17 Unexpected Grilling Recipes for Summer

Sarah James
Jun 09, 2021
unexpected grilling recipes

We're ready to start our summer barbecues, but we don't want to settle for boring steaks and burgers. Why not shake things up at your next gathering with some unexpected grilling recipes? If you're already a lover of unusual grilled foods, you've come to the right place. We've got more than your basic finger foods or summer cocktail recipes — think donuts, salads and breakfast foods. So sit back and prepare to drool over these 17 recipes for your next summer barbecue.

1. Grilled Bacon: Get your day started on the right foot with grilled bacon. This grilling recipe calls for parsley and garlic, which would def make for an impressive side for dinner, but keep it simple if you're serving in the morning. (via Bacon Today)

2. Vanilla French Toast: While you're at it, slap some French toast on that grill to give your brunch a major upgrade. Why didn't we think of this sooner? Brioche and vanilla take this recipe to the next level — just don't skimp on the half and half. (via Epicurious)

3. Grilled Caesar Salad: If we're talking brunch and the coals are already hot, why not throw on some romaine and really impress your guests? This grilled salad is a fun twist on the traditional Caesar. (via Delish)

4. Grilled Avocado Caprese Salad: If you've never grilled an avocado, you're really missing out. This simple snack pairs grilled avos and lemons with a robust herb topping. Cherry tomatoes brighten up the dish for a healthy, filling snack. (via Souffle Bombay)

5. Grilled Artichokes: Grilled artichokes are one of the true joys of summer, and they're simple to master. The trick is to cut the choke in half first and boil before dropping it on the grill for that perfect char. Serve with garlic butter and lemon or enjoy it bare. (via Bev Cooks)

6. Grilled Clams in Spiced Paprika Butter: Toss some clams with this herb butter and throw on the grill for 3-5 minutes and you're good to go. Could cooking seafood get any simpler? (via Bon Appetite)

7. Ginger Cauliflower Steaks With Tahini Sauce: Did you know you could slice cauliflower into steaks and just toss them on the grill? Be sure to make some extra tahini sauce, because you'll want to put it on everything. (via Strength & Sunshine)

8. Spaghetti Grilled Cheese: Grilled pasta? Why not! Grill up some veggie skewers first, then toss some pre-cooked noodles in a grill basket and you've got pasta like you've never tasted before. (via The Kittchen)

9. Grilled Eggplant Salad: Eggplant can be tricky to get right, but not so with this super easy grilled salad recipe. Capers and parsley lend an unexpected brightness, while balsamic vinegar adds a dose of tangy goodness. Chill before serving for a truly remarkable salad. (via Salu Salo)

10. Grilled Strawberry Cucumber Salad: How pretty is this salad? We never would've thought to put cucumbers on the BBQ, and these grilled strawberries would be great for a number of dishes. You're going to love the sweet herbal dressing too. (via Oh My Veggies)

11. Grilled Lemon Lime Mojito Cocktail: Let's mix it up with a drink! Grilled lemons with sugar add a smokiness to this chili-infused cocktail. Be sure to slice up some extra passionfruit, because everyone's going to be calling for seconds of this beauty. (via Cake N Knife)

12. Yaki Onigiri: Sizzling rice bowl meets finger food when onigiri hits the grill. Try stuffing these rice balls with your favorite filling and you've got your new favorite outdoor munchie. (via Epicurious)

13. Lamb Meatballs With Salsa Verde: We've grilled plenty of burgers in our time, but never meatballs. Try these bites with lamb (or beef, if you're not feeling adventurous) for a fun new grilling go-to. The skewers make them easy to turn. (via Martha Stewart)

14. Grilled Spicy Watermelon: Meet your new summer BBQ BFF. Since you know you'll already have a watermelon at your picnic, blow everyone's minds and throw some slices on the grill. Toss in a sweet chili sauce for a taste sensation. (via Watermelon.org)

15. Grilled Peach Pies: With store-bought pie crusts and the fresh or frozen fruit of your choice, you can have individual pies fresh from the grill in no time. It's the perfect treat to whip up while you're sitting around the campfire. (via Cookie Dough and Oven Mitt)

16. Grilled Strawberry and Caramel S'mores: Maybe you've grilled marshmallows for your s'mores before, but have you used caramel-filled chocolates and added strawberries? Everything takes a turn on the BBQ in this summertime treat. (via Cravings of a Lunatic)

17. Grilled Donuts: Pick up a box of glazed donuts and toss them on the grill for the simplest dessert ever. Try out one of the many dips included and make it a donut party! (via The Merry Thought)

Barbecues can be tasty, but they can also be run of the mill. Shake things up this summer with unique and tasty recipes that will leave everyone smiling. These 17 unexpected grilling recipes will make your barbecue one to remember.

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This post has been updated.

