21 BBQ Dishes Mom Made Once for a Crowd and Got Stopped About in the Parking Lot After

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A crowd remembers the barbecue dishes that are easy to pass around, generous enough to share, and different from the same basic tray of burgers. These 21 BBQ dishes cover whole chicken, ribs, steaks, skewers, wings, burgers, and grilled vegetables, with salads and corn to round out the table. Some cook quickly over direct heat, while larger cuts rely on two-zone grilling or longer marinating. The range gives a cookout enough mains, sides, and snackable plates to keep people talking after the tables are cleared.

Grilled Whole Chicken

A two-zone grill gives Grilled Whole Chicken crisp skin without scorching the meat before it cooks through. Smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, oil, and optional BBQ sauce season one 2.5 to 3.5 pound bird. The one-hour recipe serves six and finishes with a brief move to direct heat, followed by a 10-minute rest. Carve it onto a large platter when the crowd needs a centerpiece that can stretch across several plates.
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Grilled Ribs on a Charcoal Grill

Brown sugar and smoked paprika form the crust on Grilled Ribs on a Charcoal Grill before an optional BBQ glaze goes on at the end. One rack cooks over indirect heat, then moves to the hot side for caramelized edges. The recipe serves four in 1 hour 40 minutes, including a short rest before slicing. Stack the ribs on a board with extra napkins, slaw, and cornbread for a crowd-ready barbecue plate.
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Grilled Steak and Veggie Skewers

Sirloin, zucchini ribbons, and cherry tomatoes share Grilled Steak and Veggie Skewers in 12 easy portions. Soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, Dijon, sugar, paprika, and olive oil season the beef during a two-hour marinade. The recipe serves six in 2 hours 30 minutes, but the skewers need only a few minutes per side on the grill. Arrange them across a platter so guests can take one without stopping the serving line.
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Grilled Lime-Garlic Chicken Breasts

Cilantro, lime, garlic, cumin, and jalapeño give Grilled Lime-Garlic Chicken Breasts a fresh marinade that works well with summer sides. Four boneless breasts marinate before grilling for about 5 to 6 minutes per side. The recipe serves four in 1 hour 25 minutes, including marinating time. Slice the chicken before serving so a larger group can add it to rice, salad, tacos, or grilled vegetable plates.
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Grilled Teriyaki Mango Skewers

Caramelized fruit makes Grilled Teriyaki Mango Skewers stand apart from the usual vegetable kebabs. Honey mango, zucchini, red onion, and two colors of bell pepper are brushed with a homemade sauce of soy, maple syrup, vinegar, and cornstarch. The 40-minute recipe makes four servings and cooks the skewers for 6 to 10 minutes per side. Set them over rice or quinoa for a meatless option that still belongs on the BBQ table.
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Grilled Mediterranean Lamb Chops

Olive, caper, pine nut, parsley, and lemon gremolata finish Grilled Mediterranean Lamb Chops after a quick high-heat sear. The lamb first rests in a marinade of olive oil, oregano, garlic, red wine vinegar, honey, parsley, and shallot. The recipe serves four in 25 minutes, plus at least 20 minutes for marinating. Place the chops on a platter with the topping scattered over them for a BBQ main that looks made for company.
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Sweet & Spicy Grilled Harissa-Honey Chicken Skewers

Five main ingredients keep Sweet & Spicy Grilled Harissa-Honey Chicken Skewers focused on heat, sweetness, and char. Boneless thighs marinate with harissa, honey, lemon juice, and sliced red onion before going onto four to six skewers. The recipe serves four in 50 minutes, including 30 minutes of marinating and about 15 minutes of grilling. Add couscous or a green salad when the cookout needs a main dish with a stronger spice profile.
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Grilled Elote Corn Ribs

Cut corn curls on the grill in Grilled Elote Corn Ribs, making a side that is easy to pick up and pass around. Mayonnaise, sour cream, cumin, chipotle powder, lime, Cotija, and cilantro cover four cobs after grilling. The recipe serves four in 20 minutes and can be served hot or at room temperature. Pile the ribs on a tray beside burgers, chicken, or steak when ordinary corn on the cob needs an upgrade.
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Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

Fresh tomatoes, basil, garlic, shallot, and sun-dried tomatoes top Grilled Bruschetta Chicken after the breasts come off the grill. Red wine vinegar, olive oil, and Italian seasoning flavor the chicken, while mozzarella, Parmesan, and balsamic syrup are optional finishes. The recipe serves four in 25 minutes, not counting the 4 to 6-hour marinade. Slice each breast and spoon the bruschetta over the platter so more guests can share the colorful topping.
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Grilled Steaks with Cowboy Butter

Garlic, parsley, chives, smoked paprika, chipotle, and Dijon turn the compound butter on Grilled Steaks with Cowboy Butter into the main flavor boost. Four steaks are grilled to the chosen doneness, rested, and receive a slice of the chilled butter. The recipe serves four in 52 minutes, and the butter can be prepared well ahead. Slice the steaks before serving to make the platter easier to share with a larger crowd.
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Grilled Peach Salad with Tomatoes

