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12 Incredible Long Weekend Grilling Menus To Kick Off Summer

Let's break out all of summer's best hits for the first long weekend of the season.

By Heather MacMullin

Updated May 5, 2026

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dinner plan: barbecued trout

(Photo: Erik Putz)

Summer is on its way, and we're welcoming the first long weekend of the season in style: with a big grilling session that celebrates all our favourites! This Victoria Day weekend, make your barbecue plans all about the freshest local produce, the juiciest grilled burgers and steaks, and the coldest drinks—from sangria to margaritas and icy beer cocktails.

Long weekend menus

Big family barbecue menu

Harissa yogurt grilled chicken
Barbecued kalbi ribs
Grilled Filipino-style pork skewers
Sriracha aioli corn on the cob
Classic coleslaw
Pull-apart bread rolls
Frozen strawberry margarita
Tres leches coconut cake

Barbecue menus: Harissa yogurt grilled chicken recipe

Photo, Erik Putz.

Pizza night grilling menu

Lager and lime blender slushie
Grilled zucchini-pear salad
Grilled pizza
3-ingredient chocolate ice cream

A grilled pizza with dark brown grill marks topped with fresh basil; tomato; mozzarella; pitted sun-dried black olives; chili flakes and prosciutto on parchment paper next to a pizza wheel for a post on an easy grilled pizza recipe

Classic grilling menu

Over-the-top burger
Baby red potato salad recipe
Classic caesar salad
Mediterranean pasta salad
Blueberry-lemon cheesecake bars

A bacon double cheeseburger with caramelized onions mixed right into the burger on a brioche bun topped with melted smoked cheddar; Chatelaine's easy burger sauce; bacon; onion rings; shredded iceberg lettuce; tomatoes and dill pickles for a post on an over-the-top burger recipe for grilling or barbecuing

(Photo: Erik Putz)

Vegetarian grilling menu

Cucumber jalapeño margarita mocktail
Creamy cucumber-cilantro salad
Grilled satay tofu skewers
Cherry tomato, zucchini and halloumi skewers with pesto drizzle
Vegan strawberry-rhubarb oat squares

Easy tofu recipes - Tofu skewers with dip

Photo, Roberto Caruso.

Classic grilled steak menu

Heirloom tomato and roasted garlic tart
Grilled steak with grilled caesar salad
Tequila, cucumber and watermelon cocktail
Blueberry hand pies

Grilled steak with grilled caesar salad on a cutting board: bone-in rib steak, grilled, with slices cut off next to a steak knife; next to grilled romaine hearts; radicchio; and red onions and lemons topped with parmesan and vinegar

(Photo: Erik Putz)

Veggie burgers menu

Watermelon limoncello lemonade
Grilled eggplant salad
Black bean and tofu burgers
Vanilla cake with summer fruit

Tofu and black bean burger on a bun topped with sliced avocado, cucumber and fresh cilantro for a post on an easy, healthy tofu black bean burger recipe

(Photo: Erik Putz)

Easy grilling menu

Strawberry grapefruit smash
Grilled bruschetta
Warm potato salad
Lemon-garlic grilled chicken
Banana pudding

Lemon-garlic grilled chicken with lovely criss-crossed char marks and slices of grilled meat on a grill for a post on an easy Lemon-garlic grilled chicken recipe

(Photo: Erik Putz)

Simple, easy grilled fish menu

A dry Canadian rosé (we love Southbrook's rosé!)
Barbecued trout with warm pineapple salad
Grilled asparagus
Strawberry shortcake

dinner plan: barbecued trout

Photo, Erik Putz.

Grilling for guests menu

Mojito sangria
Classic pasta salad
Classic steak with spicy Thai sauce
Potato salad with parsley vinaigrette
Strawberry galette

Classic steaks topped with green spicy Thai sauce on a wood cutting board next to a bowl of the sauce. The steaks are made with 4 T-bone steaks; the sauce is made of garlic; serrano chilies; lime juice; fish sauce; brown sugar; fresh cilantro and fresh mint for a post on an easy grilled classic steak recipe with spicy Thai sauce

(Photo: Roberto Caruso)

One-hour BBQ chicken backyard dinner party

Palomas
Saucy BBQ chicken
Warm potato salad
5-minute dill pickles
Grilled peach melba recipe

Saucy barbecue chicken on a platter next to a serving fork and a bowl of barbecue sauce; the chicken is made with skin-on, bone-in chicken pieces and homemade barbecue sauce for a fast, easy saucy bbq grilled chicken recipe

(Photo: Roberto Caruso)

Summer favourites menu

Mango mojito
Crudités with dip duo
Gourmet grilled corn
Curried coconut chicken kebabs
Balsamic salmon kebabs
No-bake summer fruit tarts

Grilled ears of corn with grill marks in a casserole pan with squeezed lime slices next to a bowl of fresh cilantro for a post on Gourmet BBQ corn on the cob with herb butter recipe

Photo, Roberto Caruso.

Easy make-ahead menu

Antipasto salad
Nordic potato salad
Slow-cooker ginger-garlic ribs
Lemon poppy seed and raspberry tart

Glazed Ginger-Garlic Slow Cooker Ribs on a platter. The ribs are made of baby back pork ribs; five-spice powder; brown sugar; hoisin; soy sauce; sriracha; garlic; ginger and sesame seeds for a post on an easy Glazed Ginger-Garlic Slow Cooker Ribs recipe

(Photo: Roberto Caruso)

Watch: How to make a strawberry margarita

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Heather MacMullin

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Menus Dinner BBQ entertaining Grilling

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