April 16, 2025

What to Cook Outdoors Besides Shish Kebabs: 20 Delicious Options

You can cook not only meat and fish on coals, but also side dishes, drinks and even desserts.

1. Lavash envelopes with cheese

Inside is a filling of melted cheese and several types of greens. You can prepare it at home to make a snack very quickly and easily in the open air.

Grate 250 g of cheese. Chop green onions, dill and spinach or other greens. Mix everything with mayonnaise, salt and black pepper.

Cut 3 thin lavash into 3-4 pieces. Put the filling and roll it into an envelope so that it does not fall out. Fry on the grill until they are browned.

2. Shurpa with lamb

Traditionally, shurpa is made from lamb (it is better to take fresh loin or tenderloin). But you can use beef or pork.

First, marinate the onion. Cut 500 g of onion into rings and pour in a mixture of 500 ml of water, 500 ml of vinegar, salt and sugar to taste. Put under pressure and leave for 1–2 hours.

To prepare shurpa , you will need a cauldron or a saucepan with a thick bottom. Melt 100 g of fat tail fat in it. Cut 1 kg of lamb into large pieces. Fry with spices (it can be cumin, barberry, ground coriander – to your taste). Remove the browned meat from the cauldron for a while.

In the remaining fat, sauté 5 chopped carrots and another 500 g of onion. Return the lamb to the container. Add 500 g of coarsely chopped tomatoes and 5 chopped bell peppers. Simmer the meat and vegetables for a few more minutes.

Then pour 5 liters of water over them, cover with a lid and simmer for about two hours. When it boils, remove the foam. At the end, throw in 1 kg of coarsely chopped potatoes and peppercorns. Add salt and spices to taste.

After another 20 minutes, you can pour the shurpa into plates. This is how it is done. The broth is poured into one plate, and the meat and vegetables are put into another. Everyone can add as much lamb and vegetables as they want. The broth is sprinkled with finely chopped herbs and marinated onions are put into it.

3. Champignons in sour cream

Mushrooms can be cooked on skewers or on a grill. Marinating will take a couple of hours, but if time is running out, half an hour will be enough. Sour cream and butter will make the champignons very juicy, and garlic and paprika will give them an incredible aroma.

Combine 100 g sour cream, 100 g melted butter, a few crushed garlic cloves, salt, black pepper, paprika and coriander. Add 1 kg champignons and mix very well.

Leave in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Remove 15-20 minutes before frying.

Cook the mushrooms for 15-20 minutes, turning them over, until they are golden brown. Be careful: the mushrooms shrink in size during baking, so they may fall off.

4. Shrimp with pineapple on skewers

Many of you have probably already cooked shrimp on the grill . This is a very tasty dish, and most importantly, easy to prepare. The easiest option is to sprinkle the crustaceans with lemon juice, sprinkle with coarse salt (preferably sea salt) and grill. We offer you a slightly more intricate, but incredibly tasty recipe.

While the fire is burning down , prepare all the ingredients. Mix 100 g of teriyaki sauce with 1 tablespoon of toasted sesame seeds. Take a can of canned pineapple and cut it into rings if you have them. Peel 1 kg of king prawns (you can leave the tails).

Thread the shrimp and fruit slices alternately onto wooden skewers (it’s best to soak them in advance). Then generously coat them with the prepared sauce. Keep the shrimp over the heat for 8–10 minutes until a crust forms. If desired, you can coat them with sauce periodically during frying.

5. Lula kebab

Kebabs in the Caucasus and Central Asia are fried meat dishes. There are many varieties of this dish. Lyulya is a kebab made from minced meat, skewered and grilled . According to the classic recipe, lyulya is made from lamb, but you can also use beef, pork, and even chicken.

You can prepare the minced meat for lula kebab at home in advance. Then all you have to do outdoors is string it onto skewers.

Wash 1 kg of lamb pulp and mince it with a large grid. Separately mince 300 g of fat tail. It should be at least a quarter of the amount of meat.

