Light Up The Grill With These 8 Summer Fun Recipes!

Now, more than ever, small outdoor gatherings are quintessential to enjoying the summer season. Since you’ll be spending many memorable evenings grilling, take this opportunity to elevate your menu from the traditional hamburgers and hot dogs to sophisticated dishes that will leave your guests impressed.

The way to ensure your food turns out flavorful and unforgettable is by grilling with Kingsford® Original Charcoal. For more than 100 years, Kingsford® Original Charcoal has been the gold standard of grilling. Made in the USA with 100 percent natural ingredients, including North American wood, Kingsford® Original gives BBQ lovers the smoky wood-fired flavor they crave.

So Yummy wants to show you how to easily turn your traditional grill into a DIY smoker. We trust Kingsford® Original Charcoals because Kingsford® lights faster and burns longer than competitive brands. Smoking your Top Sirloin steak with cherry wood and Kingsford® Original brings out unique flavors from this cut of meat that will delight your palate. Grilling isn’t just for the carnivores anymore, either. Try our recipes for smoked BBQ watermelon and gourmet grilled corn-on-the-cob for brand new staple dishes at your summer cookouts.

Whatever is on the menu, be sure to light up the grill with Kingsford® Original Charcoal.

Onion Burger Bomb

Complexity: Easy
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients: 

• 4 onions
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
• 2 tbsp oregano
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley
• 1 red chili, chopped
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 8 oz cheddar cubes
• 16 oz bacon
• BBQ Sauce

Directions: 

1. Cut both ends off the onions. Hollow out center of onion, leaving about two to three outer rings. Chop up about a ¼ cup of the hollowed out onions to add to the meat mixture. 
2. In a bowl, combine chopped onions, Worcestershire sauce, oregano, parsley, chili, salt, pepper and ground beef. Section into four parts and add a cheddar cube in the center. Mold into meat balls and place in the center of the onion rings. 
3. Layout three slices of bacon in a star pattern. Place meatball onion on top of the bacon slices and wrap around the onion securing with a toothpick.
4. Place on the upper rack of the grill or cook over indirect heat. Cook until the internal temperature of beef reaches 140°F. 
5. Top or serve with BBQ sauce.

Easy-Flip Brats

Complexity: Easy
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients: 

• 6 brats
• 6 buns
• ¼ cup ketchup
• ¼ cup relish
• ¼ cup mustard
• ½ tbsp olive oil
• 1 white onion
• 1 red pepper
• 1 green pepper

Directions:

1. Prep brat toppings. Reserve ¼ onion and chop. Grill the rest of the onion and peppers with olive oil. 
2. Place brats on a flat surface and poke two skewers through each brat — one on each side. 
3. Grill easy-flip brats for 6 minutes each side.
4. Serve with toppings.

Smoked BBQ Watermelon

Complexity: Medium 
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 4 hours
Servings: 3

Ingredients:

• 1 small watermelon
• Olive oil
• Rosemary
• Dry rub:
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp coriander
  • 1 tbsp oregano
  • 1 tsp salt and pepper
• BBQ sauce

Directions:

1. Peel skin off watermelon. Score cross lines round the watermelon.
2. Mix dry rub ingredients. Spread evenly over watermelon. Place on a grill safe dish with some olive oil and rosemary.
3. Prep grill for a smoker. Fill a small baking tin halfway with water. Add two big cherry wood blocks to charcoals. Add a sprig of rosemary on top of charcoals.
4. Place prepped watermelon on the grill. Smoke for about 3 hours. Until the watermelon develops a rough outer skin.
5. Top with BBQ sauce and serve.

Peach Blueberry Cobbler

Complexity: Easy
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 2

Ingredients:

• Filling:
  • 6 peaches
  • 1 cup blueberries
  • ¼ cup water
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
• Crumble:
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 cup oats
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 ½ sticks unsalted butter, cut into cubes
  • 2 tbsp milk *optional

Directions:

1. Mix all crumble ingredients. Set aside.
2. Slice peaches and place in a mixing bowl. Add in all the filling ingredients and mix.
3. Pour filling into the center of two 6 inch cast irons. Sprinkle crumble on top.
4. Grill until bubbling and crumble is starting to brown.

Gourmet Corn

Complexity: Easy
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 

Ingredients: 

• 8 ears of corn, husks on
• ¼ cup mayonnaise
• ½ cup cotija, crumbled
• 1 tbsp taco seasoning
• ½ cup cilantro, chopped
• 1 – 2 limes cut into wedges

Directions: 

1. Grill corn in husks for ten minutes, turning occasionally until charred and cooked through.
2. Peel corn and tie husk into a knot. Brush with mayonnaise. Sprinkle on crumbled cotija, taco seasoning and cilantro.
3. Serve with fresh limes.

Smoked Steak, DIY Grill Smoker

Complexity: Easy
Prep Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 3 hours
Servings: 4 

Ingredients: 

• 1 lb Top Sirloin
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 cherry wood blocks

Directions:

for DIY Grill Smoker

1. Soak cherry wood for an hour.
2. Bank coals to one side of the grill. Fill a metal tin pan halfway with water or apple juice. Place next to coals in the grill.
3. Place wood blocks on hot coals. Add grill grate and place meat on top of the grate where the metal tin is, over the liquid.
4. Close the grill and allow it to smoke for around 90 minutes. Watching the temperature of the grill and the meat. Grill should stay around 225 – 250°. The internal meat temperature should be 160°F.

Pineapple Delight

Complexity: Medium
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 60 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 large pineapple
• 1 lb bacon, thick cut
• ½ lb shredded chicken
• ¼ cup bbq sauce

Directions:

1. Slice off both ends of pineapple. Cut out the center with a small knife or melon baller.
2. Mix shredded chicken with bbq sauce.
3. Stuff pineapple with bbq chicken.
4. Place stuffed pineapple on top of a braided bacon layer. Roll up and secure bacon with toothpicks.
5. Grill on top rack or indirect heat for 40 minutes or until bacon is as crispy as you like it.

Citrus Salmon 

Complexity: Easy
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 24 oz salmon fillet
• 2 lemons sliced
• 2 limes sliced
• 2 oranges sliced
• 1 bunch fresh thyme
• Marinade: 
  • 1 lemon juiced
  • 1 lime juiced
  • 1 orange juiced
  • ¼ cup white wine vinegar
  • ¼ cup olive oil or avocado oil
  • ½ tsp coarse salt

Directions:

1. Mix together marinade. Prepare sliced citrus. Brush the fillet with marinade and let marinade in the fridge for 15 minutes.
2. Place sliced citrus on the grill. Place the fillet skin side down on top of citrus, add fresh thyme and grill for 12 minutes until the fish is flaky and has an internal temperature of 145°F.