This Memorial Day, as we gather together to pay our respects to the fallen soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom, let’s put our differences aside and come together over great food, great conversation, and a relaxing day of unity. While every Texan loves a grilled steak or burger, why not think outside the box and up your grill game this weekend? We’ve picked out a few unusual, mouthwatering recipes to make on the grill that will make this Memorial Day the tastiest one yet! Ever had a grilled salad? Grilled sweet potatoes? Grab your grill garb and let’s go! It’s time to whip out the grill and get ready for a cookout!
Chili-lime Mango Chicken Skewers
We’ve all grilled chicken, but what about mangos? These chili-lime mango chicken skewers from Our Best Bites show us the beauty of mangos in a whole new light. These sweet, spicy skewers are soaked in a tangy lime marinade for a few hours before grilling to pack as much flavor as possible in every bite! Make sure you choose large mangos (the red-green variety) so you can cut big enough chunks for the grill. You also want slightly firmer mangos as they hold up better on the grill. Serve these skewers with coconut rice or lime-cilantro rice.
Easy Grilled Pizza
Everyone loves pizza so why not grill some up this Memorial Day? Grilling pizza gives it a different taste and texture that you just can’t get from a regular oven. This version from Tastes Better from Scratch is easy so it’s great for pizza-grilling beginners. You can use store-bought pizza dough or make your own, oil it up, and place it oil-side down on the grill for two to three minutes. Flip that dough onto a plate or cutting board and then add sauces and toppings to the grilled side. Finally, slide that bad boy back onto the grill to cook the bottom and you’ve got an easy, delicious grilled pizza!
Grilled Romaine Heart Salad with Avocado-Kefir Green Goddess Dressing
This beautiful and nutrient-packed salad gets an extra flavor layer because it’s done on the grill. Yes! Salad on the grill! We found this salad on Brooklyn Supper, but it comes from the book The Wellness Project by Phoebe Lapine. It’s the romaine lettuce in this recipe that gets the grill treatment, resulting in charred, smoky leaves of yum! Other ingredients like caramelized shallots and artichokes, along with a creamy dressing made with avocado, basil leaves, mint leaves, and kefir add layer upon layer of flavor in this healthy, feel-good salad.
Cajun Boil on the Grill
I know it’s hard to break from tradition, but have you ever tried making a Cajun boil on the grill? A Memorial Day cookout is the perfect occasion to experiment with this fun boil! This grilled delight from Taste of Home couldn’t be easier. Pack up individual servings of your boil ingredients into heavy-duty aluminum foil parcels. Seal them tightly and throw them on a grill for 12-15 minutes. That’s it! Grilled boils work great for camping too!
Grilled Avocado Caprese Salad
This impressive salad from Souffle Bombay is easy, fun, and healthy too! You’ll start by infusing olive oil with garlic. That garlicky olive oil is a key flavor in this dish! Halve the avocados, brush the halves with some of that aromatic oil, and pop them on the grill for 4 to 5 minutes until you have nice char marks. Top with tomatoes and mozzarella balls (that have also been marinating in that garlic olive oil) and drizzle with balsamic vinegar. This is one caprese salad your friends will be talking about long after the last bite!
Grilled Chicken Nachos Two Ways
If you ask us, nachos are always a good idea. For Memorial Day, add a twist to this favorite dish by making them on the grill. This recipe from The Cookie Rookie offers up two versions of grilled nachos: Mexican chicken nachos and barbecue nachos. Build layers of chips, toppings, and cheese in a grill tray and place over indirect heat on the grill. Cover and cook for five minutes, then turn and cook for another five minutes. This recipe is a great way to get kids in helper mode on Memorial Day!
Grilled Sweet Potatoes
For an easy, yet intriguing, side dish, try these grilled sweet potatoes that are sure to ignite all your senses – from the deep, rich color to the creamy middle with charred edges, your taste buds will thank you! These grilled sweet potatoes from Simply Recipes are slathered with a cilantro-lime dressing, which helps balance the sweetness of the potatoes. Make sure you slice the potatoes evenly into ¼-inch slices so they grill up consistently.
Grilled Coconut with Melted Chocolate
We love this indulgent recipe of grilled coconut with melted chocolate from H-E-B! Just crack open a coconut, scoop up chunks of meat and throw them on the grill. Once those chunks are charred and begin to turn brown, take them off the grill and let them cool. Dip the coconut chunks into melted chocolate and you’ve got a sweet taste of the tropics! You can let the chocolate cool and harden in the refrigerator or dip the coconut chunks and eat them warm. If you want to add some health benefits, opt for dark chocolate.
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