Cookout season: summer recipes for the grill, on the side

WASHINGTON — Slather on the sunscreen, set up the picnic table and fire up the grill: It’s still officially summer, and for many, that means enjoying outdoor entertaining.

Planning a big backyard barbecue or an intimate evening with friends? Use these seasonal recipes to inspire your summer menus.

Grilled Argentine steaks with chimichurri sauce A fresh, herby sauce is the perfect pairing for grilled steaks. Find the recipe on wtop.com. (AP/Carl Tremblay)

AP/Carl Tremblay

Tomato cobbler with pimento-cheese biscuits Who said cobbler is just for dessert? Make a savory version of the dish with summer’s tomatoes and pimento-cheese biscuits. Find the recipe on wtop.com. (Elizabeth Karmel via AP)

Elizabeth Karmel via AP

Grilled Caesar salad A little char brings a whole new dimension to a classic Caesar salad. Find the recipe on wtop.com. (Joe Keller/America’s Test Kitchen via AP)

Joe Keller/America’s Test Kitchen via AP

Burgers with pimento cheese spread Take your next cheeseburger to the next level. Find the recipe on wtop.com. (Cheyenne Cohen via AP)

Cheyenne Cohen via AP

Cucumber salad with creamy roasted garlic dressing A cooling side for a hot summer cookout, this cucumber salad is the perfect addition to any lunch or dinner spread. Find the recipe on wtop.com. (Steve Klise/America’s Test Kitchen via AP)

Steve Klise/America’s Test Kitchen via AP

Grilled harissa lamb burgers Spice your burgers up a bit with a dollop of harissa mayonnaise. Find the recipe on wtop.com. (AP/Daniel J. van Ackere)

AP/Daniel J. van Ackere

Ultimate seven layer dip Need a crowd-pleaser? Look no further. Find the recipe on wtop.com. (Joe Keller/America’s Test Kitchen via AP)

Joe Keller/America’s Test Kitchen via AP

Jerk chicken The key to a successful jerk is all in the marinade. Find the recipe on wtop.com. (Steve Klise/America’s Test Kitchen via AP)

Steve Klise/America’s Test Kitchen via AP

Grilled vegetable kebabs Vegetables on the grill? Yes, please. Find the recipe on wtop.com. (Daniel J. van Ackere/America’s Test Kitchen via AP)

Daniel J. van Ackere/America’s Test Kitchen via AP

S’mores ice cream cake Hold the fire. Get a taste of s’mores in an ice cream cake. Find the recipe on wtop.com. (Joe Keller/America’s Test Kitchen via AP)

Joe Keller/America’s Test Kitchen via AP

Vegetable and orzo tian with garlic toasts Extra summer veggies? Throw your zucchini, summer squash and tomatoes in this casserole. Find the recipe on wtop.com. (Steve Klise/America’s Test Kitchen via AP)

Steve Klise/America’s Test Kitchen via AP

Grilled cauliflower A trick? Dunk the cauliflower in a salt and sugar solution before cooking it. Find the recipe on wtop.com. (America’s Test Kitchen via AP)

America’s Test Kitchen via AP

French Potato Salad A lighter, fresher version of the classic picnic side. Find the recipe on wtop.com. (Carl Tremblay/America’s Test Kitchen via AP)

Carl Tremblay/America’s Test Kitchen via AP

Salmon, avocado, grapefruit and watercress salad A light, bright and refreshing summer salad. Find the recipe on wtop.com. (Carl Tremblay/America’s Test Kitchen via AP)

Carl Tremblay/America’s Test Kitchen via AP

Cherry Cobbler There’s nothing more classic than a summer cherry cobbler. Find the recipe on wtop.com. (Joe Keller/America’s Test Kitchen via AP)

Joe Keller/America’s Test Kitchen via AP

Grilled tuna steaks with lime-ginger vinaigrette Give burgers a break and try tuna steaks for your next cookout. Find the recipe on wtop.com. (Carl Tremblay/America’s Test Kitchen via AP)

Carl Tremblay/America’s Test Kitchen via AP

Baked crab dip A warm, creamy and full-of-seafood dip. Find the recipe on wtop.com. (Joe Keller/America’s Test Kitchen via AP)

