Potatoes and butter-basted corn on the cob are staples when you’re cooking on the grill. But the next time you have friends over for a cookout, why not replace that standard fare with some more unique grilled side dishes? We’re talking grapes, oysters, cheese and more.
When I was growing up, my family cooked out on the grill almost every weekend during the warm summers. We loved to get creative and tried to come up with the best grilled sides. Sometimes we would have competitions to see who could come up with the most surprising ideas. My dad began making whole grilled Vidalia onions that taste just like French onion soup (you’ll find that recipe below). My mom, forever a devotee to baked Brie, threw the cheese on the grill. And my brothers and I tried everything else, from fruit and squash to oysters and bread, often seasoned with a family secret mixture that we kept in a refillable shaker.
If you want to surprise your guests at your next backyard barbecue, try these four recipes.
Want even more cookout ideas? Here's how to make grilled pizza, charred lemons, and more fun fruits you can grill.