This summer, we’ve been taking major advantage of our building’s rooftop grill – here are our favorite grilling recipes for easy weeknight dinners.
Okay, maybe that introduction line wasn’t entirely accurate. It’d probably be more apt to say that I’ve been taking major advantage of James’ grilling skills this summer. Hey, we all have our different strengths, right? Luckily for me, James loves to grill and it’s become a weeknight ritual about two or three times for us to head to our building’s rooftop to make dinner. It’s definitely helpful to have another set of hands to carry everything up to the grill!
Cooking together is one of our “things.” We use that time to unwind from our days, talk about our days, and just enjoy that time together – especially after so many years of long distance for us! Sometimes we’ll stay up on the rooftop to savor the gorgeous view and sunset with our meal. It’s definitely a relaxing way to take a beat, put away our phones, and truly be present in the moment. That’s easier said than done for me because I’m attached at the hip to my phone. But I’m working on it! Having a cute dinner date certainly helps ????
Here are our favorite grilling recipes for summer
Steakhouse Salad
I had to put this at the top of the list because I think it’s in the running for our #1 weeknight meal. It takes minimal prep and more often than not, we’ll make an extra amount for an easy next day lunch.
For the steak, James pats it dry on both sides to help the seasonings stick better. Thoroughly coat the steak with salt (don’t worry, a decent amount usually falls off the grill). For the ground pepper, season the steak with about 20% of the amount of salt you used. Lastly, if you like spice like we do, add a fine dusting of ground cayenne. Repeat on the other side and pop on the grill. We both are fans of medium rare so that’s how James prepares it.
For the rest of the salad, I slice romaine hearts in half, chop up grape tomatoes, slice a shallot (you can also use red onion), crumble up some bleu cheese, and then arrange them in an assembly line. Steak salads are traditionally served with iceberg lettuce but I prefer romaine for mine. Drizzle with bleu cheese dressing and you are all ready! You can get a little fancy if you plan ahead and make these quick-pickled red onions (I do these with shallots) to add a tangy crunch to your steak salad.
Chicken Souvlaki with Tzatziki
Chicken souvlaki is one of, if not the reigning champ, my favorite meals. In my family growing up, souvlaki was on the menu at least once a week during the summer. It’s a perfect addition to our menu of grilling recipes for summer because it’s filling but doesn’t leave you feeling stuffed or weighed down after. Normally, you’d have souvlaki with pita but I prefer naan because it’s softer and has better flavor in my opinion. I loosely follow this recipe for the chicken marinade. You can grill the chicken with skewers in bite-size pieces or leave the chicken breast whole, which is what I usually do. I’ll poke holes into the chicken to really let the marinade do its job.
Much like the steak salad, this is another assembly line situation. We’ll warm up the naan on the grill or in a skillet once the chicken is done cooking. Put the bread on your plate and then add chicken, chopped tomatoes, chopped cucumber, crumbled feta, and kalamata olives. We’ve also been making homemade tzatziki using the recipe from Dude Diet Dinnertime (more here on how this cookbook has been a gamechanger in learning to cook for two) to go with this dish.
Shrimp + Peppers
As you probably noticed, our big trend for a grilled dinner is centering the meal around a protein and veggies. James picked up a flip grill basket at Wegmans for $10 at the start of summer and we’ve used it nonstop since then. We love being able to throw a variety of veggies in there and have their flavors combine as they grill. One of our favorite veggies for this grill basket are bell peppers sliced into strips, fajita-style. The basket frees up space on the grill and we can quickly cook up a fajita feast!
Grilled Naan Pizza
If you are wondering what to do with your leftover naan from the souvlaki, you will be a happy camper with this meal. I started making grilled naan pizza when I was cooking for one because it’s the perfect size to make a personal pizza. No waste and you can make a couple pizzas with a variety of toppings for several meals! For a fun trip down memory lane, check out this post from 2014 when I made a grilled naan pizza using my George Foreman grill. And let’s not think about how that was almost 10 years ago! Eek!
Steak Topped With Shrimp Scampi
Yet another Wegmans shout-out in this post! James made this meal for me years ago and it’s remained in my top favorites ever since. He prepared the steak just like he did for the steak salad and then used Wegmans Ready To Cook Shrimp Scampi to add extra razzle dazzle. You can find the Ready To Cook Shrimp Scampi in Wegmans frozen prepared seafood section. Follow the instructions to cook the shrimp and, once done, just spoon the shrimp over the steak. The butter from the scampi sauce gets into the steak and it is heavenly!
Flavorful dishes that don’t require a grill
Scallop Ceviche: Sometimes, especially during the dog days of summer, turning on your oven or grill is the very last thing you want to do. I love this scallop ceviche for moments like this – it’s packed with vibrant flavors and requires absolutely no cooking!
Panzanella Salad with Halloumi: I made this recently as a side dish because panzanella salad is something I wait all year to enjoy! James loved this dish and his only feedback was “More of that cheese next time!” If you aren’t familiar with halloumi (I wasn’t until a few years ago!), let me introduce you to this amazing “grilling” cheese.
Don’t worry though – after I slice the block of cheese into bite-size pieces, I pan fry it in a skillet. Flip the halloumi cheese once it’s fried on both sides. Pan frying this cheese gives it an outside bite without melting the cheese!
Fair warning though if you are sensitive to textures when it comes to food. Halloumi can sometimes make a “squeaky” sound when you bite into it that I was NOT expecting at all on my first try. It doesn’t faze me personally but I know for others, that would make this a non-starter.
Peach and Goat Cheese Tartines: Who doesn’t love a good “apps for dinner” kinda night?! When you’re in a snacky mood, these tartines deliver. They’re super easy to prepare and use (in my opinion) two of the best summer flavors – peaches and basil! Make these for a summer picnic with friends or an easy Friday night meal when you just want to unwind.
