We LOVE a Good Summer Cookout with friends and family. Of course, the classic burgers and hot dogs on the grill with some watermelon is good enough for us. However, there are SO many other great options! The easiest way we have found is for the host and/or hostess to be in charge of the grill. Maybe have everyone bring their own thing to grill. Then, have everyone bring a side dish or dessert to share.
Here are some of our FAVORITES for a Summertime Cookout~
Let’s start with Salads! You can click on the picture or the link below it to go to the recipe.
Cucumber Tomato Salad is yummy and fresh with Greek flavors. Really great on the side of grilled chicken, but also great with a burger.
Tortellini Ceasar Salad is SO good! A classic Ceasar Salad with or without chicken added, BUT ALSO with CHEESE FILLED TORTELLINI! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
Even though “chicken” is in Chinese Chicken Salad we make this without chicken to use as a side dish, and it becomes a delicious Asian slaw. That is really yummy with grilled teriyaki chicken or teriyaki steak.
Even though the word “harvest” is here, Apple Harvest Salad is great for summer. We love the flavors and textures.
Sweet Hot Cucumbers are yummy on the side or even good a burger or dog. My boys are ADDICTED to these!
Fresh Corn Salad is wonderful! An elevation from corn on the cob.
Fresh and crunchy Broccoli Salad is so filling and we could eat a bowl of just this for lunch! It is a great addition to any barbecue or potluck.
Thai Chicken Salad can be done as a main dish or without the chicken if you would like to be more a side dish. It is great to bring to a potluck as a main dish.
A BIG bowl of Strawberry and Feta Salad is always a great summer salad and is especially great with grilled chicken.
It’s not always about the main dish. Check out these Side Dishes and appetizers. You can click on any picture or the link below it to go straight to the recipe.
Do you need a yummy fresh dip? Dill Pickle Chip Dip is the PERFECT dip for any summer gathering.
Bruschetta Dip is always a HUGE crowd pleaser! Perfect to set out while still grilling for everyone to snack on.
We think we need a separate section just for the best Pasta Salads! Every cookout needs at least one Pasta Salad.
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad is one we get text message and DM’s about after people make it because it is surprisingly SO GOOD…if you love pickles like us.
This yummy Mediterranean Couscous can be served warm or cold. It is not a traditional “pasta salad” but it has become of favorite of ours.
Greek Pasta Salad has a different flavor profile than other pasta salads, which makes this recipe a favorite. Different is good.
Pesto & Mozzarella Pasta Salad is a classic and makes an appearance at our house all summer long. Once again, make it with or without the chicken.
Asian Noodle Salad is not a classic, and not what you would expect at an American cookout, but it is SO yummy and sometimes it’s really nice to have something different.
WE LOVE this Tuna Pasta Salad and with some grilled shrimp and veggie kabobs or salmon and other salads we can do a whole seafood themed barbecue. YUMMY!
Here are some ideas for the MAIN EVENT (main dishes) if you would like to do something other than just burgers and dogs. Click on the picture or the link below to go straight to the recipe.
If you are from the American Midwest, specifically Minnesota, then you’ve probably heard of the Juicy Lucy Burger. A really fun and yummy twist on a classic.
We grew up on this grilled chicken. Then, I got married and found that my husband had also grown up with it. His dad, Bob was a turkey farmer, and they often did this recipe with grilled turkey. We call it Bob’s Poultry Marinade and you can do it with either chicken or turkey. It is THE BEST!
Use very thinly sliced beef to marinate in this delicious mix of flavor and then it grills SO fast! Teriyaki Steak is tender and delicious. We recommend using grill mats for this one.
These Grilled Chicken Legs with Dry Rub are a great crowd pleaser and very affordable if you are looking for a budget friendly option for feeding a large group.
If you are not into grilled meats then try the Best Chicken Salad EVER with some grilled veggies. Whether this chicken salad is served on lettuce or croissants, it is the BEST!
For something different and delicious, we love Lamb Kebabs that you can use for gyros or bowls. If you are not a lamb person, than try this with beef.
Sometimes we love to do something very different and will do a whole Greek barbecue. Grill Greek Chicken and do a large hummus platter with flat bread, feta and Tzatziki. Everyone can make a wrap, or a bowl or just a plate of deliciousness.
And now for a sweet treat or two because every cookout needs to end with a sweet bite. Click on the picture or the link below to go straight to the recipe.
Banoffee Pie might be the BEST British invention that ever has happened! My 15 year old is hopeful for this dessert at every occasion.
If you have a lot of kids coming over then we highly recommend this really fun Ice Cream Cake made with ice cream sandwiches. Always a hit with the grandkids!
Paradise Pudding is a tropical delight that can be served in dessert dishes or in a large bowl with toppings on the side and guests can dish themselves up.
