Image by Vincent Keiman

Have your backyard cookouts been feeling uninspired, bland, or even a little boring?

Master the grill and become the ultimate cookout champion with these 5 exciting summer cookout recipes!

Summer is a great time to catch up with friends and family and take a few moments to relax from the hustle and bustle of the year. Hosting a cookout is a great way to connect with people and enjoy some delicious grilled cuisine! 

Make a statement with an irresistible cookout menu!

While there is nothing wrong with serving the classics, mixing in some new flavors and dishes can make this summer’s cookout a memorable one, and we’ve got just the right recipes to try!

1. Chicago Dog 

It’s summer and you’re hosting a cookout, sounds like you’re in need of some hearty hot dogs! Why not enjoy this cookout classic Chicago style with our simple yet flavorful Chicago Dog recipe?

First things first, grab your favorite hot dog buns, a pack or two of hot dogs (preferably all-beef if possible, they will give the most authentic flavor), and a few other ingredients, and you’ll be savoring the unique tang of a Chicago style hot dog in no time!

Brush a layer of melted butter across the top of the hot dog buns and sprinkle them with poppy seeds before nestling the grilled hot dog into the center of the bun. 

Then, layer sliced tomatoes, relish, and a pickle spear on top of the grilled hot dog. 

Then, place a layer of diced or minced onion, a few sport peppers, and a drizzle of mustard. For an extra dimension of flavor, add a sprinkle of celery salt over the whole thing before indulging!

1. Melt the butter, and brush the top of your hot dog bun. Sprinkle with poppy seeds. 
2. Open the bun, and add your hot dog. Top with tomato slices, sweet relish, diced white onion, a dill pickle spear, and sport peppers. Add a drizzle of yellow mustard, and sprinkle with celery salt. 

2. Cheesy Pickle Spears 

You may not have tried this interesting pairing before, but turns out, that cheese and pickles might just be the coupling of the season! The vinegar of the pickles balances out the buttery flavor of the Havarti cheese and is wrapped and fried for a special summer snack! 

To make this simple summer appetizer, simply grab some dill pickle spears, Havarti cheese slices, egg roll wrappers, and some ranch and sriracha for the perfect dipping sauce!

In a single egg roll wrapper, lay a half slice of the Havarti cheese and top it with a pickle spear. 

Wrap the contents as if you were wrapping an egg roll. To seal the edges, use a small amount of the pickle juice for an extra kick of flavor! Once you’ve repeated this for as many spears as you need, place them in the air fryer.

Cook them for around 10 minutes at 360º F, taking time to turn them halfway through for even cooking. Remember not to overcrowd the air fryer!

Once they are finished, they are almost ready for serving!

Get the sauce ready by mixing the sriracha into the ranch until you reach a level of spice that compliments your taste preferences.

Plate everything up and enjoy the fun and unique flavors of this appetizer at your backyard cookout this summer!

1. Lay out an egg roll wrapper. Cut a slice of Havarti cheese in half, and place it in the middle of the egg roll wrapper. Lay a pickle spear on top of the cheese. Roll it up like an egg roll. Once you get to the end, dip your finger in the pickle juice and rub the edge of the egg roll wrapper to help it stick together.
2. Preheat your air fryer to 360º F. Cook the spears for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping over halfway through.
3. While the spears are in the air fryer, mix ranch and sriracha to taste. Dip the spears into the sriracha, and enjoy!

3. Grilled Corn Salad

Grilled corn is a staple for most backyard cookouts, especially those in the South. There’s just something so delicious about the sweet, crunchy, and golden addition grilled corn brings to the table, but this summer, why not try something new? This grilled corn salad recipe pairs the smoky corn with juicy cherry tomatoes, zesty lime, refreshing chives, and even a crumble of sweet feta for a delightful summer side! 

After you’ve grilled all of the corn and gotten a delicious char, remove the kernels and place them in a mixing bowl. 

In the bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients, excluding the olive oil and lime juice, and stir until they are well-mixed.

