We all know that fall is the season for all things pumpkin spice–flavored, and that winter is all about cozy soups and using the slow cooker. But we're going to make a bold claim: Summer is the best season of the year for eating. Not only is it the peak season for delicious produce from the farmer's market, it's also the prime time for amazing summer barbecues. Barbecues are a fun way to socialize with friends and neighbors — and the ultimate proof that everything tastes better eaten outside.
When we think about barbecue food, things like watermelon, potato salad, and grilled meats come to mind. Even though a juicy slice of watermelon is perfection on a hot summer day, maybe we can level up a bit this summer? Sure, hot dogs and burgers are standard barbecue fare, but there's no reason we can't step up our game and bring some new and even celebrity-approved recipes to the table.
We've rounded up 15 recipes from celebs and celebrity chefs alike that include grilled skewers with some yummy-sounding barbecue sauce, shrimp tacos that will make those avoiding red meat happy, and some amazing grilled fruits and veggies that taste like summertime. Bon appétit!
Trisha Yearwood's Lemon Squares
Desserts at a barbecue should be easy to eat off a paper plate, not require silverware, and be light and refreshing (gotta counterbalance all that grilled meat somehow!). We love Trisha Yearwood's music and her Lemon Squares, which are the perfect finish to a summer meal. Light, bright, sweet, and tart — what's not to love?
Chrissy Teigen's Beef Skewers With Tahini Sauce
We know that Chrissy Teigen loves to cook, and we appreciate that her cookbooks (she's now released several) are filled with recipes that are super tasty but not overly fussy. Her Beef Skewers With Tahini Sauce dish features beef, tomatoes, and red onion with a savory marinade that has a hint of pineapple juice sweetness. Yum!
Martha Stewart's Strawberry-Ginger Smash
When the sun is hot, a refreshing drink is a must for a successful summer barbecue. We're obsessed with the Strawberry-Ginger Smashes from Martha Stewart. This combo of vodka, ginger beer, fresh ginger, lemon juice, and fresh strawberries is perfectly cooling!
Reese Witherspoon's Corn Salad
A BBQ-worthy salad needs to feature fresh, seasonal produce and be able to withstand sitting on the table for a bit without wilting or getting squishy. Reese Witherspoon's Grandma Dorothea's Corn Salad totally hits the mark with fresh corn, cherry tomatoes, and lots of tasty herbs.
Guy Fieri's Grilled Shrimp Tacos
Not everyone at a barbecue is into heavy meats like ribs or sausage. The Mayor of Flavortown, Guy Fieri, has a perfect recipe for Grilled Shrimp Tacos that only take about five minutes on the grill but pack a wallop of flavor in a not-so-heavy way.
Ayesha Curry's Grilled Bratwurst with Brie & Spiral Apple Slaw
Ayesha Curry isn't just an NBA wife (though her husband, Steph Curry, may be one of the all-time greats) — she's also an actress and a cookbook author. One of her best summer barbecue recipes is a fresh take on the traditional bratwurst. Her Grilled Bratwurst with Brie and Spiral Apples proves that there's room on that sausage for more than just mustard!
Jennifer Garner's Frozen Yogurt Bark
Leave it to Jennifer Garner to have a great option for the littlest guests at any backyard barbecue. Her Frozen Yogurt Bark is super easy, so it could be fun to make with a kid. Customize with fruit, candies, and whatever flavor of yogurt is available, but make sure to get it in the freezer a few hours before BBQ time.
Meghan Markle's Green Dip
One of the innovative ways Meghan Markle brought attention to an important cause was with her cookbook Together, which was created to raise money to support the Hubb Community Kitchen in London. In that book, the Duchess of Sussex revealed that she loves a green dip that would be perfect at any BBQ table. The Green Chili & Avocado Dip features green chili, avocado, garlic, and other tasty ingredients that are yummy with chips or raw veggies.
Al Roker's Potato Salad
OK, fair warning: This one might be controversial! Al Roker's Potato Salad with Lemon and Mint features no mayo or other cream sauce. Those wanting a lighter potato salad will love the brighter flavor, but traditionalists might still want a mayo-based option on the table.
Jason Mraz's Guacamole
Singer Jason Mraz has some songs that are summer bops (like his biggest hit, "I'm Yours"), and he's also a part-time farmer and orchard owner. Sounds like the perfect person to grab a quick but delicious guacamole recipe from. His Easy Mraz Guacamole is so good!
Donnie Wahlberg's Burger Recipe
Donnie Wahlberg isn't just a New Kid on the Block — he's also part owner of the Wahlburgers restaurant chain. He shared his technique for building the perfect burger on Rachael Ray, and we've got to admit, it looks like it has all The Right Stuff on it! (Sorry, not sorry.)
Oprah's Deviled Eggs
Sometimes it can be hard to tell if a recipe is really something that a celebrity actually gets their hands dirty making or if it's simply a recipe that their personal chef makes and they enjoy. Either way, we are 1,000% sure that Oprah Winfrey's Deviled Eggs will disappear about 10 minutes after a barbecue starts. People love deviled eggs, especially when someone else makes them and they have a touch of heat from paprika and a touch of sweet from relish, like this recipe does.
Dolly Parton's Coleslaw
Michelle Obama's Apple Cobbler
What could be more all-American than using an apple cobbler recipe straight from one of the most popular living first ladies? This recipe, originally found in Michelle Obama's 2012 cookbook, American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden, is super easy, but it does require starting it the day before the barbecue to let the apples absorb all the spices overnight.
Ree Drummond's Homemade Black Pepper Potato Chips
Yes, it is super easy and convenient to grab a bag or two of potato chips for a barbecue, and let's be real, people would notice if there were no chips to be found on the table! But for those who want to be a little fancier, homemade chips aren't actually all that difficult to pull off. Ree Drummond, aka The Pioneer Woman, has a Homemade Black Pepper Potato Chips recipe that is salty, peppery, and crispy and takes only about 25 minutes to make.
