marinate the shrimp and pineapple cubes for 30 minutes. Then, skewer them and cook over the grill until they’re slightly charred. Serve the final product with rice, vegetables or noodles or use it as taco filling if you’re feeling adventurous. 

5. Cajun Garlic Butter Lobster Tails

Most people reserve lobster for special occasions, but that shouldn’t stop you from grilling up a few lobster tails on a weeknight. Don’t worry. They’re much easier to make than most people realize. Plus, infusing lobster meat with flavors from your grill might render an even tastier dish than what you’d find at a seafood restaurant. 

In a small bowl, combine the butter, oil and spices. Then, butterfly each lobster tail and brush the sauce on top of the meat. Grill the lobster flesh side down for a few minutes. Then, flip them over, add some more sauce and cook for an additional five minutes before serving. See? Easier than you thought. 

6. Loaded Grilled Cauliflower

Sure, loaded baked potatoes are delicious, but have you tried loaded grilled cauliflower? Of all the ways to prepare this vegetable, grilling might be the most flavorful, especially when you combine the smokey taste with melty cheese and creamy ranch dressing. Just be sure to cut the cauliflower into three-fourths-inch slices to ensure they cook quickly and evenly. 

Heat your grill to medium and season each cauliflower steak with olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper. Grill each side for eight minutes, top with cheese and cook until melted. Then, drizzle your steaks with ranch, bacon, chives and any other toppings you desire. Serve with a side — or don’t! The choice is yours. 

Keep Cleanup Simple

Of course, using your grill to make all these delicious recipes also means you’ll have to clean it more frequently. If you don’t know what you’re doing, this process could be a real pain. Luckily, there are plenty of tips and tricks out there to simplify cleanup. 

For instance, if you don’t have a grill brush, you can use tongs and aluminum foil to scrape the grates. A halved onion works just as well. Just remember to clean up right after dinner. Otherwise, you’ll end up spending a few hours cleaning the grates instead of a few minutes.