Separately, combine the lime juice and olive oil to make a light dressing. Pour it over the salad and toss to coat. 

Make sure to make more than you think is necessary because it will be a hit at any summer cookout! 

1. Grill your corn until charred, and let it cool. Once the cobs are cool, slice the kernels off and place them in a medium bowl. Add the chives, tomatoes, and feta. Add salt and pepper to taste.
2. In a small bowl, mix the lime juice and olive oil to make a dressing. Pour it over the corn mixture, then stir until combined. 
3. Mix it up by using fresh basil instead of chives, or by adding avocado chunks.

4. Watermelon and Kiwi Popsicles

Not only does every get-together need a sweet treat to wrap up the meal, but a summer cookout calls for a special kind of dessert. Cool down with these refreshingly sweet watermelon and kiwi popsicles made from scratch! 

All you’ll need is a watermelon, a few kiwis, and a lime! (And a popsicle mold, of course). Get everything ready by chopping the watermelon into one or two-inch cubes, slicing the kiwi, and cutting the lime in half.

Place the watermelon into a blender and add the juice from half of the lime before blending. Blend the watermelon until smooth. 

Pour the watermelon juice into the popsicle mold, leaving about ½ inch-1 inch of room at the top. Then, place the popsicle sticks before putting them into the freezer. Let the popsicles freeze for about 3 hours. 

Just before it is time to pull the watermelon popsicles out of the freezer, add the sliced kiwi to a blender, as well as the juice from the remaining halved lime, and blend until smooth.

Pour the kiwi purée into the space you left open in the popsicle mold and return the popsicles to the freezer for another hour.

Take your popsicles out of the freezer and enjoy!

1. Fill a blender with watermelon chunks. Squeeze half a lime into the blender, then blend until smooth. (Note: If you’d like a sweeter popsicle, you can add honey before blending.) Pour the watermelon liquid into a popsicle mold, leaving ½ inch of space at the top. Put popsicle sticks into the center of each mold, and freeze for about 3 hours. 
2. Once the watermelon layer is frozen, add the kiwi to a blender. Squeeze the other half of the lime into the blender. Blend until smooth. Fill the rest of the popsicle mold with the kiwi liquid, and freeze for another hour.
3. Enjoy!

5. Peach Tea

A summer cookout is only as good as the drinks served to wash everything down. Imagine sipping on a rejuvenating cup of sweet tea infused with the fruity flavor of fresh peaches. This fairytale can easily become a reality with our simple peach tea recipe!

To make this summertime tea, gather a handful of peaches, some sugar, and water, and don't forget to grab your favorite kind of ice tea. 

Slice the peaches, leaving the skin on, and bring them to a boil in a large pot over medium heat with the water and sugar. As the sugar dissolves, stir the peaches and watch as they soften. Then, use the back of the serving spoon against the side of the pot to crush the peaches. 

After the sugar has fully dissolved, turn off the heat and cover the pot. Let the peaches sit for about 25-30 minutes. 

Place a sieve over a measuring cup and strain peaches from the liquid. You have just made a delicious peach simple syrup!

Pour up a cup of iced tea and add the peach simple syrup for a sweet and refreshing summer drink! 

1. Slice the peaches, and put them in a large pot with the water and sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil, and stir until the sugar dissolves. Turn off the heat, and crush the peach slices with the back of a spoon. Cover, and let sit for 20-30 minutes. 
2. Next, strain the peach syrup into a container. Fill a cup with ice, and pour ice tea over the ice. Add about one ounce of the peach simple syrup (or to taste) and stir. Enjoy!

We hope you enjoyed this selection of exciting summer cookout recipes! We love to share tasty recipes for any event or occasion, so if you liked these, be sure to check out our Instagram or our blog for more food-related content to really get things cookin’! 

For more information on Table and Thyme, contact them today! Follow us on our social media: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Pinterest to see the other amazing events, lavishing grazing tables and beautiful graze boxes we have created.