Creative Fourth of July Grilling Ideas
One of the very best times of year for those who enjoy outdoor grilling, is the Fourth of July. The unofficial barbecue holiday of the year, no matter what you like to grill, you'll be able to break it out at this midsummer holiday. While it's fun to stick to the traditional barbecue favorites it's a good idea from time to time to break free from hamburgers and hot dogs and try something new. For meat lovers, seafood lovers and vegetarians alike, it's easy to create simple but creative grilled dishes for the Fourth of July at minimal expense.
Grilled Shrimp
Slide shrimp on to skewers and place the skewers in a plastic band. Pour 1/2 cup olive or vegetable oil, 1/4 cup lemon or lime juice, seasonings like garlic, cayenne, parsley, Old Bay or any other seasoning of your choosing into the bag and allow to marinate for a few hours before tossing them on the grill.
Grilled Chicken
It's much leaner than beef and there are so many creative ways to grill chicken for the Fourth of July. Make a soy sauce, garlic marinade and throw in some hot pepper flakes for some heat. You'll want to leave this kind of marinade on the chicken overnight. Another great option is to coat some boneless, skinless breasts in barbecue sauce, season with salt and pepper and toss onto the grill. Make sure that you flip the chicken to set the sauce on both sides.
Bratwursts
Take a break from traditional hot dogs and some bratwurst sausages to your repertoire. Uncooked sausages have the best flavor, but precooked ones cook faster. Get the grill to medium heat, and use tongs to place the meat on the slats. Avoid poking holes which can cause the flavorful juices to seep out. You want grill stripes and that smoked flavor. Don't let them get burned!
Veggie Skewers
Skewer summer vegetables and season with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Grill until the colors are bright and grill marks begin to appear.