Finely dice 100 g of onion. Do not mince or blend it, as this will create too much juice. Chop the same amount of green onion. Combine all ingredients, add salt, pepper, and spices and chopped herbs to your taste.

An important point is kneading the minced meat for the lyulya. More precisely, it needs to be beaten. To do this, gather the resulting mass into a lump and throw it into a bowl with force. Repeat the process for 10 minutes. With each blow, the minced meat will lose juice and become more plastic. To prevent the meat from sticking to your hands during kneading, wet them in salted water. After that, put the workpiece in the refrigerator for an hour.

When the coals get hot, the mince should be threaded onto skewers in the form of sausages 3–4 cm wide and about 15 cm long. Wet your hands with water and, pressing the meat tightly to the skewer, form the lyulya. The kebab is fried quickly and served with adjika or another sauce, lavash and vegetables.

6. Salmon steaks

This tasty and nutritious fish is perfect for the grill.

If the fish is whole, it must be gutted, washed and cut into pieces about 3 cm thick. You will need 1 kg of salmon. Grease each piece with olive oil, pour lemon juice, salt, pepper and sprinkle with spices (thyme, dill and basil are good for salmon). Let stand for 20-30 minutes.

Then place the fish steaks on the grill. You can put lemon slices on top of each one. Grill the salmon on the coals for about 20 minutes until golden brown. Turn over constantly.

Serve the steaks with sour cream and garlic sauce . To make it, chop the greens, press 2 cloves of garlic and mix it all with 200 g of sour cream.

7. Eggplant in barbecue sauce

A mixture of aromatic spices and spicy tomato sauce make the vegetables incredibly tasty.

Cut 2 eggplants into circles. Mix 2 teaspoons of paprika, 1 teaspoon of dried onion and garlic, black pepper and salt.

Rub the vegetables thoroughly with the spices. Grill or roast for about 5 minutes. Turn over, brush with barbecue sauce and cook for the same amount of time. Repeat the last step.

8. Hamburgers with beef patty, cheese and vegetables

The amount of ingredients depends on how many burgers you want to make. In this case, it is for five people.

First, prepare the mince. Pork will be too fatty for it, so it is better to use beef or turkey. Pass 500 g of meat through a meat grinder.

Finely chop 2 onions and fry in olive oil until golden. Grate 100 g of cheese. Mix all the prepared ingredients, salt, pepper, add 100 g of breadcrumbs and a little Worcestershire sauce.

Form the cutlets. They should be proportionate to the buns. Also, in the middle of each piece you need to make a depression so that they do not lose their shape when frying.

It is more convenient to make cutlets at home, freeze them and bring them with you on a picnic . But you can also shape them on the spot. The main thing is to prepare the mince in advance.

Carefully place the cutlets on the barbecue grill and fry them on both sides. Cut the buns crosswise and dry them on the grill so that they don’t get soft when the juicy meat is placed on them. If desired, you can fry some bacon in addition to the cutlets.

Let’s start assembling the burger. There are no limits to your imagination here, there are many options. For example, put lettuce leaves on the bottom bun (to prevent it from getting soggy), pour ketchup, mustard or mayonnaise (any sauce to your taste), put the cutlet on top, and cheese on top. Then fresh or salted cucumbers, tomatoes and home-marinated onions . Cover with the other half of the bun.

9. Carp with lemon and sour cream

The fish turns out very tasty, soft, with a smoky and citrus aroma.

Clean and gut the carp, rinse and dry. Make cuts on each side.

Mix lemon juice, 4-5 crushed garlic cloves, a few tablespoons of vegetable oil, salt and fish seasoning. Brush the fish, setting aside a couple of spoons of the marinade.

Put the carp in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Mix the remaining marinade with 2 spoons of sour cream and grease the fish again. Put lemon slices inside.

