If you’re like us, winter’s exit means it’s backyard BBQ season—time to brush up on your spring grilling recipes! As soon as that sunny weather hits, we start brainstorming spring grilling ideas, and we’re more than happy to share them.
While summer staples like burgers and hot dogs are always welcome, springtime marks the first cookouts of the year. So why not kick things off with some fresh and exciting dishes, too?
Even if you prefer the tried-and-true classics, changing up their flavor profiles with unique spices, marinades, and condiments can give your typical spring menu an update. After all, this season is all about new beginnings. You might even discover a new go-to.
In this guide, you’ll find traditional and unique spring grilling recipes. What they all have in common is that they’re best enjoyed with good company. Let’s begin!
1. Italian Sausage Sandwiches
This recipe is super easy, but it brings big, bold flavors to the table. The rich taste of Italian sausages is beautifully complemented by sweet and tangy peppers and onions. It’s a match made in heaven.
We recommend serving them up on toasty buns hot off the grill, but they’re fork-friendly, too. Some brown mustard or marinara can add a bit of zip to the sandwiches, but honestly the peppers and onions are all you really need.
As far as spring grilling recipes go, this one is pretty hard to mess up! It’s also one of the best spring grilling ideas if you need to feed a large crowd. This recipe serves four people or so. If you need more, ramping up the portions is a breeze.
Prep
- Slice up 2 green bell peppers, 2 red bell peppers, and 1-2 onions.
- Place the veggies in a disposable aluminum pan (foil works in a pinch).
- Add 1 tablespoon of olive or vegetable oil, 3 tablespoons of sugar, and 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
- Stir thoroughly.
Some of these spring grilling recipes require that you have at least two grilling zones with indirect and direct heat. Additionally, some gas grills may not be able to reach the high temperatures required to sear and seal foods to lock in moisture and flavor.
Besides infusing your food with authentic charcoal-grilled flavor, the FlavrQ Grilling System accommodates professional-style, portion-controlled grilling with three flavor zones for flavor-searing, finishing, and holding. And, it can boost gas grill temperatures by over 100° so you can nail the perfect sear.
We highly recommend upgrading your gas grill with FlavrQ so you can really make these spring grilling recipes pop!
Grill
- Place your pan (or foil) on the grill over indirect heat. The key is to cook the peppers and onions low and slow so they get soft.
- After a half hour or so, place the Italian sausages on top of the peppers and onions.
- Close the grill.
- After an hour, check the sausages to make sure they’re no longer pink inside.
- Move the sausages to the direct heat zone.
- Sear the sausages for 5-10 minutes until they’re golden-brown on the outside.
- Toast your buns on the grill, serve, and enjoy!
2. Carne Asada Tacos
If your usual spring grilling ideas are feeling stale, take a flavor journey south of the border! So many classic American spring grilling recipes can be transformed just by changing up your seasonings and marinades.
Sure, you’ve had grilled steak, but have you tried carne asada? It’s bursting with vibrant flavors and just enough heat to warm your bones on a chilly spring day. That said, you‘re welcome to leave out the cayenne and chili powder if you prefer your meat mild.
This recipe is for a three-pound steak. We recommend flank, but other cuts work, too.
Marinade
- ¼ cup orange juice
- ¼ cup olive oil
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
Like most spring grilling recipes, those ingredients aren’t set in stone. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your marinade to make it your own!
Grill
- Marinate the steak in the fridge for at least two hours.
- Sear both sides for 8-12 minutes each.
- Pull from the grill when the outside forms a crust and the inner temperature is 130°F.
- Heat corn tortillas directly on the grill.
- Top the tacos with finely chopped onion, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime.
3. Hawaiian Shrimp Kabobs
If you’re looking for a change from the same old spring grilling ideas, consider adding seafood to the menu. Shrimp, in particular, works for all sorts of spring grilling recipes, and you can have a few for a light lunch or a couple dozen when you’re in feast mode.
This luau-worthy recipe is a vacation on a stick! The pineapple chunks bring just the right amount of sweetness and tanginess to complement the rich, savory marinated shrimp.
This recipe is for 20 or so large shrimp. We recommend using fresh pineapple, but canned works, too.
Marinade
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- ¼ cup honey or brown sugar
- 2 tbsp olive or sesame oil
- 1 tsp ginger powder
- 2 tbsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp black pepper
Prep
Like many spring grilling recipes, these shrimp kabobs really need extreme heat to give everything a crispy crust. Shrimp can turn rubbery if cooked on low heat, and pineapple can get mushy. Crank the heat!
- Marinate the shrimp in the fridge for at least two hours.
- Chop up a red onion and a red bell pepper or two into medium chunks.
- Chop a fresh pineapple into medium chunks.
- Thread ingredients onto skewers.
Grill
- Grill the skewers over high heat for 5-8 minutes.
- Flip once, and grill for 5-8 more minutes.
- Remove from the grill when the shrimps turn pink and start to curl.
- Enjoy right off the skewer or served over white, brown, or jasmine rice.
4. Curry Chicken
If your go-to spring grilling recipes usually include BBQ chicken, try switching it up with some vibrant Indian flavors! This is one of those spring grilling ideas that offers a tasty twist on a cookout classic—grilled chicken thighs. Quarters, wings, and drumsticks work great, too!
Instead of slathering your bird in BBQ sauce, you’re going to create a zesty mustard-based curry marinade packed with plenty of bold flavors that’ll get everyone’s mouths watering.
This recipe makes enough for eight chicken thighs.
Marinade
- 3 tbsp brown mustard
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 tbsp honey
- 3 tsp curry powder
- ½ tsp cinnamon powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
Grill
This is another one of those spring grilling recipes that demands high heat! You always want your chicken thighs to have perfectly crispy skin, but especially when you’re using a liquid sauce.
- Marinate the chicken thighs in the fridge for at least two hours.
- Sear each side on direct high heat for three minutes until the skin is crisp.
- Move the thighs to indirect heat. Leave them in place until the internal temperature is at least 165˚F.
5. Salmon Over Salad
Springtime and fresh salads go hand-in-hand. The produce section is packed with freshly harvested veggies, and there’s just something about enjoying a salad in the sun that feels right.
Of course, we’re talking about spring grilling recipes here! A perfectly grilled salmon filet will turn a light salad into a hearty meal. That said, if you’re looking for spring grilling ideas that make great side dishes, a salad topped with salmon is hard to beat before the main course.
You know how to make a salad, so this recipe is just for the salmon. We kept it simple so you can add this salmon to any salad. But don’t worry, this salmon recipe doesn’t need anything else. The goal is to bring out the natural salmon flavor, not mask it.
Here, we have another one of the countless spring grilling recipes that demands high heat. If your grill isn’t hot enough, the skin will stick, and the salmon will fall apart!
Prep
- Season both sides of your skin-on salmon filet with sea salt and cracked pepper to taste.
- Add a pinch of dried dill or thyme, if desired.
- Lightly coat both sides with an oil that has a high smoke point, such as avocado, canola, or vegetable.
Grill
- Grill the salmon with the skin side down on direct high heat for 6-8 minutes per inch of thickness.
- When the internal temperature is around 140°F, flip it.
- Grill until it reaches at least 145°F.
- Squeeze fresh lemon juice on top.
- Serve over your favorite spring salad.
Enjoy the Juiciest Grilled Foods at Home with FlavrQ
We hope these spring grilling recipes are a hit at your next cookout! You might have noticed that these spring grilling ideas all need to be seared properly. If your gas grill isn’t cutting it, it’s time to level up your grilling game with FlavrQ.
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