A summer weekend isn’t complete without firing up the grill and serving up a barbecue feast. Whether you’re in it for the perfect sticky chicken wings, tender beef kebabs, chargrilled lamb chops or juicy pork ribs, these are all of the best meaty BBQ recipes to see you through the summer. For the vegetarians in your group, you can find all of our favourite veggie BBQ dishes here, and make sure to finish off your spread with some fresh and easy side dishes and salads. Plus, you can find our full collection of barbecue recipes here.
Chicken
Andi Oliver’s Tea-brined Spiced Barbecue Chicken
Brining your meat before it goes on the grill is the best way to guarantee juicy, tender chicken. In this easy recipe from Andi Oliver, she uses a citrusy Earl Grey tea brine, adding a bold, zesty flavour whilst tenderising the meat.
Buttermilk Chicken Shish Kebab with Quick Lemon Pickle and Oregano
A good shish kebab at a barbecue is a game-changer, especially when the chicken has been left to marinate in buttermilk and spices overnight. Josh Katz’s easy-to-follow recipe guarantees perfectly succulent skewers every time, packed with the delicious flavours of the Middle East.
Meliz Berg’s Chicken Kebabs
Full of flavour, these succulent chicken thigh kebabs are coated in a creamy marinade of red pepper, honey, and pomegranate molasses before being grilled. Serve with pitta bread and a generous portion of hummus for an effortless, Turkish-Cypriot-inspired BBQ feast.
Sticky Honey Chicken Wings
Coated in a rich honey, soy sauce and garlic marinade, these chicken wings become sticky and crisp on the barbecue. Be warned, you may need more wings than you think, these are addictively good and will be gone in a flash.
Roasted Pineapple Chicken with a Sweet Chilli Glaze
Coated in a sweet and spicy glaze, grilled pineapple and tender chunks of chicken take on a smoky, sweet flavour in this easy kebab recipe from Levi Roots.
Chicken Satay Skewers (Sate Ayam)
These chicken satay skewers are a barbecue staple, and always the first thing to get devoured thanks to the irresistible peanut marinade and sweet chilli dip. Find more Southeast Asian-inspired barbecue dishes here.
Smoked Chicken Thighs with Saffron and Orange Blossom Caramel, Hazelnut Dukkah and Basil
Don’t be intimidated by the long ingredient list, these Middle-Eastern-inspired barbecue chicken thighs are well worth the effort. The combination of smoky charred chicken, sweet zesty sauce and nutty dukkah is hard to resist.
Chicken Burgers with Maple-chipotle Mayonnaise and Pickled Cucumber
Packed with spring onions, fresh garlic and ginger, and plenty of coriander, these chicken burgers are a lovely lighter alternative to the classic beef version.
Ainsley Harriott’s Ultimate Jerk Chicken
For a show-stopping centrepiece to feed the whole family, Ainsley Harriot’s whole jerk chicken, coated in a punchy chilli, ginger, allspice and turmeric marinade, is our go-to dish.
Cyrus’s Turkey Tikka
A twist on a classic tikka masala recipe, these easy kebabs are coated in a quick marinade that is packed with flavour. While they are made here with turkey breast, they can just as easily be substituted with chicken if you prefer.
Lamb
Meliz Berg’s Lamb Chops
Don’t skip the marinade for these easy lamb chops. The milk-based, sweet red pepper and garlic sauce tenderises the lamb to perfection, resulting in juicy cutlets ready to be served straight off the grill. Find more lamb BBQ recipes here.
Moroccan Lamb Burgers with Mint Aïoli
Sweet dried apricots, spicy harissa and fresh mint add a Moroccan-inspired twist to these easy lamb burgers. Serve with crunchy lettuce and cooling cucumber and mint aïoli.
Chargrilled Lamb Cutlets, Chermoula
Who better to turn to for some barbecue inspiration than a group of Aussies? The team behind the popular Australian restaurant group, Caravan, shows us how it’s done with these tempting chargrilled lamb cutlets, coated in a flavourful chermoula rub.
Beef
Ainsley Harriott’s Mustard-Glazed Beef Kebabs and Baby Potato Skewers with Horseradish Dip
If you are missing your cosy Sunday dinners, this kebab is the perfect summer alternative. Mustard, honey and thyme-marinated beef sirloin is grilled alongside rosemary baby potatoes and served with a creamy horseradish dip.
Jamie Oliver’s Loaded Beefburger
These loaded beef burgers from Jamie Oliver are not your basic, boring beef burger. The thick beef patties are stuffed with roasted sweet red peppers, sour pickles and plenty of gooey, oozy cheese.
Ainsley Harriott’s Poppy and Coconut Beef Kebabs with Roasted Chilli Salsa
These delicious beef kebabs are a meat-eater’s idea of heaven, and the punchy roasted chilli salsa that goes with it is not to be missed. This flavour-packed dish is one we’ll be making all summer long.
Seasoned-up Pepper Steak
This easy recipe for barbecued rump steak is perfect for a laidback BBQ with lots of hungry mouths to feed. Simple, packed with flavour, and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Pork
Jerk-spiced Pork Chops with Sweet Potato Wedges and Thyme Salt
Ideally marinated for a few hours or overnight, these spicy pork chops are worth the wait. The jerk-inspired marinade packs a serious punch, loaded with allspice, nutmeg, garlic and Scotch bonnet chilli.
Marmalade-Glazed Sticky Ribs
Simmered in apple juice to tenderise before being smothered in a sticky marmalade and soy sauce marinade, this rack of pork ribs is a labour of love that will be appreciated by everyone. Serve with plenty of napkins.
