10 Quick Cookout Creations To Craft In A Pinch
Whether you are throwing a cookout event or planning to attend one, sometimes life gets you busy, and you suddenly find yourself underprepared and out of time for getting that cookout food ready. Luckily, there are quick cookout creations you can throw together that will still taste good and have you ready in time for the event. Check out these quick cookout creations for ideas on what foods you can craft in no time.
1. Summer Watermelon Salad
If you are wondering what the heck a watermelon salad is or how it can be impressive for a cookout, make this recipe and show them all the wonders of watermelon salad. The ingredients include watermelon, feta cheese, red onion, Kalamata olives, fresh mint, lemon juice, lemon zest, olive oil, salt, and pepper. It is ready in about 15 minutes, and it tastes amazing!
To make, cut watermelon into bite sized cubes, slice onion, slice olives, chop mint, and add all to a bowl with cheese. In a separate bowl, combine lemon juice, lemon zest, and oil. Pour over watermelon mix and toss to combine.
Get the full recipe at Berly’s Kitchen
2. Easy Summer Salad
There are not many ingredients in this salad, but it is quite flavorful. Romaine hearts, feta cheese, celery, kidney beans, olive oil, red wine vinegar, pepper, and croutons are all that is in this salad. Even the dressing is included in these ingredients, which is nice because everything marinates while traveling to your cookout! In about 15 minutes, you can throw this together and be ready to roll.
To prepare, tear up lettuce into a bowl, then chop celery and add to bowl. Next, drain beans and add to bowl, along with cheese, oil, vinegar, and pepper. Toss, then top with croutons.
Get the full recipe at Finnish Food Girl
3. Summer Zucchini Pasta
This quick cookout creation is really delicious and is ready in about 25 minutes. Bowtie pasta is combined with zucchini and summer squash, which is seasoned with olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Additionally, this pasta salad contains parmesan cheese and fresh basil, which makes this dish taste like it is straight from the Mediterranean. Whether served warm or cool, it will absolutely be a cookout hit.
For this dish, begin by boiling the pasta in salt water. While the pasta is cooking, saute the garlic and red pepper flakes in olive oil until fragrant, then add the cubed zucchini and squash and saute until tender. Once pasta is cooked, drain and return to pot along with zucchini mixture. Toss, then add parmesan and chopped basil and toss again.
Get the full recipe at Spices in My DNA
4. Summer Corn Dip
This recipe requires no cooking, so you know it is a quick cookout creation to make on the go. In about 5 minutes, you can have this dish ready to eat. Corn, sour cream, mayonnaise, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, and green onions make up this quick recipe. Add a bag of tortilla chips on the side and your dish is ready to serve!
To make, combine golden corn, Mexicorn, sour cream, mayonnaise, and cheese in a bowl. Mix well, then sprinkle chopped green onions on top. Serve cold with chips.
Get the full recipe at Hohm Cooking
5. Fresh Mango Salsa
Oh my, there are so many quick cookout creations that can come from the presence this quick cookout creation, which is why it is such a great dish to make. Ripe peeled and diced mangoes combine with red onion, red bell pepper, pickled jalapenos, lime juice, and coriander leaves, creating a sweet and spicy treat that can be enjoyed in so many ways. And it only takes about 10 minutes! Take a bag of chips along, but they may not be used!
For this dish, dice all ingredients that require dicing. Next, combine mangoes, onion, pepper, jalapenos, lime juice, coriander leaves, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Toss to combine.
Get the full recipe at Curry Trail
6. Summer Green Beans
This yummy cookout recipe is ready in about 15 minutes because you use the magic of the microwave to make it. Fresh green beans and fresh red and green bell pepper strips are the bulk of this recipe. The secret ingredient to it is Cheese Whiz! The fun cheese is melted on top of this dish, and it is all topped with French-fried onions. Make sure you make enough for everyone!
To prepare, microwave covered fresh beans in water for 8 minutes. Next, add pepper strips, mix, and microwave another 3 minutes. Drain and add to serving dish or transfer dish. Microwave cheese according to container guidelines, pour it over veggies, then add French-fried onions on top.
Get the full recipe at Kraft Heinz
7. Summer Shrimp
Who said main courses couldn’t be made in a pinch? This yummy shrimp recipe is ready in about 10 minutes! Shelled and deveined jumbo shrimp are flavored with lemon juice, olive oil, paprika, pepper, fresh basil, salt, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Throw them on a salad, enjoy them as is, or come up with your own way to incorporate them into your cookout scene.
For this recipe, saute garlic in oil in a stovetop pan, then add red pepper flakes and paprika. Next, add shrimp and toss to coat. Add lemon juice, then cook shrimp. Add basil, salt, and pepper, then serve.
Get the full recipe at Fat Secret
8. Easy Key Lime Pie
Did you think you could have key lime pie in 35 minutes? YOU CAN! This recipe has literally won prizes, so believe it’s good. With egg yolks, condensed milk, lime juice, and a graham cracker crust from the store, you can have a phenomenal dessert for your cookout in no time.
To make, combine egg yolks, condensed milk, and lime juice, mixing well. Next, pour into the graham cracker crust and bake for several minutes. Top with whipped topping once cooled. Take the topping with you and add it upon arrival if your pie needs to cool on the way.
Get the full recipe at All Recipes
9. Quick Broccoli Side Dish
The recipe says it all for this one. In about 20 minutes, you can have a delicious broccoli side dish that goes beyond plain old broccoli. Seasoned with garlic, chicken broth, pimentos, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and pine nuts, this broccoli dish will enliven your and your friends’ taste buds.
To prepare, saute broccoli in oil for several minutes. Add garlic and saute until broccoli is a little tender. Next, add broth, pimentos, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, stir, and cook until heated through. Sprinkle with pine nuts and serve.
Get the full recipe at Taste of Home
10. Easy BBQ Chicken
Another quick and yummy cookout main course, this chicken recipe can be made in 30 minutes. Bone-in chicken breasts are flavored with onion, peach or apricot preserves, white vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, garlic powder, and ketchup. The sweet and unique flavors will take your guests to their happy places as they eat this juicy chicken dish.
For this recipe, combine ketchup, onions, preserves, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, and garlic powder in a saucepan and simmer for a few minutes. Grill chicken outside or on indoor counter grill until chicken is cooked, basting frequently with sauce. Save additional sauce to serve with chicken.
Get the full recipe at Slender Berry