Joe Keller/America’s Test Kitchen via AP

Grilled shrimp with spicy lemon-garlic sauce The secret to keeping shrimp from drying out on the grill? Finish them with a delicious sauce. Find the recipe on wtop.com. (Daniel J. van Ackere/America’s Test Kitchen via AP)

Daniel J. van Ackere/America’s Test Kitchen via AP

Flank steak tacos with charred corn salsa Top tortillas with strips of juicy, tender flank steak and fresh summer corn. Find the recipe here. (Joe Keller/America’s Test Kitchen via AP)

Joe Keller/America’s Test Kitchen via AP

Boston baked beans Ditch the cans. These homemade baked beans, filled with pork and brown sugar, require minimal effort since they cook in the slow cooker. Find the recipe here. (Daniel J. van Ackere/America’s Test Kitchen via AP)

Daniel J. van Ackere/America’s Test Kitchen via AP

Summer peach cake This recipe helps the home baker steer clear of a soggy summer cake. (Carl Tremblay/America’s Test Kitchen via AP)

Carl Tremblay/America’s Test Kitchen via AP

Watermelon-strawberry smoothie Keep cool at your next cookout with this fruit smoothie. (And if you’re feeling it, make it an adults-only beverage with a shot or two …) Find the recipe here. (AP/Cheyenne Cohen)

AP/Cheyenne Cohen

This April 2017 photo shows grilled lemony chicken and peppers in New York. This dish is from a recipe by Katie Workman. (Sarah Crowder via AP) — **Grilled Provençal chicken and peppers** This recipe only requires a handful of ingredients, and a lemony marinade pulls everything together. Find the recipe here. (Sarah Crowder via AP)

Classic barbecue sauce Sure, you can buy your barbecue sauce in a bottle … but you can also make it in under 30 minutes. Find the recipe for this classic sauce here. (Carl Tremblay/America’s Test Kitchen via AP)

Carl Tremblay/America’s Test Kitchen via AP

Texas-style blueberry cobbler One of the best ways to use summer fruit is in a desert. Find the recipe for this blueberry cobbler here. (Keller + Keller/America’s Test Kitchen via AP)

Keller + Keller/America’s Test Kitchen via AP

This April 2016 photo shows grilled eggplant parmigiana in Concord, N.H. This dish, a staple of Italian cuisine, is a wonderful candidate for the grill, cooking up quickly and cleanly. And grilling this dish not only requires less oil than the traditional recipe, it ends up imparting a smokiness it could never claim before. (AP Photo/J.M. Hirsch) — **Grilled eggplant parmigiana** Warmer weather ushers in a wave of fresh produce, perfect for the grill. Try cooking the Italian staple, eggplant parmigiana, over the grates this summer. Find the recipe here. (AP Photo/J.M. Hirsch)

This May 18, 2015 photo shows Florentine pasta salad in Concord, N.H. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead) — **Florentine pasta salad** Fresh basil, grape tomatoes, garlic and ricotta cheese are the stars in this Italian-inspired pasta salad. Find the recipe here. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

Pesto farro salad with cherry tomatoes and artichokes Alternatively, swap pasta for nutrient-rich farro for your next summer salad. Find the recipe for this dish here. (Carl Tremblay/America’s Test Kitchen via AP)

Carl Tremblay/America’s Test Kitchen via AP

Grill-roasted beef short ribs Start these ribs in the oven and finish them on the grill for a smokey taste and crunchy texture. Find the recipe here. (Daniel J. van Ackere/America’s Test Kitchen via AP)

Daniel J. van Ackere/America’s Test Kitchen via AP

Grilled asparagus with romesco sauce Every summer party needs a few snacks and dips. Try this recipe for grilled asparagus with a classic romesco sauce on your next spread. (Elizabeth Karmel via AP)

Elizabeth Karmel via AP

Chocolate peanut butter cup ice cream pie End your summer party on a sweet note with this cold, but rich, dessert. Find the recipe here. (Cheyenne Cohen via AP)

Cheyenne Cohen via AP