8 Delicious & Frugal Grill Recipes! (2024)

May 13, 2015 by: Bargain Babe

As soon as the warm weather rolls around my Dad starts to cook EVERY meal on the grill. Sounds great, right? Wrong! You can only have so many burgers and hot dogs before you’re craving anything else. For this reason, I looked up some different and frugal grill recipes that will have you dying to start that grill up today!

8 delicious grill recipes to try this summer

1. Coconut Brown Sugar Glazed Grilled Pineapple

Looking for a delicious dessert that you don’t have to bake? This recipe is the perfect fit! For this recipe you’ll need:

• 1 Pineapple, trimmed and cut into wedges
• ½ cup butter, melted
• ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 Tablespoons Honey
• 1 teaspoon imitation coconut extract

To make simply combine melted butter, brown sugar, honey and coconut extract in a medium bowl. Then, preheat grill to 350 degrees F. Grill pineapple sideways and create grill lines. Golden brown lines should be on each side. Remove from grill and place on tray. Coat with glaze until it melts over it. See full tutorial at Chef In Training.

Note: Trying to eat healthy? Skip the glaze. Grilled pineapple is delicious on it’s own and is AMAZING when served with chicken. Yum!

2. The Best Four Ingredient Marinade for Grilled Chicken

Looking for a quick and frugal meal for after work? Prepare this quick marinade in the morning and your chicken will be ready for the grill when you get home! To make this marinade simply combine1 cup brown sugar, 1cup oil,1/2 cup soy sauce, and1/2 cup vinegar and let marinate chicken breasts for at least 4 hours or overnight. Grill at medium heat for six minutes and then flip for another four. In about 10 minutes your chicken is ready! Yum!

3. Grilled Pizzas

Calling all pizza lovers! Did you know you can make pizza on the grill!? Grilling a pizza is easy. Basically, you take your pizza dough and brush both sides with olive oil. Transfer to your grill (preheated to medium heat) and let sit until bubbly. About five minutes. Remove from the grill and flip over (so grill marks are now on top) and add toppings to the grilled side. Put back onto the grill and cook until the cheese is melted Yum! For the full tutorial head to Down Home Inspiration.

Note: I love to make grilled pizza with pre-made crusts. Grilling them makes them taste homemade and it’s a quick ten minute dinner!

4. Best Turkey Burger Recipe

Want to make a healthier (but still delicious) version of your favorite burger? This turkey burger recipe definitely fits the bill AND you’ll only need three fresh ingredients! The additional recipes are just seasonings that you probably already have around the house. For this recipe you’ll need:

• 1 lb. ground turkey meat (prefer thigh meat)
• 1 medium red onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley, minced (or whatever fresh herbs you like)
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• cheese (optional)

Just mix ingredients together and create between 4-6 patties. Grill on medium heat for about 7 minutes on each side. Add cheese at end to melt and you’re done! Yum! Find the full recipe here.

5. BBQ Chicken Kabobs

What I love about this recipe is that the majority of ingredients you’ll have on hand at home. Think spices, BBQ sauce and sugar. These kabobs will impress your friends and are perfect for a backyard BBQ. Yum! For this recipe you’ll need:

• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 1/2 tablespoons sweet paprika
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 4 teaspoons sugar
• 2-3 slices raw bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce

The long and short of this recipe? Combine spices into a rub, create a bacon paste, coat chicken and marinate for an hour. Grill chicken kabobs and add BBQ sauce. This recipe is more complex so you’ll want to head to the full picture tutorial from Fabulessly Frugal. Still, this recipe should only take you about 30 minutes to make (minus marinating time of course!).

6. Mexican Street Corn

I love making corn on the cob on the grill AND this recipe takes it to the next level. It uses common ingredients to turn this recipe into a real treat!

You’ll need:

• 5 husks of corn

For Spread:

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 2 Tablespoons sour cream
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
• Juice from one lime

For Topping:

• 1/4 cup grated Cotija cheese
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (or chili powder if you want heat)
• Chopped cilantro, for garnish (optional)

This recipe is very simple. Grill Corn on medium heat. While grilling combine spread ingredients in a small bowl. Do the same for topping ingredients. Take corn off the grill and cover with spread. Add topping and you’re done. Yum! Find the full tutorial here.

7.Cilantro Lime Grilled Watermelon

Looking for a refreshing summer treat? This grilled watermelon will have you asking for seconds! For this recipe you only need five ingredients:

• 8 Pieces of Watermelon
• 2 Limes
• Cilantro
• Olive Oil
• Salt To Taste

To make this treat just brush each piece of watermelon with olive oil and lime juice. Season with salt and grill for 3-5 minutes on each side. Take off the grill and add more lime juice. Sprinkle with cilantro and you’re done! Go the full tutorial here.

8. Balsamic Rosemary Steak Kabobs

These kabobs are like a gourmet meal on a stick! Sounds amazing, right? For this recipe you’ll need:

• 8 new potatoes (I used baby Yukon Gold)
• 14-16 ounce rib eye steak
• 8 button mushrooms
• ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
• ⅓ cup balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1½ teaspoons salt
• ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 4 metal or wood skewers

This whole recipe will take you less than an hour and will feed four! For this recipe you’ll need to do some oven cooking (but it’s worth it!) for the potatoes. Then, you finish them on the grill. For the full tutorial head here.

Note: This recipe is more expensive due to the use of steak BUT the rest of the ingredients should be able to be found at low prices. Save this meal for a special occasion and I promise you’ll be just as satisfied as if you went to a fancy restaurant for half the price.

What’s your favorite grill recipe?