Best Barbecue Recipes to Try

A good barbecue party can be one of the best things you can have on a summer day, even if you have them as an excuse to try the best barbecue recipes you can find. All those ribs, steaks, and burgers definitely do make for an amazing time. They're mouth-watering, satisfying, and just as all-American as you can get.

But, there is such a thing as too much regular barbecue. There's only so many meals you can treat others to that involve slathered burgers, steaks, and ribs. That being said, your grill can do a lot more than just stick to the standard grilling items.

If you're getting a bit bored of standard barbecue options, why not get imaginative? Here are some of the best barbecue recipes to try when you're just getting a bit bored with the norm.

Grilled Clams

A Jersey shore favorite if there ever was one, grilled clams seem to be very rare outside of beach areas. If you haven't tried them, wait until you make them on your own. Restaurants simply can't recreate that smoky flavor that grilled clams have when its on a real grill.

To make this classic barbecue favorite, give this recipe a try. For many time-worried folks, the best part about making grilled clams is that you only need to cook them for about two minutes, and figuring out when they're done is a cinch. (After all, they're done when they open.)

If you're new to seafood or new to shore-style food, this is one of the best barbecue recipes to try.

Pizza

Every single group of friends has at least one person who is on a diet, or vegetarian, or some odd combination of the two. They are no fun at a barbecue, are they? Well, yes they are, but scrambling for something to cook for them isn't so fun for many of us.

That's where pizza comes in - yes, pizza. Believe it or not, this is one of the best barbecue recipes to try if you are having vegetarians over. Who doesn't love pizza?

You see, grilled pizza has an amazing flavor and makes for an incredible crust. You can even add barbecue sauce on it if you want them to get a taste of your spicy home recipe.

This recipe shows you how to make a grilled asparagus pizza that's vegetarian-friendly.

Tofu Skewers

Let's say that you want to have a barbecue and you really can't handle seeing the vegans in your crowd looking sorrowfully as their vegetarian friends nosh on pizza. This is actually a common barbecue problem in some scenes, and that's why we're promoting this as one of the best barbecue recipes to try this summer.

If you can't barbecue meat, and you can't grill something with cheese on it, the best way to make sure your barbecue is vegan-friendly is to make some mouthwateringly delicious BBQ tofu skewers. This recipe can be made vegan-friendly, and also is meaty enough to sink your teeth into!

Barbecued Potato Skins

Potato skins are already really decadent in terms of food. They are satisfying enough to be Super Bowl food. Grilled potato skins have that smoky, charcoal-filled flavor that makes them incredible, especially when they're topped with gratuitous amounts of cheese, chili, and chives.

This recipe teaches you how to make this classic bar food favorite, barbecue style. Be careful, though, as this food can definitely become pretty addictive.

Grilled Oysters

Clams aren't the only shellfish you can barbecue. Oysters can also be amazing at a cookout. That being said, most oyster grilling recipes will not be as spicy or as buttery as a typical grilled clam recipe featuring garlic, pepper, and butter.

That being said, grilling oysters is a lot easier than than serving them raw - at least, if you don't like shucking them. Here's a good recipe that teaches you how to barbecue oysters the easiest way possible. Better, still, you can sauce it up with ease.

Barbecued Bacon Wrapped Scallops

Scallops, on their own, are delicate in flavor and aren't really easy to cook on a grill. Depending on the size of your scallops, you might end up having them fall through grill plates.

This simple recipe helps prevent scallops falling through the holes of the grill opening, and also adds a powerful punch of flavor without relying on sauces. Once you taste them, you'll see why this is one of the best barbecue recipes to try - even if you're not a fan of seafood.

Elote

Also known as Mexican barbecued corn, elote has become a favorite in many American neighborhoods as well. Why? Because it's sweet, it's savory, and it's smoky. Best of all, this is one of the best barbecue recipes to try if you're low on cash, low on skill, and high on expectations.

Here's a quick recipe that tells you how to make elote, how to season your own, and how to enjoy it to its fullest extent.

Barbecued Shrimp

Admittedly, many homes do enjoy barbecuing shrimp - or at least grilling them. But they are missing a major element that can turn BBQ shrimp into something completely and totally incredible: Louisiana flair. If you ever try cajun-style barbecue shrimp, you'll see why this is one of the best barbecue recipes to try at any time of the year.

In New Orleans, shrimp that are going to be barbecued are marinated in sauces, making a sweet but spicy treat that leaves a burst of flavor in your mouth. That being said, this recipe shows you how to do it indoors- but it can easily be adapted to an outdoor grilling situation.

Beer Can Chicken

In many parts of America, beer can chicken is considered to be special - but somewhat standard - fare at a cookout. Beer can chicken also happens to be one of those dishes with a lot of legends attached to it, including debates about what can of beer is best for the bird.

Much like the barbecue shrimp recipe, if you have tasted beer can chicken, you'll understand why it's one of the best barbecue recipes to try. It's just that good. This recipe is easy, and you can tweak it to make it your own.