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While gathering with family and friends for a delicious meal is always fun, entertaining a group can also come with a bit of pressure. What will you serve? What sides complement the main you're grilling? What dessert can you make ahead? To help, we've put together 10 four-course menus. From impressive steakhouse-inspired meals and laid-back burgers to grilled fish and tacos—plus both vegetarian and vegan ideas—there's truly something for everyone.
Each menu on our list features an appetizer, main course, side dish, and dessert and all highlight seasonal produce: think fresh corn on the cob, sweet stone fruits, crisp greens, and succulent tomatoes. Take our grilled heritage pork with plums, farro verde, and summer herbs, for example—plums hit their peak in August while you can stock up on herbs throughout the season. You can also highlight juicy berries atop this lemon olive-oil cake, or spotlight a lesser known berry, the gooseberry, in delicious crumbles. Use the menus here as a starting point, but feel free to get creative by mixing and matching recipes to create your own custom gameplan.
You might also be surprised to find that we encourage you to grill appetizers (such as our prosciutto-wrapped melon) and dessert, too. After all, who said grilling is just for the main course?
Grilled Tacos Menu
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Here's a menu fit for a summer party—or just for getting together casually with friends.
Appetizer
Guacamole with Toasted Pepitas and Cotija Cheese
Main Course
Side Dish
Grilled Corn with Chile-Lime Salt
Dessert
Grilled Chicken Menu
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Upgrade basic grilled chicken with a fresh-herb dressing, add a seasonal side and make-ahead dessert, and everyone will be happy.
Appetizer
Main Course
Grilled Chicken with Fresh-Herb Dressing
Side Dish
Dessert
Vegan Menu
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Start the meal with a vegan take on green goddess dip served with with fresh, raw vegetables before the main event: tacos.
Appetizer
Main Course
Mushroom Tacos with Charred Corn Salsa
Side Dish
Grilled Peas with Toasted Coconut
Dessert
Grilled Fish Menu
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This menu is an enticing mix of elevated ingredients with the laid-back feel of a casual cookout.
Appetizer
Main Course
Grilled Whole Fish with Lemon and Thyme
Side Dish
Dessert
Grilled Pork Menu
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Pork and plums are the main components of this bright menu, from start to finish.
Appetizer
Grilled Prosciutto-Wrapped Melon
Main Course
Grilled Heritage Pork with Plums, Farro Verde, and Summer Herbs
Side Dish
Grilled Mediterranean Menu
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Make this Mediterranean-inspired meal with a summery dessert to top it all off.
Appetizer
Main Course
Grilled Lamb Loins
Side Dish
Roasted Tomatoes with Cheese and Thyme
Dessert
Pomegranate-Coconut Trifle
Sausage and Peppers Menu
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A classic Italian pairing—sausage and peppers—gets a summer refresh in this menu.
Appetizer
Marinated Peppers with Mint and Sesame
Main Course
Grilled Sausage with Charred Tomato Relish
Side Dish
Mediterranean Three-Bean Salad
Dessert
Rustic Cherry-Apricot Tart
Grilled Burgers Menu
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Summertime eating is all about ease and flavor—and this menu is the epitome of both.
Appetizer
Guacamole Hummus with Crudités
Main Course
Side Dish
Dessert
Blackberry Crisp
Vegetarian Menu
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Enjoy our meatless menu for your next gathering.
Appetizer
Vegan Greed Goddess Dip With Crudités
Main Course
Tofu with Ginger-Cilantro Sauce
Side Dish
Cucumber Salad with Herbs, Kumquats, and Sumac Dressing
Dessert
Lemon-Olive Oil Cake
Steakhouse Menu
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Want to soak up the sun outdoors while enjoying the flavors of a classic steakhouse? Put together this impressive dinner.
Appetizer
Main Course
Side Dish
Dessert
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