40 Perfect Gifts I’d Give My Best Friends (But Really Want For Myself)

My best friends mean the world to me, and though I wish I could give them the world, this year, I just want to get them gifts that are as special as our friendship. Whether it’s a personalized pendant, a cute skincare set, or the lip shade they simply can’t stop talking about, I want them to know just how much I care about their companionship! Thus, I’ve curated the ultimate list of gifts for best friends to help you gift your besties something they’ll truly love, especially if it comes from you. These gifts are so good, I really want them for myself, too.

Our 40 favorite gifts for best friends:

Scroll on to see the absolute best gifts for best friends to give in 2024!

Amazon

1. Scent Beauty by Sabrina Carpenter Cherry Baby Eau de Parfum

Leave it to Sabrina Carpenter to influence my list of gifts for best friends. Her "Cherry Baby" scent carries sultry notes of vanilla, peony, cherries, and chocolate, which is the perfect aroma for a night out with the girls.

Summer Fridays

2. Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm

This lip balm is viral for a reason. Your besties' lips deserve all the instant moisture, color, and shine this tube provides. This brown sugar shade looks decadent AF, but you can also snag it in other fun 'flavors' like iced coffee and mint.

Urban Outfitters

3. Camp Snap Screen-Free Digital Camera

For the one that's always documenting the friend group's antics, they'll enjoy taking this unique, screen-free digicam on nights out, weekend trips, and cozy nights in! It captures film-style photos (without the time-consuming film photography process), and it can be used over and over again since it's rechargeable.

SeaVees

4. SeaVees Hayward Platform Shoes

Moccasin-style shoes are super popular this winter. I love how comfortable SeaVees' shoes are, so I might just have to share the love with my besties this holiday season... and snag a pair for myself so we can match, of course!

Dieux

5. Dieux Angel Face Cleanser + Moisturizer Bundle

Dieux is one of my go-to skincare brands for effective products that still take it easy on my sensitive skin. Their Baptism cleanser, part of this giftable duo, provides a nice clean without stripping any moisture from my skin. I also use their Instant Angel moisturizer religiously in the wintertime since things tend to get real dry. I'd say you can confidently gift this set to besties of any skin type.

Anthropologie

6. By Anthropologie Monogram Heart Locket Necklace

Personalized gifts will always feel special. Kick this gift idea up a notch by inserting a little pic of you and your BFF in the locket before wrapping and handing it over!

Urban Outfitters

7. Baggu Mini Nylon Shoulder Bag

I carry this Baggu bag just about everywhere I go. It's perfect for happy hours or dinners since it's small and not too much of a hassle to tow along, but don't let its size fool you: this baby can fit a lot. Your most stylish best friend will be wearing it the moment they open their gift!

Target

8. Jingle & Mingle 5 Days of Rosé Wine Set

You can never go wrong with rosé, baby! This gift set carries 5 personal-sized bottles of different varieties for them to sip on around the holidays.

Kulfi Beauty

9. Kulfi Beauty All Night Out Eye Set

This eye makeup set is complete with a bold eyeliner shade and a shimmery pot of eyeshadow. You get to choose the exact shades of each before purchasing, so this is truly one of the most fun personalized gift ideas. The set also comes with a funky pair of mismatched hair clips – so cute!

Dame

10. Dame Massage Oil Candle

This soothing candle melts down into a sweet-smelling massage oil that's easily dispensable, thanks to the pointed spout on the glass. This is a great gift for your single and partnered pals alike, whether they're using it to wind down themselves or for sexy time with their S.O.!

Life is Good

11. Life is Good 'I Deserve A Little Treat' Boxy Crusher Tee

Everyone deserves a little treat. Wrap up this awesome (and comfy!) tee alongside your bestie's favorite snack, sweet treat, or freshly-baked dessert to totally nail their gift this year!

Compartés

12. Compartés Pistachio Sea Salt Chocolate Truffles

These aesthetically-pleasing truffles could be the perfect sweet treat in question!

Nordstrom

13. OSEA Super Glow Body Set

I know anyone in my close friends circle would be happy to be gifted some nice skincare goodies. This luxe set from OSEA comes with a body wash, oil, and serum to keep skin looking and feeling happy!

Subscribe to our newsletter for even more holiday gift ideas!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

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Cher's All In For 'Mamma Mia 3' — & She Wants Meryl Streep Back With Her

Our favorite dancing queens (Meryl Streep included) might be returning to the big screen for a third encore of Mamma Mia! and we’re already rewatching the first two movie musicals in preparation.

In an interview with Deadline in May of 2023, Mamma Mia! franchise creator and producer Judy Craymer said a third movie musical is in "earliest stages." She also shared that she has come up with a way to bring Meryl Streep back again.

"I don't want to over-egg it," she said of the unofficial news, "but I know there's a trilogy there…and I do think Meryl should come back, and if the script is right, she would, I think, because she really loved playing Donna."

"Of course I want to do it," Streep said during the 2024 Cannes Film Festival (via Deadline). Sounds promising to us!

Is Mamma Mia 3 happening?

