Pocket worthyStories to fuel your mind

How to Level Up Your Outdoor Cooking

Let the experts from Epicurious help you turn your cookouts up a notch or two.

Maggie Hoffman

Read when you’ve got time to spare.

In partnership with

The true joy of cookouts lies in spending quality time with friends and family in the great outdoors. So really, it’s fine if the food is just, well, fine. But if you’re ready to level up beyond the split hot dogs and overcooked burgers, my team at Epicurious is eager to help. We’ve been busy trying out tons of grills and accessories, and testing—and re-testing—wow-worthy recipes for every part of your cookout.

Below, you’ll find a few crucial tips for better grilling, plus the recipes you need for showstopping mains, sides, and sweets. Try a few for your next barbecue and just watch how quickly your friends and family ask when they can come over again for salt-bathed corn, grilled brownies, and of course, more quality time.

Bendy Skewers Are Just Better for Grilling

“No more playing shrimp kebab Tetris. These just make sense, especially if you have a round grill.” -Maggie Hoffman, Digital Director

How to Make Bangkok’s Best Thai Muslim-Style Grilled Chicken at Home

MH: “Straight talk: This grilled chicken recipe from Leela Punyaratabandhu, which was inspired by the amazing version served at Jeerapan in Bangkok, is the best grilled chicken I’ve ever made. The herb-rubbed skin is crisp and smoky, the meat is juicy and well-seasoned, and the pineapple dipping sauce is, frankly, drinkable.”

Skip the Butter and Dip Your Grilled Corn in a Salt Bath Instead

MH: “We all know that grilled corn is a key part of any barbecue, but to make it truly great, you have to try this tip.”

71 BBQ Side Dishes to Add Some Zing to Your Next Cookout

MH: “I tend to fall back on the same side dishes over and over. You too? This list will fix that.”

How to Set Up Your Charcoal Grill for Optimal Cooking Every Time

MH: “Setting a charcoal grill up isn’t hard, but there are some key details that really matter. Like getting those heat zones right. This guide is all you need to become a pro and never overcook your pork chops again.”

Kamado Joe’s New Smart Grill: Tested, Reviewed, and Enthusiastically Approved

MH: “Maybe it’s time to upgrade your equipment. Everyone around our offices (and in our office Slack) is talking about this new grill, and Emily Farris, whose entire backyard always seems to be filled with different grills she’s testing, explains why it’s a game-changer.”

103 Best Grilling Ideas: Recipes for Summer Barbecues

MH: “Sometimes hosting feels like a lot of pressure. That’s when I like to take a deep breath and dive into a big collection of expert-tested recipes and just see what makes my heart sing. Cedar plank salmon? Grilled peach toast? Yes, please.”

For the Best Jerk Tofu, Freeze, Then Grill

MH: “If your guests include vegetarians, this is the tofu trick you need to know. If you’re going to bother with a marinade, you might as well make the most of it.”

Summer’s Best Brownies Are Baked on the Grill

MH: “Don’t forget dessert. When I first heard about cooking brownies on a grill, I was skeptical. But these are killer: a little smoky, a little spicy, and totally hands-off—they bake on the grill’s residual heat while you’re busy eating dinner.”

For Dessert in a Snap, Make an Ice Cream Icebox Cake—Any Way You Like It

MH: “Okay, one other super-easy, no-bake dessert option. I love a dessert that’s make-ahead, especially if I’m hosting a crowd, and Kendra Vaculin’s mix-and-match formula is genius.”

Maggie Hoffman

Maggie Hoffman is a contributing editor at Epicurious. Previously, she was the managing editor of Serious Eats and the founder of that site's drink section. She's the author of Batch Cocktails: Make-Ahead Drinks for Every Occasion and The One-Bottle Cocktail: More than 80 Recipes with Fresh Ingredients and a Single Spirit, both published by Ten Speed Press. Her writing about food and drinks has appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, Food + Wine, Rachael Ray Every Day, and others.