Master all your summer grilling meals with this modern pioneer summer grilling guide! While my dad usually does most of the grilling at our house, I have started to learn the tips and tricks to mastering the grill. Once you learn the basics and figure out how your particular grill functions, then grilling becomes easy and fun! I was so nervous when I first started, but with the help of my dad and a handy meat thermometer, I can now grill up some our favorite meals without sweating it! Whether you are a modern pioneer who will throw just about anything on the grill or maybe you want to dabble in a few easy basics, this grilling guide will provide you with the information you need to grill up some of my favorite homestead meats!

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General Grilling Tips

*Note: This guide is based off of a gas grill, not a charcoal grill. Grilling methods and times may differ slightly when using a charcoal grill.

• Frozen meats should be taken out of the freezer and placed in the fridge the night before so that they can slowly unthaw before you prep them for grilling.
• Use an all-natural cooking spray on your grill grates to keep foods from sticking to them.
• Immediately after you are done grilling, use a stiff grill brush to clean off the grates while they are still hot.
• Always allow the grill to preheat for 10-20 minutes before cooking.
• Dials and temperature control may differ slightly depending on your model grill.
• You can always use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the meat you are cooking!
• For the following recipes, always have the grill lid down when you are grilling.

Grilling Fish

Grilled fresh caught fish is at the top of the favorite grilled foods list at my house! While grilling fish may sound kind of complicated it’s really quite simple, and I think it’s one of the easiest meats to grill!

Salmon/Trout

Prep:

• before marinating, pat the fish fillets dry with a clean towel or paper towel
• pat and rub your favorite seasoning into the flesh side of the fillet
• marinate the fish in the fridge for 30 minutes, ensure that the flesh side is face down in the marinade
• pre-heat the grill

Grill Temperature: 375°F-400°F

Grilling Instructions:

• place the fish fillet flesh side down on the grill
• grill for 3-5 minutes or until the flesh easily releases from the grill
• flip so that the flesh side is facing up and grill for 5-8 more minutes
• thicker fillets may need 8-12 minutes
• the internal temperature should read 145°F

Rest Time: remove the fillets from the grill and let them rest covered for 3-5 minutes

Serving Idea: serve with roasted Brussel sprouts and bacon, mashed potatoes, and homemade bread

Walleye

Prep:

• lay the walleye fillets (w/o skin) in a cast iron skillet or cast iron fish pan
• take 1.5 tablespoons of butter and cut it into small pieces and place it around the fish fillets
• sprinkle on your favorite seasonings
• pre-heat the grill

Grill Temperature: 375°F-400°F

Grilling Instructions:

• place the cast iron skillet or cast iron fish pan in the grill
• grill for 8-10 minutes for thin fillets (less than 1/2″)
• grill for 10-15 minutes for thick fillets
• the fish should flake apart easily when it is done

Serving Idea: serve with roasted vegetables and potatoes, a summer salad, and homemade cheese rolls

Grilling Hot Dogs

Of course, what’s a grilling guide without including tips and tricks for the classic hot dog!? While it’s pretty hard to mess up grilling a hot dog, here are the basics so you can master this easy meal!

Hot Dogs

Prep:

• remove the hot dogs from their packaging
• pre-heat the grill

Grill Temperature: 350°F

Grilling Instructions:

• grill for 7 minutes, flipping halfway through

Serving Idea: serve with gluten-free hot dog buns, a side salad, and homemade mac’n’cheese

Kielbasa & Brats

Prep:

• remove the kielbasa/brats from their packaging
• pre-heat the grill

Grill Temperature: 350°F

Grilling Instructions:

• grill for 7 minutes
• flip and grill for 7 more minutes

Serving Idea: serve with gluten-free hot dog buns, homemade baked beans, gluten-free kettle chips, and bread & butter pickles

Grilling Burgers

My family almost never pan fries burgers, they are always grilled. I love grilled venison burgers that are medium rare, juicy, and full of flavor!

Prep:

• pat each burger into a 3/4″ thick round
• sprinkle on your favorite seasoning and press in a splash of vinaigrette
• pre-heat the grill

Grill Temperature: 350°F

Grilling Instructions:

• place the burgers on the grill, close the lid
• grill for 6 minutes
• flip and grill for 4-5 more minutes
• the internal temperature should read 155-160°F
• for more rare burgers, decrease the grill time by a minute or two

Serving Idea: serve with homemade burger buns, sweet potato fries and a small side salad; top with dairy-free cheese, bacon, and gluten-free/sugar free BBQ sauce

Grilling Chicken

Grilled chicken tenders or grilled chicken breast are the two common forms of chicken that I like to grill. Despite not being a huge chicken fan, grilled chicken is one of my favorite ways to have this classic white meat!

