By Kiley Garrett
Are you longing for summer? Miss those get-togethers with your friends with a cold drink and a warm bonfire? Well, you’re in luck, because Spring Break is coming up fast and who doesn’t love a good excuse to invite your friends over, light up the grill and – if you’re over the age of 21 – have a couple of drinks? Go ahead and get a taste of summer during the break and enjoy some of these Barbecue recipes courtesy of Southern Living and Cynthia Graubart.
Barbecue Kabobs
If you’re in the market for a budget-friendly option that can serve up to eight people, these kabobs will do the trick. These skewers are rubbed with a smoky barbecue dry seasoning and served alongside a white barbecue sauce. All in all, it’s only supposed to take around 40 minutes, which is definitely a good thing when you have hungry friends to feed.
Kabobs
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast OR trimmed sirloin
- ½ large red onion, cut into fourths and separated
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Cut meat into 1-inch cubes. Thread meat, onion, and tomatoes alternately onto skewers, leaving ¼-inch space between pieces. Sprinkle kabobs with smoky barbecue rub. Grill kabobs, covered, for 4 to 5 minutes on each side. Serve with white barbecue sauce and enjoy!
Smoky Barbecue Rub
- 2 tbsp firmly packed dark brown sugar
- 2 tsp garlic salt
- 1 tsp chipotle chile powder
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ¼ tsp dried oregano
- Stir together ingredients and sprinkle on top of kabobs before grilling
White Barbecue Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup white vinegar
- 1 tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp sugar
- 1 garlic clove, pressed
- Stir together ingredients and chill until ready to serve
Grilled Jalapeno – Lime Corn on the Cob
So, you’ve got the main dish for your spring soiree, how about a side dish? This twist on the traditional barbecue side is a great way to spice up your menu. Like the kabobs, this recipe serves up to 8 people, and it only takes about 30 minutes to make them.
- 8 ears of corn with husks removed
- Vegetable cooking spray
- ½ cup softened butter
- 1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
- 1 pressed garlic clove
- 1 tbsp lime zest
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 2 tsp chopped cilantro
- With your grill on medium-high heat, coat corn lightly with cooking spray. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Grill corn on covered grill for 15 minutes or until golden brown, turning occasionally. Stir together butter and other ingredients. Serve corn with butter mixture.
Strawberry Spritzers
Since no barbecue is complete without something to drink, what could be better than a (semi) homemade one? It makes 8 cups and can be made in less than 10 minutes.
- 1 ten oz package of frozen strawberries, thawed
- 1 ten oz can frozen strawberry daiquiri mix, thawed
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1 liter club soda, chilled.
- Blend frozen ingredients and lime juice until smooth. Pour into a pitcher and stir in club soda just before serving. Serve over ice and enjoy!
Now that you have an easy barbecue menu at your fingertips, get out there and have some warm weather fun during the break!