Chocolate Chip Treasure Cookies are chocolate chip cookies plus a lot more treasure! Who doesn’t want a plate of delicious cookies at the potluck?
We are big fans of rhubarb and Rhubarb Custard Cream Bars are decadent without being too heavy and super delicious!
As long as we are talking about rhubarb, let’s talk about Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp, which tastes just like the pie version, but with a crumble crust instead and is baked in a 9×13 dish so it feeds more people.
My Grandma’s famous Rhubarb Custard Pie is the favorite of many. I made to take to my mom’s for a cookout a couple years ago when her brother was visiting. He was THRILLED when I showed up with his mom’s pie, which he says is his favorite.
Atlantic Beach Pie is another great pie to try and tastes just like summer. It is similar to key lime, but we actually like it more.
My husband grew up with Raspberry Swirl, which is a summertime favorite. It is kind of like a frozen, ice cream raspberry cheesecake.
Summer Berry Pie is a great way use some of those seasonal berries that we all love.
These S’mores Bars have replaced actual s’mores for us. The kids LOVE them!
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cookie Bars are great because you get a whole tray of yummy “cookies” without have to bake a bunch of cookies. Just one pan of bars and you’re set.
These Cherry Pie Bars are based off of grandma’s award winning cherry pie, but it’s faster, easier and feeds a crowd!
Lemon Cream Cheese Bars is a yummy and fresh baked good for summer that is like lemon cheesecake.
Millionaire Bars are another great one for baking just one dish to make many servings without heating up the kitchen too much.
Raspberry Cream Pie is fresh, light and fluffy. Kind of like a raspberry mousse.
Strawberries & Cream Bars are a personal favorite of mine. Bake the crust the night before to help keep the kitchen cool during the day.
With this Arkansas Possum Pie, the magic is in the crust! Definitely check this one out!
Use puff pastry for this Easy Raspberry Tart which looks especially fancy for how easy it is to make.
We truly love and appreciate Grandma’s Banana Cream Pie. It is a must at Thanksgiving and also ALL summer long!
These really are The Most Amazing Chocolate Chip Cookies and this recipe is a great base for whatever mix-ins you would like to add. They also freeze great so you can plan ahead and always be prepared to bring a plate to any cookout this summer.
Peaches & Cream Dessert is a NO BAKE, decadent dessert, made with fresh peaches. WE LOVE this one and have made it for many summertime dinners and parties. Everyone raves about it!
I usually think of Apple Crisp as an autumn thing, but just like Apple Pie, it is great for the Fourth of July and other summertime holidays.
Yes, we always make Raspberry Jam Filled Cookies at Christmas time, but they are also great for summer and raspberry season.
When we lived in the PNW, we would make this Blackberry Cobbler with all the wild and free blackberries that grew all around us. Even though we have to go buy the berries at the store now, this cobbler still tastes amazing! Everyone I make it for, LOVES it! May also use frozen berries.
Turtle Cream Dessert is special and decadent! Easy to bring to a potluck and everyone will love it!
Blueberry Lemon Cookies are good enough for breakfast and delicious enough for dessert! You may add the white chocolate drizzle on top or leave it off as you wish.
My husband was lucky enough to grow up with these Apple Pie Slices that his mom made. They are great in the autumn, but I prefer them to pie in the summer. They are flakier and lighter and feed a crowd.
Lemon Bisque is a light and fluffy, NO BAKE lemon cloud with a little graham cracker crumb crust. Very Vintage and very American. We love this kind of recipe.
Make these Raspberry Hand Pies (Turnovers) the day before. These require a little more effort, and sometimes we are in the mood to put in a little more effort. They are worth it!
If you have a lot of nieces, nephews, grandkids or other children then Dirt Cake will be a BIG hit.
Fresh Fruit Pie modeled after fruit pizza, is made with a cookie crust and fresh fruit on top of a whipped cream cheese filling.
We love to bring a basket full of individually wrapped Whoopie Pies to a barbecue to share with everyone. The kids especially love them, but the adults do too. It’s hard not to do a happy dance when you eat one.
Perhaps no other dessert deserves a spot more than Apple Pandowdy at the Fourth of July barbecue. It was first made by Abigail Adams in the White House. It is WAY easier than making an apple pie and is Classic Americana!
If you want to bring Ice Cream Dessert with Raspberry Sauce to the next cookout, make sure there is freezer space available to keep it frozen till dessert time. This is another vintage recipe that Grandma always made for us. So we LOVE it!
Nothing would be prettier than a plate of these dainty and delicious Blossom Cookies at the next gathering of friends.
Another classic Americana treat – Classic Snickerdoodles are perfect on the table at any barbecue.
Comment below and let us know which dishes you will be trying out this summer!
