10 Unexpected Foods You Should Be Grilling

Up your grilling game with shellfish

For those who typically associate grilling with meat, it’s time to explore new options that will delight your pescatarian friends. You can grill a variety of seafood, including shellfish. Start with shrimp; they’re quick and easy to prepare as skewers. Consider making your next batch of grilled shrimp tacos with a simple spice blend.

When you’re ready to elevate your grilling game, try larger crustaceans like crab and lobster. Don’t shy away from grilling mollusks either! Grilled clams can be a fun addition to any barbecue. Simply place the clams directly on the grill (or on a baking sheet) and cover them, checking frequently to remove them once they pop open. Serve them with a melted butter sauce for a delicious treat.

Even oysters, which are often enjoyed raw, can be grilled. Carefully shuck fresh oysters, making sure to keep the brine intact, and place them on the grill grates. Add a dollop of compound butter to each oyster and let them cook for a few minutes to absorb that wonderful smoky flavor. Some people like to add toppings like breadcrumbs or cheese, but remember that sometimes, less is more when it comes to oysters. Grill them over hot coals (or a very hot pre-heated gas grill) until they start to bubble, and be sure to remove them before they dry out.

Barbecue a beer can chicken

You might not think of preparing a roast dinner on the barbecue, but larger cuts of meat, along with filets and skewers, can be grilled to perfection. Red meat lovers with a bit of patience and skill may have tried their hand at smoking a brisket, for instance. However, for a quicker yet still impressive summer dish, beer can chicken has become a modern classic that consistently delivers juicy and flavorful meat.

Beer can chicken is essentially grilled roast chicken, achieved by inserting a half-empty can of beer (definitely avoid using a glass bottle) into the bird's cavity and placing it on the barbecue. The beer helps keep the chicken moist as the liquid heats up and steams, while also preventing the skin from burning on the grill grates. While you can use various types of beer, it's best to steer clear of those with stronger, more bitter flavors. Save that hoppy IPA for sipping once the meal is served. If you have gluten-free guests at your barbecue, ciders can be a delightful fruity substitute for beer. The apple flavor complements roasted meat beautifully, and you can enhance the experience by adding some applewood chips to the coals.

Pizza and sandwiches

If you've ever dreamed of adding a pizza oven to your backyard, you'll be happy to know that your barbecue can achieve similar results without the hefty price tag. By heating your grill sufficiently, you can mimic the effects of a wood-fired oven. However, there are some pitfalls to avoid when grilling pizza. To protect the dough, either brush your grill with olive oil and place the pizza in an area with indirect heat, or use a heat-conducting layer between the pizza and the grates. A round metal baking sheet can work (if you're willing to risk it to the flames), or you might consider investing in a pizza stone, which takes a bit longer to heat but provides an even cooking surface. Close the lid, and the dough will bubble and crisp up with a touch of char for the ultimate grilled pizza experience.

You can also grill toast and sandwiches. Quickly toasting bread over the fire to accompany buttery clams is incredibly easy. For a more indulgent option, elevate your grilled cheese by using thick slices of bread layered with your favorite spreads and cheeses while preheating the grill. Then, place it on the grates and close the lid for a slow cook that melts the cheese to gooey perfection and leaves those iconic grill marks. Grilled cheese on the barbecue might just become your new favorite camping treat.

Paella is perfect for a party

Paella is a delicious and popular dish made with rice, saffron, and a variety of ingredients such as seafood, meats, vegetables, or a mix of these. This classic Spanish meal is ideal for entertaining guests, as it can easily be adapted to accommodate different dietary preferences. The dish is created by simmering short-grain rice in a sofrito and broth, then adding your choice of proteins and vegetables. Traditionally, paella is cooked in a special wide, shallow pan over an open flame. However, placing the pan on the grill and covering it can infuse the dish with a delightful smoky flavor. You can also grill your meats and seafood beforehand before incorporating them into the rice. The end result should have a slightly crispy bottom.

To enhance your Spanish culinary experience, consider grilling some chorizo sausages while the grill is hot. For a vegetable side, you might prepare pimientos de padrón. These small green peppers are typically served fried and sprinkled with flaky salt as a tapa. They are usually mild, but occasionally, one or two in a batch can be quite spicy, adding an element of surprise to your meal. While they are commonly fried in hot oil, these flavorful little peppers can also be delicious when grilled on the barbecue.

Summer fruits shine on the grill

Fruits, while often juicy and delicate, may not be the first ingredients that come to mind for grilling. However, adding fruit to your barbecue can elevate your outdoor feast significantly. When fruits hit the hot grill, their natural sugars begin to caramelize, creating a delightful blend of smoky flavor and a light char that enhances their taste. You can keep it simple by grilling fresh fruit for a few minutes, or you can experiment with marinades for more intricate flavors.

Take a ripe summer peach, for instance. It’s hard to beat the experience of slicing it in half, brushing it with melted honey butter infused with thyme, and grilling it for a few minutes. These succulent grilled peaches make a fantastic side for grilled chicken or pork chops, or you can incorporate them into a grilled peach and burrata salad for a luxurious side dish. Add a few slices of prosciutto and a sprig of fresh mint or basil, and you have a truly delicious creation!

Pineapple is another tropical fruit that surprisingly complements grilled meats well. Its sturdy texture holds up beautifully on the grill. You can toss some wedges or sliced rings of pineapple onto the barbecue, perhaps with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Grilled pineapple is a common feature at Brazilian steakhouses and is often served with tacos al pastor, making it a fantastic addition to salsas as well.