Cook the fish on the grill for about 15 minutes, depending on the size of the carp. Turn occasionally, lifting the grill and brushing with the remaining sour cream mixture.

10. Stuffed Peppers with Corn and Parmesan

The amount of ingredients depends on how many people will be at the picnic. In this case, it is designed for eight people.

It is more convenient to make the filling at home, the day before going out into nature.

To do this, grate 200 g of cheese on a coarse grater. Press 4 cloves of garlic. Combine 100 ml of olive oil, cheese, basil, garlic and 2 tablespoons of ground walnuts.

Peel two bell peppers , cut into cubes and brown in the remaining olive oil over medium heat. When the vegetables are soft, add a can of canned corn and the mixture prepared earlier. You can also throw in a chopped onion if you like. Fry for a few more minutes.

Cut 4 peppers crosswise to make boats. Remove the seeds. Place the vegetables cut side down on the grill and hold them on the grill for 2-5 minutes to cook them from the inside. Then turn them over, stuff them and sprinkle with 50 g of grated cheese. Cook for another 5 minutes.

11. Champignons with lemon juice

This recipe requires a minimum amount of ingredients. If you want, you can add more spices for flavor.

What to cook outdoors, besides shashlik: champignons with lemon juice
Photo: DronG / Shutterstock

Wash 1 kg of mushrooms and pat dry with a paper towel. Then pour the juice of one lemon over them, add salt and pepper to taste, cover with a lid and put in the refrigerator for 5-6 hours.

At a picnic, put the champignons on skewers and grill them over coals. The mushrooms will lose their appearance a little, but the inside will be very juicy.

12. Potatoes in foil with cheese and onions

In the open air, you can not only bake potatoes on coals, but also prepare many other dishes from them. For this option, you will need thick food foil.

What to cook on the grill, besides shashlik: potatoes in foil with cheese and onions
Photo: paulzhuk / Shutterstock

Prepare 50 x 50 cm squares from foil. Grease each of them generously with butter.

Wash 5 medium potatoes and cut into thin slices. Peel the onion and cut into rings. Grate 100 g of cheese. Chop the parsley. Combine everything together, add 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. It is better to do all these procedures at home.

When the coals are hot, place the filling on https://spotsfinders.com/dirt-asphalt-or-treadmill-how-to-choose-the-best-option-for-training/ and fold the edges. Cook the dish in the heat for about 40 minutes, until the vegetables are soft.

13. Potatoes on a skewer with spices

This is an even easier way to cook potatoes on a picnic. For those who like crispy crusts.

What to cook on the grill, besides shashlik: potatoes on a skewer with spices
Photo: zi3000/Shutterstock

Wash 1 kg of potatoes and boil them in their skins . The main thing is not to overcook them. Let the vegetables be raw inside – they will finish cooking on the grill.

While the potatoes are on the stove, prepare the marinade. To do this, chop 3-4 cloves of garlic and parsley. Combine them with rosemary, oregano, paprika, thyme, 100 ml of olive oil, lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of mustard.

Place the vegetables in the marinade for 1-2 hours. Then put them on skewers and grill them over coals until a crust forms.

14. Grilled bread

Prepare soft bread with a crispy crust and smoky aroma to go with meat and vegetables. Knead the dough at home, and when you’re outdoors, simply put it on skewers.

What to cook on the grill, besides shashlik: grilled bread
Photo: stockcreations/Shutterstock

Combine 400 g flour, 2 teaspoons of salt and fast-acting yeast, half a teaspoon of sugar. Mix 230 ml of warm water and 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil.

Mix flour with liquid. Leave in a warm place under a towel for half an hour.

Divide into 8 parts, roll into ropes and wrap each around a skewer. Cover with a towel and let the pieces rest for 15 minutes.

Grill for about 15 minutes, turning occasionally .

15. Corn in hot sauce

Baked corn is delicious on its own, but topping it with a spicy chili sauce with citrus juice and garlic makes it even more interesting.

