20 barbecue recipes for the May long weekend

Listen to this article

Estimated 3 minutes

The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.

Though Victoria Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer for many Canadians, the weather can often be slow to catch up. But even if the temperatures aren’t quite right for eating outdoors this year, you can still fire up the grill for a taste of the warmer season ahead, then bring it inside for a long-weekend feast.

While the barbecue heats up, gather friends and family around a shareable snack, whether it’s a cheese board, a dip or a piping-hot fiddlehead tempura to celebrate the vegetable’s short local growing season. Next, mix up a fruity drink like watermelon-lime soda or pineapple-jalapeno margaritas — both feel summery and make use of delicious imported fruits while we wait for Canada’s homegrown crops to appear at the market.

As for what to grill, chili dogs, ribs and jerk chicken are all crowd-pleasers (don’t stress about what to pick; whichever recipe you don’t make this weekend, you can save for one of the many gorgeous weekends to come). For a vegetarian option, consider making chickpea burgers topped with luscious roast tomatoes and halloumi cheese.

If there’s room on the barbecue, you can use it to make your side dishes, too. Local corn may not be in season yet, but grilled masala corn is tough to resist. Grilled zucchini and mozzarella salad could even become another main with the addition of some white beans. The same goes for a grilled Caesar salad, which works equally well with chicken or shrimp.

Alternatively, you can take the opportunity to lean into richer, more filling sides before we’re all too hot to want to turn on the oven. A delicious pan of mac and cheese will round out the menu beautifully. And if oven space is an issue, simply use the slow cooker to make scalloped potatoes.

Finish up with a dessert that’s bound to impress your guests. A creamy tres leches cake is a great choice for a day that’s leaning a little cooler, since there’s no need to worry about the whipped cream wilting in the heat if the weather allows you to serve dessert outdoors.

Modern Provençal cheese plate

Overhead shot of a plate with multiple types of cheese, roasted grapes, hazelnuts and apricots. (Photography by Joanne Pai)

Körözött (Hungarian pimento cheese)

Closeup on a large silver tray with ruffles chips and a small silver bowl of an orange cheese dip. A plate of devilled eggs sits next to it. (Photography by Ed Anderson)

Vegan vibes board with cashew ricotta cheese

(Credit: Lisa Dawn Bolton)

Fiddlehead tempura

A plate of tempura battered fiddleheads (CBC Life)

Watermelon-lime soda

A glass with a pink drink in it, garnished with a slice of lime and a sprig of mint. Glasses of the drink and a pitcher of it are in the background. (Photography by Dhivya Subramanian)

Pineapple-jalapeno margarita

Pineapple-jalapeno margarita. (Photography by Dhivya Subramanian)

Fancy Franks’ Coney Island chili-topped hot dog

(Source: Instagram/@fancy_franks)

Half-time ribs

Top down shot of barbecued ribs on the side of a barbecue with grass in the background. (Photography by Betty Shin Binon)

Jerk chicken

Closeup on a white plate of jerk chicken on a wooden cutting board. The plate contains jerk chicken on rice and beans, with a side of plantain and some coleslaw. (Dwight Smith)

BBQ chimichurri chicken

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

Chickpea burgers with halloumi and roasted tomatoes

2 chickpea burgers on a wooden serving platter. (Credit: Shahir Massoud)

Little India masala corn

A plate of BBQ cobs of corn. (Photography by Suech and Beck)

Grilled zucchini and mozzarella salad

Top down shot of a platter of Grilled Zucchini & Mozzarella Salad with Pesto on a wooden table. (Photography by Betty Shin Binon)

Charred whole romaine with 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)

Street food salad

Top down shot of a white platter of fruit salad with large chunks of pineapple, papaya, cucumber, coconut and carrots and topped with peanuts. (Photography by James Ransom)