Summer grilling season is here. This article focuses on the classics: burgers, dogs, and brats—timeless favorites that never go out of style and always bring big flavor to the grill. With so many mouthwatering choices and endless ways to dress them up, it can quickly become overwhelming to know where to start. But don’t worry—we’ve narrowed things down to a tasty variety of the best.
Gourmet Grilling Burgers
This recipe combines lean ground beef with Italian sausage, chopped red onion, Anaheim chile peppers, garlic, and shredded Muenster cheese. The addition of Worcestershire sauce and chili powder adds depth of flavor. These burgers are juicy and packed with bold flavors. Recipe: Gourmet Burgers
Triple B Burgers by Guy Fieri
Guy Fieri’s Triple B Burgers feature a unique bourbon-infused sauce made with soy sauce, maple syrup, sesame oil, vinegar, mustard, garlic, and more. The sauce is thickened with a cornstarch mixture and adds a sweet and savory kick to the burgers. Recipe: Triple B Burgers by Guy Fieri
Double Smashed Burgers with Sweet Chili Special Sauce
This recipe involves smashing meatballs onto a hot griddle to create thin, crispy-edged patties. The burgers are seasoned with salt and pepper and cooked until the edges are browned. They’re topped with a sweet chili special sauce that adds a spicy and tangy flavor. Recipe: Double Smashed Burgers with Sweet Chili Special Sauce
All American Bacon Cheeseburgers
The best ground beef for burgers depends on your personal tastes, but a fattier beef blend (like 80/20) makes these irresistible cheeseburgers extra juicy. To add more pizazz, melt pepper jack or blue cheese over the burger instead of cheddar, and play with sauces—we love creamy aioli on this one. Recipe: All American Bacon Cheeseburgers
Juicy Lucy
A Juicy Lucy is a simple but ingenious twist on a cheeseburger. Instead of cheese melting on top of a hamburger patty, it’s stuffed inside of it, creating an oozy, cheesy center. Recipe: Juicy Lucy
Veggie Burger
The patties in this veggie burger recipe go from mixing bowl to grill in about 20 minutes. Thanks to cornstarch and flaxseed, which bind the patties, they run no risk of falling apart. Recipe: Veggie Burger
Spicy Miso Portobello Mushroom Burgers
These burgers are full of delicious umami flavor! They are slathered with Asian-style Guacamole, topped with a cool cucumber ribbon salad and crunchy carrot slaw. Healthy, delicious and really satisfying. And totally vegan. Recipe: Spicy Miso Portobello Mushroom Burgers
Wisconsin-Style Beer Brats
This classic recipe involves simmering bratwursts in beer with onions before finishing them on the grill. The beer bath infuses the sausages with flavor and ensures they stay juicy. After grilling, serve them on buns with your favorite toppings. Recipe: Wisconsin-Style Beer Brats
Brats with Southern Toppings
Add a Southern flair to your brats by topping them with ingredients like pimento cheese, fried green tomatoes, and chow-chow relish. These bold flavors bring a unique and delicious twist to the traditional bratwurst. Recipe: Brats with Southern Toppings
Brats with Sriracha Mayo
For a spicy twist, try these grilled brats topped with a creamy sriracha mayo. The heat from the sriracha complements the savory bratwurst, creating a flavorful combination that’s sure to impress. Recipe: Brats with Sriracha Mayo
Cheesy Brats with Celery-Pickle Relish
For a flavorful twist, try these butterflied bratwursts filled with melty cheese and topped with a crunchy celery-pickle relish. Using fully cooked sausages simplifies preparation, making this a quick and satisfying meal. Recipe: Cheesy Brats with Celery-Pickle Relish
Easy Grilled Brats (No Boiling Required)
Simplify your grilling with this straightforward method that skips the traditional beer bath. Start by cooking fresh bratwursts over medium-low heat on your grill until they reach an internal temperature of 145°F, then sear them over high heat for a crispy finish. This technique ensures juicy, flavorful brats without the extra steps. Recipe: Easy Grilled Brats
Campfire Hot Dog Skewers
Skip the chicken skewers or basic hot dogs in a bun—if you’re looking for the most creative grilled recipe or a way to get even the kids excited, then turn to these hot dog skewers. In this recipe, we layer cut up hot dogs, bell peppers, pineapple, and onions on skewers before basting with a homemade sweet-tangy BBQ sauce and grill until charred and caramelized. The result is a slightly sweet, summer-worthy skewer made to be served at any BBQ, camping trip, or casual summer dinner. Recipe: Campfire Hot Dog Skewers
Hot Dog Cuban
You can make a pressed sandwich on your grill. Just use a heavy skillet to press your sandwiches down. Can’t find Cuban bread for these? Use a hoagie roll instead. Recipe: Hot Dog Cuban
Sonoran Hot Dog
This recipe takes the All-American hot dog, wraps it in bacon, smothers it the flavors of Old Mexico—pinto beans, salsa, Mexican crema and avocado Pico de Gallo— then piles it into a soft roll. Recipe: Sonoran Hot Dog
Chili Hot Dog
Top your grilled hot dogs with hearty chili and melted cheese for a classic comfort food experience. Start by grilling the hot dogs and toasting the buns, then add a generous scoop of chili and a sprinkle of cheddar cheese. Place them back on the grill briefly to melt the cheese, and finish with your favorite toppings like diced onions or jalapeños. Recipe: Chili Hot Dog
Final Thoughts
When it comes to summer grilling, you just can’t beat the classics. Burgers, hot dogs, and brats bring everyone to the table with their familiar, feel-good flavors—and there’s always room to get creative with toppings and techniques. Whether you’re hosting a backyard bash or just firing up the grill for dinner, these timeless favorites are sure to please. Tried a new twist or have a family favorite recipe? We’d love to hear from you! Drop your thoughts, tips, or go-to grilling combos in the comments below—let’s keep the summer sizzle going!
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. Also, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you so much for clicking through and helping to support this little blog business of mine!