Grilling Summer School

Fire up those coals and sharpen your skewers—grilling summer school is officially in session. No pop quizzes or homework here (unless you count a dry-brining assignment as “homework”), just juicy, smoky, flame-licked knowledge to up your outdoor cooking game all summer long.

Whether you’re a charcoal rookie or have a PhD in smoke, this is your chance to build your skills, boost your confidence, and settle a few backyard debates (yes, we’re looking at you, “always marinate your meat” crew). 

Below, you’ll find a comprehensive cookout curriculum, broken down into easy-to-follow “courses” that cover foundational skills, creative electives, and AP-level weekend projects suitable for true grilling scholars. Think of this as your essential textbook, designed to help you become the most trusted set of tongs at the cookout.

The curriculum begins with Grilling 101, a crash course in the essential techniques every griller should know by heart. From lighting the fire to flipping the perfect steak, these are your ABCs for successfully working over a pile of red-hot embers. So learn ’em by heart. No frills, no fluff—just a collection of fundamental recipes, science-backed advice, and the grilling wisdom that’ll earn you an A at every cookout.

Once you’ve got your core credits down, it’s time to branch out with some fun electives: The syllabus here is focused on grillable delights that extend beyond meat and let your creativity shine: smoky apps, grilled-fruit salads, and char-kissed vegetables galore (including an epic veggie board that deserves its own class photo). We’ll even show you how to bake on your grill (yes, really) so that you can effortlessly produce a complete meal without breaking a sweat.

For the overachievers, we’ve got a whole slate of AP courses to choose from, including fun projects such as smoked salmon, sticky barbecue chicken, slow-cooked pork shoulder, and Texas-style brisket. With our recipes and techniques, you’ll be able to smoke low and slow on even the most rudimentary grilling setups.

And because every good student needs the right supplies, we’ve got you covered there too, with a guide to the best grilling tools, thermometers, and gear. You wouldn’t show up to a multiple-choice exam without a No. 2 pencil—don’t show up to a cookout without these essentials.

So grab your apron (or don’t—there’s no dress code here), crack open a cold beverage, and let’s make this your most delicious summer yet. Your backyard diploma awaits.

This is your intro to live-fire cooking, where you’ll learn how to confidently light and prepare a grill, manage heat like a pro, and make food that tastes like you’ve been working over the embers for years.

The Next Layer of Grilling Greatness

This is where the grill gets fun: vegetable-forward, flavor-packed recipes that expand your summer menu.

Who says the grill is just for burgers? This colorful, fire-kissed vegetable board proves that summer produce deserves the same smoky love, with each ingredient cooked to peak texture and dressed in a zippy lemon vinaigrette.

Sure, your oven can bake—but can it add a kiss of smoke, a whisper of char, and keep the kitchen cool on a 90° day? With a cast iron skillet and a little grill know-how, you can bake gooey brownies, smoky cornbread, and bubbling fruit crisps right over the coals. This is summer baking with firepower—because dessert deserves grill marks too.

No smoker? No problem. Smoking meat shouldn’t feel like a full-time job—and with the charcoal snake method, it doesn’t. This clever setup turns a basic charcoal grill into a low-and-slow smoker that runs steady for hours with minimal fuss. It’s the lazy pitmaster’s secret weapon—and yes, it really works.

You don’t need a drawer full of gadgets, but the right grilling tools—like a reliable grill, long-handled tongs, and a good thermometer—make all the difference. These are our go-to picks for grilling smarter, hotter, and with way less guesswork.