What to cook on the grill, besides shashlik: corn in hot sauce
Photo: voltan1 / Depositphotos

Mix together 1/2 cup sweet chili sauce, 3 tablespoons melted butter, a splash of hot sauce, a couple of crushed garlic cloves, the juice of two limes, salt and pepper.

Brush 5-6 ears of corn with the sauce you’ve made. Cook them for 10-15 minutes, turning them occasionally and coating them with sauce.

16. Banana boats with chocolate and marshmallows

This unusual dessert will definitely add variety to your outdoor menu.

What to cook on the grill, besides shashlik: banana boats with chocolate and marshmallows
Photo: Media Whale Stock / Shutterstock

Cut 5-6 bananas lengthwise. You can peel them. Chop 100 g of chocolate into small pieces. Chop 100 g of marshmallows if they are large. Stuff the fruit with chocolate and marshmallows.

You will get something like a canoe. If you like cinnamon, sprinkle it on the blanks. If you peeled bananas, wrap each one in foil. If not, you can do without it. Fry the dessert on the grill.

After 5-6 minutes, remove from the grill, open the foil or peel, sprinkle with coconut flakes, and try. You can also take ice cream with you on a picnic and eat baked bananas with it.

17. Orange halves muffins

“Baking outdoors” sounds like masochism. In fact, it’s all very simple and aesthetic. You just need to make the dough in advance.

What to cook on the grill, besides shashlik: muffins in orange halves
Shot: My TasteBuds TV / YouTube

For the dough, mix 225g of regular sugar and a packet of vanilla sugar. In another bowl, combine 180g of flour, ½ teaspoon of salt and 1½ teaspoons of baking powder.

Separately beat 2 eggs, 80 g sour cream and 1 tablespoon vanilla extract. Pour flour and sugar into the resulting mixture. Continue beating. Add 60 g softened butter.

Then slowly add 160 ml of milk to the dough, continuing to work at low speed. The dough will not be stiff, but not liquid either.

Cut 4-5 oranges in half . Use a spoon to scoop out the pulp from each half. Don’t scrub the fruit too much, just leave the pulp on the sides of the rind. That’s all for your homemade preparations.

All that remains to be done outdoors is to prepare the coals and shove the oranges into the foil nests, or you can use an old metal muffin tin. Fill each half three-quarters full with batter and place them on the coals.

The baking speed of the muffins depends on the heat. Usually it takes about 10 minutes. You can check the readiness of the muffins with a toothpick. Serve the dessert directly in the orange “cups”.

18. Baked apples with cranberries and walnuts

Another option for dessert outdoors.

What to cook on the grill, besides shashlik: baked apples with cranberries and walnuts
Photo: gresei / Shutterstock

Using a knife, remove the core from 5 large apples. But not completely – about half. Put one teaspoon of honey, one walnut (chopped if desired) and a little cranberry in each fruit. If desired, you can add cinnamon.

19. Grog

Of course, you can’t have a picnic without drinks. Grog is an alcoholic drink with a lot of variations. We offer the most simple version. The amount of ingredients depends on the size of the pot and the company.

What to cook on the grill, besides shashlik: grog
Photo: Sofia Andreevna / Shutterstock

First, brew strong tea. Then add cognac and rum in a ratio of 5 teaspoons of cognac and 5 tablespoons of rum per 1 liter of tea. Heat the drink.

20. Coffee with chocolate, camping style

You can take a thermos with you , or you can brew a fragrant drink right over the fire.

What to cook outdoors, besides shashlik: coffee with chocolate, camp-style
Photo: Yurii_Yarema / Shutterstock

You can make Turkish coffee on coals. You need a Turk and some skill. An easier option is to make coffee directly in a pot or teapot over a fire.

Pour a liter of water into a kettle, bring to a boil and add 5 teaspoons of instant coffee. After a couple of minutes, add 100 g of chopped chocolate. Make sure the drink does not boil over.

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