The grill is an amazing cooking tool that can be used for so many things. Updating nostalgic summer foods like ice cream sandwiches and fruit cobblers with a grilled twist keeps them fresh and exciting. Reaching for unexpected ingredients like produce and desserts adds yet another way to have fun with summer grilling.
Adding a touch of char to the vegetables and avocados before mixing them together creates a layer of deep flavor. The unexpected pop of richness is a little twist to the classic summer favorite dip.
Recipe: Taste of Home
Grilling the vegetable base of this salsa imparts a smoky flavor completely naturally. The smokiness pairs well with other grilled items, like taco fillings, and the salsa keeps well for a few days so you can extend the grilled flavor on leftovers.
Recipe: Mexican Food Journal
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Grilled pizza is a fun way to cook once you get the hang of it. As this recipe points out, it may take a bit of trial and error to get it quite right on your particular grill. Using fresh seasonal toppings is always the most delicious option.
Recipe: Bon Appetit
Related: From Plain Cheese to Peking Duck: 25 Yummy Pizza Recipes
This popular street food snack, called elotes, is a hearty snack that combines smoky grilled corn with tangy cheese, chili and lime, all stuck together with mayonnaise. It's a delicious combination of sweet, salty, and rich flavors that goes well with outdoor fun.
Recipe: Serious Eats
The key to successfully grilling lettuce is to use a chunky cut so that it stays together after it wilts and loses a lot of its volume. It's best to start with whole heads so the attached core keeps each piece in tact. A simple dressing is all you need to compliment the grilled flavor.
Recipe: iFoodreal
Watermelon is so juicy and sweet that charing it on the grill heightens the flavors by contrast. When paired with something salty, like cheese, and peppery arugula, the flavors come together to create something simple but impressively unique.
Recipe: Claire Robinson
Related: 35 Delicious Foods to Grill This Summer Besides Meat
Grilled oysters are a true delight, enjoyed even by those who don't love to eat them raw. The garlic butter sauce takes it over the top, creating an indulgent and slightly smoky bite from each oyster. You could also remove the meat and toss the oysters into a salad or pile them onto grilled bread.
Recipe: Simply Recipes
Using a cast iron pan and different heat spots on a grill, this summer fruit treat can be made entirely on the grill. This recipe would also work well with other summer fruits like peaches, nectarines, and plums.
Recipe: Clean Eating
This literal sandwich is a twist on a tried and true favorite. Grilled bread is used to sandwich ice cream for a new, and perhaps even more delicious, version of this frozen summer treat. Building the sandwiches allows for even more customization, like adding a layer of chocolate sauce.
Recipe: Food52
A little bit of tin foil goes a long way in this grilled adaptation of the iconic campfire snack. The neat little packages even stay warm for a while so they can be made in a batch making it easy to prepare them for the whole household in one go.
Recipe: My Food And Family
These hand pies get double grilled, once in the filling and once on the outside. Stick to unglazed for a less sugary version. Consider other fruits, like apples and pears, for alternative sweet fillings, and grilled proteins for savory pies.
Recipe: Lil' Miss Cakes
Related: 19 Savory Pies From Around The World
Thick slices of pound cake get a boost from a few turns on the grill. Topped with whipped cream and fruit, it's a seasonal dessert that ties in well after enjoying savory grilled foods. Using store-bought pound cake also makes this impressive dish a breeze to put together without any fussing around.
Recipe: Serious Eats
Stone fruit like peaches and nectarines, as well as juicy melons are delicious on the grill. Brushed with a little bit of neutral oil and placed fleshy side down, the hot grill caramelizes the sugars and creates depth of flavor. Eat as is, or jazz it up more with balsamic glaze, honey, ricotta, or ice cream for a special treat.