What's with the watermelon, though?

One of the most unexpected additions from the produce aisle, this summer fruit has quickly become a favorite for grilling. While we've long enjoyed sprinkling Tajín or crumbling feta over fresh watermelon, the idea of creating a savory dish with this sweet pink fruit isn't entirely new. However, a recent vegan trend involves curing and preparing watermelon "steaks" for the grill. If you're in search of a vegan main dish, you might typically consider cauliflower or mushrooms, but why not give watermelon a try? You can easily swap out traditional steaks for watermelon for your vegan friends, and chances are everyone else will love them too.

You can simply grill thick, dry-rubbed wedges of watermelon, or you can take a bit more time to prepare it. Watermelon’s vibrant color and unique texture make it an impressive vegan meat alternative. To start, you'll need to extract some moisture from the fruit. Begin by slicing the watermelon and brining or marinating it in a savory mixture of soy sauce, sesame oil, and perhaps some garlic, rice vinegar, and occasionally miso or seaweed. After marinating, dry it out in the oven to eliminate some of the melon’s natural water content. The end result boasts a delightful sweet and savory umami flavor, closely resembling tuna. You can use your watermelon "tuna" to create sushi, poke bowls, or simply grill it for a seared "tuna" steak.

Grill all kinds of vegetables

Who doesn't enjoy a grilled ear of corn or a fire-roasted pepper? Cauliflower, portobello mushrooms, and cabbage steaks have also gained popularity as vegan substitutes for traditional steaks and burgers, and even meat lovers might find them appealing. The possibilities for grilling vegetables are nearly endless.

More delicate and smaller vegetables can also be grilled if you know the right techniques. You can skewer larger pieces of marinated zucchini, broccoli, mushrooms, onions, and peppers to create delicious vegetable kebabs. For a mixed vegetable side dish, a grill basket is perfect for preventing smaller pieces from falling through the grates. Grill baskets are especially useful for asparagus, as their slender shape tends to slip into the flames. Just be mindful of where you place your vegetables, as they can easily burn if positioned directly over the heat.

Tomatoes are another great option for the grill. Charred whole or halved tomatoes make a delightful side for grilled meats, while fire-roasted tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers can be blistered, peeled, and transformed into a smoky Mediterranean dip like baba ganoush or shakshuka, or even a homemade salsa. If you're looking to grill sweeter tomatoes, you might want to try this tip from Giada De Laurentiis.

Yes, even lettuce can be grilled

If all of that seems typical and you’re still not wowed, why not try grilling those leafy greens? While bok choy is typically enjoyed steamed or sautéed, grilling it can add a delightful char and offer a fresh take on this healthy vegetable. You can also toss spring onions (or scallions) and ramps on the grill, along with lettuce.

Elevate your meal with a grilled salad next. This grilled chicken Caesar salad recipe features both grilled romaine lettuce and grilled chicken. When grilling lettuce and cabbage, avoid grilling individual leaves. Instead, slice heartier salad greens in half or into large wedges and sear them quickly to infuse a smoky flavor and char. Be careful not to let the lettuce become too soft, as you’ll want to maintain some crunch in your salad. Cabbage, however, can be delicious when it’s softened and caramelized, or when it has a nice char with a bit of crunch.

Make a cup of coffee or tea

Have you ever found yourself camping in a remote location, yearning for a robust cup of coffee? You can easily brew a cup over a campfire. While the coffee itself isn't grilled (though it can be used in a marinade for smoky ribs), the preparation method revolves around the grill.

There are several approaches to making coffee, depending on how much gear you want to carry. If you only have a pot, you can simply boil water and pour it over coffee grounds or a tea bag. You can also suspend a kettle over the fire. For a stronger cup, consider bringing a moka pot or a Turkish coffee pot, which can be placed directly on the grill grates. Turkish coffee pots are compact and portable, allowing you to brew the coffee grounds right in the pot and pour it into your cup. This makes it an excellent choice for minimal equipment while camping. Whichever method you choose, be sure to position the pot in an area with indirect heat. Traditionally, Turkish coffee is prepared in a copper pot placed in a pan of hot sand. You might want to try that the next time you have a barbecue at the beach. Just be cautious not to scorch the coffee, or you’ll end up with a bitter taste.

Eggs, anyone?

There are several methods to cook eggs on the grill. If you have a grill but no stove and are concerned about delicate foods coming into direct contact with flames or falling into the fire, a cast iron skillet is an excellent solution. While it may be a bit heavy for long backpacking trips, it's a must-have for car campers. Cast iron can handle high heat and is ideal for cooking over a campfire. You can prepare fried or scrambled eggs, omelets, bacon, grilled sandwiches, and much more in a cast iron skillet.

Alternatively, you can grill whole eggs in their shells for a smoky twist on hard-boiled eggs. These take about ten minutes on the grill, and it's a good idea to rotate them halfway through for even cooking. Grilled eggs are also a popular street food in various parts of Asia. For instance, Cambodian Grilled Eggs involve blowing the raw egg out of a pricked shell, whisking it with seasonings, and carefully putting the mixture back into the intact shells, which are then steamed before being skewered and roasted. If that seems too complicated, you can simply bury raw eggs in the embers of your fire and let them smoke slowly for a tasty snack a few hours later. You can also make grilled deviled eggs by lightly grilling the egg whites of hard-boiled eggs on an oiled grill before adding the yolk mixture.