45 quick recipes for the barbecue

The question of what to cook this party season has been answered.

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Spend less time cooking and more time relaxing at your next barbecue. When it comes to speedy recipes for the barbecues, it pays to keep it simple – prawns, scallops and calamari are your quick-cook saviours, as are grilled capsicums, eggplant and haloumi. And don’t forget – things on sticks and skewers just taste better. These are the fast recipes you need for summer barbecue season.

Image of halved Balmain bugs and a bunch of red grapes on a white platter — Photo: Alicia Taylor

Grilled Balmain bugs with charred grapes and ouzo

Grilled Balmain bugs with charred grapes and ouzo

steak-topped-with-mushrooms-and-a-side-salad — Photo: James Moffatt

Barbecued hanger steak with cacio e pepe mushrooms

Barbecued hanger steak with cacio e pepe mushrooms

bird's eye view of pork fillet and sliced pork and two charred pineapple quarters on a white tray — Photo: John Paul Urizar

Jerk pork with salsa and pineapple

Jerk pork with salsa and pineapple recipe

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Lemonpi’s peanut and miso shortbread bars

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A recipe for Martin Boetz's quick pad Thai

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Charred prawns on skewers with lime

Charred prawns on skewers with lime

Barbecued oysters with finger-lime mignonette

Barbecued oysters with finger-lime mignonette

Spiced chicken skewers

Spiced chicken skewers

Five scallops in a half-shell topped with herbs and a soy dressing, on an off-white plate, on a white marble background. — Photo: Kara Rosenlund

Louis Tikaram’s grilled Hervey Bay scallops with soy and ginger

Louis Tikaram’s grilled Hervey Bay scallops with soy and ginger

Grilled octopus with heirloom tomatoes and dill

Grilled octopus with heirloom tomatoes and dill

Barbecued corn with herb butter and chipotle salt

Barbecued corn with herb butter and chipotle salt

Grilled peppers and flatbread salad

Grilled peppers and flatbread salad

Char-grilled pineapple wedges with chilli salt

Char-grilled pineapple wedges with chilli salt

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Recipes from Australia’s best chefs

15 shortbread recipes for all your biscuit needs

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

49 of our best Thai recipes to master

12 rich beef cheek recipes

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

50 best dinner ideas to dial up the flavour (but not the labour)

72 perfect prawn recipes

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Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

Our favourite Neil Perry recipes

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65 of our best vegetarian recipes

20 ways with whisky

Kingfish skewers with borloui bean and celery heart salad — Photo: Ben Dearnley –

Kingfish skewers with borlotti bean and celery heart salad

Kingfish skewers with borlotti bean and celery heart salad

Mike McEnearney’s grilled red mullet with Moroccan spices

Mike McEnearney’s grilled red mullet with Moroccan spices

A white chopping board with grilled lamb cutlets, a bowl of herb sauce in olive oil, and a white ladle. — Photo: Alicia Taylor

Grilled lamb cutlets with salsa verde

Grilled lamb cutlets with salsa verde

Swordfish with agrodolce sauce

Swordfish with agrodolce sauce

Fillet steak with charred green beans and tahini

Fillet steak with charred green beans and tahini

Grilled prawns with coconut rice and peach sambal

Grilled prawns with coconut rice and peach sambal

Calamari with spiced eggplant

Calamari with spiced eggplant

Zucchini and haloumi skewers with mint dressing

Zucchini and haloumi skewers with mint dressing

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Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

Recipes from Australia’s best chefs

15 shortbread recipes for all your biscuit needs

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

49 of our best Thai recipes to master

12 rich beef cheek recipes

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

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72 perfect prawn recipes

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

Our favourite Neil Perry recipes

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Two round grilled flatbread, topped with asparagus, prosciutto, and ricotta, on a rectangular wooden board wiht a bread knife and lemon segments, sitting on a pink, white and blue tiles. — Photo: Ben Dearnley

Prosciutto, asparagus and ricotta on grilled flatbreads

Prosciutto, asparagus and ricotta on grilled flatbreads

Bistecca with asparagus and salsa dragoncello

Bistecca with asparagus and salsa dragoncello

Barbecued eggplant salad with goat’s curd, mint and pomegranate

Barbecued eggplant salad with goat’s curd, mint and pomegranate

Grilled peach, tomato and labne with crisp flatbread

Grilled peach, tomato and labne with crisp flatbread

Barbecued quail with grapes, beans and macadamia nuts

Barbecued quail with grapes, beans and macadamia nuts

Grilled pork with pineapple and curry vinaigrette

Grilled pork with pineapple and curry vinaigrette

Corn and potato quesadillas with green salsa

Corn and potato quesadillas with green salsa

Peter Gilmore’s grilled shiitake mushrooms with umami butter

Peter Gilmore’s grilled shiitake mushrooms with umami butter

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Recipes from Australia’s best chefs

15 shortbread recipes for all your biscuit needs

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

49 of our best Thai recipes to master

12 rich beef cheek recipes

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

50 best dinner ideas to dial up the flavour (but not the labour)

72 perfect prawn recipes

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

Our favourite Neil Perry recipes

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65 of our best vegetarian recipes

