10 Easy and Delicious Side Dishes and Desserts for Summer Grilling

Now that summer is here, it won't be long before the air is full of the mouth-watering smell of barbecued foods. Burgers, ribs and seafood are classic choices, but as long as the grill is fired up, why stop there?

Here are some creative and satisfying side dishes and desserts you can prepare at the grilling stations of our Springs luxury apartment communities.

Grilled Zucchini Pizza

Enjoy the delicious flavors of pizza in a lighter version that's perfect for summer. Grilled zucchini pizza uses only five ingredients and takes no more than 20 minutes from prep to plate.

Grilled Chipotle Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are too tasty and nutritious to be limited to holiday dinner tables. Chipotle chili powder, cumin and paprika add some zip for a different flavor combination.

Thai Charred Eggplant with Tofu

Barbecue may be considered a traditional American style, but it easily accommodates a wide range of spices and seasonings from around the world. This recipe combines Asian flavors with European preparation techniques for a side dish that also makes a great meatless entree.

Grilled Potato Casserole

Who says a casserole has to be baked in an oven? Prepare this creamy dish as is or experiment with your favorite seasonings. Another plus is that the whole casserole is cooked in a foil packet so there's no messy baking dish to wash.

Grilled Chile Rellenos

Chile rellenos are a popular dish that's fun to eat, but they can be time-consuming to prepare, taking 60 minutes or more. This grilled version is vegetarian, non-greasy and ready in just about 30 minutes. If you'll be serving to kids, be sure to remove all the seeds for less heat.

Lemon Garlic Mushrooms

Mushrooms have an earthy flavor on their own, but they also make a wonderful palette for a variety of flavor profiles. The dressing in this recipe is made with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and parsley for a fresh, light taste.

Rice on the Grill

Rice may not be the first food that comes to mind when you think about grilling, but it cooks quite nicely inside a disposable foil pan. It takes only 15 minutes for the rice to soak up the flavors from chicken broth, green pepper, onion and mushrooms.

Grilled Pineapple with Lime Dip

Let these sweet and citrusy tropical flavors take you to the Caribbean without leaving home. If you like, add some texture by rolling the pineapple wedges in coconut flakes before grilling.

Campfire Banana Splits

This dish is gooey enough to satisfy the strongest sweet tooth. Kids will have as much fun making these marshmallow and chocolate-stuffed bananas as they do eating them.

Grilled Peaches and Cream

Grilling is the best way to bring out all the natural sweetness of peaches. Make this healthy dessert a little bit naughty by topping the peach halves with cream cheese, honey and nuts.

Share your favorite go-to grilling recipe with us in the comments!