Universal Pictures

Yes, Mamma Mia 3 is in its early planning stages! Christine Baranski just told The Hollywood Reporter that she's met with producer Judy Kramer, and that Kramer has plans for the third movie. "She gave me the narrative plotline of how it’s going to happen," Baranski says. "That’s all I can say! But, it’s not like, 'Oh, I wish it could happen!' Judy Kramer makes things happen. She made number two happen, and it was a phenomenal hit. I wouldn’t put it past Judy Kramer to get everybody back together."

Universal Pictures

A third installation was first mentioned way back in 2020, during a Collider interview with Mamma Mia! star Amanda Seyfried. Seyfried said she was on board — and at the time, she thought the rest of the star-studded cast would be too.

"Listen, every single person in that movie would say yes in a heartbeat because we want to hang out with each other," Seyfried told Collider at the time. "That's what we talked about last time, like did we ever think that we'd end up here again on an Island in Croatia?"

When will Mamma Mia 3 come out?

Universal Pictures

We don't have an official answer about when to expect this highly anticipated sequel. The project is in the "earliest stages," according to creator and producer, Judy Craymer. Cher also revealed to Entertainment Weekly that everyone is "talking about it," but she doesn't "know when they're going to do it."

Has casting information been shared about Mamma Mia 3?

Jonathan Prime/Universal Studios

While nothing's been made official, Amanda Seyfried just said something that made my heart skip a beat. She told ABC News she loves Sabrina Carpenter's music and dropped this admission: "If Sabrina Carpenter wants to play my daughter, I’ll make it happen."

But before she admitted that, the actress said something else that made me raise my eyebrows. "Everybody says it’s gonna happen, but I mean, I haven’t seen a script."

Cher is also eager to return to the beloved franchise and is rooting for Meryl to make an appearance again. "I keep saying, 'Meryl, you've got to come back,'" she said (via Entertainment Weekly). She also said she's told her, "'It'll be fun. You'll have a good time. You'll be able to sing.'"

I don't know what it'll take, but hope someone gets a script in Amanda Seyfried, Cher, and Meryl Streep's hands ASAP!

What is the first Mamma Mia about?

Universal Pictures

The first film follows Donna (Streep) and Sophie (Seyfried) as mother and daughter living on a remote Greek island. When Sophie is about to marry Sky (Dominic Cooper), she sets out to learn who her real father is after discovering it could be one of three men (played by Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgard, and Colin Firth).

Who does the second Mamma Mia follow?

Universal Pictures / NBCUniversal

Mamma Mia 2takes viewers back to 1979, where young Donna (Lily James) embarks on a series of adventures throughout Europe following her Oxford University graduation. On her journeys, she makes the acquaintances of Harry, Bill and Sam – the latter whom she falls in love with. In the present day, pregnant Sophie dreams of renovating a taverna while reuniting with her mother's old friends and boyfriends on a Greek island island.

TBH, we’re pretty happy that Mamma Mia! is far from over, and we can’t wait to see what the franchise has in store for us next. Stay updated on all the latest entertainment news with Brit + Co.

This post has been updated.

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Paul Mescal Just Accidentally Proved He Always Has Daisy Edgar-Jones Top Of Mind

There's nothing ~normal~ about how much we love Normal People's Paul Mescal & Daisy Edgar-Jones. While it turns out we're not getting a Normal People season 2 (yet), the two actors are starring in some of 2024's biggest blockbusters (Twisters and Gladiator II, namely), and we've been soaking up their presences ever since.

Paul recently exhibited his ongoing friendship with Daisy at the Gladiator II premiere in Los Angeles. While he approached Brittany Broski on the red carpet for an interview, he recognized her from her recent 'Royal Court' interview with Daisy:

"You were with Daisy!" he chimed in excitingly. We just love this power duo!

Enda Bowe/Hulu

Daisy Edgar-Jones also revealed that she's remained incredibly close to Paul Mescal after their time on Hulu's Normal People. "Paul is one of my lifetime best friends," she says. "He’s an incredibly grounded person and I am too, I think, so it’s nice to be able to have those touchstones and those people you can laugh about it with and be lighthearted with. We met when I was 20 and Paul was 22; I’m so excited to see where we’ll be at 32, 42, and what life will bring us."

But the coolest thing is that not only is Normal People special for Paul and Daisy, but they've also been able to see the effect of the show on its fans.

"The thing I love people saying the most is, 'It made me contact my ex,'" Daisy continues. "Especially when much older people say, 'I just wanted to reach out to the person I was with when I was 17 just to say you were a big part of my history and thanks for being part of who I am, the tapestry of my life.' And that I really love, because I’m a massive romantic."

Daisy recently revealed they bonded over their training for Twisters and Gladiator II.

"I did running lessons — isn’t that crazy?" she told Variety. "Actually, Paul [Mescal] and I were laughing about it, because he was training for 'Gladiator II' and I was training for 'Twisters,' and obviously he had to be huge and I was like, 'Don’t worry, I’m going to be right up there with you.'"

Let us know your favorite Normal People moment in the comments and check out 5 Leading Ladies We'd Love To See In A Paul Mescal Rom-Com.

This post has been updated with additional reporting by Meredith Holser.

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