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33 recipes to help you kick off the official start of BBQ season

Solstice be dammed — summer starts now!

Solstice be dammed — summer starts now!

CBC Life · Posted: May 17, 2017 1:45 PM EDT | Last Updated: May 15, 2020

(Credit: iStock/Getty Images)

This article was originally published May 17, 2017 and was updated May 15, 2020.

Even if the weather in your neck of the woods is a little more showers than flowers, it's hard to resist the pull of juicy burgers and fresh grilled veggies this time of year. To help you kick off BBQ season in the tastiest way possible, we've rounded up some of our favourite warm weather recipes that are perfect for an outdoor (or indoor!) affair. From flavourful marinades to saucy ribs, there's something here to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. So, what are you waiting for? Fire up that grill and get cookin' this weekend!

Drool-worthy mains

Middle Eastern Marinade

Mediterranean Marinade

BBQ Chimichurri Chicken

Close up of chicken covered with chimichurri sauce cooking on a grill. — (Photo credit: Adrian Harris and Jeremy Inglett)

Lamb Rib Burger with Pineapple Salsa

Closeup on a lamb burger with pineapple salsa. — (Credit: David Loftus)

Greenhouse Juice Co.'s Juice Pulp Burger

Smoky Stone Fruit and Bourbon BBQ Ribs

overhead shot of a rack of ribs on a wooden cutting board on a wooden table. peaches, plums, a small bowl of BBQ sauce and a bottle of bourbon sit around the board. — (Photography by Michael Gozum)

Fancy Franks' Coney Island (Chili-Topped Hotdog!)

Closeup on a hot dog with mustard and onions. — (Source: Instagram/@fancy_franks)

Grilled Ginger, Honey and Lime Shrimp Skewers

(Photography by Marcella DiLonardo)

Jean Yoon's Kalbi Beef Short Ribs

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Fresh from the farmer's market sides

overhead shot of a citrus salad on a white plate sitting on a dark green napkin on a marble countertop. the salad has greens, orange slices, grapefruit slices, pickled onions and avocado. — (CBC Life)

Charred Whole Romaine w/ Hard-Boiled Egg, Anchovy Vinaigrette, and Garlic Bread Crumbs

2 heads of grilled romaine lettuce with salad dressing and crumbled egg. — (Photography by EE Berger)

Joy McCarthy's Superfood Salad

(Credit, photography: Jack Roy; Prop styling: Nikole Rutherford; Food styling: Carol Dano)

(Photography by Marcella DiLonardo)

Romanesco Broccoli Salad

(Photo: David Bagosy, Styling: Melissa Direnzo)

Grilled Radicchio Salad with Tahini & Chive Dressing

Overhead shot of a platter of grilled radicchio topped with red onion, radish slices and tahini sauce. — (CBC Life)

Grilled Potato Salad

A platter of grilled lettuce, potatoes and sweet potatoes. — (CBC Life)

Potato Salad Prima Vera

Asparagus, Prosciutto and Parmesan Turnovers

A plate with an asparagus turnover — (Photography by Marcella DiLonardo)

Summery sweet treats

Chocolate-Tahini Fudge Sundae with Grilled Peaches

Hot fudge being poured from a small blue dish into a sundae in a tall glass with layers of vanilla ice cream, fudge and peaches. A marble tray with peach slices and another sundae sit behind it. It all sits on a grey wood surface. — (Photography by Michael Gozum)

Shikanji Granita with Lemon Crème Fraîche

overhead shot of a grey plate of shaved ice with lemon rind in it. 2 small glasses of the dessert topped with cream and pomegranate arils sit next to it, all on a dark grey surface. — (Photography by Martin Poole)

Pink Margarita Popsicles

Joy McCarthy's Key Lime Pops

(CBC Life)

A golden pineapple-shaped cup with a white dessert in it on a pink surface with pink background. A hollowed-out pineapple with pineapple chunks in it, orange, lemon and lime slices, a full pineapple, and a tray of strawberries sit around the cup. — (CBC Life)

The Easiest Mango Vanilla Mousse

(Credit: Nassima Rothacker)

Strawberry "Shortcake" Drop Scones

Sliced strawberries and whipped cream in between a scone sliced in half, and topped with more whipped cream. The strawberry shortcake is sitting on a shallow pink bowl on a table with more scones and berries in the background. — (CBC Life)

Lidia Bastianich's Berry Tiramisu

overhead shot of a clear, rectangular baking dish filled with a tiramisu topped with sliced strawberries and blueberries. 2 bowls with slices of the tiramisu are sitting next to it. all of the dishes are sitting on a pale purple tablecloth. — (Photography by Steve Giralt)

Chevron Rhubarb Almond Cake

overhead shot of a rhubarb cake on a white plate, sitting on a marble surface. pink stalks of rhubarb are arranged in a chevron pattern on the top of the cake. — (Photography by Marcella DiLonardo)

Fruit-spiked drinks

A Floral Summer Spritz

(All photography by Lady Hayes)

Pink Grapefruit and Chamomile Palomas

(Photography by Doan Ly )

Pineapple Slushy Mojito

Low-Cal Watermelon Margarita

Red Wine Sangria

Rosé Passion Fruit Spritzer

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