20 ways with whisky

Barbecued prawns with honey, sesame and lemon

Barbecued prawns with honey, sesame and lemon

Grilled steak with gochujang butter

Grilled steak with gochujang butter

Char-grilled capsicum with sherry vinaigrette — Photo: Chris Chen

Char-grilled capsicum salad with sherry vinaigrette

Char-grilled capsicum salad with sherry vinaigrette

Spicy prawn skewers — Photo: Ben Dearnley

Spicy prawn and lemongrass sticks

Spicy prawn and lemongrass sticks

Spinach and burghul with grilled tomatoes and labne

Spinach and burghul with grilled tomatoes and labne

Yakitori Pork Skewers — Photo: Ben Dearnley

Pork and spring onion yakiton with tare

Pork and spring onion yakiton with tare

Rice noodle salad with grilled steak, lime and Vietnamese mint

Rice noodle salad with grilled steak, lime and Vietnamese mint

Indian-spiced lamb skewers with mint yoghurt

Indian-spiced lamb skewers with mint yoghurt

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Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

Recipes from Australia’s best chefs

15 shortbread recipes for all your biscuit needs

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

49 of our best Thai recipes to master

12 rich beef cheek recipes

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

50 best dinner ideas to dial up the flavour (but not the labour)

72 perfect prawn recipes

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

Our favourite Neil Perry recipes

40 sweet tart recipes to brighten your day

65 of our best vegetarian recipes

20 ways with whisky

Grilled cos with lemon-anchovy butter dressing

Grilled cos with lemon-anchovy butter dressing

Soy-glazed pork cutlets with Japanese slaw

Soy-glazed pork cutlets with Japanese slaw

Mike McEnearney’s flank steak with rosemary, capers and Sichuan pepper

Mike McEnearney’s flank steak with rosemary, capers and Sichuan pepper

Chicken Satay Skewers for dinner — Photo: Ben Dearnley

Fast chicken satay

Fast chicken satay

Yakiton with shichimi togarashi

Yakiton with shichimi togarashi

Barbecued chicken with blackened okra

Barbecued chicken with blackened okra

Whole barbecued fish with lemon

Whole barbecued fish with lemon

Grilled scallops in the shell

Grilled scallops in the shell

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Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

Recipes from Australia’s best chefs

15 shortbread recipes for all your biscuit needs

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

49 of our best Thai recipes to master

12 rich beef cheek recipes

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

50 best dinner ideas to dial up the flavour (but not the labour)

72 perfect prawn recipes

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

Our favourite Neil Perry recipes

40 sweet tart recipes to brighten your day

65 of our best vegetarian recipes

20 ways with whisky

Barbecue prawns

Barbecue prawns

Hellenika’s char-grilled peppers

Hellenika’s char-grilled peppers

The Gourmet Traveller Team

Gourmet Traveller is Australia’s trusted authority on food, travel and luxury lifestyle, bringing the latest news and trends to life through quality journalism, enticing recipes and evocative photography. For more than 55 years, it has been inspiring and informing Australians with the best in cooking, dining, travelling and shopping. Our critics bring the expertise of years of critical eating, drinking and writing to the table. Plus, as the country’s leading title in the luxury sector, Gourmet Traveller works closely with Australia’s leaders in the travel and hospitality industries to give our readers exclusive access. The Gourmet Traveller legacy is one of trust, prestige and relevance.

Grilled Balmain bugs with charred grapes and ouzo

Barbecued hanger steak with cacio e pepe mushrooms

Jerk pork with salsa and pineapple

Charred prawns on skewers with lime

Barbecued oysters with finger-lime mignonette

Spiced chicken skewers

Louis Tikaram’s grilled Hervey Bay scallops with soy and ginger

Grilled octopus with heirloom tomatoes and dill

Barbecued corn with herb butter and chipotle salt

Grilled peppers and flatbread salad

Char-grilled pineapple wedges with chilli salt

Kingfish skewers with borlotti bean and celery heart salad

Mike McEnearney’s grilled red mullet with Moroccan spices

Grilled lamb cutlets with salsa verde

Swordfish with agrodolce sauce

Fillet steak with charred green beans and tahini

Grilled prawns with coconut rice and peach sambal

Calamari with spiced eggplant

Zucchini and haloumi skewers with mint dressing

Prosciutto, asparagus and ricotta on grilled flatbreads

Bistecca with asparagus and salsa dragoncello

Barbecued eggplant salad with goat’s curd, mint and pomegranate

Grilled peach, tomato and labne with crisp flatbread

Barbecued quail with grapes, beans and macadamia nuts

Grilled pork with pineapple and curry vinaigrette

Corn and potato quesadillas with green salsa

Peter Gilmore’s grilled shiitake mushrooms with umami butter

Barbecued prawns with honey, sesame and lemon

Grilled steak with gochujang butter

Char-grilled capsicum salad with sherry vinaigrette

Spicy prawn and lemongrass sticks

Spinach and burghul with grilled tomatoes and labne

Pork and spring onion yakiton with tare

Rice noodle salad with grilled steak, lime and Vietnamese mint

Indian-spiced lamb skewers with mint yoghurt

Grilled cos with lemon-anchovy butter dressing

Soy-glazed pork cutlets with Japanese slaw

Mike McEnearney’s flank steak with rosemary, capers and Sichuan pepper

Fast chicken satay

Yakiton with shichimi togarashi

Barbecued chicken with blackened okra

Whole barbecued fish with lemon

Grilled scallops in the shell

Barbecue prawns

Hellenika’s char-grilled peppers

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