Prep:

• if using breasts, use a meat pounder to flatten the breasts OR cut them into 1″ thick strips, much like chicken tenders
• marinate the chicken in the fridge for 8-10 hours
• pre-heat the grill

Grill Temperature: 350°F

Grilling Instructions:

• place the chicken on the grill and sprinkle on desired seasonings
• grill for 4-5 minutes
• flip and grill for 3-4 more minutes
• internal temp should read 165°F and the juices should run clear when the meat is cut

Serving Idea: serve as a grilled chicken salad or make BBQ grilled chicken tortilla wraps

Grilling Backstrap or Tenderloin

Probably the trickiest meat on this guide is mastering grilled backstrap or tenderloin. There’s a fine line between overcooking this meat and allowing it to rest long enough so that it is medium rare, tender, and juicy. Follow these tips to master venison backstrap or pork tenderloin!

Prep:

• marinate in the fridge for 12 hours
• let the meat come to room temperature, which takes about 15-20 minutes
• preheat the grill
• prepare a plate with an aluminum foil cover for when the meat needs to be covered and let rest

Grill Temperature: 350°F

Grilling Instructions:

• grill for 7-8 minutes
• partially turn and grill for 7-8 more minutes
• turn again onto a 3rd side and finish grilling for 2-3 minutes
• internal temperature should read 135°F for medium-rare

Rest Time: after grilling, let the meat rest covered for 15-30 minutes before slicing and serving

Serving Idea: serve with homemade coffee cake, mashed squash, and roasted vegetables

Grilling Steaks

In my house, the steaks we harvest from the whitetail deer that we butcher every fall are small and flat, which makes them super easy to grill! Grilled steaks are juicy, tender, and family favorite!

Prep:

• marinate the steaks in the fridge for 8-10 hours
• pre-heat the grill
• prior to placing on the grill, sprinkle your favorite seasoning on the steaks
• prepare a plate with an aluminum foil cover to place the steaks on after they are seared

Grill Temperature: 400°F

Grilling Instructions:

• place steaks on a very hot grill and grill for 1-2 minutes
• flip the steaks and grill for 1-2 more minutes
• the meat should sear on both sides
• some red will show through after flipping, but that means the steaks are done

Rest Time: immediately remove the steaks after searing them and let them rest covered with aluminum foil for 5-10 minutes before serving

Serving Idea: serve with mashed potatoes, steamed peas, and homemade chocolate chip muffins

Grilling Vegetables

I had to throw this one in there because, yes, you can grill veggies! Besides, if you have to eat veggies with your meal, why not make them grilled veggies, because grilling makes everything taste better!

Prep:

• corn on the cob- peel back the husks and remove all the tassels, cover the corn in the husks again, soak in water for 30 minutes prior to grilling
• summer squash- wash and cut in half lengthwise
• potatoes- wash, dice into 1-2″ pieces, boil for 4-5 minutes
• carrots- wash, peel and cut in half lengthwise
• peppers- wash, de-seed, and cut in half
• asparagus- wash and snap off the ends
• parsnip- scrub and cut in half lengthwise
• broccoli- wash and cut into small florets, place in an aluminum foil pan

Grill Temperature: 350°F-375°F

Grilling Instructions:

• corn on the cob- grill for 20-25 minutes, flipping every 5 minutes
• summer squash- grill for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through
• potatoes- grill for 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway through
• carrots- grill for 10-12 minutes, flipping every 3-4 minutes
• peppers- grill for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through
• asparagus- grill for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through
• parsnip- grill for 15-18 minutes, flipping every 4-5 minutes
• broccoli- grill for 10-12 minutes, stirring halfway through

Serving Idea: mix together a bunch of the vegetables and grill them all in one pan with some butter and seasoning, add mushrooms and onions for flavor

Grill Time!

Hopefully this modern pioneer summer grilling guide will give you some great ideas for what to put on the menu this summer! Choosing healthy ingredients that are sustainable and wholesome will make these grill-out meals healthy and nutritious. Some of my favorite summer meals feature grilled meats or grilled vegetables, so let’s just say that the grill is a cooking essential on our homestead! Whether it’s something simple, like hot dogs, or something a little more fancy, like bacon-wrapped backstrap, this grilling guide has got you covered so that you can have a successful and insanely delicious grilling season!

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by Alexa