It's barbecue season and Canadians are looking to prepare as many meals as possible on the grill. Get creative and explore new ways to cook up all your favourite dishes on the barbecue. From weeknight dinners to backyard parties, our inspired recipes will leave you saying, “I didn’t know I could make that on the grill!”
Sizzling Snacks
These nibbles will disappear fast so make plenty to share.
Guacamole
Grilled Guacamole is a summer twist on a snacking favourite. Not only is it possible to grill avocados, but it also amps up the nutty creaminess you love. To prevent this fruit from slipping through the barbecue grates, cut the avocados into halves or quarters and grill flesh side down.
Snack Mix
Be prepared for snack time around the campfire with Sweet & Salty Pantry Party Mix . A crunchy blend of pumpkin pie spice-tossed peanuts, pretzels and cereal, it’s cooked in a foil pan on the barbecue. Cool before eating.
Nachos
Guests won’t be able to resist a tower of easily assembled Cedar Plank Nachos, and their subtle smoky flavour will keep them reaching for more.
Cheese
Rolled in a mix of sweet bell peppers, Grilled Goat Cheese Spread gets five stars for pretty presentation. Grilled on a maple plank, this cheese ball turns warm, gooey and spreadable within minutes. Bonus: The maple plank doubles as a serving platter once cooled. Enjoy with pita chips, crackers or summer veggies.
Fired-up Sides
Take grilled veggies to another level with an inventive twist.
Stuffed Vegetables
Planked Shrimp & Quinoa Stuffed Peppers are infused with tarragon vinaigrette and topped with goat cheese. Grilling on a cedar plank gives the quinoa and peppers that smoky flavour that you can only get on the barbecue.
Salad
We love barbecuing so much we even tossed our salad on the grill. Grilled Caesar Salad serves up an irresistible smoky hint to the crisp but charred lettuce. In heartier Caesar Egg Salad with Oka & Grilled Greens, an herby egg mixture flecked with pecans and capers tops a bed of smoky veggies. A garnish of Oka cheese chunks ties all the flavours together.
Mouthwatering Mains
Refresh your menu with one (or all!) of these creative entrees.
Burritos
Inspired by traditional chicken burritos and Mexican street corn, Grilled Chicken & Corn Burritos get a kick from lime-spiked corn and crumbled feta wrapped up in a tortilla. Check out our video on how to wrap the perfect tortilla.
Grilled Cheese
Who would have thought to make a childhood favourite on the barbecue? Peach & Comté Grilled Cheese elevates the simple snack to a special adult treat. Switch up the cheese and fruit to customize the sandwich to your liking.
Stir-Fry
Spanish-Style Shrimp comes together in 30 minutes — perfect on a busy weeknight. Didn’t think of stir-frying on the 'cue? Sautéed in a cast-iron skillet, the shrimp shine with notes of garlic and smoked paprika.
Pizza Dough
Hold the phone: the perfect pizza is as close as your own backyard! Our recipe for Beer Dough Pizza puffs up nicely on the grill and acts as a soft base for all your barbecue leftovers. And although this dough isn’t sticky, always lightly oil a clean grill for best results.
Salmon Burgers
If you are looking to refresh your summer salmon game, our Japanese-Style Salmon Burger is an unexpected way to enjoy salmon fillets as a burger patty. Serve it open-faced with ginger-wasabi mayo and cucumber.
Instagram-worthy Desserts
No need to head indoors or to the ice cream parlour for a sweet summertime treat. The grill delivers many delicious indulgences that both young and old will love.
S’mores
No trip to the cottage is complete without Maple-Planked Stuffed S’mores. Scoop up melted chocolate-filled marshmallows with graham crackers and prepare for sticky smiles, messy fingers and the inevitable cry for “more!”
Streusel
Barbecued Peach & Blueberry Streusel features summer’s finest fruits cooked in a cast-iron skillet until golden brown and bubbling. Tip: If you don’t have a skillet, stack two disposable aluminum pans together to prevent the bottom from burning.
Fruit Kabobs
Move over, fruit salad! A platter of colourful Grilled Fruit Skewers with Habanero Caramel Sauce will wow guests with its playful mix of sweet and spicy. Pick up ready-to-grill fruit kabobs from your local Sobeys to cut down on prep time.
Cookie
The perennial favourite chocolate chip cookie collides with the summer must-have S’mores to create a showstopper dessert. Serve the S’mores Skillet Cookie in wedges with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Cake
A deconstructed twist on a classic dessert, Strawberry Shortcake Kabobs feature cubes of prepared angel food cake and strawberries with Greek yogourt for dipping.
Pancakes
Instead of flipping pancakes over a stove, whip up a one-size-feeds-all Family-Style Grilled Pancake on the barbecue. Our favourite part? The crunchy, honeyed pecan edges!
Note for the Cook: Remember to thoroughly clean the grill between each recipe to prevent cross-contamination and stop ingredients from picking up residual flavours, which is especially important when switching to dessert.