Grill marks deepen the sweetness in Grilled Peach Salad with Tomatoes while feta and pickled red onion add salty and tangy contrast. Cherry tomatoes, sugar snap peas, mint, parsley, white balsamic vinegar, mustard, honey, and olive oil fill out the platter. The recipe serves six in 20 minutes, though the onions benefit from a longer soak. Bring it out beside rich meats when the BBQ table needs a cold, produce-heavy side.
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Grilled Chicken Wings

Indirect heat cooks Grilled Chicken Wings through before direct heat crisps the skin in spots. Smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and olive oil season two pounds of wings without requiring a wet sauce. The recipe serves six in 50 minutes and can be finished with dipping sauces at the table. Make a double batch for a crowd, then arrange the wings with celery, carrots, ranch, or BBQ sauce.
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Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri

A cumin, oregano, paprika, onion, and garlic marinade prepares Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri for a fast high-heat cook. Two pounds of hanger steak grill for about 3 to 4 minutes per side after at least two hours in the refrigerator. The recipe serves four in 2 hours 20 minutes, including marinating and resting. Slice against the grain and spread the meat across a platter with the herb sauce spooned over the top.
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Grilled California Chicken Burger

Chicken, grilled avocado, smoked ham, pepper jack, tomato, and lettuce stack into a Grilled California Chicken Burger. Brown sugar, oregano, cumin, and chili powder season the chicken, while mayonnaise, chipotle, honey, vinegar, and garlic make the spread. The recipe makes four burgers in 35 minutes, though the sauce benefits from chilling ahead. Set out the components buffet-style so guests can assemble the burgers without slowing down the grill.
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Grilled Asparagus and Potato Salad

Parboiled potatoes finish over the flames with asparagus, red pepper, and onion in Grilled Asparagus and Potato Salad. Mayonnaise, white wine vinegar, whole-grain mustard, garlic, chives, parsley, olive oil, and lemon create the dressing. The 30-minute recipe serves six and works warm or chilled, which helps when several dishes need serving at different times. Bring it to the table with grilled chicken or steak for a substantial side that covers both vegetables and starch.
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Grilled Mango-Chipotle Chicken Wings

Sweet grilled fruit becomes the glaze for Grilled Mango-Chipotle Chicken Wings after blending with apple cider and brown sugar. The wings first take on a dry rub of chipotle, smoked paprika, mustard powder, salt, pepper, and more brown sugar. The recipe serves six in 40 minutes, plus a 1- to 2-hour marinade. Pass extra mango sauce alongside the platter so guests can control how much sweet heat reaches each wing.
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Grilled Radishes w/ Jalapeño Dipping Sauce

Heat softens the peppery bite of Grilled Radishes w/ Jalapeño Dipping Sauce while leaving light char on the cut sides. Butter, honey, lime, salt, and pepper coat 20 radishes, and the cold dip combines mayonnaise, sour cream, jalapeño, cilantro, garlic, and lime. The recipe serves four in 20 minutes. Put the radishes and dip near the snack plates when the crowd needs a vegetable option that does not resemble another salad.
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Grilled Dijon Rosemary Chicken Thighs

A late glaze prevents the honey in Grilled Dijon Rosemary Chicken Thighs from burning over direct heat. Grainy mustard, Dijon, lemon, honey, and fresh rosemary coat one pound of boneless thighs after most of the cooking is done. The recipe serves four in 25 minutes, including a five-minute rest. Slice or halve the thighs for a shared platter, then add grilled vegetables or potato salad to turn them into a complete crowd plate.
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Grilled Ratatouille

Eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, onion, and cherry tomatoes fill Grilled Ratatouille with several summer vegetables from one grill session. Garlic and thyme first flavor the olive oil that coats the vegetables, while basil and lemon can finish the platter. The recipe serves four in 20 minutes and works as a side or over couscous as a main. Double the batch when the BBQ table needs a generous vegetable dish that can sit beside several meats.
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Grilled Chicken Drumsticks

Two-zone cooking keeps Grilled Chicken Drumsticks from burning before the meat is done near the bone. Smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, oil, salt, and pepper season two pounds of drumsticks, with BBQ sauce brushed on only at the end. The recipe serves four in 50 minutes. Build a larger platter with extra batches, then add baked beans, slaw, or corn for an uncomplicated crowd meal.
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Easy Grilled Beef Burgers

A small amount of BBQ sauce adds moisture to Easy Grilled Beef Burgers without making the patties difficult to handle. Ground beef, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder form eight patties that grill for about 3 to 4 minutes per side. The recipe makes eight burgers in 27 minutes, with cheese and classic toppings listed as options. Keep the patties warm while guests choose buns, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, and sauces from the table.
Get the Recipe: Easy Grilled Beef Burgers